//------------------------------//
// The Battle of the Amulet 
// Story: If Solaris had a Text-to-Speech Device 
// by Jay David 
//------------------------------//

"Unicorns! Shields up!" Flash shouted. His command was followed instantly, the proper procedure and reaction time having been practiced by his troops a thousand times over. Now, it would be put into use. Within the circle formation the ponies had taken up, the unicorns among them lit up their horns, conjuring up the standard shield spell. Not the same quality as that of their former Captain, Shining Amour, but still enough to get the job done. Their unity, their group mindset, allowed them to fused their individual spells together, creating a single, strong shield that domed over them, glowing a pinkish-purple colour. It shimmered in what little daylight there was, and it made it clear that it wasn't being beaten down anytime soon. 

Unfortunately for the Equestrians, Biff didn't plan on just throwing his own forces at it, instead electing for the big guns straight away. He looked up, giving a single nod, a silent command for his dragon to swoop down in a divebomb. All of the shielded ponies braced for impact, which came shortly afterwards, as the beast collided with their spell. Knees buckled, but the spell remained. It had taken its toll however, as sweat could be seen on the brows of the unicorns. A few more hits like that and this fight wasn't going to last long. "You know, you can always surrender," Biff called out mockingly.

Flash did not respond, instead focusing his attention upon the dragon that now circled high above them. It was the biggest threat of their enemies, he knew that, and he also knew that the creature was likely preparing for another strike. They couldn't remain like this, not forever. They were sitting ducks, no means of escape. He glanced to the side, to his troops, those who had trusted him and been willing to follow him into danger like this. He had to get them out, back to their home, to their families. But as long as they had the Amulet with them, they'd never be safe from pursuit until they crossed their border again. Then, as he again regarded the dragon above, a thought came to him. It wasn't a perfect ploy by any means, and there was still great risk, but circumstances left him no alternative. He turned to Tempest, keeping his voice low. "Tempest...I have an idea."

Biff, watching from afar, arched an eyebrow to the huddled ponies still acting on the defensive. He watched Flash speak quietly to one of the others, a mare he didn't know. Getting bored, he called out again. "You know, I kinda got places to be, buddy!"

Tempest stared at her leader, knowing what she was now being asked to do. She didn't like it, her expression made that apparent, but she trusted him enough to nod in agreement to the plan. Nodding back, Flash turned, looking ahead to the assembled enemies before them. Then, his eyes turned upwards again, to the dragon that now sought to divebomb them a second time. Perhaps this would even be the blow that finished them. If so, it was more important than ever that this went according to plan. He waited as the dragon flew faster and faster, drawing nearer with every second. Then, right at the chosen moment, he shouted. "NOW!!!" With that command, Tempest summoned all her might to shoot a single bolt of almighty lightning from her horn. It fired upwards, through the shield and straight to the dragon. The great flier had no time to react or change course, and so the bolt struck him straight in the face. He bellowed with anguish, his divebomb now interrupted, as he instead bounced off the shield and impacted the ground, sending dirt and rocks up everywhere. In the confusion, Flash called out to the others. "GO!!!

And go they did. The shield spell dissipated, allowing al in the group to charge forward. Their foes, taken aback by the fall of their dragon, hesitated, and in that hesitation the Royal Guard had their chance. They pressed through, knocking over pony, Griffon and Changeling alike, managing to force their way through the lines. Biff watched with dismay as his quarry began their exodus, galloping as fast as their hooves could take them, away from the battlefield and towards Equestria. Enraged, he called to his own. "Don't just stand there, you idiots! Get them!"

"Biff! Forgetting something?" a voice called to him. Biff turned, seeing that it was none other than Flash, still standing where the Guard had been shielded moments earlier. Alone he remained, holding up the saddle-bag that Biff knew contained the prize he was after. "You want the Amulet? Come and get it!"

And so the criminal watched as Flash threw the aforementioned bag over his back, before charging back in the opposite direction. Away from Equestria and away from his allies, back towards the ruins he'd come from. Biff, his mind utterly fixated on his end goal, again shouted to his cohorts. "Forget the rest of them! Get their leader!"

As Flash ran, he looked over his shoulder, seeing that the collection of adversaries were now converging on him. Stretching out his wings, he launched himself upwards, and those behind him who could fly followed suit. All were trying to catch him now, and he knew he had to make this count. Fly as fast as he could, put as much distance as he was able between them and his troops. But his heart sank when he heard a familiar roar. As expected, the dragon had recovered, and with the old ruins soon coming back into view, now was the time when the enormous aerial enemy completely bodied Flash, sending him hurling down into the ground. It was painful, and from the feel of things he knew he'd broken a wing, but still he pressed on, crawling ahead, using every ounce of strength that he had to get away. But now, his hopes had ended, and soon he could hear them. Hoofsteps surrounding him. Slowly, he looked upwards, into the smiling face of Biff, though he was far from happy. "You don't get your supper without working for it, criminal."

Biff didn't answer, at least not at first. Instead, he unceremoniously yanked the saddle-bag off Flash's back, turning away from him and beginning to rummage inside it. His look of smug victory soon faded though. For no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find what he was looking for. Throwing the bag onto the ground, he looked right at Flash, who by this point had developed a knowing smile. "Where is it?!" he demanded to know.

Flash, weakly, got himself up on his hooves before looking to his enemy. "With my troops. I imagine they're back over Equestria's borders by now, safe and sound." He looked around, to the rest of Biff's gang. "I can't imagine you'll be all that popular, having let your 'big payday' slip by like that."

Biff, grinding his teeth, stepped back. It was a rage shared by everycreature standing around Flash right now, particularly in the dragon, who had since landed and was now towering over the tired stallion. Biff, letting the situation sink in, looked up to the firebreather and gave what was likely going to be his final order. "KILL HIM!!!"

And so Flash closed his eyes, hearing the dragon roar one last time. He knew this was the end, but he took solace in the knowledge that what he'd done had allowed his comrades to get back home. He awaited the final blow, the strike that he knew in his heart would end him, and he took his last breath. But, as the moments passed, the blow did not come. There was no impact of the dragon's claws, no pain to mark the end. There was nothing at all. So, slowly, he opened his eyes again, and was shocked to see what he saw. Gone was the ruins and the surrounding wasteland, and instead he now found himself in the very familiar setting of the chambers beneath Canterlot. His head darted left and right, seeing Luna, Discord and Blueblood close by. Even a small filly he didn't recognise. And of course, there was Solaris looking over them all. Confused, Flash stared at the enormous alicorn skeleton, the latter of which finally breaking the silence. "WELL NOW. I'D SAY YOU'VE HAD QUITE THE ADVENTURE, HAVEN'T YOU, SENTRY?"