//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 Four Archers // Story: Scaled Heights // by Zephyr Spark //------------------------------// “Yes, that was my name once.” The Sir Knight figure wore a little smile on his face, as though he were appreciating a life experience. “Arrow Bolt. Ah, he was the perfect vessel for my spirit.” “Spirit?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Who the hay do you think you are??” “Sir Knight. My spirit has returned in the body of this most worthy vessel.” “That voice,” muttered Yellow. “That doesn’t sound like dad at all. It’s too deep and not grinding like gravel. Could he really be…?” “Give me a break,” Said Spitfire unimpressed. “Sir Knight’s a legend. You’re no legend. That’s a neat parlor trick though, making your voice sound scary. Who are you really, and what do you want?” “Arrow Bolt,” Silver answered Spitfire’s question without looking at her. His eyes were fiercely guarded, surrendering little trace of emotion. “Stop this. Stop this right now.” “Silver Shine, my old friend.” Said the stallion, golden light radiating from his fur, like a star standing on the earth. With the light, there was a strange pressure in the air, as if an overwhelming presence was hanging over them. “I’ve realized my purpose. All these years of planning, suffering, and waiting, it’s all lead to this. Even death could not stop me from seizing my destiny. Now, join me.” He extended his hoof to all the athletes, who were on the verge of panic. “Come, join my righteous quest. Fulfill a purpose greater than yourself. Join me, and you shall become a part of my new world and never know death—” “Stand your ground, everypony,” Shouted Silver, as he noticed a few athletes wavering before the so-called legend. Reassured by Silver’s calm demeanor, they began to settle down. Many ponies looked to the elder for leadership, watching quietly as Silver faced down the archer. “Arrow, you need help. Please, drop this magic dome and let’s just talk.” Arrow Bolt looked upon Silver with clear disappointment on his face, letting out a saddened sigh. “I see. I had hoped you would recognize your savior. But I suppose you’ve been lost to the light for far too long.” His horn flashed with a golden aura. He turned to address the crowd. “I have come here to deal with the dragon responsible for attacking Fillydelphia. The one who’s father was responsible for the Dragon Town Rampage fifty years ago.” Spike noticed Yellow Bolt’s legs trembling as he bit his lip. “He had nothing to do with it,” Yellow muttered, too softly for anypony to hear. “I know he’s innocent.” Arrow Bolt continued without noticing Yellow Bolt’s stammering, as if he was not even visible. “But first, I’ve come to deal with this,” he flicked his chin at Spike with a disgusted sneer, “With this … insult.” The last words were a vicious hiss, barely able to get out from behind the pony’s harshly clenched teeth. Rainbow Dash darted between them, keeping her eyes trained on the archer. His eyes brimmed with a scarlet flame, as though he was about to cast some horrible spell on her. Spike didn’t like that look, especially when it was aimed at his friend. “Wait,” he said, taking a moment to gently push Rainbow Dash aside before Arrow Bolt could cast a spell. “What exactly do you want from me?” “Don’t speak to your better, lizard,” Arrow Bolt hissed. “Or I’ll snap you in half.” Spike swallowed nervously, sensing that this stallion was fully capable of following through on his threat. “Now then,” Said Arrow. “We fight to the end, little dragon. To determine once and for all, who’s the greatest archer: Sir Knight or some pretender.” “Spike, don’t agree to this,” Said Rainbow Dash. “Let me and Spitfire handle him.” Spike was about to agree, when he remembered Twilight was trapped in some kind of wonky time-freeze spell. She was basically a hostage now, and he had no idea what would happen to her if she wasn’t freed soon. “He’s gonna threaten to hurt you guys if I don’t,” whispered Spike. “It’s crazy bad guy 101. And I can’t let him hurt any of you. Not anymore.” Turning to Arrow Bolt, he took a few steps forward. “If I win, your spells will come undone? Will Starlight and Discord get their magic back and the time-freeze spell will go down? At least, I’m assuming that was all you.” “Yes, it was my magic. If you defeat me, perhaps all my spells will vanish. But when I win, you’ll never pick up a bow again.” “You want me to quit archery? That’s it?” “‘Quit archery?’ "He cackled, making a sound that didn’t sound natural. “You misunderstand. I want to kill you. I want to drag you into the street, broken, humiliated, and show the world that you are nothing. Then, your team leader for letting you compete.” His eyes shifted over to the blue pegasus, standing feet behind Spike. For as brave as she was, even she felt miniscule under his gaze, as though an entire mountain pressed on her shoulders. “A pegasus who’d let a dragon compete in her own team doesn’t deserve to keep her wings.” He made a slight movement towards her, as though he was about to make good on his threat. Spike drew an arrow and took aim. “Leave my friends out of this.” “You’ll have to make me.” Arrow Bolt sneered, before drawing from his quiver and preparing to fire. “Hold it!” Lightning Star raced forward to the dragon’s side with his bow aimed at Arrow Bolt. “You’re saying you want to figure out who’s the best archer? Well, you forgot something. Spike hasn’t won the Games yet. You interrupted us before the Ice Archery match, the tiebreaker. For all we know, I could’ve kept my record and won the Games. If you’re going to fight Spike, you might as well fight me too.” Spike felt more reassured with the white-furred unicorn standing by his right side, unflinchingly brave. A nobler part of him wanted to tell Lightning to stay out of this fight for his own safety, but his logical side didn’t want to die and knew that he’d need all the help he could get. “Just as well,” Arrow Bolt shrugged. “I planned to execute you for sullying yourself by teaching a dragon or pluck out your eyes, so you could never pass your archery onto another dragon pupil.” Crimson Bolt swallowed at his father’s harsh, lashing threats. Lightning Star held his breath, as his legs went tense. Spike pulled five extra arrows from his quiver and held them in his hand, ready to attack. From the corner of his eye, he saw a flash on the left, and then Silver Shine standing by his side. “By Lightning’s logic, you’ll have to fight me too, Arrow Bolt,” the elderly stallion said. “After all, I could have won Ice Archery and the Games.” Spike couldn’t help giving a scoff and muttering, “Yeah, but you lost Arrow Tag.” “Do you really want to turn away my help?” Silver grumbled under his breath. “And anyways, you didn’t win Arrow Tag. You tied with me and Lightning, remember? So,” he said as he nocked an arrow and faced the dark green stallion, “Arrow Bolt, you will have to fight me too if you really want to be the best archer.” Arrow Bolt’s eyes shifted between the three, unimpressed at their apparent unity. “And what about you, Yellow Bolt?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at the caramel stallion. “Dad—I mean Sir Knight, this doesn’t involve him,” Said Crimson. “We said—” “Everyone must make their choice.” “But, Yellow didn’t win the Games. And it’s not like—” “Are you implying your own brother couldn’t have won this competition? Do you really have so little faith in him?” His voice had an edge to it that warned Crimson not to speak any further. Crimson bit his tongue and nodded, letting his father continue. “So, Yellow Bolt, son of Arrow Bolt, my current vessel. What will you do?” The young archer just stood there, trembling as hot tears poured down his face and his nostrils flared trying to withhold all his muddy mucus. Arrow Bolt looked at his son, his lip curled with disgust. “Still a coward. Can’t tell a dragon how he truly feels, can’t confess his sins to his family, and can’t even make up his mind where he belongs.” “Shut up.” He looked down at the voice who commanded him and saw Spike, grinding his teeth so hard they practically sparked. “I don’t care who you think you are,” said the dragon with a fiery glare. “But you’ve hurt Yellow Bolt for the last time.” Crimson Bolt inspected the dragon skeptically. “Why should you care? Yellow Bolt’s insulted you, turned ponies against you, and didn’t even tell you about us until we put your friend in the hospital. That means he let us destroy your room, he let us attack Starlight and seal her magic. You should hate him.” “I’ll decide who I hate and don’t hate,” Said Spike tightening his grip on his bow. “And no matter what happens today, I won’t hate Yellow.” “But why? How could you forgive him?” “It’s… I don’t know why and I can’t explain it. But,” Spike stopped. He looked over his shoulder, back at Yellow Bolt who was all but blinded by his tears. As their eyes locked, a smile crossed Spike’s face. “I suppose I think of him as a friend.” Yellow Bolt’s eyes widened with disbelief. His lower lip shook and made an awful sucking noise he just couldn’t stop. An uncontrollable urge to inhale took over his mouth, as though he couldn’t get enough air. Embarrassed by the emotional display, Spike turned his attention back to Arrow Bolt. “Yellow.” White Bolt’s voice shook him from his feelings. His pale-furred brother had imploring eyes, a begging expression that Yellow had never seen before. “Please, join us. It can be just like old times, before it all went wrong.” Yellow Bolt stared at them for a moment, looking at White Bolt then Crimson, then Iron, and then his father. “You can come back, Yellow,” Crimson Bolt said with a smile, full of sincere love. “You can be our brother again. And this time, we’ll protect you.” Yellow’s mouth wavered, trying to close on some distinct words. His body was shaking once again, as Crimson Bolt’s familiar voice and soothing promise washed over him. “All you have to do is join us. Help us now, and you can even be on the right side of history. We won’t have to break up our family ever again. You can be whole again.” His lithe caramel hoof took a step towards his brother. His soul wanted this, craved this, more than he could ever admit. His face sunk down, the shadow of his thick jagged bangs obscured his eyes, as other athletes waited to see what he would choose. The weight of every eye in the world was upon him now. He took a few more steps towards his brothers, until he was almost adjacent to Silver Shine. Then, he stopped. White Bolt and Crimson Bolt looked at their brother with hopeful eyes, pleading for him to cross over. Even Iron Bolt had a dim expression in his stormy eyes that looked vaguely hopeful and tender. “Tell me, White Bolt,” Yellow said with his eyes still downcast, hidden beneath the shadows cast by his bangs. “Did you poison Honey Charm?” At once, the hopeful gazes vanished from their faces. As Crimson tried to think up an excuse, Yellow Bolt lifted his face, revealing a pair of scowling, furious eyes. “Is dad going to kill Frost for a crime he didn’t commit?” “We know he’s guilty,” Said Crimson. “Right, White Bolt?” “Of course, we—” “You still haven’t answered me, White Bolt.” His face contorted into a dark dangerous expression. His body trembled, not out of fear or remorse, but pure rage. “Did you poison Honey Charm? And is dad going to kill Frost?” Slowly, White Bolt nodded. Yellow pulled an arrow from his quiver and fired directly at his brother. White Bolt managed to cast a hasty shield spell that bounced the projectile into the arena wall, where it made a small, icy hole. “What’re you doing?” He exclaimed. “We’re your family!” Yellow still looked vengeful, but with Silver by his side watching him, his temper was now in check so he didn’t fire an immediate second arrow. “I know.” He said with a brief, small, wistful glance. “And I cherish all the good times we had together. They make the bad almost tolerable.” His eyes hardened, as fresh tears began welling in his eyes. “But Honey Charm’s been there for me when you all weren’t. She was there to show me love and help me, each and every time you beat me.” “What?” Silver gasped, as his glance darted between Yellow and his brothers, and then his father. Arrow Bolt however, said nothing to deny Yellow’s claims. At that moment, Silver remembered how Spike mentioned there was something about his old friend he didn’t know. He never understood how Yellow Bolt turned out the way he did, but now, it was all starting to make sense. But even as he struggled with this realization, the brothers kept talking. “Yellow, we had to do it.” Crimson said with less than sincere conviction. “We just wanted to fix you. To make sure you wouldn’t go on to suffer judgment from other ponies. We had to help you.” “You could’ve said no!” Yellow roared through his angry crying. “You could’ve stood up to dad and defended me!” He shed a few bittersweet tears amidst his livid sobs. “Maybe I’ll always love you, or love how I remember you, but I’m done making excuses for you!” “Yellow, please,” White Bolt’s voice was laced with frustration. “You can’t stand with this lizard. Is it really that easy for you to pick him over us?” “No. Choosing between you and him would be easy enough. Even though I’d want to help him after all the kindness he’s shown me, I’d be too scared to disobey you guys. I’d want to come back. But choosing between you and Honey Charm, you and Frost,” Yellow shook his head. “It’s not even a question.” “Yellow Bolt, think about what you’re doing,” Crimson said. “If you continue down this path, then you won’t be on the right side of history.” He snorted, with bitter amusement. “I don’t know much about right and wrong. I’ve been pulled all over the place to different sides and different perspectives so much I couldn’t tell right from wrong if it were staring me in the face. All I know is this: you hurt Honey Charm, you threatened Frost. That means I can’t side with you, not without killing myself, without killing the real me.” “If you side with them, you can’t come home to your family. You won’t be with us.” “No. But maybe, I’ll be with Frost.” His cheeks curled into a tiny, satisfied smile. “That’s more than enough for me.” “This is your last chance, Yellow,” Said Arrow Bolt, his previously calm voice showing a hint of malice and impatience at his son’s continued defiance. “Stop being a coward and take a stand. If you have any loyalty, stop this foolishness and go to the side where you know you belong.” He punctuated his words with a loud stomp of his hoof that boomed like thunder through the stadium. Yellow closed his eyes, cowed by the dark voice and the familiar command. Every muscle in his body urged him to obey his father. Once again he was about to give in, when he remembered Frost and Honey Charm and remained steadfast in his convictions. “No! I won’t be a coward anymore. You want me to take a stand? You want me to declare once and for all where I belong?” His eyes opened, no longer damp with tears, as he nocked an arrow and took aim at his father. “Well, here you go. I stand with dragons! And today, I fight side by side with Spike, my,” he paused and looked at Spike, who was on the verge of his own tears. Then, Yellow hardened his expression and turned back to his family. “My friend! The only brother I have now!” “So be it,” Said Arrow Bolt. “In bringing you into this world, I made a mistake, I made you flawed. I thought I could fix you, but now I see the only way to make amends is to erase you altogether.” As those red-glowing eyes towered over him, Yellow felt himself growing small, practically reversing to that little fifteen year old. His resolve was fading by the second. Then, a purple dragon stepped in front of him with a bow trained on Arrow Bolt. “You’ll have to go through us first,” Said Spike. Seeing the little dragon defend him revived his courage. Yellow’s grip on his bow was steadier than ever. “My top soldiers versus your motley crew,” Arrow chuckled, “Four on four.” “What?” Spike frowned. “That wasn’t part of the deal.” Spike’s voice went unnoticed. A violent red aura flared from Arrow Bolt’s horn, as he slammed his hoof into the ground. Four walls rose around them, sealing all eight of them inside. A second magical dome rose over the walls, cutting them off from the other athletes. Crimson Bolt and White Bolt drew their bows, and Iron Bolt simply cracked his neck. “Listen up,” Said Silver to the four archers. “I’ll handle Arrow Bolt. I know how he fights, so I can beat him. The rest of you take one of them.” “Who made you leader?” Growled Spike. “I’m the one without magic, shouldn’t I be the one to fight him?” “Look, I understand why you won’t forgive me for shooting Yellow before, especially if what Yellow said they did to him was true. But now’s not the time to hold grudges. We have to work together if we want to win. My teleportation will keep me out of his spell’s range. Even if I can’t beat him, I can at least buy you three enough time to deal with the brothers so we can meet up and gang up on him.” “Enough chitchat,” exclaimed Arrow Bolt as his horn flashed gold. “Let’s fight!” A powerful magical wave flung Spike, Yellow, and Lightning into the three corners of the room. The brothers split up and raced to each corner, as walls formed behind them, enclosing each of them with another archer. Silver Shine faced his old friend with a calm demeanor. “Now that I’ve become Sir Knight, my magic is more powerful than ever. I could end this in a single moment.” “You’re dangerously deluded.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Criticize what your feeble mind can’t comprehend,” he shook his head. “It’s always been your way. My magic defeated Starlight and Discord. What chance do you have?” “I’ve beaten you before, I’ll beat you again.” Silver took aim at Arrow Bolt, reading three more arrows for a quick draw. “Oh, my dear Silver. There’s something I’ve never told you.” Arrow’s eyes glared with a golden aura. All at once, fifty bows appeared around him, aiming directly at Silver. “All these years, I’ve been fighting at a quarter of my real power.” White Bolt teleported in front of Yellow with his bow drawn. “I promised dad I would deal with you if you didn’t see reason. I’m sorry it had to end this way. I truly am.” “I’m not a frightened fifteen-year-old colt anymore,” Said Yellow as he rolled his shoulders. “I can take you.” White Bolt’s horn flashed. Then, he vanished from sight. Yellow Bolt glanced around the field. “Glad to know you think so little of me. Using this stupid spell on me as if it would work,” He said with a smirk. “You think I don’t know how this spell works? You think I haven’t sparred with Honey Charm?” Yellow’s eyes narrowed at a spot where the grass bent unnaturally. Three hooves made an imprint on the turf, and a fourth one was about to come down. He sent an ice arrow where he expected the fourth hoof to fall. Ice spread over the grass. Startled by the slippery terrain, White Bolt’s hoof skidded, causing him to trip. The invisibility spell dropped, but White Bolt cast a shielding spell just in time to block Yellow’s next arrows. When the arrows stopped, he dropped his shield spell and looked at Yellow, almost impressed by his brother’s strategy. “Start taking me seriously,” said Yellow. “I’m not some helpless baby. I’m one of Fillydelphia’s archers who qualified for the Equestria Games. Treat me like it.” “Oh, brother,” chuckled White Bolt. “You’re in over your head. Especially if you think your magic is a match for mine.” After catching his breath from colliding into the corner, Lightning looked up to find Crimson Bolt several feet away, levitating a bow at him. Lightning had an arrow nocked before Crimson could even blink. The two eyed each other, searching the other’s body for any movement that could betray the other’s intention. “Impressive reaction time,” said Crimson. “But I’m not just an archer.” “Yeah, I noticed the sword you have in that scabbard. You set that fencing record ten years ago. Undefeated in every match.” “Glad you remembered.” With magic, he pulled the thin blade out, saluted with a single flick, and aimed at his opponent. “Care for a demonstration, Party Fever?” Lightning’s jaw tightened at his old nickname, a gesture which did not escape Crimson’s attention. “Yes,” said the dark red stallion. “I know who you are. More importantly, I know what you did so many years ago, on that night.” Lightning’s focus began to wane, as memories resurged. He mentally scolded himself, trying to keep his mind in the present, but Crimson was still talking. “You know what I’m talking about, right? I know where you were on the night when your sister had that tragic accident that took her legs. Honestly, it wasn’t that hard to figure out with a little asking around. Still, I have to say I’m impressed. I never thought you were capable of such a crime.” “Shut it.” “Hmm,” Crimson said as he raised an amused eyebrow. “Struck a nerve there, didn’t I?” “It was years ago. I’ve done my time.” “Is that what you told your wife?” Lightning was silent. His grip on his bow was slipping, as his face went red with grief. His breathing was becoming coarse and shallow. “Ah, so you didn’t tell her. And does your sister know?” “I thought I told you to shut it,” Lightning glowered. “Criminals like you don’t get to judge me!” “Criminal?” Crimson snorted, and shook his head. “Now, now. I’m not the one who spent time in prison for murder!” Murder. The word hung in the air like a horrendous violent echo. Everyone in the world could hear the accusation, from Princess Celestia to the Crystal Empire and Fleetfoot and to Thunder Star. Thinking of them as they stood in shock from hearing Crimson’s claim nearly broke Lightning’s resolve. He never wanted the world to see him like this, but now his crime was out in the open for all to see, in all its naked, hideous glory. “Can’t even deny it, can you?” Said Crimson with a smirk. “It was an accident, I swear.” “That’s exactly what you said in your testimony. Some young, drunk stallion spit on you at one of your infamous parties. The two of you got in a fight, exchanging blows. You pushed him. He took a tumble off the roof and broke his neck. You turned yourself in, and in your testimony, you said ‘It was an accident, I swear.’ They believed you, but you spend a month in the dungeons for it. You learned that your sister’s been unconscious for the past month because of her accident.” Crimson shook his head, with an expression mixed between disgust and disappointment. “You know, I have to ask. Were you really sorry about killing him? Or were you only sorry when you realized that your sister was hospitalized while you were busy partying?” “Of course I was sorry about it. I never wanted to hurt anyone.” “But what made you change your ways? Was it the killing? Or,” Crimson’s eye’s narrowed as he pointed a hoof at Lightning, “Would you have even shaped up if your sister hadn’t been injured because of your recklessness?” “I just… I didn’t mean for him to… I didn’t know it would… I never meant to kill him.” “Odd then, how you pushed that poor young stallion off a five-story building, for what was it? ‘Spitting on you?’ Quite the overreaction.” Crimson took a few steps forward, as Lightning’s determination started to falter along with his grip on his bow. “All your life, you’ve tried to atone for your sins. Not by punishing yourself, no. But by pretending to have grown up into a sensible, young stallion who cares entirely about his sister.” As Lightning struggled for words, Crimson tensed his back hooves and shot forward, catching the archer by surprise. His sword jabbed, jabbed, jabbed, scoring precise shallow wounds on Lightning. The archer fell to his knee. Crimson drew back for the final blow when— “Lightning! Get up!” Fleetfoot’s voice screamed through the solid walls and through the magical dome. In that moment, Lightning found his strength again. He fired three ice arrows in a single second where Crimson stood, forcing the unicorn to leap away. He rose to his hooves, pulled the ice arrows out of the ground, and exhaled. “You know, a friend once told me that I should put the past behind me,” Said Lightning. “Truth is, however, I don’t think I ever will. I’ll always live with my regrets, my mistakes, and my sins. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never escape it all. But I won’t let my past keep me from living my life. Not anymore.” “So you say,” Crimson said with total nonchalance. “But there’s still plenty more pain to dig up.” Lightning frowned as he took stock of his situation. His wounds weren’t serious and he could certainly keep fighting. But Crimson was far too nimble and quick to hit. If he didn’t keep an arrow ready to fire at all times, Crimson could easily close the distance between them and finish the fight with a single fatal sword blow. He had to buy time so he could figure out something, someway to beat his opponent swiftly. He quickly picked through what he knew about Crimson’s fighting style. So far, he hadn’t even used the bow, so it was most likely just for show; a sort of distraction so his sword could come in and attack. But Lightning realized Crimson’s greatest weapon wasn’t his sword or speed; it was his piercing, eloquent words. He knew what to say in a way that would affect everypony. Then perhaps, he could be brought down with words too. “Mind if I ask you something?” Said Lightning. “What’s that?” “You set so many records in just one Game. But then you never competed again. Why?” Crimson blinked, surprised. He wondered for a moment what subterfuge Lightning was trying. Seeing none, he shrugged. “I guess there’s no harm in telling you. I gave that up, so I could look after my family. After a dragon killed our mother, my father became despondent. So, naturally, being the eldest, I had to look after us all. Even after he got back on his hooves, my father needed me right there to help raise my brothers. And I love my brothers, far more than anything else in this world.” “Isn’t that kind of hypocritical of you to say?” Asked Lightning with an edge to his voice. “From what I understand, you beat Yellow Bolt for falling for a dragon. How exactly is that love?” “I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” He said with a snort. “The dragon Yellow fell in love with, it’s the offspring of the same dragon that killed our mother!” He practically spat out the last words, a hint of unkempt rage evident in his eyes. Lightning’s eyes narrowed. “So you beat him to teach him a lesson? Is that it?” “I had to. I had to keep the family together.” “By beating your youngest brother?! That’s not love!!” “What do you know?! I had to build the founding blocks for our new family. I had to give them and my father an outlet for all their anger and pain. That was the only way that I could stop their sorrow. The only way I could return life to my father’s eyes. By falling in love with a dragon, Yellow threatened the foundations that were keeping our family together. I had to do it. For the sake of my whole family.” “Foundations built on hate aren’t foundations at all.” “Hate? You think our family was built on hate?” All at once the rage in Crimson’s eyes evaporated, leaving only traces of a lifelong pain. “You have no idea what it was like after our mom died. Our family was lost, broken. It was like all the life in the world left us. I had to stand up and get us back on track. I had to look after my little brothers. I had to help dad make ends meet, I had to babysit my brothers instead of having a life of my own, I had to give up my promising future as an athlete in the Equestria Games so I could stay with them. Every night, I had to tuck them in. I had to work from before the sun came up until it was practically dusk. I had to keep us from falling apart. But you know what? It was fine by me. Because I love my family more than anything. All the pain, all the stress, all the nights where I couldn’t let them see me crying; none of it stopped me from being what they needed me to be. I’d do anything to keep us from falling apart. Our family was founded on love. Uncompromising love.” Lightning had the beginnings of a plan, but he still needed more time. He had to keep stalling. “I guess we’re opposites like that,” he said. “My parents ditched me and my little sister the first chance they got. I followed their example and ditched my sister whenever I could. I didn’t want to feel for anyone again. I couldn’t take that feeling of betrayal again. When my little sister needed me every night, I was never there. Too busy partying my cares away. I didn’t even think about her, until she got hurt because I wasn’t there. I’ve had regrets. A lot, actually. But none greater than pushing away my sister instead of taking responsibility.” “You care about your family.” Crimson regarded Lightning with a hint of approval, from one brother to another. “Then, why side with dragons? They’re unpredictable monsters who can destroy entire towns. Befriending them invokes nothing but pain, suffering, and loss. What happened to my mother will happen again to others if we refuse to act. I will protect my family and my children, so they can grow up in a world free of terror. If you win, they’ll still be rampaging. Eventually, they’ll rampage in your town. They won’t see you differently from any other pony.” “Maybe. I guess I’ll just have to hope they remember the kindness I showed to one of their own.” “Do you honestly think they’ll never threaten you or your sister? Or how about your new wife, or the family you’ll raise with her? Do you think they’ll recognize you or your family when they finally decide to act like the monsters they truly are?” A flicker of fear crossed his heart at the thought. Fleetfoot or Thunder losing their lives was too unbearable to even think about. But even more unbearable was the thought of letting Crimson’s words faze him. “You’ve got a way with words. If I were anypony else, you might’ve made me hesitate.” “And what kept you from hesitating?” “I’ve spent a lot of time with Spike. I’ve trained him, helped him through some hard times. In many ways, I’ve come to see him as a brother I never had. That’s why I can’t push him or dragonkind away.” “You think of him as a brother?” “Gladly.” “Then you’re more of a fool than I thought.” “Nothing’s more important than family, right? I know that, and somehow I know that you know that too. You didn’t want to hurt Yellow. And I bet you still don’t.” Crimson by now was holding in his anger, sputtering, lost for words. “What?” “Why else would you try so hard to bring him to your side?” “I—” “And even now, you’re hesitating. You act like you believe this cause completely, but even I can see you’re shaking. When I was almost down a few minutes ago, you could’ve finished me off. Instead, you just gave me these little scrapes. I think I know why.” He snorted contemptuously. “Are you going to say I couldn’t bring myself to kill you?” “That’s part of it. But there’s more. You’re worried that if you beat me, you’ll have to go fight Yellow Bolt. You’re not sure you want to go through with this, not if it means hurting your brother again. Even after everything you’ve done, all the barriers you’ve tried to raise around your heart, you still love him.” The dark red stallion broke eye contact for a moment, glancing quickly to the ground. In that moment of silent hesitation, Lightning pressed on. “I’ve seen guys like you, who try to act like they don’t care.” “You don’t know a thing about me.” “Yes, I do. I used to be like that. When my parents ditched my little sister and me, I told myself that I wouldn’t care about anypony or anything ever again. I just partied my life away, never thinking about my sister or the other ponies around me. I buried my feelings so I wouldn’t have to face how I really felt. So I wouldn’t have to go through the pain of loving someone only to lose them again.” Lightning scowl deepened as he stared down the unicorn. “That’s no different from what you’re doing right now. Trying to stick with your father by swallowing how much you love Yellow. Let me tell you from experience, ignoring your heart, trying not to feel, it doesn’t make it hurt less. It just causes more pain. You can’t turn off your heart.” Crimson was speechless, feeling miniscule under Lightning’s blue piercing gaze. His bow had slipped from his magical grasp, as his eyes thundered with uncertainty. Deftly and without a sound, Lightning levitated an arrow behind Crimson and readied the arrow nocked in his bow, as he continued to speak. “If you really love him, then stop this.” “I—we…” Crimson bit his lip and picked up his bow. “We can’t. We’ve come too far.” “You can always turn back.” Crimson’s eyes narrowed at the choice of words. He pivoted around as the arrow came flying, drew his sword, and with a single swipe, batted it away. Lightning leapt forward with his hoof drawn back to strike. Crimson turned his foil on him, when he noticed a layer of ice covering the center of his blade. Then, he realized Lightning’s target was never him, but his sword. His eyes darted to Lightning, too late to stop the next arrow that raced from his bow into the ice covered blade, too late to stop the ice-brittle blade from snapping half, and far too late to block Lightning’s hoof from connecting with his jaw. Crimson flew a few feet before falling to the floor in a groaning heap. “And keep going forward with an open heart.” “Cheap shot,” wheezed Crimson, unable to pick himself back up. “I grew up without parents in a rundown neighborhood. You can’t blame a guy for learning to fight dirty.” “No, I meant using words against me. That’s a cheap shot.” “Like I said before, I learned how to fight dirty.” Crimson’s eyes stared blankly into the sky, covered by the magical dome of light. “Can’t believe you know me better than I do.” “I’ve been where you are now; stuck in past pain,” Said Lightning. “I got out. So can you.” The dark red stallion blinked, regarding Lightning for a moment. “Please, save Yellow.” His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell unconscious. Lightning took a moment to breathe before turning to the spot where he last saw Spike. Before he could race over to him, he saw a burst of magical energy come from the wall in front of him where he last saw Silver Shine. He looked from the wall that covered Spike and then the wall that hid Silver, debating where to go first. In the end, he realized Silver was facing a unicorn of untold magical power. He needed help more than Spike, or he might not last much longer. “Just hold out a little bit longer, Spike,” whispered Lightning, before heading towards the magical explosion. He felt like tennis ball getting launched around the field by a force far stronger than his own. Spike’s vision went red as he slammed into the wall once again. He ducked, before Iron Bolt’s hoof turned the place where his head was a few seconds ago into a crater. Grabbing arrows from his quiver he jabbed Iron Bolt’s side. Even as it connected and the ice spread across the titan’s flesh, Iron Bolt didn’t seem to even notice or care. He simply turned around and smacked Spike with a back-hoof, sending him into another wall. Spike fell to the ground, but wasted no time pulling himself back up. He quickly sent three more ice arrows at Iron Bolt, managing to catch the stallion by surprise. As the arrows froze his chest, he staggered back a few feet. His stormy eyes glared at Spike through the slits of his mask. He wasn’t used to prey that didn’t go down in a single blow, much less one that fought back so persistently. Spike was built tougher than the average dragon. “How can you enjoy this?” asked Spike through swollen lips. “How could you possibly like hurting anyone who’s never done a thing to you? How can you enjoy hurting my friends?” Using his massive hooves, Iron Bolt shaved off chunks of the ice on his chest. As the last shard fell, Spike saw his eyes morph into a sick expression. Even though he couldn’t see his face, he could tell beneath that mask, Iron Bolt wore a massive, sinister grin. And Spike could tell instantly, he didn’t simply enjoy this; he reveled in the misery, laughing to himself at each bone he broke and each tear that was shed. All at once Spike felt a rage building deep within his heart. Before he could even think, he fired an arrow directly at Iron Bolt’s neck. The stallion shifted a few inches, managing to avoid the worst of the ice arrow, which spread an icy layer across the left side of his neck. “You’re a monster,” Spike said nocking another arrow. “You’ll just keep hurting others unless I bring you down.” His next attack struck Iron’s chest. But through the pain and the ice hissing across his skin, Iron Bolt was grinning even more. He leapt forward and came down hard. Spike barely managed to dart out of the way before the stallion left a massive crater where he once stood. He had his claws on another arrow in his quiver, but Iron Bolt, despite his bulk, was fast. He raced forward with an outstretched hoof, catching Spike right in the chest. Then, he finished his swing and sent the dragon flying into another wall, crashing with a thump that made many ponies flinch as he hit the ground. But Spike wouldn’t stay down. He was just as driven as Iron Bolt. As the stallion came stomping into him, Spike felt that burning rage growing through his entire being. A hoof came down to crush Spike’s skull, but Spike didn’t move. The blow echoed through the arena like a hammer splitting rock. Iron Bolt stared at the dragon, stupefied. Somehow, Spike had lifted his hand and stopped Iron Bolt’s hoof. Blocking the blow jarred his arm, sending tremors through his muscles, but pain seemed like a distant thought. His claws dug directly into Iron Bolt’s skin, drawing droplets of blood. He took a deep breath and exhaled flames directly at the stallion’s mask-covered face. Iron managed to duck, but the tip of his left ear was completely singed. With his free hoof, he pounded Spike’s stomach, loosening the dragon’s grip on his hooves enough to slip his other hoof free. As Iron readied a second blow, the little dragon drew his open fist back and uppercut punched. The blow was powerful, rocking his entire head and sending flashes of red through his vision. Iron Bolt was taken aback by the strength behind the punch. If he hadn’t braced himself, that could have knocked him out or worse. He jumped back, but took an ice arrow to his left shoulder. As the icy pain spread over his muscles, Iron realized Spike was far stronger than he looked for his size. A fierce archery training regiment must have strengthened his inherently powerful draconic muscles to incredible levels. Their stormy eyes locked, like the collision of two hurricanes. Beneath his expressionless mask, Iron Bolt had a twisted grin stretching across his face. He got what he wanted. Spike was ready to kill him in front of every citizen of Equestria. White Bolt’s horn burst with red magical lightning that raced towards Yellow. The caramel stallion’s horn flashed yellow, and suddenly the blue lightning arced around Yellow Bolt harmlessly. The electric spell made a full-turn around Yellow before zooming back into the caster. White Bolt screamed as the spell sent waves of pain through his body, and the ground around him erupted into smoke. His front hoof fell out from under him, causing his body to slump to the ground. White Bolt stared at his little brother, who looked more serene than possible in a fight. And it was that peaceful expression that infuriated him. Summoning his magic strength, White Bolt reared back his head, creating a giant pulsing orb at the tip of his horn. He threw his head forward sending the full force beam at Yellow. His brother’s horn sparked yellow, and a massive barrier formed around him. White Bolt watched as his magical attack, normally strong enough to destroy concrete and overpower magical barriers with ease, rammed into the shield spell, throwing up dust and grass. White Bolt panted, exhausted, as he brought himself back to all four hooves. As the debris scattered from his magical burst kept falling, he searched for any trace of Yellow. For moments, nothing happened. “Sorry, brother,” White Bolt said with a little bow of the head. “You had your chance.” He saw something fly from the debris cloud, faster than he could react. An arrow struck his right front hoof, freezing his leg to the ground. Before he could even comprehend the pain, another arrow struck his left hoof and froze it to the ground. “Tartarus! That’s cold!” The debris settled, revealing Yellow Bolt in the exact same spot as before. White Bolt gawked with disbelief, sinking to the ground, falling so low he had to look up at Yellow. “I hit you full force! How did your shield spell hold up?!” Yellow flicked dirt off his shoulder, unimpressed. This gesture alone left White Bolt disheartened, realizing his spell didn’t even faze his opponent. “I thought you studied magic,” Yellow Bolt said. “Don’t you remember the first rule of casting you ever taught me?” “Of course. ‘A unicorn’s magic can increase or decrease proportionally to their emotions.’ What does that…?” White Bolt stopped mid-question. “Oh, I see.” He nodded and gave a rueful chuckle, yet it was clear he looked ready to vomit. “You’re drawing on your … love for Frost. That’s why your magic’s so powerful.” “Sure. Call it love if you want to.” Yellow Bolt blushed, still embarrassed at the word. “But it’s more than that. You know that emotion rule of magic goes both ways. If the caster isn’t putting their heart into each spell, then it will only be cast at half power.” “What?” White Bolt gasped, struck by Yellow’s implications. “Are you suggesting my heart isn’t in my every spell?” “Even if you can’t admit it, I know you don’t want to hurt me. Or maybe, you don’t believe in your own cause as deeply as you thought. You can say otherwise, but your heart, or at least your magic, tells a different story.” “Shut up,” growled White Bolt. His horn flashed red, sending a wave of heat to the ground that quickly melted his frozen hoofs. “Shut up!” His horn flashed, turning his single bow into ten. “Take this!” White Bolt’s bows unleashed a flurry of arrows at Yellow Bolt from all directions. Yellow’s horn shimmered a peaceful sunset orange, releasing a powerful wave of heat across the field. Every arrow coming at him crumbled into ashes, every bow caught fire. White Bolt scrambled to save just one of his bows from the fire, cooling it with a reverse heating spell. He looked once again at Yellow in total disbelief. Somehow, his brother performed his own heating spell to even greater effect. “I don’t understand,” said White Bolt. “You’re a nervous wreck who can’t stop crying. I’ve studied magic all my life. How could this happen?” “I guess you don’t know your own heart as well as you thought.” “But you,” he said between heaving gasps. “You still love our family. You should be struggling just as much as I am. How could you love Frost so much more than your own brothers?” “You just don’t get it at all,” Yellow Bolt said as he pulled three arrows from his quiver and nocked a third one. “My magic is fueled not just by my feelings for Frost but by my feelings for you guys as well.” “You’re using your love for us to fuel the magic you use to fight us? What nonsense are you talking about? That shouldn’t even be possible.” “I love the White Bolt I remember.” Yellow Bolt found a smile spreading across his face, content at the memories. “He taught me levitation and illumination spells. He helped me with a science project that he knew nothing about and got glue stuck in his fur. He protected me from bullies at school and got a suspension for giving one of my bullies a black eye. He who spent hours trying to explain sines, cosines, and tangents so I could get an A in math and Ms. Roots would stop belittling my lack of math skills. The White Bolt who let me hang out with his team during his Equestria Games on the field itself. That’s the White Bolt I remember. Call me delusional, or just a fool, but that’s the White Bolt I know you are. To protect that White Bolt, I’ll gladly take you down. Yellow magically gripped his three arrows and sent them racing at his brother. He made the arrows circle White Bolt like gnats, whirling around him so fast he couldn’t hope to keep up. The arrows grazed his body, each touch spreading a layer of ice across his form. Even as the unicorn lashed out against, the ice kept spreading. In a matter of seconds, he was encased in a block of solid ice. Yellow walked over to White Bolt’s frozen form and cast a small heating spell, melting away the ice surrounding his face. As his brother gasped and coughed for air, Yellow returned his three arrows to his quiver. White Bolt tried to move his body, but found the ice too thick. Yellow’s horn shone once again, spreading a second wave of warmth into White Bolt’s body without melting ice. That sense of warmth lingered, preventing frostbite. The pale stallion took deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. “Why did you spare me?” White Bolt asked. “I poisoned Honey Charm, I threatened Frost. Don’t you hate me?” “If you think I don’t hate you after everything you’ve done, you’re crazier than Pinkie Pie. … but I guess,” Yellow shrugged. The scowl he wore on his face softened into a self-critical expression. “I don’t know. It sounds stupid, and it makes me sound hopeless. I guess I care too much about you. More than I could ever hate you.” White Bolt’s eyes welled with tears, he gritted his teeth, trying to swallow back all the burning mucus that was building in his nostrils. He gave in, and cried. “I don’t deserve a brother as good as you. Yellow Bolt.” His tears continued to pour on as he struggled to look his brother in the eye. “You grew up in the same house as all us and yet...we couldn’t be more different. We turned into criminals and monsters, yet you managed to stay the same noble pony you always were. How?” Yellow Bolt said nothing. He stared at his crying brother. As a smile crossed his face, he put a single hoof on White Bolt’s head. “Because I had a loving family, and I never forgot the kindness they showed me.” “You mean Honey Charm?” “I was actually talking about you guys, but yeah, her too. Now excuse me. I’ve got to go clean up our father’s mess.” He turned around and was about to head to where he last saw his father, when a burst of green flames erupted over the wall adjacent to him. Even at this distance, he could feel the blistering heat raking his face. “Yellow, wait,” Said White Bolt. “You can’t beat Iron Bolt. You know as well as I do that he’s deranged with grief.” “He needs help.” “How can you help someone who doesn’t want your help?” “Remember when we were kids?” Yellow Bolt said without changing his expression. “Crimson looked after us when mom died, but I always felt like Iron Bolt kept us going. He was unwavering even after everything he suffered. His determination kept us all going. His smiles were the thing that kept Crimson from giving up completely, and got dad to eventually pick himself back up. It might not seem like it anymore, but I know there’s something in him worth saving. There has to be.” “You feel bad for him.” “Yeah.” White Bolt looked away, unable to share Yellow’s optimism. “I wish I could agree. But there’s no saving him. Not anymore.” “I know,” Yellow Bolt whispered. “But I have to try.” Without another word, Yellow Bolt raced to the wall, leaving White Bolt alone in the block of ice. He sighed, tired of fighting. “You can try to save him, Yellow. But can you really save Iron Bolt from himself? He’s been dead inside ever since he watched mom die. Seeing it all happen, it just burned him away. Now, there’s not much left.” “Tell me, did you look her in the eyes before you hit her? Did you even wonder if Starlight had friends waiting for her back home?” Iron Bolt said nothing in response. He didn’t even smile with pleasure. He simply rolled his broad shoulders and cracked his neck, keeping his eyes locked on Spike, who had black smoke searing from his jaws. “And what about Discord?” Iron Bolt swished some spit inside his mouth, trying to dilute the bitter blood seeping from his red nostrils. Spike balled his fists, as the rage in his heart became overwhelming. “And Yellow Bolt? Why did you beat him? Because your dad told you to?” He tilted his head, curious why Spike would even mention Yellow. “Say something!” Spike screamed as flames burst from his mouth. “Show me that there’s something in you worth saving!” He kept staring at Spike, waiting for the dragon to make his move. Despite his injuries, he seemed entirely relaxed, but ready to spring at a moment’s notice. Spike felt burning tears fall down his face. “I want to believe that there’s good in everyone, I really do. But you? I just can’t see anything worth saving. And I hate that. I hate that you’ve made me see another living being like this. I hate that you can make me hate you so completely. Because now, it means I could see others like this.” He took a deep breath, sucking back his tears and calming himself. Then, Spike looked at Iron Bolt for any kind of response. The stallion loomed over him, his face hidden behind the expressionless mask. “That thought terrifies me more than you; that I could ever see everypony only through such extremes. If I saw them like that, I’d never have given Yellow Bolt, Starlight, or Discord a chance.” Tired of waiting, Iron Bolt leapt into the air and came down hard. Spike had a moment to jump back and unleash two arrows. One pierced Iron Bolt’s left fore hoof and while the other pierced his right fore hoof, the ice expanded within his limbs the pain finally registered in Iron Bolt, causing him to pause and wince. In this moment, Spike sent ice arrows at Iron Bolt’s remaining hoofs. He reached for an arrow, but found his quiver empty. Undeterred, he threw his bow aside and rushed forward with clenched fists. Iron Bolt would have broken free from the icy restraints but Spike’s first powerful fist connected with his gut. Then another fist slammed his chin, then his face, then his chest still sore from the ice arrows. Spike bared his claws, slashing between his punches as he mercilessly hammered the stallion. “How do you enjoy this?!” Exclaimed Spike as his knuckles drew blood. “How can you love doing this?! Answer me!” His mouth was frothing with flames so intense that Iron could feel their heat blistering his fur. Spike kept punching and clawing, lost in the act of violence. His attacks only stopped when he could no longer breathe. Iron Bolt seemed only slightly winded from Spike’s assault. Otherwise, he still held his head high and. Spike stooped over, exerted. For all his strength, he wasn’t a boxer and he was still just a kid. He had no hope of overwhelming Iron Bolt with brute force alone. Even he could see that now. As Spike tried to catch his breath, Iron Bolt finally broke through the ice pinning down his hoofs. Freed, he leapt forward, ramming Spike with his shoulder and toppling the dragon over. He raised a hoof over Spike’s puny head and brought it down, aiming to crush his skull. Spike only just managed to roll away before the hoof slammed into the ground. Iron Bolt winced as his ice-covered hoofs impacted the ground. With ice arrows still embedded in his limbs, he knew he couldn’t pummel Spike with the same reckless abandon he had before. The pain would be too great. As Spike scrambled to his feet, trying to escape, Iron Bolt stomped on Spike’s tail with his back hoof, causing the dragon to yelp. Then, he wrapped his hoof around Spike’s neck, aiming to strangle him. The dragon struggled, clawing at Iron Bolt’s powerful grip. But Iron Bolt wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to see the life vanish from Spike’s eyes. After releasing his stranglehold, he grabbed Spike’s face between his frozen hoofs and head-butted him, once, twice. Even as his own vision flashed red with pain, he could feel Spike becoming immobile, dazed from the beatings. Mighty hoofs squeezed Spike’s temples, threatening to crush his head like a grape. Spike’s claws groped against Iron Bolt’s hoofs, as though he were trying to pry apart his mighty grip. Iron Bolt would have laughed at the pathetic sight, but something felt off. Somehow, he had a strange notion that Spike wasn’t trying to break free, that he had some other goal. His suspicions were confirmed when Spike’s claws wrapped around the shafts of the ice arrows stuck in Iron Bolt’s hoofs. In a single motion, he ripped out the arrows and rammed them back in. As the arrowheads burst out the other side of his skin, ice seeped through Iron Bolt’s limbs, causing him to drop Spike and shriek with pain. His skin was stinging, burning, beginning to swell. His hoofs fumbled at the ice arrows, but any slight touch sent further pain through his body. He fell to his side, writhing in agony. Spike had dragged himself a few feet away, picking up four scattered ice arrows and his bow. He took aim and pinned Iron Bolt’s hoofs to the ground once again. The bow slipped from Spike’s claws. He was too frightened and bursting with adrenaline to even hold it. Iron Bolt was now lying flat against the ground, heaving through broken bones and a bloody nose. This time, he couldn’t break free. Spike opened his fists and looked down at his bloody palms. He saw something on the ground at his feet: a white mask stained red. Iron Bolt must have lost it at some point in their scuffle and neither of them realized it. Then he looked up and stared into Iron Bolt’s unmasked face with revulsion. Across the dark grey stallion’s face, stretching from under one eye all the way above the other was an old jagged burn scar where a dragon’s flames scarred him. His skin was peeled, blistering black and red all the way from his left cheekbone to the base of his chin. The scars practically disrupted his grey face, destroying what had once been a charming, youthful grin. A second scar, three parallel claw marks, lined his throat laterally. This close up without any fighting, Spike finally had a good look at Iron Bolt’s horn: jagged, chipped in several places. Iron Bolt’s eyes were still stormy with hatred and wrath, even as his teeth were stained with blood that seeped down into his grey-furred chin. He said nothing. “Guess someone else messed you up, huh?” Spike said with empty eyes. “You get those beating up helpless baby dragons?” For once, Iron Bolt broke eye contact for a split second. His eyes seemed to show some faint emotion, some trace of painful trauma at the mention of his destroyed face. For a moment, he was practically a baby; powerless, helpless, and desperate for his mother. When the moment passed, he was as stoic as ever. “Crimson said a dragon killed his mother,” Spike said more to himself than anyone. At the mention of this dragon and his mom, Iron Bolt’s eyes darkened with pain, visible, palpable sorrow. This reaction suddenly made something click in Spike’s mind. He had an idea why Iron Bolt was so spiteful towards dragons and anyone connected to them. “You were with her the day it happened. The day the dragon hurt your mom and you got caught in the crossfire. Or maybe, she risked her life protecting you. That’s where you got those scars.” Iron Bolt’s silence seemed different this time. There seemed to be an unspoken “yes” to Spike’s statement. A faint sound almost like a whimper came from Iron Bolt’s mouth. He clenched his eyes shut, lost for a moment in the memory. Then, his eyes burst open and he glared at the dragon with all of his stormy hatred. “Funny this face never showed up in the old photographs that Yellow showed me. I’m guessing you used magic to cover this mess up?” His lips swirled some spit inside his mouth. Without hesitation, he spat blood into Spike’s face, and flashed his broken, bloodied teeth in a grimace. Spike rubbed out the spit with his wrist. Despite Iron’s goading, Spike remained visibly unaffected. His eyes seemed to look on Iron Bolt with something akin to sympathy. Iron Bolt growled, revolted that his enemy seemed to be taking so much pity on him. He stretched his neck, letting his necklace sporting Discord’s horn slide up his neck for the world to see. At the sight of this horn, Spike raised his fist, still tingling with jarred numbness from all those punches. Iron Bolt still said nothing, heaving with ragged breaths as he refused to break eye contact. Slowly, the massive stallion tilted his head to one side, exposing his scarred neck before Spike. His fierce eyes locked onto Spike with a dire warning. “If you don’t end this now, I’ll keep coming after your friends. This cycle won’t end until one of us dies.” Spike stiffened, incensed that this creature had the audacity to threaten him in this state. A sick smile spread over Iron’s face as he glared at Spike, which all but drove him over the edge. His claws were shaking, buzzing with an urge. The tips of his pointed claws shook with rage, a singular desire to end it all. He drew his hand back, brought down his claws. We Believe in You. The message Rarity stitched into his arm brace took on a different meaning when it came into view with his descending claws. It wasn’t just a belief in his abilities, but a belief in his character. His claws stopped just short of Iron Bolt’s neck. He panted, breathless from his pulsing anger. Iron Bolt looked at Spike, waiting for the final blow. The longer Spike stared at the message stitched into his arm brace, the harder it became to follow through on his rage. Slowly, Spike let his hand slip open and released a deep breath. Then and there, he made a decision. He wouldn’t be the monster so many made him out to be. All at once his anger dissipated, becoming a distant hum in his thoughts. “No.” With that single word, he fell to his knees. “No,” he whispered softly. Iron Bolt stared at him through narrowed pupils. He was more furious than before, seeing that Spike didn’t even think him worthy of ending, and realizing Spike didn’t give in to his own hate. Wordlessly, the dragon stretched out his hand and grabbed the nearest ice arrow. He stared at the tip for a moment then at Iron Bolt, still hesitating. Then, he returned the arrow to his quiver and rose to his feet. “I’ll never forgive you for hurting my friends,” Said Spike with a balled fist, clenched so tightly his claws throbbed. “But,” he released a deep breath, letting his claws uncurl and his fist open. “I’m sorry for what for what you’ve been through.” Iron Bolt’s jaw made a slight movement before he spat on Spike’s face once again. The dragon simply wiped it off with the back of his hand. “I can’t believe anyone is born this spiteful. Where did all this hate come from?” Spike wondered. “The Creed? His father? Fillydelphia? Those dragons that attacked his mother? Maybe, there’s no other way he could’ve turned out,” Spike realized with a heavy feeling on his chest. “There are probably hundreds of others like him. Until dragons and ponies can see eye to eye, there always will be violent extremists like him, on the ponies’ side or even the dragons’ side. The Creed, the dragons who attacked Fillydelphia Town Hall; they’re all a part of the same problem. But how do I stop all this hate in the world? Where do I even start?” Something floated from his periphery vision in front of him. His bow, once discarded to the ground, suspended by an orange aura. He felt weight returning to his quiver. Looking back, he saw Yellow Bolt magically grabbing all the ice arrows scattered across the field and returning them to Spike’s quiver. He didn’t change his solemn expression or even smile. A small tear rolled down his face as he whispered, “Thank you.” He regarded Yellow, once his enemy, rival, and now his friend, and felt a new wave of power washing over him. Spike reached out and took his bow from the magical aura. Then, he walked over to Yellow Bolt. The two stood there for a moment. “You,” Yellow paused, as though he had so much he wanted to say and no idea how to say it all. “You look terrible.” Spike shrugged. “How long were you there?” “I got here just before you made a mistake. I would’ve shot you, you know.” “To save your brother?” “That’s part of it. But I didn’t want you to do something you could never take back.” Spike nodded. “Thanks. Now come on. Silver needs our help.” “Are you sure you’re good enough to keep going?” “I can still stand and I can still use a bow. Right now, we need everyone out there.” With that, he headed off to the other wall, feeling Iron Bolt’s burning glare across his back. He thought of all the things he wanted to say to Iron Bolt, to make him understand. “I feel sorry for you. But I can’t make myself un-hate you. And I don’t see how I can fix the hate in you. But, thankfully you’re nothing. Just a moment of hatred that will pass in the grand scheme of time, when ponies wake up and realize how hideous your hatred is. For all your efforts to send the world back to a time when dragons weren’t welcome in Equestria, you’ve only spurred me to keep going. You’ve given me a clear vision of what I have to overcome. And as long as there are good people in this world willing to stand up for what’s right and persist, you’ll never win.” Instead of saying all of this, he paused just a moment and looked back at Iron with a sad, pitying expression. Iron Bolt’s body tensed, trying to rise up and keep fighting, but he no longer had the strength to break the ice pinning down his hoofs. “How proud can you really be of what you’re doing,” Said Spike, “when you’re the one hiding behind a mask?” Iron Bolt’s eyes seethed with hatred, practically oozing it from his stormy gaze like the blood dripping from his nose. Spike tried to hold the image of Iron Bolt almost crying in his mind as he kept walking to the wall. That almost made it easier to swallow his own hate. He heard a jarring sound like a cannon, before the wall in front of him cracked, forming massive fractures across its surface. Then, it crumbled to the ground, kicking up dust and particles. As the dust cleared, Spike and Yellow saw Arrow Bolt, his horn practically smoking from the aftermath of his powerful spell. He looked upon the two newcomers with disinterest. “I see you managed to defeat my two acolytes. Impressive. Hopefully, you’ll at least put up a better fight than these two,” Said Arrow Bolt as he walked towards them. Spike glanced at the ground and saw Silver Shine and Lightning Star collapsed on the field, buried in piles of rubble and uprooted soil. Neither one seemed to be moving. Slowly, lazily, Arrow Bolt drew back his bowstring. An electrical, pulsing beam formed from the string. The projectile soared from his bow, leaving an arc of light in its wake as it screamed through the air. Spike and Yellow Bolt jumped apart, letting the arrow slip by them. Both of them nocked an arrow, but the electrical beam bounced off the wall behind them, splitting in two before striking them both in the back. The powerful blast sent Spike reeling forward while Yellow gritted his teeth as the pain cackled through his body. As the blast’s pain began to subside, Spike dragged himself back up, thanking his thick scales for their protection. Yellow Bolt sadly looked weakened by the blast, but he refused to lie down. That gave Spike enough motivation to take aim at Arrow Bolt once again. “Is that the best you can do?” Growled Spike while still biting back against some of the lingering pain in his chest. His eyes flashed with a crimson aura, and suddenly Arrow Bolt had fifty identical bows, each with a pulsing electrical beam, trained at the two archers. The beams crackled in their bows, creating a chorus of chirping thunder. Yellow looked at Spike with a sardonic, flat-eyed glare. “You just had to ask.” “This is the power of Sir Knight!” Arrow Bolt’s deep voice roared over the thunder-cackling arrows. “I will show you heathens where you belong. Beneath my hoofs!” “Dude, you are fifty shades of crazy,” muttered Spike. “He’s got lightning arrows pointed at us. It’s not exactly the best time to go mouthing off, Spike,” Yellow said pointedly while trying to muster willpower for a powerful spell. “Now get back here!” Spike took a tentative step backwards. All at once, the projectiles screeched through the air towards them. Yellow Bolt jumped in front of Spike, his horn shimmering as he cast his most powerful shield spell. The fifty beams bounced off his shield, but then bounced off the walls and split in two before arcing right back at them. They hammered the shield, pounding the inside like a drum with each impact. In a mere minute there were possibly a thousand beams ramming into the spell. Yellow Bolt grit his teeth, clenching his eyes shut as he tried to push through the multiplying pain. Through the beams of light bouncing into the shield and off the walls, Spike caught a glimpse of Arrow Bolt standing motionless with his horn shining. His eyes widened with a new thought. Were these bolts just magic? Not real holy arrows or whatever? “Yellow,” said Spike as he took aim at Arrow Bolt. “When I say now, drop the shield.” “I don’t know if you noticed, but we’re in danger of being fried by some crazy lightning arrows.” “I think it’s just magic. If I shoot him, he’ll either have to cast his own shield spell and stop this attack, or he’ll have to take the arrows.” “What?” “He put magic sealing spells on Starlight and Discord, right? How much magic energy can he really have left?” “Given our current position, enough to obliterate us in an instant.” “You got a better idea?” “You’re taking a big gamble here,” said Yellow through a groan as a new wave of beams hammered the shield. “Make it count.” As the beams arced off the shield, Spike gave Yellow the command. The caramel stallion let the shield shatter, slipped to his knee and closed his eyes, waiting for the beams to return and strike them in full force. Spike quickly sent three ice arrows soaring through the field, directly at Arrow Bolt. All around them, the beams were bouncing off the walls again, racing to crush him and Yellow. Arrow gave a little snort. He shifted slightly to the left, letting the first ice arrow slip by him. But then, he saw the second and third ice arrows coming straight at his face. He realized the dragon shot them both within the second, aiming the second arrow where he guessed Arrow would dodge. Unable to move further, Arrow Bolt panicked. As predicted, he cast a shield spell, managing to stop Spike’s arrows. However, his moment of reprieve was short as he realized the moment the shield spell rose, the beams of light attacking the two archers dissipated into thin air. Yellow opened his eyes and stared in disbelief. “You were right.” “You sound surprised.” “I guess the old saying’s true. A broken clock is right twice a day.” “Gee, thanks.” Said Spike with a slight scowl. “I thought we were friends now.” “Sorry. Old habits.” They faced Arrow Bolt whose shield spell slipped back to the ground. “I figured it out,” Said Spike pointing a claw at the old archer. “Everything you’ve done with these arrows, these bows, this wall, it’s not some holy Sir Kite spirit—” “Sir Knight,” Yellow corrected Spike. “Hey, don’t interrupt me when I’m about to make a big reveal,” he muttered briefly before turning his attention back to Arrow Bolt. “As I was saying, everything you’ve done is just regular old unicorn magic. You’re just passing it all off as some sort of Sir Knight power. You’re just a fraud, an ordinary unicorn with delusions of grandeur.” Arrow Bolt didn’t react to Spike’s claim at first. But then, he let out a little chuckle. “Rest assured, I am no ordinary unicorn. Can an ordinary unicorn do this?” He gestured to the time freeze barrier above them. “Can an ordinary unicorn overpower the Spirit of Chaos? Can an ordinary unicorn unite so many followers with a single goal?” “I’m guessing sealing Starlight and Discord’s magic took more out of you than you’re willing to admit,” Continued Spike. “Otherwise, you would’ve just cast another magic sealing spell on Yellow.” “That’s right,” Yellow said with a sudden realization. “If he wanted to end this quickly, he could’ve just cast that spell on any unicorn here. But he didn’t. If he wanted to make a clear show to his followers that he’s the best, it doesn’t make sense to drag this out. Judging by the ice arrows scattered across the field,” Yellow gestured to the spots of ice and arrow shafts, “You fought both Silver and Lightning. You didn’t seal their magic.” Arrow Bolt’s eye twitched angrily, betraying that Yellow Bolt’s assumption was correct. Spike smirked. “There’s a limit to how much magic you can seal, isn’t there? Or how long you can seal it.” “I get it.” Yellow said. “That’s why you had to put Starlight in the hospital and why you had to torture Discord. Otherwise, they could stop you as soon as your spell wore off.” “Infidel! What do you know of my magic?” “Plenty. I’m number one assistant to the element of magic, Princess Twilight Sparkle. I have some grasp on the principles behind spellcasting.” “And White Bolt taught me almost everything I know,” said Yellow. “He studied magic for years.” “Enough of this nonsense! You will pay dearly for your arrogance.” Arrow Bolt’s horn began to hum as the air cackled around him. Fifty bows became a hundred bows, with a hundred arrows nocked and ready. “Hey, Spike,” Yellow swallowed nervously, former bravado completely extinguished. “Not to question your theory but my dad was never this powerful before. Don’t suppose you can explain where he’s drawing all this power from?” “I have no idea.” “Great. So for all we know he is possessed by the spirit of Sir Knight. And we’re both going to die.” “Now would be a good time for a shield.” “I used up too much strength on the first one.” “Of course. I should’ve known my luck would run out sooner or later. Get behind me.” Yellow Bolt barely managed to take cover before Arrow Bolt unleashed a hail of arrows at the two archers. Rainbow Dash watched the screen turn black, obscured by the shadow of a hundred arrows. She pounded her hoof to the ground, infuriated she couldn’t do a thing. She wanted to act out and pummel these hooded ponies, but then she thought about Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie trapped in the time seal spell. She had no idea what that Arrow Bolt would to them if she stepped out of line. And then there was Discord, still lying unconscious at their hooves. If there was a scuffle, he could get hurt even worse. So for now, she and the rest of the athletes watched as their friends fought. She trembled furiously. “I can’t stand by much longer,” She whispered with intensity. “I have to do something.” “Wait, my little impulsive friend.” She, Applejack, and Fluttershy recognized the voice. They looked down to find Discord staring at them through half-open eyes with a half-smile. All the pain and exhaustion in his eyes vanished; the injuries dotting his body were an elaborate ruse, a sort costume. “Discord? You’re okay.” Fluttershy gave a sigh of relief. “I was so worried.” “Shh.” He whispered. “Sorry to worry you, but I figured playing possum was the best way to learn their plans.” “What do you mean?” Said Applejack. “I thought if I let them think they completely depowered me, perhaps they’d bring me to their base and monologue their plans. You know, classic bad guy 101.” “So, you’re not actually hurt?” “Au contraire, those two did a number on me. When the ugly one ambushed me, I thought I could handle it, but then that ‘Sir Knight’ snuck up behind me and used that magic-sealing spell of his. My body’s fine. Bruised and battered, but I’m basically fine.” “Wait,” Rainbow Dash frowned. “So do you still have your magic or not?” “Please, give me some credit. Arrow might be powerful but he’s no Twilight. He could only seal three quarters of my magic power. That being said, I’ve lost far too much magic to end this with a simple finger snap.” “Then end it by, I don’t know, clapping your hands or something.” Rainbow looked about ready to rip her mane out as she made demands towards the Spirit of Chaos. “As amusing as that sounds, I’ve lost too much magic. Besides, what fun would that be?” “These monsters want to kill Spike! Is that fun to you?!” “Shh, don’t yell at me. I’m unconscious, remember?” They glanced around, hoping nopony noticed. Everyone had their eyes on the screen, watching the battle unfold. Rainbow Dash leaned down and whispered in Discord’s ear. “I’m serious. If you can stop this—” “Ever played poker? You don’t show them all the cards in your hand till you know you’ve won. And you must commit to a bluff if you want them to believe it.” “What’re you talking about?” “I have a different plan in mind. One that aligns much more with my chaotic designs.” “What?” “Just wait. It will make this so much more delicious.” “What are you waiting for exactly?” “The perfect moment. When I know the source of his magic power.” With that, Discord closed his eyes and slumped to the ground, sticking out his tongue theatrically. Rainbow Dash gave a long snort. “Blasted Discord. Has to talk through all this cryptic nonsense.” She looked up at the screen as the dust finally began to clear and the shadows of three figures came into view. “This ‘moment’ better come soon. Or Spike won’t last much longer.” Panting, Spike watched the ashes of the arrows sprinkle the field like snowdrops. Through the ashes, Arrow Bolt golden shield spell fell, revealing the green flames hadn’t even touched him. “Using your fire breath to destroy my arrows,” said Arrow Bolt. “Not bad. But I wonder how you’ll stop 200 arrows.” “I guess…” Spike said between his heaving breaths. “I’ll just have to catch the other hundred.” The dark green stallion’s eyes narrowed, unamused and annoyed. “Bravado aside, Spike,” Yellow said with weary eyes. “We’re barely scraping by.” “What do you mean?” “Look,” Yellow pointed a hoof at his father. “He hasn’t moved a single step since this fight started.” “So? He doesn’t have to move any for us to beat him.” Spike felt the blood staining his knuckles harden, pinching his scales as a reminder that he was barely winning. “Maybe, I can reason with him.” Spike looked apprehensive at the idea, seeing how Arrow Bolt seemed well beyond the point of reason. Noticing Spike’s skeptical glance, Yellow said, “Do you have a better idea?” He was too to argue much less think up a plan. “Alright , but I don’t think you can reach him given the way he is now.” “Doesn’t mean I can’t try. DAD!” Yellow Bolt looked his father in the eyes without drawing an arrow or indicating any intent of violence. “Just stop this please. You’re not well. We can help you.” “You’re the one who needs help, you freak,” Arrow Bolt said as his horn flared with a golden aura. “Of all my mistakes, you are by far my greatest disappointment.” “Dad, please.” Even after all these years, his father’s harsh words still cut his heart. “If White Bolt still cared about me, you should too. Let’s stop fighting and just talk.” A strange alien expression flickered through Arrow Bolt’s eyes. He seemed hesitant for a moment. The hundred bows hanging over his head dissipated into just two. Yellow let himself feel optimistic, for just a moment. Then, Arrow’s expression hardened and the bows were loaded with pulsing arrows. The first arrow flew between Yellow and Spike, triggering a magical explosion that flew them both across the field. The second arrow came at Yellow Bolt, splitting into two arrows, then four, then eight, multiplying as the volley raced towards the archer. Spike leapt to his feet, unleashing a torrent of flames and burning the arrows before they could touch Yellow. Turning his back on Arrow was a mistake, giving his opponent another chance to send another arrow right at Spike. But the older stallion didn’t count on Spike being quick enough to turn around and catch his arrow, and in a single motion, send it and three ice arrows right back. Spike watched with some gratification as the first arrow cut across Arrow Bolt’s cheek, inflicting a long scar across his cheekbone. However, his joy turned sour as the ice arrows stopped in midair, trapped by Arrow Bolt’s magical aura. He fired a second arrow volley at Yellow, who had just risen back to his hooves as he flipped the ice arrows around and send them soaring into Spike. Like angry hornets the arrows circled him, encasing his body in ice with each graze. Spike struggled, blowing fire at the arrows and trying to stop the spread of ice, but found he couldn’t keep pace. Yellow watched helplessly behind his shield spell as the ice arrows created a prison of ice with Spike at the center, frozen solid. Yellow made Spike’s mistake of letting Arrow Bolt out of his constant gaze, giving him the chance to form another powerful magical arrow. The arrow crashed into Yellow’s shield, shattering it. Stunned from the impact, Yellow skidded back. He and Arrow managed to nock their bows and fire at the same time. As they came into contact, however, the arrow approaching Yellow shined with a red aura, effortlessly slicing through Yellow’s arrow, cutting through Yellow’s bow before embedding itself deeply into the young archer’s shoulder. Howling in pain, Yellow fell to his back and put his hoof on his shoulder. While the wound wasn’t fatal, it would hinder his movement and worse still, he was now backed into a corner. His father’s violet, unforgiving gaze stared right through him, turning him back into that powerless fifteen year old child, incapable of speaking. Try as he might, he was too terrified to summon the magical energy just to cast a shield. Arrow Bolt took steps towards him, nocking a final magical arrow. Outside of the maze, the hooded ponies were cheering so loud their voices rocked through the walls. They wanted to see him die. Yellow rolled from his back onto his hoofs. He decided then and there that if he really was going to die, he’d do it facing his father. So he met his father’s eyes. One last time. “You know,” said Arrow Bolt as he drew back his bow. “I always hoped that with this power I could finally fix you. But there’s no fixing something so broken.” Yellow watched numbly as his father unleashed the bowstring. He watched as the arrow raced to pierce his heart. Then, he felt someone touch him. Suddenly, his body was on top of the wall. He looked to his right, and saw Silver Shine resting a hoof across his back. The grey stallion panted as he stared down at his old rival. “You’re wrong, Arrow,” said the veteran. “Yellow Bolt doesn’t need fixing. Because he was never broken to begin with.” Arrow Bolt scoffed. “I seem to recall you shooting him in the back during Arrow Tag. Why defend him now?” “There’s a big difference between backstabbing someone in a safe competition and murdering them!” Silver exclaimed as Yellow cast a spell duplicating Silver’s bow. With this replica, he took aim at his father, emboldened by Silver’s presence. “But the action underlies your utter contempt for him. As I understand, you’ve shown him nothing but contempt, insulting him at every turn, refusing to help him. You didn’t even tell him there would be an Arrow Tag match.” Yellow, fully aware that Silver indeed had shown him little respect over the years, felt his shoulders drooping. “I was ignorant. Thinking Yellow was just a spoiled, talentless brat and a narcissist who wanted to pick a fight with everyone he met. I never should’ve looked down on him, not when you’ve put him through so much suffering. I … I let myself think heartlessly during that match. I—” “That’s all very sweet,” said Arrow Bolt. “But that won’t save him, or you for that matter.” He nocked another arrow and sent it at Silver. Suddenly, another arrow came flying and knocked Arrow’s projectile out of the air. He turned around to the source of the attack to find Lightning Star aiming his bow at him, through a swollen black eye. “You can still fight?” “I’m left-eye dominant,” said Lightning. “You got my right eye.” “As I was saying,” Silver continued, “I should’ve been the father Yellow needed. And starting right now, I’ll do everything in my power to protect him from you.” “Cute, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve beaten the one I came here to beat.” Arrow Bolt pointed a hoof at Spike, encased in a block of ice. “Hear me, Equestria! There is only one Sir Knight! One champion archer! And it is not this pretender! This abomination, BUT ME!” But before he could launch into another speech, a light began to glow from the ice block surrounding Spike. His arm guard pulsed with a purple aura that gave a palpable hum. All at once, it burst with a wave of magical energy. The ice shattering, flying into the air, as Spike emerged gasping for air. He fell to his knees, trying to breathe. Everyone stared, trying to make sense of what just happened. Then, he looked down at his arm guard. He knew that magic aura, he heard her voice as the ice shattered, but he could scarcely believe it was really him. On his arm guard, where there was once a stitching of a roaring dragon, now there was a roaring dragon with yellow eyes, red pupils, and a wispy goatee. “Am I hallucinating? Did I die?” He asked still groggy and numb from the ice prison. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” The dragon stitching had its jaw moving as the voice came through the guard in a whisper, so soft only he could hear. “No, you’re not dead, and yes, it’s really me. I used quite a bit of my remaining power to break the ice. You’re welcome.” “Discord.” His friend’s yellow eyes seemed to twinkle at the name. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions. But now’s not the time. Just know that I’m basically fine, but I don’t have enough magical power left to stop this fight. I need you to do something for me.” Spike’s hands trembled as he sputtered for air, trying to support his weight. He felt close to falling onto the ground and just falling asleep. He gave a weak smile before another wave of coughing broke through his chest. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but I’m sure you have your reasons. What do you need me to do?” “Straight to business? I like it. Now, don’t let anyone know I’m here. Stand up and look powerful. Tell Arrow something that will shake his confidence, like ‘I guess we know who the real pretender is now.’ Then, get as close to him as you can. I think I know the source of his magical energy but I need to confirm it. I need to see what he has on his neck, under that robe.” Spike nodded. With that, Spike rose to his feet and lifted his gaze, training his serpentine glare on Arrow Bolt. Nonchalantly, he brushed ice off his shoulder and cracked his neck. “Well,” he said, trying to make his voice sound deeper. “I guess we know who the real pretender is now.” “How did you do that?” Demanded Arrow Bolt. “What do you mean by pretender?” Lacking a decent comeback, Spike nocked an arrow and fired at him. Arrow shielded himself, but Spike kept firing with each step he ran. The other archers joined in, bombarding Arrow from every direction possible. With Silver teleporting across the field and littering an arrow in every way he could, Arrow Bolt had to keep his eyes darting across the field just to keep up. Yellow Bolt used his magic to levitate arrows at Silver, darting and circling around him and testing his shields for any weaknesses, their pestering motions kept Arrow from firing any counterattack. Lightning’s incredible blitz of ice arrows hammered the magic spell with the force of a literal wrecking ball, chipping away at the spell’s integrity with each passing millisecond. With these three occupying Arrow’s attention, Spike raced forward with his arm guard ready by his bow hand. He switched the bow back to his open hand and drew back the arm guard with his claws ready. Lightning’s eyes narrowed, concentrating on the perfect weak spot in the shield. Then, he found it; a blurry, wobbly, unsteady section of the shield, right where Spike was charging. His arrow hail struck the weak spot, bursting open the shield and creating a gap. Spike broke through and dragged his claws across Arrow’s cloak, ripping it enough to expose a chain around his neck. At the end of that chain was an amulet, laced with a single glowing red crystal. Arrow Bolt’s horn blasted with a magical pulse, sending Spike backwards into the distant wall, and knocking each archer onto the ground. Fortunately, the attack was cast in a panic, so it lacked any real power. Spike got up immediately, watching as Arrow Bolt glared at him. With a single spell, the cloak mended itself. “I knew it. He has a magical amulet,” Exclaimed Discord. “Like the Alicorn Amulet Trixie used to beat Twilight. That’s the source of his power! That’s how he made that magic-sealing spell so powerful!” “If we take it off him, that should undo the spell on you and Starlight? And it’ll set Twilight free from the time-freeze curse?” “Maybe. But if it’s anything like the amulet Trixie used, it’s probably protected by an enchantment. I’d wager it has similar properties to that Alicorn Amulet. In which case, only the user can take it off.” “Can’t I just rip the chain?” “If you want to face a magical backlash which could kill you, yes. Be my guest.” “But you don’t know if it has that restriction for sure. You just think it does.” “Yes. And even if it doesn’t, Arrow Bolt’s certainly cast some sort of spell to keep anyone else from taking it off him. Ponies with that kind of power always become paranoid. Without knowing for sure, you can’t risk it. And neither should your friends.” “So, really, knowing this doesn’t help us at all.” “Oh, come now. It helps a great deal. You can show his followers what he really is: a senile, old stallion, deluded by an evil amulet.” “And then what?” “Get him to bring down this maze and the barrier so that I—.” His voice cut short as an arrow pierced the wall just above Spike’s head. When he looked back down at the arm guard, he could no longer see Discord’s face. His spell must have worn off. But he had his orders. He knew what to do next. Rising to his feet, he raised his voice above the arrows and magic spells. “I know what you are, Arrow Bolt!” He exclaimed. “You’re no destined, all powerful hero! You’re just a liar wearing a magical amulet!” Arrow Bolt glared at Spike, sending a powerful stream of magic his way. Spike rolled to the side, just managing to avoid the spell. From the top of the wall, Silver and Yellow exchanged amazed expressions. So many questions, so many unexplained years were finally adding up. “Lies!” Screamed Arrow Bolt as he reared back his head and sent another magical blast at Spike. “Sir Knight’s spirit entered this body upon Arrow Bolt’s death. It brought him back to life!” “Stop lying,” Yellow screamed from his position. “You’re no legend. And you didn’t come back from death.” “How can you deny what your eyes plainly see?” “Because you were never dead,” Silver said between teleportations. “Twilight asked me who was the undertaker at your funeral. I didn’t know what to think of the question at first, but then it made sense. You always talked about how you were Sir Knight, so why not become him? With the right medicine, I bet you got the undertaker to help so you could claim you’d risen from the grave through the spirit of Sir Knight.” “And any amateur magic student could use a spell to alter their voice,” Lightning chimed in as he sent another arrow barrage at the defensive stallion. “Face it,” Said Spike as he nocked an arrow. “You’re just a deluded stallion masquerading as a legend.” “Laying it on a bit thick there, Spike,” muttered Yellow Bolt, despite agreeing with every word his friend said. “If you were really so powerful,” Spike smirked as he pointed a claw at the stallion trembling with rage, “You wouldn’t need that amulet to beat us.” “An insult meant to jibe me into removing the amulet? Adorable.” Arrow Bolt said through deceptively calm eyes. “However, responding to your insults is beneath me.” “Just stop it,” Yellow Bolt growled. “We know your secret, dad. We know how to beat you and we outnumber you. The odds aren’t in your favor anymore.” Yellow sent an ice arrow directly into Arrow Bolt’s shoulder. Distracted by Spike’s words, he was too slow to cast a shield spell. But as the ice expanded inside his muscles, Arrow Bolt stopped trembling with rage. His exterior became as serene and motionless as still water. He brushed his shoulder where the arrow struck, closing his eyes for a moment. “There could be a hundred of you, you could know everything about me, you could tell my followers all your sad little lies,” said Arrow Bolt with his eyes still closed. “But it still wouldn’t make a difference.” “You know, your boasting is getting real old,” grumbled Spike. The cloaked stallion then did something so unexpected that Spike almost stopped thinking, transfixed by the incredible action. He laughed. The old stallion threw back his head and laughed, hysterically. “Oh, little worm,” he said with a rueful headshake. “You mistake boasting with fact.” His eyes flashed open, beaming with red energy. Wind pushed outward from him as powerful magic energy flooded the air. It burst from Arrow Bolt’s body in a ray of red light, gushing straight into the sky. The magic power broke through the clouds, pushing them across the horizon. The afternoon sky darkened like night. Spike felt like he was standing beneath a mountain’s shadow. Puny, insignificant, a flea. His hands wouldn’t move. Silver Shine had stopped teleporting and Yellow Bolt was frozen in place. Even Lightning Star couldn’t draw back his string. “Twilight.” That thought gave Spike enough strength to raise his hand to his quiver. But he froze again, unable to move another inch. “Rainbow Dash.” With that thought, he closed his fingers around the feathered end of an arrow. “Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie.” The arrow slid out from the quiver and into his bow. “Starlight, Bulk, Lightning, Yellow, Thunder Star.” Pulling back that string while facing this maelstrom was the hardest thing he’d ever done. His muscles screamed and the pain blinded him. “Caramel, Brutus, Zazu, Rain Drop, Ember, Thorax, Spitfire, Soarin.” His scales were close to peeling off his body from the force of this magical power. He couldn’t see through the blinding red light, but he kept pulling back the string, thinking of his friends’ faces. “Luna, Celestia, Cadence, Shining, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, Scootaloo, Fleetfoot.” He felt his eyes straining just to stay open. It would be so easy to just give up. He couldn’t even see his own hands through the light, which seemed to devour everything in existence. Part of him wasn’t sure if he was even still alive. It was like standing on the surface of the sun, overwhelmed by raw, blistering heat and completely blinded. “Rarity.” In one final motion, he drew back the string and sent the arrow into the epicenter of the light, into Arrow Bolt’s horn. The arrow soared over a meter, before melting away into a harmless puddle that then evaporated into a steamy gas. “Your willpower is strong, lizard.” Arrow Bolt’s voice echoed through his ears, reverberating from every inch of light, as though it was not a person speaking but a force. “But you aren’t willing to do what’s necessary to win. I on the other hoof, am willing to give up everything to achieve my vision. Let me show you!” Arrow Bolt’s horn radiated a wave of black magic, dotting the blinding red light like the ripples of raindrops on a still pond. His eyes turned green, as dark magic pulsed throughout his being. His horn then burst, filling the maze with dark magic. The walls around the archers crumbled, burying them under a heap of rubble. The magic barrier surrounding the maze shattered, unable to contain Arrow Bolt’s incredible magic, which slammed into the barrier surrounding the arena, sending cracks across its surface. Slowly, the magic dissipated, dying down like an ember that lost its kindle. As the dust cleared, everypony could see Arrow Bolt standing on top of the rubble with no one else in sight. His sides heaved, overtaxed by his use of dark magic. He looked older, more wrinkled and grey. The hooded ponies, once so vocal for him, were silent, horrified by the display. Then, the rubble shifted. Rocks and debris parted, revealing a magic shield with two unicorns inside. As the magic shield dissipated, a unicorn, drained of all his magic power fell to the ground motionless. Yellow Bolt sat motionless, trying to comprehend what just happened and how he was still alive. Then, he looked to his side and saw his savior. “White Bolt,” he whispered breathlessly. “What were you thinking?” His brother rasped, taking pained shallow breaths. A bitter smile crossed his face. “You were right. My magic was only at its best when I was protecting you, glad I figured that out before it was too late.” His eyes closed and his body became motionless. Yellow fell on top of his brother, shaking him. “Someone get a doctor! Please!” He wailed. From the other side of the field, the dust cleared, showing three figures standing side by side, one of them with his outstretched hooves over the other two. That figure fell to the ground. Soon, everypony saw Lightning Star and Silver Shine, standing over Crimson Bolt, who wasn’t even breathing. Lightning rested his hoof over the stallion, whose last minute teleportation saved them. “I’ll keep my promise,” he said to Crimson. “I will protect Yellow.” “So will I,” Silver said without hesitation. With that, the unicorn gave one last smile before fainting. The field was a mess of bricks, dust, ice, and arrows. But through it all, Rainbow Dash couldn’t see Spike. Some rubble shook on the far edge. With a powerful shove, the bricks flew into the air. Her hopes were ruined when she saw a muscular, scarred grey stallion with a face bloodied and bruised almost beyond recognition. Iron Bolt. He smirked at Yellow Bolt, and limped to his father’s side, leaning largely on his back hoofs for support. Arrow Bolt turned to address his followers. “There is only one Sir Knight. Me.” For once, the remaining supporters hesitated to cheer. Many of them lost all enthusiasm. Their Sir Knight used dark magic. He wore an amulet to bolster his strength. He never really came back to life. Arrow Bolt dismissed Spike’s accusations as lies, but they struck deep at the hooded ponies. Now, they wondered if they were supporting a lie. Sensing their hesitation, Arrow Bolt raised his voice to the sky. “Do not doubt what your eyes can plainly see,” He exclaimed with a mighty roar. “I have vanquished the four champions! My powers are unmatched!” “Not quite.” Arrow Bolt’s head jerked to the source of the voice. Deep in the rubble, a bright light, like a ray of sun, shone beneath the bricks. The rubble scattered across the ground began floating into the air where it crumbled into golden showers. As the rubble cleared, everypony gawked to see Spike, still in one piece… at least in a manner of speaking. Though he stood confident and strong, his legs were shaking, his scales were either bruised, burned or battered and his breathing was so labored he sounded like he was ready to fall. He barely took a step forward before almost falling face first, just managing to keep himself up by using one of his hands. “I’m not done yet.” Pushing off the ground, he brought himself up once again, through his own sheer willpower. He still held his bow, snapped in half by the rubble, but a magical glow seemed to burst from his body, unable to contain itself. Rainbow Dash glanced at Discord, still motionless by her side. He had a little grin stretched across his face. She noticed a yellow fleck on the tip of his nose and several smaller flecks sprinkled across his body. She looked up and sure enough, saw golden drops falling from the sky like snowflakes. Everypony stared at the strange weather falling through the cracked barrier from the very sky above. As the golden showers sprinkled into the ground, they converged to form a figure behind Spike: a tall, golden stallion, with a shimmering bow. He was majestic, with a braided beard, a noble hood, and valiant armor. Nopony could doubt who this was. Several hooded ponies fell to their knees, in awe. Yellow Bolt just stared as the figure from his childhood books came to life. Spike kept facing forward. No one could say if he knew or didn’t about the figure standing behind him. “I am the one and only Sir Knight,” said the figure. “I have watched his battle, and I have witnessed this deceiver who would claim my title fight this noble dragon.” At this word, Arrow Bolt seemed to shrink. His power of speech failed as the golden stallion stared him down behind Spike, who glared with equal venom. “You, who would hurt others in my name, who use cheap tools rather than rely on your own power, have no claim to Sir Knight. But this young dragon, he has proven his skill, his heart, and his character. He is my true heir.” Iron Bolt leapt at Spike with his hoof drawn back. Spike uppercut right in his jaw before the blow could fall, his fist shining with golden light. The massive stallion went flying through the air, crashing into the ground in a heap. Spike then turned his gaze at Arrow Bolt, now cowering like a shivering child. “But, I did everything right,” He screamed in a voice that grinded like iron fillings, the voice Yellow Bolt and Silver Shine remembered. “I fought to make this world safe from dragons!” “Silence!” Roared the stallion. He held his bow into the air. It evaporated, and reappeared in Spike’s claws, replacing his broken bow. “Dragons are not the threat to our world. Intolerance and hatred masked in righteousness are! You can claim to be my follower, but you don’t even know what I stand for.” Through steely eyes, Spike drew back the golden bow and took aim at Arrow Bolt. “Take off the amulet,” growled Spike. “Undo the spell cast on my friends and all the ponies here!” Arrow Bolt took a step back, as his heart hammered through his chest. All his gravitas, power, and legend that he spent years building up were nothing in the face of this power. He drew his bow. But try as he might, he couldn’t summon the strength to fire. The arrow in Spike’s bow pulsed, with a white light tinged with a sunny golden aura. The figure behind Spike loomed larger than the world in Arrow Bolt’s mind. “I’ll say it once again,” Spike’s emerald, serpentine eyes flickered with a golden blaze. “And this is the last time, Arrow Bolt.” Sir Knight opened his mouth and spoke with Spike, mimicking his tone and inflections perfectly. “Take off the amulet!!” Through tears and uncontrollable shaking, Arrow Bolt clenched his teeth. “Violet Charm. My wife. Please forgive me.” The moment he took off the amulet, the world seemed to go back into motion. The barrier surrounding the stadium fell, the time-freeze spell vanished, and Discord felt his full magic power returning to him. Using his fully restored magic power, Discord pointed his little finger and levitated the amulet over to Spike who caught it. The golden figure behind Spike turned into a beam of light, which rocketed into the sky, out of sight. Everypony stared, lost in amazement at what transpired. The golden light bursting from Spike was gone, and the bow in his hand was his broken old bow. He began to tip over, dizzy and breathless. Someone caught him, and kept him on his feet. Looking up, he found Twilight’s smiling face staring back at him. “We did it,” he said. “Yes, we did. All thanks to you.” “Spike, that was awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, rushing over to his side. “You totally wrecked it!” “Don’t think you’ve won,” said Arrow Bolt, so softly it could have been a whisper. “There will always be people like me.” “I know,” Said Spike. “But they’ll never win. Not in the long run.” “And why’s that?” “If you really have to ask, then you could never understand.” He said nothing, bowing his head in surrender. The Royal Guards quickly surrounded Arrow Bolt. The other hooded ponies shuffled nervously, unsure what to do next. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you,” said Discord, now spotless and unblemished. He snapped his fingers, putting each hooded stallion in shackles. “Royal Guards, please take them away.” “We don’t technically take orders from you,” said a guard. “Just do it, trust me, it’s best not to argue with him,” said Twilight with a roll of her eyes. One by one, the hooded ponies were escorted out of the stadium. Doctors raced to attend to the injured brothers, and the wounds of the four archers, but the athletes were faster and soon surrounded the four champions. Soon, Applejack and Fluttershy were by Spike’s side too. The crowds, waking from their daze, were now cheering his name. Ember and Thorax came and pat his shoulder. Lightning watched Spike surrounded by the revelry with a smile, when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. He turned around. Fleetfoot pounced on him and kissed him, knocking him over with her passionate embrace. She broke from the kiss for a single moment, so she could stare into his sky-blue gaze. “Fleetfoot,” he whispered. “You know what I did. Can you really still love me?” “Shut up and make out with me,” she said before diving back into his lips. That was all the answer he needed. Squeezing her in a tight embrace, he kissed back, feeling lighter than ever before. Silver Shine laughed at the spectacle and headed out into the stadium, looking for someone. Sky Chaser, and the rest of his Fillydelphia team walked up to Yellow. He bowed his head, waiting for the worst, for all their criticisms of his performance, for falling in love with a dragon. But then, they hugged him. “Well done, Yellow,” Said his eldest teammate without a hint of irony or doubt. “You’ve done Fillydelphia proud today.” “You were incredible!” Said another teammate. “You beat White Bolt in a magic duel and you held your own against a crazy stallion with super magic!” “I’m sorry we ever doubted you, Yellow,” Sky Chaser said as he placed a hoof on Yellow’s shoulder. “You’ve been through so much suffering, but even after all of it, you still don’t hate. I… I wish I had your strength.” “Guys,” Yellow’s face turned red. He bowed his head, trying to hide his smile and his teary eyes. “Come on. Stop saying all that. You sound so silly.” “But it’s true. You’re a hero! No matter how much you want to deny it.” “I’m grateful to be your teammate,” said Sky Chaser with a full smile. “And, I hope, maybe in the future, we could start again? This time we’ll treat you with respect and cheer you on.” “Yellow,” Silver’s voice called to Yellow through the crowds of his friends and new fans. “I found someone who’s been waiting to see you.” His heart nearly melted when he saw the person standing by Silver’s side. The most gorgeous, snowy-scaled dragon with brilliant golden eyes was smiling at him. “Frost,” He said. Without a second of hesitation, he made his way through the crowd straight to his love. When he reached the dragon, he came to a stop, struggling to find the right words. Frost stood a few inches taller than Yellow, but still had the same warm smile he knew as a child. They faced each other. “I’m sorry,” Yellow said at last, letting his gaze fall to the ground. “I … I wanted to tell you, but I was too scared. I spent nights wandering Dragon Town just trying to muster the strength to find you.” “I’m sorry too,” Frost said as he twiddled his claws. “I left for the Dragon Lord Trial and decided to stay. I was scared of going back to Fillydelphia. I didn’t think they’d would ever accept us.” “You mean ponies would never accept dragons in Fillydelphia?” “Well, yeah that too. But I mean ‘us.’ The two of us.” His eyes looked back up at the dragon with a twinge of hope. Yellow was silent, the crowd’s cheers felt like a distant chorus as he processed what Frost just confessed. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to find his courage once again. “Frost,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot. Remembering my time in Dragon Town with you, kept me from hurting myself or just giving up on life. You’ve given me strength to do what I did today. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” He opened his eyes, red with tears. “I love you.” “I love you too.” They were silent a moment. Then, they burst out laughing. “Wow,” said Yellow. “That was easier than I thought it’d be.” “Yeah.” He dragged his hoof across the ground, and hid his flushed face. “Hey? What do you say that after this we get a bite to eat or something?” “I’d like that.” As the two made up, Silver noticed Yellow’s teammates watching their archer with smiles. Silver glanced across the field at the new generation of archers, surrounded by love and family. Watching them laughing, kissing, and forging new bonds made him feel younger. “You know,” he thought with more peace than he’d ever known. “I don’t feel so bad about retiring after this Game anymore. After all this, I think retirement could be a nice break. Besides, looks like the future of archery is going to be incredible. I’m sorry you won’t get to see it, Arrow Bolt. But if you could overcome your own hatred and see this miracle, maybe you’d be proud too. These kids are something else.” “Silver,” Yellow’s voice caught his ear. “Thank you.” He nodded at the stallion, with a smile that acknowledged the young archer as his true equal. Then, he let his family and his teammates surround him with their own love. The crowd littering the arena was thinning out to allow doctors to treat the injured archers. As a doctor examined him and washed the blood caking his scales, Spike could feel Starlight, Bulk Biceps, and Thunder Star watching him with pride. Even though he had no idea how he pulled off that light show, he was so grateful this fight was over that he didn’t even spend another thought on it. He glanced at the doctor who was rousing White Bolt from his sleep, another helping Crimson onto a stretcher, and the guards hoisting a shackled Iron Bolt off the field. “What’s going to happen to them?” He asked Twilight. She followed Spike’s gaze to the brothers. “They’ll spend time. Possibly life sentences. If they behave, maybe Crimson and White Bolt could get community service, prison time, and a possible house arrest release.” “And Iron Bolt?” “Therapy, psychologists. Depending on what they think, it’s either prison or an asylum. But I don’t see him ever bothering us again.” “I can’t believe how you totally beat him down!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “You were like ‘pow-pow-pow!’ and he just couldn’t win!” Applejack and Fluttershy were about to laugh at Rainbow Dash’s antics, when a microphone blared over the arena and Prince Blueblood’s voice came onto the loudspeakers. “Princess Twilight, Dragon Lord Ember, King Thorax,” he said in a barely restrained angered voice. “Please come up to my booth immediately. We have an important matter to discuss.” “Whatever you have to say, just say it in front of everyone,” Discord said with a megaphone in front of his mouth. “Unless, you’d like me to come up there?” Discord’s neck all but immediately stretched until he was mere feet away from Blueblood. The stallion shivered, and blustered as ponies in the crowd laughed at him. Slowly, he took a deep breath and calmed himself. “The field is in ruins. The archers of the four leading teams are exhausted, injured, and our supply of ice arrows is practically depleted. We can’t hold the Ice Archery contest in these conditions. We should cancel the last event, and escort them to a proper hospital where they can receive the best possible care.” “Yeah, don’t think I don’t see what you’re doing,” Said Discord. “You’re not going to just hand the victory over to Fillydelphia while I’m here.” Discord snapped his fingers. The targets, knocked over during the fight, literally rolled back onto the field. The legs supporting them now wore ballet shoes. Ice arrows appeared from thin air and hopped in single file lines, jumping into the four archers’ empty quivers. And the rocks and debris surrounding field sprouted butterfly wings before flying off into the sky. “Discord,” said Twilight. “You didn’t fix up Spike’s injuries.” “Sorry, my dear. I don’t exactly fix the injuries of others. If I tried to fix anyone of them, I’m liable to replace their ribs with a candy cane… unintentionally of course.” Twilight rolled her eyes and groaned. “It could take weeks to heal him and the others completely, even with alicorn magic. I’d have to fix Spike’s head trauma, bruised bones, and so much more that I’d need at minimum, medical encyclopedia just to know where to start. I don’t suppose you have one?” “I’m the Spirit of Chaos, my dear. Not the Spirit of Medical Practice.” “It’s fine, Twilight,” Said Spike through a cough. “Just fix my bow, and I’ll be good to go.” “But you can’t compete like this.” “I hate to say it,” said Rainbow Dash, “but she’s right. You can’t go on like that. And neither can Yellow, Lightning, or Silver.” “Nonsense,” wheezed Silver, as a nurse wrapped a bandage around his forehead. “If that dragon’s insisting on competing, then I do too. I may be old, but I have some life in me yet.” “I’ll participate too,” Lightning said, even as he pressed a cold pack over his black eye. “It’s only fair. And I can’t miss an Ice Archery contest.” “I can keep going too.” Yellow said, staggering as he made his way toward the starting line, leaning on Frost for support. “I’m not about to be outdone by Spike.” Twilight looked over at the other archers, who stood by silently. They seemed to agree that this final event was for the four archers alone. Spike tried to stand up, only to fall to his knee. With a single spell, she fixed his bow, hoisted him onto her back, and brought him to the starting line. She placed him down. But even as he tried with all his might, he couldn’t stand up. Lightning looked at Spike and then back at his distant target. A smile crossed his face. Without a word, he walked over and helped Spike stand, letting the dragon lean on him for support. “Lightning? What are you doing? Aren’t you gonna defend your record?” “Like I said before Spike, records are made to be broken. Right now, there’s no one else I’d rather see win it.” “I can’t do this to you.” “Just swallow your pride and let me help,” Said Lightning with a chuckle. “It’s not like my aim would be all that great right now anyways with just one eye anyway.” At last, Spike sighed and let out a smile. “Thanks. I’ll make you proud.” “You already have. Brother.” Spike reached behind his back for an arrow, when his shoulder flashed with pain. Joints protested his movement, and forced him to bring his hand back down. He closed his eyes bitterly, when he felt someone slipping the quiver off his back. Yellow Bolt levitated the quiver in front of Spike, and placed the first arrow into his hand. “You too?” Said Spike with a raised eyebrow. Yellow shrugged, a movement that brought a prick of pain back to his shoulder where the arrow struck. “I don’t think anyone of us could hit the targets on our own right now anyways.” “You really okay with this?” “Isn’t this what friends are supposed to do or whatever?” “Thank you, Yellow. You’re a good friend.” He smiled at the caramel stallion with gratitude, and was rewarded with Yellow surrendering a smile right back. This time, the smile didn’t disappear. Finally, he drew back his string, only to find his aim shaky and unsteady, jarred from the fight. Without hesitation, Silver walked over and used magic aura to steady Spike’s aim. “I understand why you might not want my help, Spike,” said the old stallion. “After all the pain I put Yellow through, I know I have no right to pretend like I’m a good person. But let me make it up, just this once. Please. You don’t have to forgive me or accept my apology. But,” he swallowed a painful lump in his throat. “Give me this one chance. And then, we can part ways however you like.” He looked at the three archers helping him every step of the way. Friends, rivals, and enemies united for a single purpose. It almost felt surreal. Yet, here they were standing together, the only way they could. “Well?” Said Lightning. “You ready? Spike eyed his distant target, let his mind slip into that perfect peaceful state, and then, he let the first arrow fly.