//------------------------------// // Pony Pals in Peril! // Story: Majesty: Queen of the Castle // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// It all happened at once. From Majesty's point of view, the surprise attack was swift and brutal. The attackers, she recognized from wanted posters; Twinkler, Sunblossom, Bright Night, and Starflash. The Glitter family, four Equestrian bounty hunters who were known for their ferocity and ruthlessness. The four earth pony mares were members of the Sweetheart Sister bounty hunters guild, and it was obvious to the unicorn princess that they had come for the pony pals. Majesty and the other ponies of Rainbow Falls galloped towards the pony pals to help, but Twinkler tossed down and enchanted medallion with her hoof, that created an energy shield around the bounty hunters and pony pals. The other ponies found themselves blocked by the barrier, and began pounding on it with their hooves. "A magical barrier! That talisman must have been a unicorn enchantment!" Nachtlicht exclaimed, Pounding on the shield. "This force field will have the power to keep us out for over an hour, we can't even teleport in our out of the field!" "No! we have to get through!" Majesty pleaded. "We can't let them hurt the pony pals!" And so, all the ponies worked out wearing down the barriers magic- earth ponies kicking away, unicorns blasting with their horns, and Pegasus slamming it with powerful gusts of air from their wings- while the Sweetheart sister ponies picked a fight with the pony pals. "Get them, girls!" Sunblossom, the pink mare with the glittery star cutie mark, called out. She jumped at Cha Cha, delivering a series of powerful kicks, knocking the Lama to the ground. Quickly skittering back to his feet, Cha Cha charged at the mare, headbutting her and causing her to stumble backward. But another headbutt from Sunblossom knocked the llama back, and the mare was on him again. "I knew this was a trap!" Oakley cried out, lowering her head, and Charging straight at Bright Night. "I knew this was too good to be true!" His slammed into the lavender mare with his antlers, sending her flying. But the pink-maned mare was right back at the mad moose, kicking him with her back hooves, and sending him flying. The two animals continued their fight, trading kicks and blows. "I'll deal with that Majesty, personally!" Edgar roared, raising his truck in anger. "Right after I deal with our attackers!" The small elephant charged at the overly large blue mare, Starflash. The two powerhouses slammed into each other, struggling in a powerful grapple, before Edgar finally lifted the strong mare up over his head with his powerful tusks, and flung her aside. But the bounty hunter with the pink hearts cutie mark was not out, as she leapt at the surprised elephant again, getting back into the fight. Meanwhile, Gertie and Twinkler were circling each other, each looking for a chance to attack. Both were determined to not let their opponent to get the upper hand, and both were determined to not be intimidated by the situation. "So, the others were right... there are still ponies that want us dead." the dinosaur remarked, swinging her massive, tree-like tail at the mare, who easily jumped over it. "I don't believe it was Majesty or any of these ponies, though; why else would you be trapping them outside of the barrier?" "You're very perceptive, lizard girl!" The bounty hunter quipped, jumping at Gertie with a kick she easily dodged. "It's no wonder you and these other freaks managed to escape pony justice all of these centuries!" "Whoever you are, I won't let you hurt these creatures because of your stubborn pony pride!" Gertie declared, headbutting the bounty hunter. "I'm not going to let you hurt my family!" The bounty hunters and pony pals fought a fierce battle- headbutts and biting, kicks and stomps. Majesty could only watch helplessly, as the Sweetheart sister ponies dished out a world of pain towards her new friends. Desperately, she blasted away at the shield harder and harder, terrified that the bounty hunters would succeed in their goal before the other ponies could get in there. But as the battle raged on, the pony pals began to gain the upper hand. "Hmm, looks like your little army is starting to tire out." Gertie told them with a smile. "Why don't all of you just give up, and we can all go home safely?" "Oh, I don't think so. My sisters and I don't give up that easily." She pointed a hoof at a medallion around her neck. "See this? My sisters and I are each wearing one, they allow us to pass through the magical shield that's keeping the Ponylanders out." "So? How is that going to help you slay us?" Gertie stopped fighting, shaking your head. " All you can do with that is run away." "Exactly." Twinkler smiled a dark smile, before stepping away from the dinosaur. "You might be interested to know, Miss Cutiesaurus, that the barrier not only pushes away ponies out the outside, but also exerts force on anything inside, as well. See you later, dino brains." Twinkler motioned to the others, and all of the Sweetheart sister ponies went galloping out through the barrier. The pony pals and the ponies pounding on the barrier from the outside all stopped in confusion, as the bounty hunters ran off towards the distance. It was then the magical barrier began to shift and waver, and both Gertie and Majesty's eyes went wide in horror as realization dawned on the both of them. "Oh no..." Both dinosaur and unicorn exclaimed at the same time. "No....NO!" At that moment, finally giving way after all of the damage the ponies outside had done to it, the barrier finally imploded. The horrified ponies outside heard the ponies pals painful, sickening scream as the magic shield collapsed back in upon itself. "AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!-" *SQUISH!* The ponies stepped into the spot where the barrier had been... and found the gory, messy remains of what had been the pony pals, who had been crushed by the barrier's collapse. "Yes! Only ponies posses cutie marks once more!" Twinkler declared, as she and the other bounty hunters vanished over the horizon. "Once again, the ponies of Equestria have ensured pony superiority! Friendship forever!" "Great B'zekre..." Nachlicht replied in horror, putting a hoof on Majesty's shoulder. "I know they hated the pony pals, but...." "No, I promised them they wouldn't be hurt..." Majesty whimpered, collapsing to the ground, sobbing. "I promised... I promised..." And in her head, princess Majesty heard her mothers laughter... Looks like you've learned another hard lesson, my daughter...