Pinkie had been teleported near a stream. At the moment, she was just staring at her reflection with a smile on her face. The crystal-clear water shimmered and shone in the daylight. Likewise, Pinkie's sky-blue eyes glistened in the water. She shuddered.
Your smile won't save you.
"What're you talking about, silly? A smile can brighten up anyone's day!"
But it can also make it worse. And that's what you need to remember.
The reflection made a wave-like motion before morphing into a different Pinkie Pie. This was the one Fluttershy saw back in the circle; her pupils shrunk, hair straightened, and an unpleasantly wide grin danced across her face.
So, what's your game plan? Remember, it's everypony for themselves!
"I dunno, Pinkamena. I don't really wanna hurt anyone."
So, would you prefer to camp the entire game?
"If it means I don't hurt anyone, sure!"
Pinkamena rolled her eyes.
Well, too bad. You're gonna get outta your comfort zone today.
"No! Why would I wanna do something like that! They're my friends!"
If you won't do it, I will.
Pinkie's mane deflated.
Come on, Pinkie. You're very unstable. You're way too happy. Even the slightest insult crushes your heart. Haven't you ever just wanted to...explode?
She looked away.
"Well, yeah, but not at the cost of others!"
Look, I'll give you some time to think about it. It's time to stop being such a pushover and show others our abilities. And I'm not talking about the Pinkie sense.
Her reflection reverted to normal. It was clear that the pink party pony had a decision to make. However, there was one constant in this entire ordeal. This was a game. And whether or not she's good or bad at it, she tries to win. For now, she needed to move from her position.
In the western section...
Scootaloo stood on a tree branch, scoping out the area. All she knew was that there was a mountain in the distance and that trees were everywhere. She saw the mountain when she originally flew above the battlefield. Besides that fact, she didn't know too much about nature.
"Wait! I just spent the last three years in Everfree! This should be a piece of cake," she said, remembering her experiences.
She frowned. Even during that time, Fluttershy had provided her with the necessities; she gave her a blanket for cold nights, provided toiletries when she needed them, as well as offered full access to her pantry and bathroom. Here, however, she had access to none of those. Despite her also having camped out with Rainbow Dash, they used a tent for nighttime. She didn't have access to that either. Fortunately, though, none of the other contestants did. They were all on similar playing fields; not exactly even, but similar. Fluttering off her branch, she slowly began to get her bearings.
"I just need to make sure I don't run into anyone. Sounds simple enough," she muttered.
Saying she was nervous is an understatement. Everyone except Apple Bloom had an advantage over her. She'd need to think of something quickly. Stopping to feel her arms, she gained a little confidence.
"Heh. At least those years in the forest weren't all for nothing."
As Scootaloo practiced flying, she had also exercised her arms to lessen the pain when she fell. Every other day she would go to the gym and lift weights; she'd become moderately strong for her age, despite it not being visible.
Continuing on, her mind drifted to other things.
"What if I encounter Rainbow Dash? What'll I say? What'll I do?"
Running over possible scenarios in her head, she was upset to learn that none of them would help her in a fight.
"Looks like I'm going with kicks and punches," she said, sighing.
Looking up at the sky, she noticed that the sun didn't move from its original position. That was good; she wouldn't have to spend the night anywhere.
"That's pretty convenient," she said with a smile.
"Hey, Scootaloo!"
Freezing, she looked ahead to see that Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Apple Bloom were together, wearing smiles. They approached her, to which she instinctively backed away.
"Scoots, you okay?" Rainbow asked as she got closer.
She opened her mouth, but words didn't come out. Her wings spread out defensively.
Right, like that'll do me any good!
Rainbow sighed. "You two go on. I'll take care of this."
"Ya sure?" Applejack asked. She nodded.
"This won't take too long."
Scootaloo almost fell when she heard Rainbow say that. Rarity and Applejack trotted away; when Rainbow turned to look at Scootaloo, the filly was met with a steely-frown. Her red eyes suggested that she meant business.
"Scootaloo. You know what's about to happen, right?"
"Yeah! I--I'm about t--to beat you! In a f--f--fight!" she stuttered, trying to sound as confident as possible. Rainbow's gaze softened as she spread her wings.
"I like your confidence, Scootaloo. However, you won't fool me."
Scootaloo's eyes narrowed as Rainbow Dash stood still with a smile. Rainbow sat down.
"You know, I'm really happy with how you're growing. You're able to fly, you have good friends, and all that stuff. I'm proud of you."
"Really?" Scootaloo asked, looking at her. Rainbow nodded.
Scootaloo liked the compliment, but something seemed off about Rainbow's composure. She was awfully calm. Scootaloo would be too if she had a natural advantage over an opponent. Her guard was up, and she didn't want to lower it. Rainbow stood up.
"However, whatever happens happens. You know that, right?"
Scootaloo looked down.
"All too well."
Nodding, Rainbow spread her wings once more before asking a question that made Scootaloo's heart sink.
"You ready?"
Scootaloo nodded her head. You're strong! You can do this.
"Don't blink," Rainbow advised.
With that, Scootaloo simply stared at Rainbow Dash, prepared to fly if she needed to. Her sister trotted around her tauntingly, keeping an eye on Scootaloo's face. Scootaloo gritted her teeth.
"AAAGH! This is getting ridicul--OOF!"
Just as she finished her statement, she got clocked in the nose with Rainbow's forearm. Staggering about and holding her nose, she caught a glimpse of her running to the filly in a rainbow blur.
"Don't blink," she said once again.
Keeping her eyes open, Scootaloo ignored her aching pain in her nose and lunged towards Rainbow, only to miss. Tumbling into the leaves that populated the forest floor. She felt Rainbow's presence behind her.
"PTOO!" Scootaloo spat out leaves only for her face to get shoved back into the ground; she felt Rainbow's hoof on the back of her head.
Wait! she thought. She had a sense of Rainbow's form while she held her down. Hoping she guessed correctly, she delivered a swift buck with her forelegs, hoping to hit something.
"ACK!"
Scootaloo was freed! Getting to her feet, she turned around and saw Rainbow hold her neck in pain. It turned out that she had landed a perfect shot to her neck. Needless to say, she was startled. Taking advantage of her bewilderment, Scootaloo ran forward and landed an uppercut, square on Rainbow's jaw with a solid CRACK! She only moved back a little, but the damage added up.
Yes! I'm doing it! I can win this!
Rushing above the startled Rainbow Dash, she descended on her back, sprawling her out on the ground.
"AAGH!" Rainbow cried in pain.
A triumphant grin spread across Scootaloo's face. Her nose was bleeding, but her victory caused her to ignore it. That is, until Rainbow got to her hooves. Spitting out some blood, she looked at Scootaloo with murder in her eyes. Cowering in fear, Scootaloo honestly wanted to vanish. Rainbow's left eye was turning purple. Blood was dripping down the side of her mouth, and a visible bruise spread across her neck.
"I'm--I'm sorry, Rainbow Da--"
"It's too late for sorries, Scootaloo. It'd be a good time for you to run or fly away."
But before Scootaloo could even get her hooves off the ground, Rainbow got a hold of her and took her into the air. Remnants of blood flew towards the ground as they flew into the clouds. Letting go of Scootaloo, she flew into every cloud she could see with blinding speed. As Scootaloo flapped her wings to see what she was doing, she couldn't help being overcome by a feeling of dread. The remnants of each cloud Rainbow destroyed formed a very thick fog that Scootaloo couldn't see in. Squinting to get an idea of where she was, she couldn't see a foot in front of her. All she knew was that she was in the sky.
"I'm so dead," she whispered to herself.
As if on cue, she felt sharp pain in her underbelly. Being lifted a couple feet, she knew that Rainbow had landed a hit to her stomach; a strong one at that. As if that wasn't enough, she returned the shot to the jaw Scootaloo delivered earlier, sending her spinning away.
"AAAAHHHHH!"
She stopped spinning suddenly as Rainbow bit her tail and swing her upwards. Scootaloo was getting dizzy from both Rainbow's speed and her altitude. The cyan-colored pegasus caught her and held her up.
"You're lookin' dizzy, Scootaloo! You not used to this height?"
Scootaloo was seeing double; this combined with barely being able to breath made for an extremely uncomfortable experience for her.
"Here comes the finale!"
Scootaloo's eyes popped open when Rainbow dropped her and ascended. She was about to be the recipient of a very powerful Sonic Rainboom! She saw the trees approaching quickly and Rainbow descend faster.
"Think, think, think, think, think, Scootaloo, think!" she thought. She had an idea, but she had to be perfect in her timing to pull it off. Her entire body was aching; Rainbow was almost to her.
"I'll have to meet her halfway," she said with a frown as she began to fly straight towards her. Rainbow's hoof was outstretched, prepared to connect with the filly's face. Picking up speed, Scootaloo raced closer and closer.
Just a little more! Wait for it...wait for it...
Rainbow reached maximum speed as an rainbow-colored rings appeared in the sky.
NOW!
With her remaining strength, Scootaloo delivered a punch to Rainbow's face just as the latter connected hers. Rainbow went from her maximum speed to zero almost instantly; that quick of a slowdown actually made Rainbow feel extremely dizzy.
Well...I tried... Scootaloo thought as she let the air catch her.
She was missing a tooth, her muscles and wings ached, her nose was swollen and her right eye could barely be kept open. What surprised her the most was that, as she lost consciousness, she saw Rainbow fly after her, just being able to catch her before she hit the trees.
Laying her down against a tree, Scootaloo looked as a battered Rainbow Dash approached her, limping with every step. She sighed and looked down, anticipating the finishing blow. But she didn't feel anything.
What she did hear, however, was the sound of a body falling to the ground. Looking up, she almost screamed in surprise when she saw Rainbow Dash laying at her hooves. Poking her face, (the non-bloody parts) she received no reaction.
"No way..."
At the southern side of the forest...
Apple Bloom wasn't really interested in looking for anyone; she would just be found anyway. As such, she sat there, waiting for someone to walk by.
"This is takin' too long," she muttered.
Her ears perked up when she heard the crunching of leaves nearby.
"Hello?" she called out.
"Sugarcube?"
Getting up, she grinned when she saw Applejack approach her...by herself.
"Rarity went to look for other ponies; the three of us agreed to meet at the circle later."
Apple Bloom nodded. Just then, a booming voice rang through the grove.
Hello? Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3! Is this thing on? Oh, wait, it is!
That was none other than the voice of Discord.
We have another knockout! Just now, Scootaloo emerged victorious against Rainbow Dash!
The two Apple girls almost fell over from bewilderment.
I'm as surprised as you all are, to be honest. And you all were skeptical about the Crusaders' inclusion. Don't underestimate them! Discord, reporting live from the losers' stands, out!
"I can't believe it...Scootaloo won against Rainbow Dash!"
"That sure is somethin'..."
Applejack looked at her sister.
"Now I won't have to hold anything back against you," she replied. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes.
"Let's see if you can keep up with your sister," Applejack challenged.