//------------------------------//
// Vs. Hat Kid 2 
// Story: Trapped in a World of Light 
// by Jumpitydude 
//------------------------------//

The creatures were out of breath. Looking behind them, they saw that the monster had stopped at the entrance to the clearing.

Sonata was the first to talk. "Why did it stop?"

"The same reason it didn't attack is earlier." Tempest walked to where the light grew dim. "It's a creature of the dark. The light will hurt it."

Starlight sat down. "That's good to know, but how do we get past it now?"

Sunset placed her hoof on Sonata's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Sonata nodded and turned toward Sunset. "Yeah. I'll be... Fine..."

Sunset looked at what Sonata was looking at and gasped, causing Starlight and Tempest to look as well.



In the middle of the clearing was a pedestal, floating at least thirty feet off the ground. On top of the pedestal was a girl wearing a top hat and a cape, wrapped in blue, glowing chains.

"That's a human, right?"

"It is." Sunset slowly stepped forward, keeping her eyes on the immobile figure.

A loud roar came from above, then something resembling lava poured onto the statue, causing the four girls to step back. It rolled down the statue, forming a blob underneath that turned into a replica of the girl on the top. A moment later, the statue dropped to the ground as a mote of light floated in from above them.

"What is it doing?"

The mote sent out tendrils of light, wrapping around the statue, before merging with the statue. The statue then started moving, getting to its feet. Once it was standing, it looked at the girls with glowing red eyes.

Tempest's horn started sparking. "Look out! We've got a fight!"

The kid leaped into the air, did a front flip, then shot right for Tempest. Tempest dodged to her side and shot fireworks towards the kid. The kid deflected the explosion with a knife.

Tempest stared at the kid. "What."

The kid started stabbing rapidly while approaching Tempest. Starlight shot a large blast towards the kid, knocking her off balance. Once the kid got up, she leaped into the air, then came down riding a massive disco ball.

Sonata grabbed her head. "What is going on?"

The disco ball hit the ground, causing a shockwave that sent the three unicorns flying. Sonata quickly realized that Sunset was about to fly into the darkness, and shot towards her, catching her just in time. Tempest and Starlight ended up at the threshold of light.

Starlight got to her hooves and looked at the kid. Just in time to pull up a barrier to block the saw blades flying at her. "She's moving too fast!"

Tempest blew the kid up again, knocking the saw blades from her hands. "Our attacks aren't doing that much to her!"

Sonata yanked Sunset away from the kid as she lunged at them. "And we don't even know what she's going to do next!"

Sunset pulled away from the siren. "There has to be something we can do!"

Starlight looked around the area they were trapped in. Then looked up. "I don't know if we can do anything."

Tempest watched the kid leap into the air. "What are we supposed to do? Let her beat us up?"

The kid came down with another disco ball and smashed it to the ground. Sonata lifted Sunset back up, while Tempest and Starlight jumped up in the air.

The kid looked around. Sonata and Sunset were both in the air, but she couldn't see Tempest or Starlight. The kid took a daring leap towards the siren.

"How about leaving it to someone who can fight her?"

The kid turned around in time for another kid to collide with her mid-flight. As soon as the kid hit the ground, she hopped to her feet. And got a face full of umbrella.

Tempest and Starlight watched from the pedestal the original kid was on. "You mean..."

Starlight smirked. "Who better to beat a fake than the original?"

The real Hat Kid slung her umbrella over her shoulders. "Hmph!"

The fake pulled out a knife. The real one shot off a massive laser, knocking the fake off balance. As soon as the fake regained its balance, the real one dived into it, knocking it back again.

Sonata carried Sunset to the pedestal that the other ponies were on. "She's really going to town on that fake."

Sunset squirmed out of Sonata's clutch. "Stop doing that!"

"Sorry."

Starlight's eyes were following the real kid's movements. "I can't even keep up with this! I blink and I miss something big!"

Tempest raised her eyebrow. "Really? I'm keeping up with it just fine."

The kid smashed the fake over the head, causing the fake to finally crumble into dust. The kid stared at the rubble for a few seconds, then let out a sigh.

Then a penguin with an afro appeared and smacked her on the back. "Darling! Darling! That was incredible!"

Another creature appeared and shook the kid's hand. "Well done, lassie! That was a gold star performance!"

Starlight led the others by leaping down and walking towards the human. "That was pretty impressive. Who are you three, anyway?"

Tempest looked between the two birds. "And why do two of you look transparent?"

There was a massive roar far above them. An eye appeared from the darkness, searching the sky above them. Moments later, a beam of light shot down from the sky. Followed by another, and another. Within seconds, there were countless beams shooting from the sky into the forest. The girls and birds grouped into a hug (much to Tempest's frustration).

As suddenly as they came, the beams disappeared. The pile of creatures looked through the trees.

Sunset let go. "That looks like a way out."

Starlight stepped forward. "Then let's get going."

The ragtag group walked through the forest and into the light.