“Stay calm, girls,” Twilight insisted, despite how scared she was inside. “Just stick together, and we can make it through this.”
“There’s so many of them...” Fluttershy squeaked.
“Listen, Rainbow,” Applejack said. “If things start to get rough, I want you and Flutters to take Applebloom and her friends to Canterlot. Make sure somepony back there takes good care of them.”
“What, and just abandon the rest of you? Not a chance!” Rainbow responded. “No way I’m letting you face those things on your own!”
“This isn’t about us!” Rarity countered. “Come right back here after if you must, but make sure Sweetie and the others make it through this, no matter what. Pinkie Promise!”
“... Pinkie Promise. But I’m coming right back the second they’re safe!”
The six of them assumed a protective position around the young fillies. Pinkie Pie set down the Cake Twins next to them, giving them both lollipops to keep them quiet. She wished she could do more for them, but even she couldn’t see another way out of this. She’d make sure Dashie and Flutters took them to Canterlot along with the fillies, muttering an apology to Mr. and Mrs. Cake that she couldn’t keep her promise.
“Looks like this might be it, girls,” Twilight said. “I just wanted to say thanks. For being my friends.”
“Of course, Twilight,” Rarity said. “And thank you for being ours.”
The undead horde was slowly surrounding them, leaving little chance of escape. At this point, their constant moaning was nearly deafening. Twilight was warming up her horn for a barrier spell, not knowing how long it would hold under constant attack. Applejack had her signature lasso at the ready, just waiting for one of them to get too close. Rainbow was flexing her wings, readying herself for a fight and, if necessary, to carry the fillies and Cake Twins all the way to Canterlot. Faced with almost certain death, Fluttershy was surprised at how little fear she felt. She would fight for her pony friends and animal friends. Whatever will happen, will happen.
They stopped.
Almost like a single being, the zomponies ceased their movement. Their moans fell silent, like they had all been rendered mute in a single instant.
None of the (living) ponies knew what to make of this development. Did they run out of energy? Did the source of their reanimation run out? Did something commanded them to stop?
Before any of them could voice their confusion, a booming voice emanated from the horde. “Well, looks like I finally have you cornered. You lead me on quite the chase, but it ends here.”
The voice was familiar to all of them, but it was different from the one they remembered. It was... hollow. Empty. Sure, it was loud, but it sounded like something was missing from it. Only Twilight knew who it was, having heard the voice many times in her nightmares.
Sure enough, some of the zomponies parted to reveal their master. The figure was slightly skinnier than the one they remembered, and her mane was an absolute mess. More startling, however, were her eyes. Her eyes used to be a light purple. Not anymore. They were now a deep, sickly, green. Even still, there was no mistaking her distinctive cape and cowl.
“Trixie,” Twilight said, her voice venomous enough to stop a manticore in it’s tracks.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie replied. “I have to admit, you are a slippery one. I thought I had you at the candy house, but there was nothing but those two worthless bakers.”
“Worthless bakers?” Pinkie Pie said, her mane and tail deflating as she walked towards Trixie. “WORTHLESS BAKERS! Don’t you call them worthless bakers! Their names were Carrot Cake and Cup Cake! They had two wonderful foals named Pumpkin and Pound Cake! And they were my friends!”
“So what? The Great and Powerful Trixie does not concern herself about commoners.”
“WHAT!? I ought to-”
“Pinkie, calm down!” Twilight shouted, with Rainbow and Applejack both having to pull her back. “She’s got us outnumbered here. We need to be careful.”
“You’re right to be afraid,” Trixie said. “The Great and Powerful Trixie does not intend to be defeated this time. No, this time, it will be you that falls before me!”
“Is that what this is all about? You’re still angry about the Ursa incident? Trixie, do you even know how many ponies here DIED because of you?”
“Oh, I know. I know better than you might think. For I am no mere conjurer of cheap tricks. No, I’ve moved far beyond that. For you see, The Great and Powerful Trixie has discovered the secrets of necromancy!”
“WHAT!?” Though she knew that had to be the case, to hear her admit it so proudly was appalling. “Necromancy has been forbidden for thousands of years! It’s an insult to life, it’s disrespectful to the dead, it’s-”
“Spare me your inane babble. Trixie has risen beyond such petty concerns. I did not come here to listen to listen to you anyways. I came here to challenge you, Twilight, to a duel!”
“Forget it, Trixie! After everything that you’ve done, what’s to keep us from banishing you with the Elements of Harmony and putting an end to this?”
“Oh, go ahead, blast me with your ‘friendship’. But Trixie brought along a few guests to witness the occasion, and it would be a shame if anything were to happen to them.”
At this, some of the zomponies parted to reveal a small crowd of survivors, huddled together for safety. There was Cheerilee, and a few of her students cowering near her. Ditzy Doo was there, holding her daughter Dinky close and constantly cooing reassurances. Lyra looked despondent, while Bon Bon was nowhere to be seen. Even Big Mac was there, unconscious, but still breathing.
“Trixie isn’t an idiot,” Trixie said. “I thought you might try to threaten me with that, so I brought along some insurance. Use the Elements if you want... but they will die if you do so.”
To reinforce her point, three of the zomponies from the crowd advanced towards the survivors, eliciting small yelps of terror from the younglings. Ditzy gave a death glare to the one closest to her and Dinky, but a slight quiver of her wings betrayed her fear.
As much as they wanted to believe otherwise, Twilight and her friends knew that Trixie wasn’t bluffing. She had already killed dozens of other ponies in Ponyville just looking for them. In her madness, their lives were nothing. She wouldn’t give a second thought if the six of them tried to use the Elements of Harmony on her.
“Fine,” Twilight agreed. “I’ll do it, IF you don’t hurt my friends.”
“Trixie got what she wanted. They are yours to deal with now.”
The last few zomponies separating them parted, allowing the survivors to run over to them. Cheerilee and the school ponies joined the CMC in the center, while Lyra and Ditzy carried the unconscious Big Mac over. Applejack and Applebloom helped them out making sure he wasn’t badly hurt. There were numerous bruises and a few scratches, but nothing looked particularly worrisome. A few bandages made from torn-off strips from their saddlebags took care of the scratches, though there was still risk of infection, especially with all the flies, maggots, and rot on the zomponies. Still, he should be good until they got to Canterlot, where the doctors could take a better look.
The rest of the horde cleared out to allow room for the duel. Both unicorns took their places opposite each other. Twilight felt nervous, though she managed to hide it for the sake of her friends. Reanimating and controlling all those zomponies should take quite a bit of magical strength, but Trixie didn’t appear to be tired at all. Still, Twilight knew she had to win here. After all the pain she had caused, all the lives she took, Trixie had to go down, here and now.
Trixie made the first move, casting a standard telekinesis spell that Twilight easily blocked. That was clearly a warm-up, though. Trixie proceeded with a telekinetic barrage, intending to keep her on the defensive. Twilight alternatively blocked and dodged them, making sure none of them went towards her friends. Knowing she had to take the offensive, she cast a fire spell, then an ice spell, varying her attacks and approaches in an attempt to get her off guard. Trixie managed to keep her guard up, though she had to work for it.
Then she started using her necromancy. Sickly green bolts of magic headed her way. A quick analysis of the spell revealed that they were plague bolts, meant to cripple her with sickness. Even a glancing blow would take her out of the fight. Twilight had to work hard to keep them from striking her or her friends, and Trixie, seeing this, positioned herself so that any stray shots would land in the middle of them. Aside from an occasional counter whenever there was a slight lull in between bolts, Twilight was left on the defensive, and Trixie didn’t seem to be letting up.
There was a tremble underneath her. Right as Twilight took a look, multiple hooves shot out of the ground, trying to grab her. She did her best, but one of them got hold of her tail, yanking her to the ground and breaking her concentration, right as Trixie sent a pale black bolt of magic straight for her...
There was a loud hoot, and an explosion of feathers. When she opened her eyes, Twilight saw Owlowiscious, squirming as more feathers fell off. She cradled him, tears falling as she tried using magic to heal him, but it was no use. Eyes half-closed, he looked at her and gave a final, weak hoot before breathing his last.
Somehow, his death hit her harder than nearly everything else that happened that day. She still remembered when she first met him, inviting him inside during a cold night. She remembered when he helped her find and save Spike when he ran away, even after he had tried to frame him. All the times they had spent in the park, playing with her friends and their pets. After all the happy days they spent together, this was it. He was gone.
“Such a shame,” Trixie said. “That owl should have just flown away when it could. Trixie wouldn’t have even noticed it if it didn’t get in the way.”
“His name was Owlowiscious,” Twilight said, loathing her now more than ever.
“Oh, so you gave it a name. How cute. In any event, all the owl did was delay the inevitable. Trixie could simply kill you if she wanted, but let it not be said that The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn’t repay her debts. As loathe as I am to admit it, you stopped the Ursa from doing me in. You will live, for now. However, Trixie is under no such obligations for the rest of them. They die.”
“What! You said you wouldn’t hurt them!”
“Trixie did. Trixie didn’t say she wouldn’t have her army do it for her. Farewell, Twilight Sparkle.”
With that, Trixie left them to their fates. At this point, Twilight was exhausted from her previous efforts, and she doubted she’d be able to cast more than a spell or two before she passed out or had to start drawing on her lifeforce. Still, if it meant saving her friends, she would gladly pay that price.
First off was the barrier spell she had planned on using before Trixie showed up. Twilight used the last of her magical reserves on this, hoping to put off using her lifeforce unless it was really needed. She held no doubt that it would come to that, but the longer she held out, the better a chance her friends would make it out alive.
The first zompony that got close enough was wrapped up by Applejack’s lasso. Pulling it in, she finished it off by stomping on its head, then untangling her lasso and looking for a new victim.
Rainbow Dash put her speed to good use, focusing on one zompony at a time, then slamming onto its back and making sure it was really dead before finding a new target. Still, Twilight could tell she was holding back, saving her energy in case she had to carry the Cake Twins or any of the school children to safety in Canterlot. With the sudden addition of Cheerilee’s students, however, she might not be able to get them all to Canterlot.
Rarity was surprisingly effective, taking a few gems she had brought with her and shooting them into the heads of the multiple zomponies at a time before telekinetically pulling them back to aim for a new set of targets. Given how dense and hard the gems were, they had little trouble piercing the rotted skulls. Under normal circumstances, she would never even consider using the gems like that, but this hardly what they would call normal.
Pinkie Pie was proving to be deadly against the zomponies, using fireworks, firecrackers, party favors, and her signature Party Cannon to disorientate or deanimate groups of zomponies at a time. When one of them got too close, she shoved a hoof full of firecrackers down it’s throat, pulverizing it’s insides. She then shoved two fireworks into it before throwing back to the horde, causing an explosion that took out four other zomponies with bits of bone and plastic acting as shrapnel.
Fluttershy, of all ponies, was doing quite well all on her own. Fueled with desire to protect her friends, she kept snapping the necks of any unlucky zompony she could. This came as a major surprise, considering how timid and easily frightened she normally was. Then again, this was the pony that stared down a dragon because it hurt her friends. After she was to terrified to face it even with their full emotional support.
Still, the zomponies kept on coming, climbing over the bodies of their fallen in their mindless desire to kill them. Sooner than she would have liked, Twilight had to start using her lifeforce, first reinforcing her barrier, then casting a telekinetic burst to push a large group of them away. Lacking any other materials, she then took to using the bones of the dead as makeshift spears and arrows, piercing the skulls of zomponies until they broke.
There were simply too many of them. They kept slamming themselves against her barrier, requiring her to to drop her attacks and reinforce it. She was beginning to feel weak, and her friends were showing signs of fatigue. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were getting ready to fly the younglings to Canterlot. Lowering her barrier, she prepared a final spell, intending to take out as many zomponies as she could to clear a path for her friends to escape.
It was about then that she heard what was, at the time, the most beautiful sound she ever heard. War horns sounded behind her, and she saw an entire regiment of the Canterlot Royal Guard heading their way. Leading them were none other than her brother, Shining Armor, and Princess Celestia, in full battle armor that reminded her of Nightmare Moon’s attire, golden and shining like the sun itself.
First was a barrage of arrows, pelting the zomponies and taking down nearly a third of them. Her brother then lead a charge straight into the middle of the horde, knocking down any zomponies in their path to be either trampled to bits or run through with spears and lances. Princess Celestia, however, showed just how strong she was, burning her opponents from the inside, or, when they were in large enough groups, sealing them in a barrier before setting the air inside on fire. In either case, there was naught but ash left of them.
It was only a matter of minutes before nearly the entire horde was destroyed. The few remaining stragglers were easily dealt with by headshots. Shining Armor and Princess Celestia both approached the groups of survivors, while other guards readied chariots for them.
Twilight couldn’t help herself. She rushed over to her brother, hugging him nearly tight enough to cut off airflow. She then did the same with Princess Celestia, smiling like a maniac the whole time.
Then her previous efforts caught up to her, and her world slowly faded to black.