“Hiya! Take this, you varmint!” A Combatpony howled as twin legs struck him in the head, knocking him senseless. After striking the blow, Applejack ducked as somepony attacked her from behind.
Ponyville, once known as Shockeroplis, was in complete chaos as it fought for its freedom and very existence. Applejack was one of the many brave souls fighting against Destron’s tyranny. Her friend, Pinkie Pie, fought her darndest, her party cannon sending Combatponies flying. Even Starlight Glimmer was doing her best, though she only engaged the enemy with scattered magical bursts from behind cover.
It was hard doing, but Ponyville’s defenders were making leeway. It had been a lucky thing Applejack hadn’t been that trusting of those Shocker Combatponies, so they hadn’t caught her off guard when those rascals finally showed their true colors. Applejack knew from the start that something stunk about their so-called alliance. Few ponies could fool her.
“You’ll regret this!” A Combatpony said before hobbling away.
“You all better run!” But AJ didn’t dare pursue them. Too many ponies needed medical attention, and it wasn’t in her nature to abandon ponies in need.
“Is it over?” Starlight said, poking her head up from behind a bundle of sandbags.
“For now, but we best not drop our guard. Them Destron are tricky folks. They have all sorts of nasty tricks up their sleeves!”
“Wonderful.” Starlight forced a shaky smile.
“Whatever it is, we’ll kick its butts!” Pinkie said, bouncing over. This earned a genuine smile from AJ despite their situation. The pink party pony always seemed to bring light to the direst situation.
“Over here!” A kind voice said, guiding over several volunteers. The yellow mare bent down, examining a soldier’s wounds. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t look too severe. We’ll have you patched up in no time.”
The gentle Fluttershy guided the volunteers, putting the wounded onto makeshift gurneys. She took care to avoid worsening their injuries, but soldiers weren’t the only ones she attended to.
“Hm. Only a broken leg. We’ll put a splint on that right away,” Fluttershy said after examining the fallen Combatpony.
“I want nothing from you, traitor.” The Combatpony spat. “Leave me here to die! I deserve it for my failure!”
Her patient continued to shout obscenities, but the former Shocker Combatpony accepted them all in stride. To her, the Combatpony was somepony who needed help, regardless of whose side they’d been on. “Don’t say that. You deserve to live like anypony else. You call me a traitor, but would Shocker or Destron be so quick to help you?”
Only silence answered Fluttershy’s question. It lingered as Fluttershy created a splint for the Combatpony’s broken leg.
“Thank you.” Was the Combatpony’s almost inaudible reply as their caretaker finished. Applejack could only marvel at the mare’s ability to touch hearts, giving a kindness that tendered even solid rock. It was difficult to imagine she’d once worked for the evil Shocker. Though, admittedly, the mare hadn’t been a great Combatpony. After attending to the worst injured, volunteers took patients to a nearby school for rest and further care.
“I don’t like this,” Applejack said, staring out into the distance. After the rainbow explosion, a strange quiet washed over the battlefield. A palpable dread seeped into everything like a sickening oil.
“We better hurry with the injured,” Fluttershy said, her apprehension just as palpable. Even Pinkie Pie seemed more subdued than usual. Starlight, however, seemed unbothered, never a believer in the preternatural.
The bile in her stomach worsened as something flickered in the distance, almost making Applejack lose her lunch. Evil itself seemed to radiate from the creature, promising only death. A sudden primal fear struck Applejack, her legs wobbling. But she stood her ground, refusing to run. Then it was gone, her dread vanishing.
“What the heck was that?” Starlight asked, peering into the distance but finding nothing.
“A monster.” Fluttershy quavered in a ball, opening a hesitant eye.
“Whatever it is, the princess needs to know about it,” Applejack said, her tone hard. The terror didn’t matter.
“Okay, but how?” Starlight asked.
The ground shook as an explosion rocked the street, everypony automatically taking cover. Hooves stomped as multitudes of Combatponies marched. Amongst their number was a gargantuan tank, Destron’s logo emblazoned on its surface. Standing in the cockpit was a familiar pegasus, giving orders and absorbing more Combatponies into his army.
“Colonel Zol!” AJ spat the name like a curse. But it gave her an idea. “Seems like he’s needed towards the castle. A hundred bits the princess’s following!”
“That’s a huge army,” Starlight said, her smile shaky.
“Let’s go! I’m not leaving Twi hanging!” Without another word, Pinkie limped after Zol. Ponies underestimated how loyal that mare could be.
“Me too!” Fluttershy said, fighting back her fear. “She might be hurt!”
“Starlight?” Applejack asked.
“Okay, I guess.” Though the unicorn didn’t sound very enthused about the prospect.
“Let’s go!” And the four charged off to help their friend however they could.
—-
“Stupid Trixie!” Twilight hissed, annoyed. Despite her best efforts, she’d lost track of the other Rider. She had found no sight of Death Head either.
Her Cyclone Delta zipped across town, no obstacle capable of blocking her path. She whooped as she ramped across a steel beam, passing over several topped-over cars.
“Not here either,” Twilight said, stalling to a halt. Her bike stood parked on a parking garage’s roof, giving her an excellent vantage point to gaze across Ponyville.
Through the chaos, she spotted the tanks assailing her castle. Their barrels shot fire, doing terrible damage to the surrounding structures. Zol led the charge, his riding crop guiding his force’s attacks.
Fire belted from his tank’s barrel, leaving dirty scorch marks on the castle’s wall. Its previous owner, The Great Leader of Shocker, had been paranoid, making his stronghold’s ebony walls almost indestructible. But a crack formed from Zol’s next shot, proving the structure wasn’t invulnerable. With the gates strongly defended by magical shields and natural barriers, he decided on a more circumventive route into the castle.
Just as I feared. And with Trixie gone, taking on Zol wouldn’t be easy. Twilight’s back wound from Doctor Shinigami’s sword was becoming a constant ache, taxing her already pushed reserves. With such a time crunch, she’d only been able to afford some torn window curtains as bandages.
But she’d fight, regardless. Despite causing a fresh ripple of agony, Twilight stood straighter. As princess, she couldn’t afford to look weak. Her ponies were counting on her to bring victory. Besides, Trixie would show herself eventually. The last lap was coming into view. One final push and she’d reach the finish line.
Dread filled Twilight’s heart as the next shot punctured the wall further. The entire structure groaned as it collapsed, leaving a gap wide enough to fit a pony through. Equestria’s defenders returned fire with their cannons from the castle’s walls. But Zol’s personal tank was a marvel of Destron engineering, not even taking a scratch from the bombardment. Combatponies swarmed through the gap their leader created, widening it further. The Shocker General was content to let his grunts weaken the inner defenses before getting to business.
But Lux couldn’t wait that long, knowing she needed to act to save as many lives as possible. Obstacles barred the Kamen Rider’s path, making her lose sight of the Destron leader.
“No choice but forward,” Twilight said, revving her engine.
While it seemed reckless for Equestria’s princess to charge into such a volatile situation, little choice remained.
Headless, Twilight zoomed forward at full speed. Combatponies pointed at their greatest enemy, eager for some payback. They fell to her sword. Twilight cut them down as she zoomed past. She winced as explosions flew towards her, eager to blast her off the road. Some Destron tanks had noticed her, turning their barrels towards her instead.
With death bombarding her, each swerve and turn might cost her life if she miscalculated the slightest motion. Twilight flinched as heat washed over her from a shell that’d detonated only a hair’s breadth away.
Her dread only increased as Zol’s main tank finally burst a hole in her castle’s wall, smashing through the weakened structure like it’d been cloth. She had to hurry!
“Don’t worry, princess! We got you!” Like a lightning bolt through the sky, help arrived. Tanks blew to scrap as a figure zipped by, dropping a bomb right on their heads. An arctic blue mare saluted the dazed Combatponies who’d barely escaped with their lives and zipped away before they could shakily lift their weapons. The Wonderbolts dropped more bombs to clear a path for their princess.
“Thought you might need some help!” General Stormy said, saluting her princess as she flew in step with Twilight.
“Thanks, general. Much appreciated.” She returned the salute.
“We’ll keep them busy out here. Kick Zol’s grimy flank!” Stormy said before flying off to direct her ponies. While their numbers had lessened since the battle had begun, the Wonderbolt still proved a terror to their enemies.
Free of any further obstacles, her Cyclone Delta thudded as it crossed over the ruined remains of the shattered wall. With her belt gleaming, she transformed for the final battle.
“Henshin!”
---
Click-clack. Lux’s boots clattered against the polished marble floor as she explored further into the castle. Besides some irksome Combatponies, nopony had bothered her as she trotted through the halls. While she could hear fighting outside the windows, the castle’s interior was eerily quiet. Zol was nowhere in sight, but Twilight already knew where she’d find him.
With a creek, the audience hall’s doors opened into a vast room. During Shocker’s days, it’d been a gloomy place, reflecting its master. While Twilight had fought against this, it’d never lost its nature. Regardless, it suited the mood well as the Kamen Rider turned to confront the pony lounging in the later Great Leader of Shocker’s chair.
“You’ve come, at last, Kamen Rider Lux,” Zol said, inclining his head towards her.
“Colonel Zol.” Twilight kept her tone measured despite her hatred towards the pony that had despoiled her castle. Neither made a move as they gauged the other.
“You’ve done well to get this far, Lux. The blood of many Shocker members stains your hooves.” Zol cracked his riding crop across his throne. “But no more! I will avenge my fellow generals and crush your pathetic attempt at a government and restore the proper world order!”
“Typical. You Shocker types obsess over days long since passed. It’s what drove that one Combatpony to alter history, perverting the timeline to create a tyrannical nightmare! But no more! Those days won’t return to Equestria as long as I live.”
“Then show me you aren’t just talk!” Zol finally rose from his throne. “By the dark gods, this will be your last day on Earth. I will rend your flesh with my fangs! Let me show you my true form, Kamen Rider. Let me show you my henshin!”
Eyes ablaze with malevolence, Zol laughed with glee and triumph. With a crack of his riding crop, a sudden explosion consumed him. When the dust cleared, a new, fearsome foe appeared in his stead.
“I am Golden Wolf Pony! Prepare to die, Kamen Rider.” The pony-wolf said, nodding his canine head. His muscles bulged as he moved, slinking along with a predatory grace.
Twilight prepared for a sudden pounce, expecting the General to attack with his formidable claws. Instead, they opened to reveal black barrels. The Kamen Rider howled as several sudden rockets blasted against her chest, flinging her across the room.
The wolf pony continued his assault, blasting away with his mini-missiles. It forced his opponent on the defensive. Twilight barely kept ahead of the explosions. But she saw her moment, slashing forward with her sword. Sparks flew as the blow connected, but Zol refused to take it lying down. Twilight winced as Golden Wolf’s claws dug into her armored chest, almost dragging her to her knees.
The fight became brutal as each combatant tore into the other, testing their limits. Her opponent darted around the battlefield, Golden Wolf’s agility incredible. Lux’s strength waned as each blow connected, compounding her previous injuries.
But Twilight fought like a demon, regardless, joining the dance of battle. Each recoiled as sword and claw struck, both digging into the other. And both panted as they gathered their remaining strength.
As a rocket from the Shocker General struck her chest, Lux’s sword slashed across the Golden Wolf’s face. Both staggered, wincing as they struggled to rise. Claw met blade as they tore into each other.
“You fight well, Kamen Rider Lux, but I’m finishing this.” After leaping off a nearby pillar, Golden Wolf fired. Twilight dodged aside as mini-missiles shredded the once-polished marble floor, howling as the stray missiles connected. Twilight used her own acrobatics, dashing across the room as her opponent fired.
“Photon Slash!” Energy gathered around her blade, cracking as it slashed forward. But Golden Wolf did something unexpected. Seeing his death, the Shocker General pointed his launchers at the ground. While the heat of the impact blackened his golden fur, it’d thrown him clear of Twilight’s attack. Stunned by her misfire, Twilight stood helplessly as her enemy took an opportunity for retribution.
“Gah!” Pain stabbed into her chest as a clawed foot slammed into it. She staggered, unable to move quickly enough to dodge the follow-up attack. Point-blank, she took several mini-missiles to the chest. Her bones rattled as she impacted her throne, shattering it. An untransformed Twilight crawled from the wreckage.
“I did it,” Zol said, panting as he returned to his pony form. Like Twilight, he’d taken a beating too. It’d taken everything for him to defeat the Rider. “So end Kamen Rider Lux, false princess of Equestria.”
“Not yet.” Twilight refused to surrender, her breath coming in ragged bursts. “Never!”
“No, I think you’ve done enough, Twilight Sparkle,” Zol said, straightening his military suit to regain some semblance of order. She flinched as the Shocker General lifted her head with his riding crop. “But fear not. You won’t die here today. Destron needs your body and its secrets. Who knows? We might even conscript you to join us like your former foalsitter.”
“Never!”
This only earned a snort from Zol, turning as some Combatponies tentatively peeked their heads into the room. Their courage returned when they saw their greatest enemy defeated in a pile of rubble.
“Take her,” Zol said. “Put her in cell K. It should be strong enough to hold her. Its anti-magic field will prevent any annoying tricks.”
“Stop struggling!”
Twilight winced as a Combatpony whacked her over the noggin with a club, stopping her protest. With her head throbbing and escape impossible, it seemed wiser to preserve her energy until a more opportune time to flee. They cuffed her as they hulled her away.
“Ouch! I’m not fighting, okay?” Twilight said, her migraine worsening as she took another blow across the skull. It seemed the Combatpony hadn’t yet had fun with their helpless captive.
“This is for number 0217!” The pony with the club said, giving Twilight’s noggin another pounding. An evil gleam glinted in her eyes as she fulfilled some unknown grudge.
“Hey! Colonel Zol wants her alive, remember?” Another Combatpony said.
“Not that alive. He can still use her corpse, right?” This response sent a chill down the Kamen Rider’s spine. This mare wanted her dead, regardless of the consequences. With Zol distracted in his conversion with his lieutenants over the war effort, it seemed she’d get her wish.
“Die, Rider!” The mare said, raising her club for the killing blow.
With a grimace, Twilight awaited the finishing blow. But death never came. She opened a tentative eye. Much to her astonishment, a rope restrained her would-be killer’s arm.
“Not so fast, villain! I ain’t allowing you to lay a hoof on our princess!” A familiar country drawl said.
“Applejack!” Twilight said, her eyes alight with hope.
“Yeah, meanie face! Leave her alone!” Pinkie Pie said, coming in cannon blazing as some Combatponies charged the intruders.
“You’re not taking our country or our freedom!” Fluttershy said, riding on top of a vicious bear that snarled at the suddenly nervous Combatponies.
“And, uh, I’m here too!” Starlight Glimmer said lamely with a wave.
“Ugh, what now?” Zol said, visibly annoyed at this intrusion. “Get them! Don’t let them rescue the princess!”
“You’re not surviving this, Rider!” The hateful Combatpony snarled, trying to smash Twilight’s head in again. Only to be pulled away as Applejack yanked on her rope, meeting the farmer’s hooves as it flung her forward.
The scene transformed into total anarchy as her friends fought for Twilight’s safety. They fought as a cohesive unit, holding back any assault wagged against them. The Combatponies not engaged in the battle tried to pull the Kamen Rider away, but a sudden loop from a lasso pulled her to safety.
“Thanks, AJ,” Twilight said, sighing in relief as she rejoined her friends. With the help of Starlight’s magic, they got the cuffs off Twilight’s hooves.
“Foals!” Colonel Zol said, snapping his riding crop. “You can’t defeat a bunch of civilian bumpkins?”
“They’re not bumpkins, they’re my friends.” This earned smiles from Twilight’s friends. “Together, you can’t stop us, Zol.”
“Fine. I’ll show you what happens to those that oppose Destron.” With a crack of his rising crop, Zol re-transformed into Golden Wolf. “But with those injuries, Kamen Rider Lux, I doubt you will pose much of an obstacle.”
“Do your worst.” Twilight got into her transformation pose, but she knew the truth of their enemy’s words. She felt nauseous and had trouble standing. But she also knew failure wasn’t an option. She’d fight, regardless of the odds. “Henshin!”