//------------------------------// // The Glorious March of the Legate // Story: Loyalty in Brass: The First Encounter // by Mr BHunt //------------------------------// The Legate swung his axe low and sent a number of griffins flying back, then he switched his grip and swung the axe back and around his body. Grerro snarled and flew under the axe; slashing at the Legate's chest. The soldier grunted and shoulder barged Grerro, who was sent skidding back. The Legate snarled as he raised the axe above his head and slammed it down, making flames erupt from the cracks beneath him and the griffins. They screamed as they burst into flames and tried in vain to put themselves out, but it didn't stop the rest of the griffins who had taken to the air. The airborne griffins watched in horror as their comrades burned, but then snapped angry glares at the Legate. The soldier growled and held his axe in front of him as the griffins swarmed him at him. The ponies watched in awe and shock as the Legate easily swung and smashed his axe through the griffins, then Rainbow Dash took a step forwards. Suddenly she found Celestia's hoof in her face. "No, Rainbow Dash. You can not help them this time, we must wait." Celestia stated, still locked on the Legate. "But, Princess-" Rainbow started but was interrupted when the Legate's axe sparked and he slammed it down upon a trio of griffins. "Right now, we are in a position to plan an attack." Celestia stated. "Twilight, do you have a plan?" Twilight blinked when everypony looked at her, did she have a plan? After all, that armor that the soldiers have is strong, not many spells or weapons can go through. She locked onto William, who dodged an overhead swing from the Legate's axe. He was a knight, but after the Elements hit him. "He became freed, I got a plan!" Twilight said and the ponies huddled in. William quickly leapt back as the Legate pulled a fist back to punch the Captain, but the Legate's hand suddenly sparked as he threw a bolt of lightning at the Captain. William grunted as the bolt struck him, then he pulled back his arm and threw a bolt back, unfortunately it did little to the Legate as he charged forward. The Captain rolled to the side as the Legate swung his axe, then Willaim spun around and held his glaive at his waist. William charged at the Legate, who was raising his axe, and send him stumbling back. But the Legate quickly grabbed the glaive and yanked it to the side, then he slashed his axe upwards and sent the Captain into the air. Then as William fell, the Legate spun around and slammed a boot into William, sending him sliding away. Luna dashed in with a yell and slashed them across the Legate's back, he stumbled and swung around his axe. Luna flew under the axe and the Big Sister leapt over it, landing on the Legate's shoulders. Her fists glowed red and she slammed them against the Legate's head, then the Sister flipped over the soldier's head. The Legate growled as he turned his gaze around, griffins surrounded him and both Luna and the Big Sister were standing on either side of him. The Legate grasped his axe in both hands and raised it above his head, then smashed it down onto the floor. A massive explosion sent blasts of lightning all around the Legate, catching and killing many griffins. Luna quickly flew into the air and the Big Sister moved in a blur to dodge the lightning. But then Luna noticed the lightning suddenly stopped, then all the lightning flew at her. She screamed as the bolts slammed into her, catching William's attention and he watched her fall. He roared with rage and charged at the Legate, wrapping his arms around his waist and flipping the soldier over his head. The Big Sister dashed fowards as William rolled away from the rising Legate and smashed a large red fist into his face, the blow sent the Legate back down. William slid to Luna's side and grabbed his bell from his coat, he held it in both hands and bowed his head as he raised the bell above Luna. The bell flashed with a dark orange colour, Luna's body slowly pulsed a few times with golden light. William frantically looked over his shoulder to see the Legate grab the Big Sister's face, his hand ignited with flames then it exploded and sent the woman flying. William stood and dropped his bell to the floor, making the Legate turn to look at the Captain, then he raised his arms up. The sky above the hallway suddenly darkened, then two bolts of lightning cracked and flew into William's hands. "Catch!" William shouted and threw the two bolts at the Legate, who stumbled as the bolts seemed to teleport and pierce him. The Captain raised his arms again and more lightning came down. Luna opened her eyes to see the Captain standing over her, lopping bolt after bolt of lightning at the Legate, who was waving his arms in a vain effort to stop them. Luna then noticed the little bell next to her face, she got to her hooves and watched William throw the bolts. Suddenly the Legate swungs his axe in front of him and it flashes, emerging as a massive lance. The Legate leaned back and lowered the head of the greatlance down and leveled it at William. The Captain let out a roar and charged at the Legate, the Legate charged as well but with far more speed. Luna gasped when the Legate slammed his greatlance through William, the Legate then leapt forward and slammed the Captain into the floor. Luna screamed as she bolted towards the Legate, who just looked up and pulled the greatlance out of William and held it towards Luna. Then a swarm of griffins smash into the Legate, who started to poke and pierce them. But the griffins quickly scattered, then the Legate knew why. Luna swung her head around and pointed her horn at the Legate, blue orbs started to circle her horn and streams of blue seemed to drift around her. Suddenly a massive beam of blue light smashed into the Legate, his greatlance flew to the side and he was sent flying back. The griffins watched in awe as the blue beam suddenly pulsed and purple streams quickly flew around it, Luna continued to scream and charge the Legate. But then a massive bolt of lightning filled her vision and Luna was sent sliding back, making the blue beam fade. The griffins snarled and yelled at the shadowy form of the Legate, who was hidden inside a cloud of dust. Then the Legate swung a hand through the cloud and roared, the Legate's right arm hung limp as it smoked. The Legate's chest was also smoking from a massive scorch mark, the Legate let out another loud roar and took a step forward. Suddenly the griffins swarmed the Legate as it took another step, the soldier wasn't fazed. He continued forwards; towards Luna and William. Grerro growlec and flew into the air, his vison tinted yellow and he swooped towards the Legate. He slashed deep into the Legate's neck and spun around to slice into the soldier's face, but the Legate slammed his head into Grerro and the griffin dropped to the floor. The Legate then held a flaming hand out, then slammed it down onto the floor. The cracks in the floor erupted with fire, scorching the griffins. They flew into the air to escape the firestorm, the Legate then covered his faceplate with his left hand. Then the Legate threw the hand aside and his eyes exploded with a blinding orange light, a large beam of white light suddenly smashed into the hovering griffins. They made no sound as they fell to the floor, the Legate was about to release the beam but a bolt of purple magic smashed into his head. "Hey, bulkhead!" Swift shouted and the Legate spun his gaze to the unicorn, and the hovering Elements of Harmony. They shot their rainbow beam and it clashed with the Legate's holy light. The Legate stumbled at the unexpected force but quickly got his footing, then he heard someone running from behind. Suddenly William slammed both his glaive and the Legate's fallen greatlance into his chest, the Legate's beam faltered and the Harmony Beam bolted forward. William tore his glaive from the Legate and threw himself back just as the power of harmony smashed into the glowing eyes of the Legate, a burst of light stunned everybody still alive. William landed next to Luna and they both watched as the Legate recoil and drop to a knee, the other ponies got up to watch the Legate stand and pull out his greatlance from his chest, Grerro watched the Legate change it to a sword and everybody saw the Legate stab it into the ground and twist the sword. The Legate then fell onto the sword, seemingly dead. But then the cracks in the floor started to pump out a black fog, William recoiled at the sight of it. The Corruption slowly drifting along the floor and towards the body of the Legate, it quickly pierced his fallen body. William let out a low growl as the Legate twitched, suddenly he snapped up to his feet and wrapped his right hand around the sword. The Legate then yanked the now dimmed sword out from the ground and swung it in front of himself, then a horrendous crack pierced the air and a mass of black tendrils exploded from the Legate's left shoulder. The Corruption wrapped itself around the Legate's left arm, causing many bones to appear from the writhing mess and stick out like mountains. The Corruption then covered the Legate's crowned helmet and created a massive inky black head, it screamed out and waved about. The Legate's sword then burst into flames, but even the Corruption tainted it and made the fire an abyssal black. The Abyssal Champion screamed and charged at the ponies, but William intercepted the beast and tackled the Champion. The Champion roared and grabbed the Captain with it's bony hand and threw him across the room, then the Champion turned his snakelike head and locked onto the charging Swift. The unicorn's eyes widened just as the Champion backhanded him, Swift slid back and spat out some blood. The Champion turned and spun his sword, sending black orbs of fire flying at Swift. The unicorn quickly shot bolts of golden magic at the Champion, then he gasped at the new colour. "W-what?" Swift murmured then he quickly jumped back as the Champion thrust his sword forward, Grerro let out a loud yell and swooped down and slashed at the Champion's head. The Champion just waved his bony hand up and Grerro smacked into it, but he quickly flew away when he saw the Champion's head turn to bite him. William suddenly let out a roar and his golden eye created two large rings, they flew to the sides of William and filled with fog. Two figures slowly emerged from the gates, one in a set of onion armor and the other wearing a suit of silver armor, both had a white aura around them. The onion knight held a massive sword in both hands, the silver knight held a massive hammer. "Siegward of the Knights of Catarina, Silver Knight Ledo of the Silver Knights, will you fight?!" William bellowed and the two knights let out warcries, then the trio charged the Champion. But the massive beast just backhanded them and sent them flying, then Grerro had an idea. "Hey!" He yelled to Swift, who quickly turned to look. "Let's get the drop on him, eh?" Grerro said as he flew up, Swoft thought about it and ran towards Grerro. The griffin then flew over Swift and wrapped his talons around the unicorn and took to the air, he swooped down towards the Champion, who begain to march towards the downed humans. The unicorn quickly shot a number of golden bolts at the Champion as the pair flew over, the beast looked up and tracked the flying pest. Then the Champion felt a massive force and found himself flying across the hall, Silver Knight Ledo stood where the Champion was. The knight swung his hammer around and hefted it onto his shoulder. The Silver Knight quickly swung his hammer low across the ground, then swung the head into the air, but thanks to Ledo's extremely strong hands, he flies with it towards the Champion. But the beast just snaps his jaws around the hammer and throws Ledo across the room, suddenly a large force slammed into his chest. The snakelike head looked down to see Siegward throw his arms towards the Champion, throwing a burst of white light at him. The Champion stumbled backwards and Siegward ran forward, swinging his mighty sword over his head. But the Champion just swung his sword and parried the massive Zweihander, then grabbed and threw Siegward away. "Catch!" William shouted from across the room as he threw a small object at the Champion, who grabbed it with his bony hand and peered at the small orb. Then it exploded. The Champion roared as the firebomb burst and covered his face in flames. The Captain quickly rushed forwards and slammed his glaive up through the Champion's jaw, then as the beast tried to claw at William, Ledo leapt in and smashed the bony hand to pieces. The Champion gurgled as William suddenly jerked his glaive back and tore the beastly head in half, then Ledo smashed the Champion away. The beast flipped and skidded to a stop at Siegwards boot and the onion knight quickly thrust his sword into the Champion's back. Siegward then pulled the Zweihander from the Champion's back and took a few steps back, suddenly the cracks in the floor flooded with a much denser black fog that quickly slithered towards the Champion. The fog danced around the Champion and crawled up his arms, sending loud cracks through the still air. Bones quickly jetted out and the two halfs of the snake head shrunk back and connected, making a more humanoid facial structure. Slowly the Champion pushed himself up into a crouching position, swinging his sword in an arc in front of him. Suddenly the Champion rushed at Siegward, who tried in vain to thrust his greatsword at the Champion. But the large soldier just smashed it aside with a bony arm and slammed his sword through Siegward, then he raised the onion knight and held him in the air; black flames started to build up along the coiled blade. The blade quickly exploded and sent Siegward flying through the air, he let out a loud hum and then grunted when he hit the floor. The Champion jumped to the side as Ledo swung his hammer down, the Silver Knight growled and swung the hammer around. The Champion quickly slashed Ledo's chest and kicked away the hammer, then he smashed his fist into the Silver Knight's head. William dashed forward and thust his glaive at the Champion's face and sliced into it, the Champion quickly reared back and raised his sword. But William ducked under the massive swung and shoved the Champion back, then he pulled his glaive back and jumped back. The Champion coughed and planted his sword in the floor, darkness seeped from its blade. "I... hope you realise... I wasn't trying... but now?" The Champion let out a chuckle. "Now I'm gonna tear this place apart!" Suddenly the Champion's bony arms exploded and sent shards of bone flying, in their place were flames. The Champion then stomped and let out a spiritual warcry, then charged at William. Then Luna flew in with Grerro and Swift and blasted the Champion's face with magic as they flew past, the Champion quickly shot out his hand and grabbed Swift and Grerro. He raised the pair into the air then slammed them down onto the floor, then the Champion removed his hand and quickly thrust his sword into them. Ledo and Siegward charged at the Champion but he quickly spun around and kicked Siegward back, then he grabbed Ledo's arm and twisted. The Champion then bashed the pummel of his sword into Ledo's helmeted head, but suddenly a massive bang and shout caught the attention of everybody in the hall. Standing at the now open doors, was a Brass Praetorian. "Corruption! You said you were pure!" The Praetorian yelled as he swung his glaive around, waving a hand over it with a blessing. The Praetorian charged past William and leapt into the air, piercing the Champion's chest. The Praetorian twisted his halberd and grabbed the Champion's face with his free hand, yanking it towards his own. "You lied! We trusted you! We believed you, that being free is painful!" The Praetorian snarled and looked at William, then back to the Champion. "But he feels emotions! He knows the truth! This isn't the Brass Inquisitiors way; this is false, just like you." The Praetorian shoved the Champion back and pulled his glaive from the Champion's chest. The Champion glared at the Praetorian and quickly thrust his sword at him, but the royal soldier just smashed his glaive against the blade and growled. Suddenly the Champion lunged forwards and grabbed the Praetorian's faceplace, the Champion thrust his sword into the floor and reached under the royal soldier's faceplate. The Champion roared and tore the head from the Praetorian's body, the runes on the armor and eyes on the face quickly faded and soon the Praetorian faded into ash. The Captain stood shocked with his golden eye widening, the pair of summoned warriors took a step back and the ponies gasped. "W-wh-" The Captain stuttered and tripped over his retreating feet, landing on his back. William slowly pushed himself away from the Champion, Luna watched in shock. "William?" She asked and his golden eye snapped to her, full of fear and terror. "H-he's gonna kill us all." William said and put a hand to his head. "That's a power nobody ca-" Suddenly Luna lashed out and smacked William, the ponies gasp again. The Captain slowly turns back to Luna, her eyes now dripping with tears. "You can't give up, we all need you! That thing isn't indestructible, I know it. We just need to put on the pressure and-" Luna was interrupted by a scream from Fluttershy. "Princess, look out!" Luna spun around and saw the Champion leaping towards her, sword above his head. Suddenly a daek figure smashed into the Champion's side, it was the Big Sister. She looked over to William and Luna, the woman pointed to Luna then the Champion as she ran towards them. Luna understood and quickly took to the air, the Big Sister stopped and knelt in front of the Captain. She placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder and looked into his golden eye. "Dear brother... rise if you would..." The soft voice of the Big Sister caused William to push himself to his feet, his coat suddenly grew larger and bellowed around his back. The woman then placed her hand on William's cheek, her red eye pulsed with his golden one. "For we are free and he is not..." Suddenly the Captain lunged forwards and caught the Champion's blade with his hand, the Captain shoved the Champion back and flipped an ethereal golden kukri in his hand. "Our curse is for all to bear!" The Captain bellowed and the golden kukri grew in size as William thrust it towards the Champion, then as the Champion recoiled the Captain took a step forward and sliced up the Champion's chest. William then jumped and kicked the Champion's face, he landed and slashed at the Champion's legs. Twilight turned to Celestia after witnessing William's pure rage and aggression, her mentor's face was stoic. "Celestia, what should we do?" She asked and the Princess looked down at her. "I... I do not know, Twilight." "What if we blast the creep with the Elements again?" Rainbow asked and everypony stared at her, the pegasus blushed and rubbed a hoof along the ground. "I mean- it did something, right?" Twilight looked at her friends, her face lighting up with an idea. "When we hit that soldier with the Elements, it fell and summoned more power. If we hit it again while its down, then we could do a lot more damage!" Twilight said and looked at Celestia, who thought over the information. "If we make it use up all of the power, then it wouldn't be able to get back up." Twilight added and Celestia nodded. "Yes, good plan Twilight." Celestia said and looked at the Captain as he spun around and kicked the Champion again. "We need everypony ready for this." Celestia said and turned to the two captains and Swift. William lashed out with a fist and threw a jab at the Champion, who took the feint and raised his sword to smash William. But the Captain quickly moved to the side and let the coiled sword smash into the ground, then he quickly slashed the Champion's nape. The soldier stumbled but managed to twist around and block the next slash with his sword, William snarled and leapt back. But the Champion charged and tackled the Captain into the wall, then he ran his sword through William's chest. William snarled and kicked the Champion, staggering him. The Captain furiously scratched at the coiled blade but it didn't bulge, the Champion turned and backhanded the charging Siegward. Ledo tried to sprint around the Champion but he quickly turned and grabbed the Silver Knight and threw him at the Big Sister, but she slid under the flying knight and dashed under the Champion's legs. The Champion heard a whistle and looked up, suddenly a hail of gold and blue bolts shattered across the Champion's face and chest. Luna and Celestia glared at the Champion, who took a step forward and raised his hand. But then another hail of bolts hit his side, the Champion turned to see Swift and Shining Armor side by side and turned towards them. Suddenly Violet and Grerro slammed into the side of the Champion's head, the soldier stumbled to the side and Twilight quickly summoned a rope and wrapped it around the legs of the Champion. "Now, Twilly!" Shining yelled and the Elements rose into the air, glowing with harmony. The Champion pushed himself up and glanced at the floating mares, then it roared in pain as a beam of harmony smashed into his face. The Champion writhed and stood up, scratching at his faceplate. The Corruption quickly dripped off the Champion and into the cracks in the floor, the Champion's faceplate shone through the darkness. But then the Champion stomped and the cracks suddenly erupted with blue light, it quickly wrapped around the Champion and tore away the Corruption. The Champion fell to his knee and the blue light faded, the large hole in his shoulder pulsed with blue magic and mist drifted from it. The Champion suddenly reared back and rows of crystals exploded along his back and head, creating another crown. The Crystal Champion then stood up, his hollow eyes bursting with blue light. The Champion raised a hand and made a fist, then opened it and pointed at the Elements. A large crystal arrow screamed towards the mares and filly, they scattered and the Champion looked to the Captain, who was getting the sword pulled out by Ledo and Siegward. The Champion's right eye flashed and a line of crystal spikes tore through the cracked floor towards the trio, but the Big Sister quickly stomped and a wall of red crystal erupted to halt the blue line. "Hurry up, can't hold him forever!" The Big Sister yelled to the pair of summons, who finally pulled the massive blade from William. But the Captain just dropped to the floor and collapsed, Siegward knelt over him then pointed to the Champion. "Get his attention, keep him away!" Siegward yelled at Ledo, who nodded. The Silver Knight ran at the Champion, who waved a hand towards Ledo and caused thousands of little blue shards to appear and scatter everywhere. The Silver Knight held his hammer to block the hail, then he slid and sent the Champion flying with an uppercut swing. The Champion flipped and landed in a crouched stance, then he threw his hand across his body and a massive crystal arrow appeared from the wall and smashed into Ledo. The Silver Knight flew to the side, a loud yell erupted from the knight and he slowly disappeared. William glanced up to see Ledo reach out, he shoved Siegward back and stood up. The Champion felt another hail of bolts hit his back and he looked over his shoulder to see Twilight and Shining standing beside Celestia, the Champion turned as his left eye flashed and three massive blue bolts screamed towards the trio. But as the three ponies ran, a loud crackle caught the attention of the Champion. He turned to get a face full of lightning bolts, the Captain stomped and more bolts appeared from the bellowing cloak and tore through the air towards the Champion. The Champion didn't make a sound but stumbled from the hundreds of shocks at impacted his chest, but it wasn't enough as the Champion's right eye flashed and a mountain of crystal spikes appeared underneath and impaled the Captain. William coughed up blood which landed on a spike that pierced his chest, then his golden eye slightly dimmed. The Champion then jumped towards William, his large hand now glowing blue. But then Luna and Celestia grabbed the Champion and threw him high into the sky, the Champion let out a loud roar as he turned smaller as he got higher. Siegward swung his Zweihander and started to shatter the large crystals that held William in the air, the Big Sister joined in by kicking and punching. Luna trotted forward and gently started pulling the Captain from the spikes, but it was without injury as more blood poured from the many holes in William's body. Siegward watched in horror and started to shake, the Big Sister noticed and turned to put a hand on his shoulder. But the onion knight let out a war cry and threw his Zweihander aside, then he pulled a sword with a broken blade from his back. The onion knight then took a stance, a furious storm grew around the broken blade. "I made a promise, I will not fail to keep it!" Siegward stated and the Big Sister backed up, the Champion's roaring started to fill the air again. The Stormruler suddenly exploded with a large wind that hung around its broken edge, then Siegward raised the blade as the Champion fell and came into view. The Champion landed a created a large crater, but he quickly rose and met the sight of Siegward slamming the Stormruler down and creating a massive wave of wind smash into his faceplate. The Champion's crystal crown shattered and the soldier reared back and fell into the crater, slowly the cracks in the floor poured out a blue mist. Twilight then yelled to get ready, the Elements floated up and watched as a blue mist flowed into a shape in the dust, they shot their beam at the shape and heard a roar. "Enough! You cannot cure that is not infected!" The Champion's voice snapped as the magical residue faded, then the Champion appeared through the dust. He was huge, his whole body was covered in a blue aura and more spikes of blue crystal ran along his back and shoulders, his crystal crown was back but was larger and more wicked then before and finally a large hole, torn over most of the Champion's right cheek and eye, revealed a large, pulsing orange crystal. The Champion roared and his large hand appeared from the dust and slammed into Siegward, then he raised it and smashed his palm down on the Big Sister. Then the Champion spotted the glowing horns of Shining, Twilight and Swift and quickly shot his other hand through the dust and swung a haymaker at the unicorns, who were thrown into the two Princesses. The Champion then moved his hand off of the Big Sister, only to have the woman summon a hail of red knives and throw them around the Champion's hand and at the large hole in his faceplate. But the blue aura around the Champion blocked the hail and crushed the knives, then the Champion's palm flashed blue and a large ring of crystals appeared and began to expand outwards like a shockwave. The Big Sister leapt over the ring and charged at the Champion's hand, but the Champion quickly backhanded the woman and sent her flying back. Suddenly William started to chuckle, Luna noticed this and looked at William. The Captain rose to his feet, blood still dripping from his body. The Captain reached inside his coat and pulled out a strange black orb, it seemed to suck the light into its heart, then William crushed it. Luna gasped as William twitched and whrithed and fell to his knees, she when to run towards the Captain but Siegward appeared and grabbed the mare and ran from the Captain. The Champion turned and spotted the Captain, he slammed his hands on the edges of the crater and started to pull himself out. But as the Champion started to rise, the Captain also rose. Though the Captain looked more like a beast as he stood in a slouched and crooked stance, his golden eye now a faint prick in the dark. Slowly the Captain crouched and grabbed the massive coiled sword that was lying at his feet. The Champion had to crawl on his hands and knees towards the Captain, then he raised a large hand and slammed it down onto the Captain. "NO!" Luna screamed as she thrashed against Siegward's grip. "Oh... oh no..." Siegward muttered and dropped Luna. "I guess he... isn't in need of my services..." Siegward said sadly and faded from existence, but not before raising his arm up in a toast. The Champion suddenly screamed out in pain and tried to pull his hand off the Captain, but it was stuck even as the Champion thrashed against the floor. Then the blue aura around his body pulsed and let out a crack, Twilight noticed immediately. "Quick! Everypony together!" She yelled out, the two Princesses quickly galloped to the Elements with Shining and Swift and the Big Sister. Violet and Grerro swooped around and landed next to the group, they all watched as the Champion finally pulled his hand a bit off the Captain. The man was crouched under the massive brass hand, a sword thrusted through the palm of the Champion's hand. William turned slightly and looked at the group, then he roared and pushed the Champion's hand further off. Twilight saw that the shield around the Champion was strained and took initiative. "Quick! Launch your strongest spells! That shield around him is about to break!" Twilight shouted as her horn glowed, soon being joined by five others. Then, it a massive burst of colour and power, the unicorns shot their spells at the Champion. The aura around him shattered with a massive bang and shook the hallway, the shockwave cracked the pillars and walls. The Champion looked at the group and began to crawl towards them, forgetting William. The Captain quickly pulled the coiled sword from the Champion's palm, then he leapt onto the Champion's back. "You've held us for too long! Now we will all be free!" The Captain roared and slammed the sword through the back of the giant's head, right through the Champion's remaining eye. The Champion screamed in rage and reached up and grabbed William. The Champion held the Champion in front of his face, unknowingly revealed the best angle for the Elements to fire into his head. "You are nothing but a disgrace, you are a ghost... you will never be remembered for your victory!" Suddenly the Champion pulled back his arm and lobbed the Champion through the open roof, but at that moment the Mane Six fired their Harmony Beam. It smashed into the crystal within the Champion's hollow head, instantly shattering it. The Champion reared back and shrunk back to his original size, then he collapsed to his knees. The Legate's shoulders slumped and he looked at the sky, reaching a hand towards the roof. Then it fell to his side and the Legate dissolved into ash, a loud bell sounded twice and the massive roof slowly shut with a loud bang. Everything went quiet, but before the ponies could celebrate the cracks in the floor suddenly grew and the floor started to collapse. The ponies, griffin and woman sprinted and flew from the throne room and into the long hallway outside. A number of Brass Praetorians were running towards the throne room, but as they neared they suddenly collapsed and shattered when they hit the floor. This distraction didn't last as the group surged past, their eyes looking for an exit. Suddenly Grerro swooped ahead of the group and shoulder barged into a door, it opened and he pointed into the new room. "Hurry! There's a balcony!" He yelled and flew through the hall, but as Twilight took a step inside the walls started to collapse. The group rushed through, but a large brick fell and smashed onto Rarity's head. The Big Sister reached down and grabbed her as she ran past. Suddenly they found themselves on a large balcony, but as they stood in awe and watched as a large tower collapsed the hallway behind them sunk and neared the hooves of Pinkie. Grerro and Violet quickly grabbed Rarity and Applejack, who yelped as she found herself in the air. Pinkie somehow pulled a strange helicopter from somewhere and was peddling to get higher, Celestia grabbed Twilight with her magic. Suddenly the floor beneath the Big Sister cracked and sunk slightly, she looked down and saw the little white filly. The woman grabbed her and threw her towards Fluttershy and Rainbow, who were hovering nearby. The peachy pegasus gasped and grabbed the filly, but when she looked up at the Big Sister, she saw the woman's hand disappear in a cloud of dust. Fluttershy gasped and Rainbow quickly pulled her friend back, Luna and Celestia flew to the rest of the group. They all looked tired and most were wounded, the two Princesses looked at each other then back at the group. "Come on, friends. Let's go home." Celestia said and her horn glowed a magnificent golden colour that blinded the tired group, then the light disappeared and the group were quickly teleported back to the camp, two less in their party, alive none the less.