//------------------------------//
// Chapter 28 - Crimson and the Games at the Chasm 
// Story: Fire and Brimstone, Book 2 
// by BluePhoenyx 
//------------------------------//

The train had stopped well before the castle as the conductor explained that the area was too damaged and unstable to travel safely.  As the steam escaped from the engine's pipes, the group jumped out of the passenger car to get ready for their physical trek to the castle.  Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy didn’t stay in the area, and they flew off to do her appointed tasks.  Rarity, with a large sun hat on her head, ran ahead with Pinkie Pie bouncing in tow.  Suddenly, the ground shook once more, and a loud crack was heard in the distance.  Crimson and Demi almost lost their balance, which was strange considering they never lost their balance from a small tremor.

"Are you okay?"  Applejack asked as the two slowly stood straight once more.

Demi looked defiantly at straw hatted earth pony, but Crimson's pale expression told a different story.  "I do not know," Crimson said before Demi could respond.  "I feel a distant distress I cannot understand."

Twilight walked up next to the stopped trio.  "We have to hurry."  She lifted her hoof to redirect everyone's gaze at the protective dome around the castle, and at the slow fading of its color.  "We don't have a lot of time."

As the group continued their journey to the castle, Applejack slowed her pace to trot next to Twilight.  “Hey Twilight, how in the hoof are we supposed to draw that dang thing anyways?  He would see us before we ever finished.”

“I was kind of hoping that Crimson and Demi could use their magic to draw it,” Twilight replied as the two leapt over a broken rail on the tracks.

Crimson, who barely overheard the answer to the question, slowed down.  “Unfortunately, we are unable to use our magic to create circles.”

Demi, who was running beside Crimson, slowed her pace as well.  “Your answer is ridiculous.  I thought you were supposed to be smart.”

“Hey now!”  Applejack protested in Twilight’s defense.

“Think about it,” Demi continued, ignoring Applejack’s protest.  “You want us to use magic that to create something to use magic?”

“My sister is correct,” Crimson added.  “We have to draw or carve the bindings with our own hooves and horns.”

The land stuck group stopped at a large crack that created an 80 foot long crevice.  Rarity and Pinkie Pie stood at the edge of the hole, while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were off doing their pre-engagement tasks.

“Holy hoof!”  Applejack exclaimed when she looked at the canyon.  Her eyes followed the canyon into the mountain, and at the volatile winding crack that stretched toward the castle.

Twilight’s eyes looked down to see the depth of the newly created canyon.  “This is bad.  This has to be at least half a mile down below Ponyville.”  Her eyes went down the crack toward the castle.  “What could be happening over th…”  Her voice trailed when she noticed Crimson and Demi drawing on the ground.  “Umm, what are you doing?”

Demi looked up at Crimson, grinning.  “I bet I can get higher than you.”

Crimson meet his sister’s gaze with a smile of his own.  “I do not think so.”

Confused, Applejack turned around to the rest of her group.  “How in the hoof are we supposed to get across?“

Demi looked up at Applejack, took a breath, then moved her head down toward the ground.

“Ms. Applejack,” Crimson said as he saw his sister making her final preparations.  “Please brace yourself.”

“What now?”  Applejack asked with a blank and confused expression.

Demi stomped her hoof, then, with an exerted gasp, whipped her head upward toward the far end of the canyon.  A pillar of stone pierced through the earth under Applejack, flinging her up into the air.  Her hat remained behind and floated back and fourth toward where she once stood while she howled, her body flailing and shooting wildly through the air.

“APPLEJACK!”  Rarity shouted as she looked up at the flying earth pony.

Twilight's eyes burst open in surprise.  “What are you doing?!”

After reaching the apex of her arc, her trajectory started to go downward with a high speed collision course on the ground.  Demi and Crimson brought their horns down and, with a glow, Applejack’s uncontrollable flight slowed.  She landed on the far side of the canyon, sliding on all four hooves.

“I'd say two high,” Demi said with pride in her tone.

“Admirable,” Crimson calmly replied.

"Me next!"  Pinkie Pie exclaimed, jumping up and down to get their attention.  "Me!  Me!"

Demi looked over at the excited pink pony.  "You're up."

Crimson looked at the earth pony, then stepped in place a couple of steps.  "Ms. Pinkie Pie, please brace yourself."

Pinkie turned around, then took a low, pouncing position.  Her hind legs padded the floor, wiggling her rump.  She reached up behind her head and put on a helmet, then strapped aviation goggles on her face.  "Ready!"

With a deep breath, Crimson lifted his front hoof.  He slammed his hoof down hard, taking his body down with the momentum.  Then, he lashed his body up, and whipped his head toward the opposite ledge.  Up came the stone pillar from the ground underneath the pink pony.

"WEEEEeeeee..."  Pinkie Pie was flung high into the air.  She put her arms at her side, and her body went straight for maximum aerodynamics.  

"Three," Crimson said at Pinkie Pie started her downward angle.

"Psh."  Demi scoffed, turning her head away in defeat.  

Pinkie Pie landed after the levitation spell slowed her decent.  She stood next to Applejack, then reached behind her and pulled out her missing hat.  

"Well golly," Applejack said in a gasp, still recovering from her en devour.  She grabbed her hat and placed it back on her head.  "That was one hoof of a ride."

"My word," Rarity gasped.

"Yeah," Twilight added.

Crimson turned to Rarity.  "Ms. Rarity, are you ready?"

"Most certainly not!"  She replied in shock.  "I will not have my mane tangled."  She turned her head to show her profile as she bounced her mane with her hoof.  "I have to keep up my appearance for the princess."

"Perhaps if I carry you in my arms," Crimson offered.

Rarity blushed, looking away in embarrassment.  "Well now, I suppose that could wor-"  Rarity was suddenly launched into the air as a pillar of stone threw her across the chasm.  Her straw hat floated to the ground to Crimson's hooves.

"Demina," Crimson said in a mocking punishing tone.

"What?"  Demi asked innocently.  "My hoof accidentally hit the circle."  She looked up at the pony projectile, then smiled.  "Four high."

Crimson's eyes popped at the achievement of his sister's performance.  He turned toward Twilight - the last of the "ammo."

Twilight's eyes widened in surprise, and she lifted a hoof.  "Oh, no.  I will just fly over."  She lifted herself from the ground with some flaps of her wings.

Crimson bowed.  "As you wish."


* * *


Demi and Crimson glided to the other side of the canyon after an assisted lift from the stone pillars.  Crimson walked up to Rarity, who was brushing her wind blown mane.

"Ms. Rarity," he said as he extended his hoof.

She looked at the red coated pony, and at the sun hat in his possession.  "Oh, such a gentlepony."  She took the hat and placed it on her head.  

Demi, seeing the transaction between the two, felt a hint of anger swelling inside and quickly stepped up beside Crimson.  "Come now, brother.  Let us save the world."

Crimson looked at his sister, then nodded.  "Agreed."

As the group continued their journey to the castle, Applejack moved up to Twilight, who was near the back.  "We still haven't figured out how to draw this thing."

"Actually," Twilight remarked as the two started to trot toward Canterlot.  "That crazy stunt they did gave me an idea."


* * *


Wind blew hard against the group as they arrived at the top of a hill that overlooked the area.  The sight the group saw when they got to the borders of Canterlot left them all in awe.  A huge circular crater with a pillar of stone in the middle surrounded the lone cloaked figure of the mighty King.  All around the king was pitch black foliage, showing the desecrated lands in his aura.  A dome surrounded the castle, blocking the many lightning strikes that attacked from above.  Countless soldiers from the castle had a tendril tethering them to one another.  In the middle, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia stood, using their incredible magics for a reason no one could know.

Twilight gasped, taking in the scene.  At first glance, it was a horrific sight.  After the shock, she observed that the large crack was no longer there.

"Does this change the plan?"  Applejack asked.

Twilight shook her head in reply.  "No."  She looked at the field, and at the distracted king.  "Actually, this could work."  She lifted her hoof and pointed at the lone figure.  "His focus is on the princesses."  She redirected her gesture back away from the castle behind a hill.  "That's where we will draw the circles."

After a nod, everyone started their way to their choice in battlefields.


* * *


Every moment felt like hours as everyone dug into the ground, following the design from Twilight's drawings.  Though it was only a couple of minutes, everyone was worried that it was going to be finished too late.

Twilight hovered above the ground, looking down at the work below.  She was satisfied with the design.  She looked at Rarity, then nodded.  After the nod, Rarity's horn glowed, and the circle vanished.

"Okay, I think we're ready," Twilight said as she landed in the middle of the group.  

"Where is Rainbow and Fluttershy?"  Applejack asked.

Twilight looked up at the sky.  "Rainbow Dash is up there, waiting for a signal."  She turned toward the battle.  "Fluttershy was to give a message to the princesses.  I hope she can send the message."  She looked toward Crimson and Demi.  "Are we ready?"

Crimson and Demi looked at each other, then back to Twilight.  Crimson nodded.  "We are ready, princess."

"Okay.  Good luck."  

Crimson nodded, then turned around to face the battle.  The girls scattered to get into their positions.  Applejack headed toward the battlefield while Rarity, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie went to the outside of the large circle.  Demi stayed behind, leaving the two alone in the middle of the circle.  "My brother," she said as she walked up to Crimson.  "I..."

"Do not worry, my sister."  He turned his head, his mane blowing behind him.  "The plan that the princess has is a good plan."

"I know, but..."  She looked away to avoid eye contact.  "I was shown something that... helped."

Crimson blinked questionably at his sister.  

Demi put her hoof around Crimson's shoulders, and she hugged him.  Crimson was surprised at the strange action.  "Good luck," she quietly said, holding back the strange sensations in her chest, and the tears that formed in her eyes.  

"You too."  

The hug broke, and the two stared into each other's eyes.  After a couple of heartbeats, Demi turned and trotted to her position to the head of the circle.  Crimson stared as she trotted away, then he turned and walked to meet Applejack near the top of the hill.


* * *


"Your power wanes," the King taunted as he stared at the two princesses from under the hood of his cloak.  "I can feel it."  The wind bellowed the mantle, almost blowing it off of his thick, armored shoulders.  He smiled under the hood of his cloak.  "Can you feel it?  Can you feel your demise?"  

The princesses visibly struggled, and were the last two standing.  All around them, the soldiers fell to the magic that coursed through their bodies.  

"Sister," Luna gasped.  "I... can't..."

"You must!"  Celestia exclaimed through gritted teeth.  "Please!  Just...  a little longer!"

The ground rumbled once more, and the crack started to open once more.  The princesses focused their energies on the cavity, sealing the hole once more.  

"Your death draws near," the mighty king bellowed.  "Look at your lands, and know that you have failed your entire world."

The king took a staggering step forward as a strong pony leapt on his back.  Being larger than the attacker, he hardly struggled against the hold.  His head turned to see Applejack holding onto his back.  Then, the ground below him shifted, and a stone pillar punched through the earth.  The king was flung high into the air, uncontrollably tumbling end over end.  With his concentration shifted, the winds suddenly died down as he tried to extend his huge, leathery wings.  Applejack gripped the folded wings and held them down.  As they flew over the hill, Applejack kicked off the bound projectile, redirecting the momentum for him to crash harder into the ground.  He started to glow as his momentum telekenetically quickened.  He slammed into the ground, bounced on impact, crashed once more, rolled over two times, then slid a dozen feet down the hill on his side.  Applejack's fall was slowed and she gently landed on her hooves. 

"Futile," the king said as he got to his hooves.  He took a moment to get a survey of the scene, noticing the hill they were on, and the apex of the hilltop the foolish pony stood on.  "You shall die a slow, painful death."  

"Come and get me!"  Applejack taunted.  She turned and started to run away.

The great wings of leather spread out, ripping the tattered cloak off of the mighty king to show his double curved horned head.  "Running will only enhance your suffer..."  He paused as he felt something soft hit his muzzle.  His wings relaxed as he lifted a hoof in confusion.  Water touched his skin, washing away the dirt from the events before.  He looked up, then winced as a falling drop of water hit his face.  "What trickery is this?"

"Brother!"  A voice shouted from a short distance.  

The king looked down at the figure standing in front of him  "So you survived," he remarked as he studied the figure.  He looked upon Crimson, and inspected from afar his shining chain linked armor.  He noticed the many trinkets in his mane, the long hair tied back, and his curved horn glowing.  "And you have learned a new power."

Crimson stood proud and tall.  "Give up, brother.  Leave this land."

The king grinned.  "I am amused, brother."  He started to walk toward Crimson.  "For the survival of our kind, this land must be purged."  

"Do you not feel it?  These lands are in pain, and it is weakening us."

"You are a fool."  The king lifted his hoof with a hoof full of dirt in his grasp.  "These lands will be mine, and we will survive."  He continued his menacing walk forward toward his prey.

"You are overpowered, and you can not win.  I implore you, brother.  Leave this land and do not return."

"Overpowered?"  The king asked in a mocking boom, making him stop in his tracks.  The chains clanged together as they settled from the sudden stop.  "Do not think this..."  He looked up at the sky.  "Ability to create water from the sky will empower your abilities enough to match me."  He looked back at Crimson.  "Don't forget that I have this land's war trinkets."

Crimson stood fearlessly and motionless.  

The king's horns started to glow as the orbiting corrupted Elements of Harmony's dark aura pulsed.  "So be it."