//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Twilight Sparkle and Her Friends Play Age of Empires II // by swirlstar //------------------------------// Epilogue “Thank you so much for a lovely day, Rarity,” Spike mumbled, love-smitten as ever, as the Golden Oaks Library towered before them. The fashionista ‘awwed’ and ruffled the little dragon’s headspikes playfully. “It was wonderful having you at the Boutique, Spikey-Wikey, and I do hope you’ll pop in again soon. Plus,” – and her mood darkened considerably at the thought – “I can’t have you watching Twilight and her friends play that.” “Yeah,” Spike murmured, wondering why his love was getting all worked up over this. The only thing he learnt from watching Twilight play was that the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 ended iconoclasm in the Eastern Roman Empire, an utterly irrelevant piece of information that was now stuck like gum in his budding brain. The white unicorn launched into The Rant as she proceeded up the garden path. “What a beastly little game that is! I mean, I can forgive the awful fashion sense and the corny music effects, the killing- oh, the killing! It’s positively industrial!” Rarity turned to Spike as she stood before the wooden door, a veritable fire in her eyes. “And let me tell you, Spike: I bet the likes of King Sombra created that horrid piece of evil. It’s corruption of the highest order.” “I guess so.” The fashionista leered at the dragon for a long hard while. "Oh well. Let us hope that they’ve ended their infernal session by now… ” She raised her hoof and rapped on the door a few times. “Twilight! It’s Rari- “ BAM. The door yanked open and a blur of cyan zipped out before anypony could react. “Oh, goodness!” Rarity screamed, jerking her head back to see what was the matter. “What on Earth is the- “ “Help me, R-rarity!” Rainbow Dash stammered, eyes wide open and legs like jelly, desperately seeking shelter behind the white unicorn. The fashionista was just as shaken. “Rainbow Dash? What has gotten into- “ A gasp as she gazed back at the insides of the Library, looking as if somepony had unleashed the Elements of Harmony on it. Books were strewn everywhere, broken glass and china littering the floor, walls and ceiling blackened and charred, minor fires even burning away in the upper levels. And in the middle of it all, three very enraged ponies: an orange farm pony, a pink party pony, and a purple alicorn. “Twilight?” Rarity gawped dumbly. “What has gotten into all of you- “ “RAINBOW DASH!” Her Highness roared as she pawed the ground angrily, steam emanating from her nostrils. “You broke your Pinkie Promise! AGAIN!” “Nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise!” the normally-bubbly pony snarled, her voice waxing demonic. “Especially not for the fifth time in a row!” Okay, so that was less than enlightening. “Rainbow! Whatever is going on?!” “I-it wasn’t fair!” the pegasus retaliated, still ducking behind her friend. “I should have won that game, fair and square! Y-you ponies cheated!” “Ain’t none of us three been cheatin’ in that game,” Applejack answered softly, menacingly. “You, on the other hoof… ” “Well it doesn’t matter!” Rainbow Dash suddenly bounced up above Rarity, hovering indignantly over her fellow gamers. “I won again, Twilight! Rainbow Dash never loses at Age of Empires- “ Piao! The weathermare barely dodged a magenta ray fired at her, the projectile soaring past and setting aflame Ponyville Hall. Princess Sparkle scowled. “Get her, girls... ” Rarity’s eyes dilated as the two other ponies readied for the pounce. “What- Twilight, no!” Knightly Spike bravely threw himself before Rarity in an effort to protect his sweet. “I’ll protect you, M'Lady- ” “GET HER!” Whoomph! The baby dragon was quickly shunted aside as the combined mass of three ponies crashed into him, his useless body soaring like a bird in mid-air- “Ahhh!” Rarity’s screams pierced the sky along with a salvo of purple lasers, Rainbow Dash flying too fast for any to score. A cloud of angry, angry dust emanating from Mane Street as Spike got back onto his aching knees, the dragon immediately scrambling for the fashionista sprawled out some ways back. “Rarity; Rarity! Oh, by Celestia, I’m so, so sorry!” Rarity lay twitching on the ground, her coiffured mane mangled and matted, her pristine white coat pockmarked with hoof-shaped bruises, her pretty face marred by a filthy black spot over her left eye. The unicorn could only shudder and groan in volcanic rage, Ponyvillian screams and shouts filling out the evening sky as Twilight launched a few more of her magical missiles at her fleeing enemy. “… I hate that game… ” ~ THE END~