Trixie glanced at the cards in her grip before eyeing the other two ponies at the table with her. “Raise,” she said as she pushed a stack of her chips into the center.
“She’s got nothing,” Fleetfoot said. She grinned at Trixie and shoved forward a pile of her own chips.
Rapidfire’s eyes darted back and forth between them. “I dunno,” he said, frowning behind his Wonderbolt goggles.
“Then fold,” Trixie said. She leaned back and crossed her forelegs.
"I’m telling you,” Fleetfoot said sourly, “she’s got nothing.”
A drop of sweat rolled down Rapidfire’s cheek as he considered his cards before finally laying them down. “I’m out,” he said.
“Wuss,” Fleetfoot muttered. “Alright, show ‘em, magician.” She flipped her cards and grinned. “Can you beat a full house?”
Trixie primly arched an eyebrow. “Easily,” she said, revealing a flush. “And once again, victory goes to me.”
“Phew,” Rapidfire said as he swiped the perspiration from his brow. “Dodged that bullet.”
However, just as Trixie reached out to collect her winnings, Fleetfoot grabbed her leg. “Hold on,” she said. “”How do you get such good cards three rounds in a row?”
“Luck?” Trixie suggested with a shrug.
“A little too lucky, if you ask—” A trap door opened, drawing Fleetfoot’s attention. Spitfire poked her head through.
“Heads up, ponies,” she said, “it’s time to earn your wages. The fuzz is on the way.”
“How’d they even find us?” Fleetfoot asked as she released Trixie’s leg.
Spitfire shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t know, but the boss is getting pretty worked up over it. You three are only the first line of defense, but whatever you do, do not let them find the trapdoor.”
“You got it,” Rapidfire said. He stood and stretched his wings. “Alright, some action at last!”
“And, Trixie,” Spitfire said, “you’ll be delighted to know that Sparkle’s gonna be here.” She lowered the door. “Get ‘em good, ‘Bolts.” It closed with a muffled thud.
Fleetfoot dragged a carpet over the door, effectively hiding it from sight. “Let’s show them what makes us the best.” She held out a hoof for Rapidfire to clap.
“I care not about anypony other than Twilight Sparkle,” Trixie said to them. “Leave her for me.”
“Whatever.” Fleetfoot rolled her eyes and tossed her mane. “Just don’t do anything stupid.”
“Trixie will do something stupid if Trixie so desires!” Trixie said, hooves on hips.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. Anypony got time for another round of cards?”
“C’mooon,” Rainbow whined in a high-pitched voice. “Hurry up! If we fly any slower, we’ll fall outta the sky!” She flew a loop around Twilight.
“Calm down, Rainbow,” Twilight said, eyes closed. A nimbus crackled around her horn. “I can’t go any faster and concentrate on the tracking spell at the same time.”
Rainbow groaned loudly, but fell in beside Twilight and Luna.
"Patience, young Rainbow Dash,” Luna said with a comforting smile. “We shall know action aplenty in no time. Twilight Sparkle, have you located the stone?”
Twilight frowned and opened her eyes. “Maybe,” she said. “The spell says it's right below us.”
“Then what’re we waiting for?” Rainbow made to dive, but a gesture from Twilight halted her.
“It’s really far down below us,” she continued. “I—I think it might be underground!”
“Meaning my sister has an underground hideout,” Luna said, raising a hoof to her chin. “Perhaps there is a cave nearby that would lead there.”
“Or maybe that cabin’s hiding the entrance.” Twilight pointed down, to where a run-down cottage sat at the edge of a copse of trees. “Let’s check it out!”
The three wordlessly descended to the cabin, touching down in front of it. “We must have care,” Luna said softly. “If our enemies are here, then they likely await us in ambush.”
“I can take whatever they throw at me!” Rainbow said as she strutted to the cabin’s door and pulled it open. “We’ve got nothing to worry abooof!” A stallion, clad in the Wonderbolt uniform, shot out and tackled Rainbow to the ground. A second Wonderbolt flew straight at Luna, who yawned as she swatted the attacker away.
Twilight had just started towards Rainbow when a familiar voice stopped her. “You won’t get any lucky shots this time!” She saw Trixie’s hoof approaching from above and shoved it aside. The kick flew harmlessly by as Trixie touched down lightly.
“Trixie, don’t you ever get tired of this?” Twilight asked, exasperation in her voice.
“Not until I see you face-down in the dirt!” Trixie shot back.
Meanwhile, Rainbow had tossed Rapidfire aside and regained her footing. “I haven’t forgotten about that crate you dropped on me,” she growled.
“Guess I should’ve picked something heavier, then,” he said with a chuckle.
Rainbow’s brow furrowed and she charged, wings adding to her momentum. Rapidfire grinned and readied a kick. However, his smile quickly vanished as she dove under his attack.
Her hoof caught him in the ribs with a thundering crack and he dropped, gasping for air.
Rainbow grinned down at him. “By the way,” she said as she kicked him once more for good measure, “I quit.” She turned to see how her friends fared.
Eyes bulging, Trixie flailed her hooves in a desperate attempt to get past her opponent's defenses. Twilight hopped to the side, then charged back in under her opponent’s attacks. She landed a solid hit on Trixie's chin and followed up with a head-butt to the chest.
“Not again!” Trixie shouted, falling backwards with hooves splayed. “Not—” Twilight’s swift kick laid Trixie out, unconscious. As she tumbled over, her hat fell to the ground, and dozens of playing cards scattered in the wind.
Fleetfoot gasped. “I knew you were cheating!” she said from the ground.
“When your princess strikes you,” Luna said, back-hoofing the prone Fleetfoot, “‘tis poor form to remain awake.” Fleetfoot’s head fell forward. “Twilight Sparkle, if you would be so kind as to lead us onward?” She pranced to the cabin and nudged the door open.
Twilight’s horn glowed for an instant. “Yes,” she said. “The tracking spell says Celestia's still below us, but I think Trixie’s presence here is a much better indication that this is the right place.” She walked inside the cabin, followed closely by Rainbow and Luna.
“Yeah, that’s interesting and all, but let’s talk about me,” Rainbow said with a grin. “Did you see the way I totally owned Rapidfire? Heh, that jerk barely knew what hit him!”
The light that streamed in through cracks in the walls was the cabin's only source of illumination. “There must be some kind of secret entrance in here,” Twilight said absently. Aside from three stools and a table, the cabin held no other furniture. Her eyes fell on a patterned rug that covered a section of floor in the back of the room. “Well, this isn’t super obvious.” She pulled it aside to reveal a trapdoor, set into the creaky wooden floor.
With a grunt, Twilight grabbed the door’s iron ring in her mouth and pulled. It lifted and they beheld a set of wooden stairs that descended into the darkness.
“Alright, you two,” she said. “I don’t know what to expect down there, but I know that Celestia won’t give up without a fight.”
“Well, duh,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. “Cut the pep-talk and let’s do this!”
Twilight sighed. “Fine, but just be careful, okay?”
She took a step down and led her friends into the unknown.
“Boss, you’re really going to blow up Ponyville now?” Spitfire stood and watched as Celestia worked at a control panel. “Didn’t you want to wait until tomorrow?”
“I fear that we may not have until tomorrow,” Celestia said. She stopped to scratch under her eye patch. “If there is one thing I have learned about Twilight Sparkle, it is not to underestimate her.” She frowned and turned a dial. “Hmm, I believe a half-hour will suffice.”
“Why not just launch it now and get it over with, then?” Spitfire said.
“Oh, my dear Spitfire, you should understand that, before anything else, we must ensure that the game remains even.” She tousled Spitfire’s mane before returning to her work. “There must always be a sliver of hope, otherwise the hero loses the will to fight. Where is the fun in that?”
“So that’s why you left Sparkle alone in the warehouse,” Spitfire said, eyes widening. “So she would keep fighting and try to escape!”
“We shall make an arch-villain of you, yet,” Celestia said with a laugh. “Now, to wrap things up here…” A bolt of pure energy leapt forth from her horn and engulfed the panel. It sparked and melted into an unrecognizable lump of metal. “She won’t be able to halt the countdown anymore, and none of these other consoles can access the missile’s commands. Spitfire, I shall set the stage for our confrontation, but I have a different job for you.”
“You pay the bills, I do what you say,” she said, shrugging. “What do you need?”
“I need you to go and keep watch over a high-value prisoner.” Celestia’s eye glinted. “She’s sure to receive visitors very shortly.”
As they neared the bottom of the stairs, Twilight saw light ahead. She glanced back and received both a nod from Luna and a grin from Rainbow Dash. As one, they bolted the rest of the way down and found themselves in a small, poorly lit room along with three wide-eyed thugs.
Twilight darted forward and ran one up against the stone wall. He attempted to push her away, but his position was such that he couldn’t get enough leverage. She kicked him heavily, sending him crashing to the ground. Her hind leg lashed out and caught the second thug, who had been rushing from behind, in the face. He joined his fellow on the ground in unconsciousness.
The last of the thugs cowered underneath the stern gaze of Princess Luna. She towered above him, imperiously flaring her wings before she lightly tapped him on the forehead. However, "light" for Luna had a different meaning to everyone else, and the blow knocked the unfortunate thug into unconsciousness.
“I have felled my foe,” she announced.
“Aw, c’mon!” Rainbow whined. “Twilight, you took mine!”
“Gee, what was I thinking?” Twilight said with a roll of her eyes. “Next time, I’ll just let the bad guy hit me while I wait for you to take care of him!”
“I was getting to it…” Rainbow muttered, glancing away.
Twilight took a moment to examine their surroundings. Two exits on opposite sides of the room led deeper into the underground compound. “Let’s hurry,” she said as she moved towards one of the doors. “Who knows what Celestia will do when she finds out that we’re here?” She pushed through and into a winding corridor.
Drops of water fell from the ceiling as Twilight cantered further into the complex, Luna close on her heels. The roughly hewn stone walls glistened with condensation. After only moments of running, they came upon another metal door.
She kicked it open with a single blow, sending echoes bouncing along the rocky corridor.
“Twilight Sparkle, what a surprise it is to see you alive.” High above them, Celestia reclined on a stack of crates. Large boxes littered the floor of the massive cavern, some piled high enough to reach the ceiling. “And—oh my, is that Luna?" She laughed and clapped her hooves. "What a surprise to find my sister—the president of Equestria, no less!— bumping elbows with us lower-class ponies!”
Twilight glanced at Luna, only to receive a reassuring nod. “Twilight Sparkle, ‘tis your show. I shall support you, but you must lead.”
She swallowed and turned back to her one-time mentor. “I’ll give you one chance to surrender,” she said loudly. “Let Fluttershy go and give yourself up! There’s no need for us to fight!”
“There is every need!” Celestia said, toying with her mane. “But we waste time by arguing. I have already set the countdown for the missile, which should launch in—twenty five minutes? Something like that.” A crowd of thugs appeared over the crates and leaped down towards the intruders. “Shall we have some entertainment in the meantime?”
“We have to hurry,” Twilight muttered to Luna, then turned to address Rainbow. “Rainbow Dash, I’ll make certain to leave you some—” Her eyes widened as she realized that there was nobody standing behind her. “Rainbow?!”
The attacking thugs forced the issue to the back of her mind.
When Twilight and Luna had galloped out of the first room, Rainbow lagged behind and chose the other door. “Psh, stealing all the fun,” she muttered, making her way down a hallway similar to the one Twilight and Luna had navigated. “I’ll do this on my own.”
She froze as laughter echoed off the walls around her. It was difficult to judge sound in the rocky, twisting tunnel, but the source appeared to be just around the next bend.
Rainbow poked her head out and peeked.
“So, you think you’re hot stuff, do ya?” Spitfire stood outside of a cell, laughing at whoever it imprisoned. “Took down fifteen mares by yourself, according to Gilda.” Rainbow didn’t hear the prisoner's reply, but it apparently angered Spitfire. “If there’s one thing I hate more than anything else, it’s false modesty,” she snarled. “In half an hour, after Ponyville’s just a memory, I think I’ll take you and—” Rainbow shouldered her in the side, sending her tumbling away from the cell.
“Hey,” Rainbow said with a glance between the cell’s bars, “are you all—” Her eyes widened when she found herself staring at Fluttershy, who shielded a pair of foals. “You!”
“Look out!” Fluttershy cried as she pointed to the side. Rainbow turned to look, but took a heavy kick to the face before she could fully register the warning.
Breathing heavily, Spitfire loomed over her. “I always knew there was something off about you,” she said in a biting voice. “You’re a damn good flier, but you’re still not cut out to be a Wonderbolt.”
“I don’t even wanna be a Wonderbolt anymore!” Rainbow shouted. She pushed herself to her hooves. “Not if you guys ditch each other!” She lunged forward and jabbed a hoof forward.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Spitfire snarled as she blocked the attack. Her own forehoof snapped into Rainbow’s chest, sending the her reeling. “We do what we gotta do, and if that means that somepony gets left behind, then too bad.”
Rainbow stumbled against a wall and strained to catch her breath. “All I’m hearing—” She wobbled in place, but managed to keep her footing “—are excuses.”
“Whatever you say, Dash.” Simultaneously, they rushed each other.
As fight wore on, Fluttershy gasped and covered the eyes of her two charges. “Don’t look,” she said. “This isn’t for foals.”
Spitfire tumbled back when an attack slipped through her defenses and smashed into her cheek. Rainbow didn’t give her any time to recover, instead laying into her with gusto.
“The Wonderbolts were the good guys!” she shouted. Despite Spitfire’s skilled attempts to block, she couldn’t avoid all of the kicks. “They did good things, and made ponies happy!” Breathing heavily, Rainbow finally abated and stepped back. “You were my idols! My heroes! Why would you ruin that?”
“For th’ money,” Spitfire mumbled. She spat out a tooth. “That’s all…” Her eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed, unconscious.
Rainbow exhaled heavily before she turned to Fluttershy. “Are you alright?” she asked. “And, um… why do you have foals with you?”
“These are the Cakes’ babies,” Fluttershy explained. She walked to the cell door and pushed it open, making the other pegasus’s eyes widen. “Celestia left them with me, so I had to watch over them instead of escaping.”
“So, you could’ve gotten out of here at any time,” Rainbow said slowly, “but didn’t, because of two babies.” She sighed and shook her head.
“Um, if it’s not too much trouble, could you come with me?” Fluttershy asked. With the Cake twins on her back, she cantered further into the complex, in the opposite direction from which Rainbow had arrived. “I need to do something.”
“What’s that?” Rainbow said, raising an eyebrow.
“I need to save Ponyville.”
Two thugs approached Twilight, murder evident in their eyes. However, before they even came close to her, dark-blue tendrils burst forth from the ground and slapped them across the face. Twilight twisted to look at Luna.
“I said I shall support you,” she said. “Allow me to occupy these curs while you deal with my sister.” She grabbed a lunging unicorn and flipped him over her shoulder.
“Are you sure you can take them all?” Twilight asked as Luna used another enemy as a club.
“I have faced far worse,” Luna replied. She swung her impromptu weapon repeatedly, each time knocking another thug to the ground. Finally, she threw her impromptu weapon into a stack of crates. “Why do you hesitate? Go!”
Twilight’s wings spread and she took to the air. “Good luck!” she said, approaching Celestia.
“Ah, I see my little sister does not wish to face me,” Celestia said. She languidly climbed to her hooves and stretched. “Although I must say that I am glad for a chance to once more beat you senseless. Tell me, how do your ribs feel?”
“That won’t happen, this time,” Twilight said. She hovered before her opponent. “Losing isn’t an option for me.”
“Incorrect,” Celestia said as she spread her wings. “It is your only option.” Before Twilight could react, Celestia was beneath her, driving a shoulder into Twilight’s stomach.
“Oof!” The momentum from the blow carried her back to land on another stack of boxes. She quickly rolled to her feet, rubbing the injured area.
“It’s clear that you cannot outfight me.” Celestia yawned loudly. “Why even try?”
Instead of answering, Twilight snarled and charged.
“Oh, dear, this isn’t good.” Fluttershy inspected the melted control panel. “This isn’t good at all.”
“What’s not good?” Rainbow asked, bouncing the Cake twins on her knees.
Fluttershy glanced over and frowned. “This must be what Celestia used to control the missile’s ignition, but with it melted, I can’t stop it from firing.”
“Can’t you just turn the missile off?” Pumpkin Cake’s horn poked Rainbow in the eye. “Ow!”
“I’m afraid I don’t know how to do that,” Fluttershy answered. Over the destroyed panel, a window looked into the room containing the missile. “But, I might have another idea…” She turned to an intact panel and pushed a few buttons.
“Alright, you've gotta tell me what you’re doing,” Rainbow said impatiently. Pound Cake spread her wings, but was caught in Rainbow's grasp before she could take off. “Because I have no idea what any of those buttons are for.”
“That should do it.” Fluttershy sighed. “I can’t stop the rocket from taking off, but I can stop the silo door from opening.”
“So?” Rainbow glared at the foals, who had started to whimper. “What’s that gonna do?”
“Well, if the missile launches and hits the door, it should detonate here, instead of Ponyville,” Fluttershy said. “Rainbow, you said that Twilight came with you?”
“Yeah, she and Luna are off somewhere, probably fighting the big cheese.” She clicked her tongue in an attempt to amuse the foals.
“Then I have a favor to ask of you.” Fluttershy ran to the door. “Please get those two out of here and back to their mommy and daddy while I go help Twilight.”
“What?! Why do I have to—” Fluttershy had already left the room. “Fiiine. C’mon, you two, let’s get you home.”
With the foals on her back, Rainbow set a quick pace for the exit.
Twilight’s hoof came crashing down against Celestia’s crossed forelegs, pushing her back. Her eyes widened slightly at the force of the blow, but she didn’t have time to comment as Twilight brought her other hoof rushing in at her stomach. The air shot out of Celestia’s lungs as she hopped backwards.
“You can still end this,” Twilight said. The crates that she stood on wobbled for a moment before they stabilized. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
“No other—way for—it to be,” Celestia gasped between breaths. She suddenly kicked forward, and only after Twilight raised her hooves to block did she realize that she wasn't the target.
Celestia’s hoof splintered the crate that they stood on.
“Whoa!” Just as the boxes collapsed beneath her, Twilight spread her wings and took flight. However, something caught her leg, and she glanced down to find that Celestia had it in a firm grip.
“Let’s take this to the ground, shall we?” she said, heaving downward and sending Twilight crashing to the floor. She landed on one of her wings and cried out as it bent at an awkward angle. “Now, isn't this better?”
Out of sight on the other side of a wall of boxes, Twilight could hear that Luna’s fight continued unabated. She clambered to her hooves and fought to control her breathing. She tried to furl her wing, but found that it would barely move. Celestia touched lightly down nearby.
“Your wing looks hurt,” she said. “I apologize if I have caused you undue harm.” Her eyes narrowed as she suddenly pounced.
However, Twilight had been waiting for just such a move, and instead of defending herself, ran forward into the attack. Celestia gasped as a barrage of heavy jabs slammed into her midriff. She landed and tried to stagger away, but Twilight refused to let up, instead kicking out Celestia’s legs. Her wings opened to stop her fall when Twilight leaped high and snapped her hind leg into her exposed face. Celestia fell backwards into a pile of broken crates.
Except for the distant sound of Luna’s manic laughter and Twilight’s heavy breathing, silence fell over the immediate area. Then, with a pained grunt, Celestia forced herself to her feet.
“There is something different about you,” she said with a ragged voice. The splintered wood had gashed her forehead badly. “You were not like this last time.” She blinked the blood out of her eye.
“I already told you,” Twilight said, injured wing hanging loose, “I can’t afford to lose.” She slowly plodded forward.
Celestia’s foreleg darted out, and Twilight only barely managed to push it aside. However, she wasn't ready for the leg to hook around her neck and pull her close.
“I've got you now,” Celestia whispered in her ear. Her other foreleg repeatedly slammed into Twilight’s side, and her ribs, just barely healed after their last fight, screamed in agony.
However, instead of screaming with them, Twilight snapped her head backward, horn catching Celestia under the chin. The restraining leg fell away and Twilight stumbled back. She coughed as she staggered to the side.
Celestia shook her head to clear it and stalked forward. “I grow weary of this,” she snarled. Her eye blinked rapidly to keep itself clear from blood streaming down her face. “You are not supposed to put up this much of a fight.”
“Says who?” Twilight asked. She blocked and dodged a number of Celestia’s lumbering kicks, but couldn't find an opening to return any of her own. “Your stupid game?”
Suddenly, Celestia’s mane flowed forward and engulfed Twilight’s head. “The game is all there is,” Celestia said, bulling forward and knocking Twilight over backwards. “It’s all I have left!”
“Only because you threw it all away!” Twilight shouted. She tried to roll to the side, but a hoof slammed down on her chest and held her in place.
“Everything was taken from me,” Celestia said with a scowl. “And now, I’ll take everything from you.” A bright light that Twilight recognized as an offensive spell engulfed Celestia's horn. However, just as the spell approached completion, a hoof caught Celestia in the side of the head, sending her bouncing and rolling away.
Twilight’s gaze snapped to the side, where her rescuer stood. “Fluttershy!” she said. “You’re alright!”
Celestia coughed and pushed herself up onto her knees, but didn’t speak.
“Y-yes, but um, we need to get out of here,” Fluttershy said. She pulled Twilight upright. “I couldn’t stop the missile itself, but I made it so that the door won’t open for it.”
“You mean it’s going to explode right here?!” Twilight’s eyes widened as she stumbled and nearly fell back to the floor.
“Which is why we need to leave.” Fluttershy gave a slight smile. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Twilight coughed as her ribs protested any and all movement. “Relatively speaking,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Before we go, I need to take care of… Celestia?” Celestia had vanished, leaving only a trail a blood behind. “She must be going to undo what you did!”
She and Fluttershy galloped off in pursuit.
“Ha!” Luna shouted as she ducked a kick, returning one with five times as much force. The poor victim was thrown through the air. “Dost thou wish to make another attempt?” She panted and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.
Only three opponents remained standing. They turned their gazes from Luna's insane grin to each other before nodding and charging her. However, they hadn't expected her to charge back.
Luna leaped and planted her back hooves in the center thug’s chest, while her forelegs clothes-lined the other enemies. The trio crumpled.
“A poor decision,” she said with another laugh. Somewhere else in the cavern, Twilight and Celestia fought, but just as Luna turned to go observe them, a clattering noise caught her attention.
One of the thugs that she had thought defeated finished priming what appeared to be a bomb.
“Fiend!” Luna said, grabbing the thug and hurling him into a stack of crates. “Thou wishest to die, along with thy friends and leader?” She glanced at the explosive, which didn't have a timer. No way to tell when it will detonate, or how much destruction it shall cause… I suppose I have no choice. She took it up in her magic’s grip and darted through the nearby door. Discord has imagined entirely too many explosives into this fantasy of his.
Her hoofsteps echoed all around her as she darted back towards the stairs to the surface. As she burst into the small room they had entered first, she saw two of the defeated guards woozily pushing themselves up. She took a moment to lay them out once more before she continued.
Luna’s breath came out in gasps by the time she emerged through the trapdoor, but she couldn't pause to rest. A swift kick threw the cabin's door off of its hinges. Outside she went, where she made to sling the bomb skyward, and—
The cabin disappeared, engulfed by a scorching fireball.
Twilight and Fluttershy followed their Celestia’s trail of blood through a series of halls and small rooms. Twice they encountered resistance from her thugs, but never anything significant enough to truly slow their pursuit.
Finally, they shot through a door and found themselves in the silo where the missile stood. Celestia frantically worked at an access panel on the wall.
“Celestia,” Twilight said, halting her in place. “It’s over. Let’s get out of here while we still can.”
Celestia sighed and stepped away from the tangle of wires. “Perhaps that would be for the best,” she said. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning lashed out from her horn and struck the catwalk at Twilight’s hooves. “Or, perhaps it wouldn't.”
“We can’t just leave her,” Fluttershy whispered. “She might find a way to fix the hatch!”
Twilight nodded slowly. “We’ll attack her at the same time,” she said. “Ready?” Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed and she nodded back. “Go!” Twilight pushed forward with as much speed as she could muster, ignoring the pain that she had grown to expect from exerting herself. Just as she approached the wildly grinning Celestia, she felt something touch lightly upon her back.
Fluttershy pushed off, clearing Twilight’s head and kicking out with her hind leg. Celestia’s eyes widened and she swatted her away, but Fluttershy’s attack hadn't been meant to hit. It had been meant to distract.
Celestia cried out as Twilight's shoulder dug into her ribs, sending her staggering back. She retaliated with a pair of jabs, but Twilight wouldn't be deterred. She took the hits while throwing a powerful right hook of her own that slammed into Celestia's chest. Twilight felt something give underneath her hoof.
Suddenly, she found herself flat on her back as Celestia swept her legs out from under her and dropped a knee into her gut. The air was blown from Twilight's lungs and she gave a gurgling cry. Celestia's knee came crashing down once more, and Twilight closed her eyes in bleak resignation.
Then opened them again when nothing happened.
Fluttershy stood over her, having caught Celestia's attack. "You should be ashamed of yourself!" she scolded. She gave Celestia's leg a hard tug and spun her around to send her sprawling on the ground. "Are you okay, Twilight?"
"Y-yeah," Twilight answered weakly. She accepted Fluttershy's outstretched hoof and climbed to her hooves. Her vision darkened for a moment before she regained her bearings.
Meanwhile, Celestia had risen once more and staggered over to lean on the railing. She held her foreleg against her injured chest and coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “A well timed ploy,” she said with a ragged breath. "I see that I must take you seriously if I wish to live through this ordeal.”
Twin bolts of blue lightning lanced forth, striking Twilight and Fluttershy each in the chest and sending them tumbling to the ground. Their bodies spasmed in the throes of the electrical attack. As Celestia stalked towards Fluttershy, Twilight reached out to stop her, but she had yet to regain full control of her movements. Her horn glowed and fizzled out repeatedly as she tried and failed to cast a spell.
“And I think I shall finish you off, first,” Celestia wheezed. She raised a hoof up high and prepared to bring it down heavily on Fluttershy's head. Suddenly, just as she steeled herself for the final blow, a burst of multi-hued gas blossomed in her face, sending her reeling backwards to lean once more against the catwalk’s railing.
“Score one for me! Suck it, Celestia!” A loud pop heralded Discord’s arrival as he appeared out of thin air. “Out of nowhere, here’s Discord, saving the day! Well, Twilight? What do you think?”
Twilight opened her mouth to berate him. “Thank you,” she said instead, genuinely surprised at her words. She pushed herself to her feet, still shaking from the electricity.
Celestia coughed loudly as she pushed herself off of the railing. “So, brute, it’s you,” she said to Discord. “You must desire another beating to come before me again.”
“I've never been one for wanton violence,” he said, examining his fingernails. “At least, not when it’s directed at me. Instead, I believe that I have found a way to take care of things once and for all.” He snapped his fingers and grinned. “A cage!”
Twilight and Fluttershy gasped when bars appeared around Celestia, boxing her into a small space. However, as they closed in and touched her, they sparked and disappeared.
“Wh-what just happened?” Fluttershy said, glancing at Twilight. “I thought she was going to—”
“Well, isn’t this the greatest.” They turned to find that a cage had appeared around Discord. His entire body had been compressed into a cube in order to fit inside. "I suppose I should have seen it coming, though."
Celestia grinned, then laughed loudly. “I love this!” she shouted. “Don’t you absolutely love this, Twilight?”
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Twilight said. The entire chamber rumbled and smoke began to emanate from the missile’s base.
“The back-and-forth!” Celestia said. She bared a rictus grin at her former pupil. “First you think you have won, and then that you have been defeated! But ‘lo, a new element appears and gives you the advantage, only to take it away once more!” She cackled manically. “And now, we stand only minutes away from our own deaths, and all we can think of is victory over each other!”
“You’re crazy,” Twilight said. Fluttershy nodded her agreement. “Celestia, come back with us, to Ponyville. We can still get out of here!”
“Oh no, it’s too late for that, my faithful student,” Celestia said with a chuckle. “We must finish our fight here, and now.” She galloped forward, closing the distance between them within a second.
Twilight fell backwards under Celestia's onslaught and tripped over Discord’s cage. As she toppled, his prison tipped over the edge of the catwalk.
“Oh, come on!” he shouted, descending into darkness. After a few seconds, a loud bang indicated that he had hit the bottom. His voice floated up. “Twilight, you jerk!”
Fluttershy leaped forward and attempted to sweep out Celestia's legs, but was forced backwards when Celestia hopped over the attack and lashed out behind her. She spun and jabbed, catching Fluttershy a glancing blow on the cheek. However, her victory was short lived, as Fluttershy spun with the impact's momentum and kicked Celestia squarely on her nose.
As Celestia tumbled away, Twilight regained her footing and followed Fluttershy’s attack with one of her own. She took aim and threw an uppercut at Celestia's. Unfortunately, Celestia still had the presence of mind to block the attack and retaliate. Her leg reared back and planted a devastating kick on Twilight’s back knee.
Twilight screamed as she felt her leg snap.
However, Celestia had sacrificed her balance in the process, and Twilight saw her chance. Both of her forelegs kicked out and crashed into Celestia's injured chest, sending her stumbling backwards to hit the railing. Twilight’s eyes widened as she saw her tumble over the side. Pushing forward with her good leg, she reached as far as she could—
—and caught Celestia’s outstretched hoof.
Celestia’s eyes widened as she realized her situation. “Why?” she whispered. “Why would you do this?” Her voice’s volume increased as she spoke. “I tried to destroy you, kill your assistant, annihilate your town, and murder your lover, so why would you save me?!” The end of the tirade came out as a scream.
“Because whatever else you are, you’re my friend,” Twilight grunted. She felt herself slide forward as Celestia’s weight pulled her down. “And I can’t just watch a friend die.” Fluttershy grabbed hold of her unbroken hind leg and tried to stabilize her, but she realized that Celestia was still going to pull them all down. The amount of smoke flowing from the rocket’s base increased.
“This isn’t how it’s supposed to go,” Celestia said. “The game, it’s not supposed to be like this. You’re supposed to hate me—curse me—like I hated and cursed you!”
Twilight’s face adopted a pitying smile. “I guess we’re just different mares. Now, pull yourself up! You can still fly!”
“No.” Celestia’s words landed like a mortar shell. “I will not allow myself to be saved this way.” She tugged hard, and Twilight and Fluttershy slid towards the edge. “I will die now, and if you do not let go, you will die with me.”
“Don’t do this,” Twilight said as she fought to maintain her hold. “This stupid game of yours doesn't control your life!”
“Maybe for you, but without it, I’m a broken mare.” Celestia pulled again, and again. “Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. Thank you for the fun.” Once more she pulled, and Twilight could no longer maintain her grip. Their hooves separated, and Celestia fell.
“No!” Twilight cried, reaching out as her mentor was swallowed by the darkness. She stared down for a few seconds more before she rolled onto her back.
“I’m—I’m sorry,” Fluttershy said softly.
“Don’t be,” Twilight said in a raw voice. “Maybe it’s for the best.” Despite her words, the frown on her face told otherwise. A rumbling noise filled the room as the missile neared launch.
“We need to get out of here,” Fluttershy said, helping Twilight stand. However, as soon as Twilight had her footing, her hind legs crumpled and she fell back to the floor.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Twilight said with a wry smile. “Not with this leg.”
“Then I’ll carry you.” Fluttershy took Twilight on her back, but after a few wobbling steps, she too collapsed. Twilight cried out as the fall jarred her injuries. “I'm sorry!” Fluttershy said. "Let me try ag—"
"It's fine." Twilight gritted her teeth and pushed herself into a sitting position. "Hold on, I have one more idea.” Her horn lit and she prepared her teleportation spell, but just as it neared completion, the magic surged through her body. Normally this would have no effect other than to shake her, but with a broken leg, the result was significantly more painful.
She grunted in pain, and her concentration broke.
“Sorry,” she said in a shaky voice. “L-looks like I c-can’t teleport us out.” Her body shook. “You should leave.”
“Not without you,” Fluttershy answered immediately.
“I’m stuck here,” Twilight said, pushing her towards the exit. “I can’t make it, but you can.”
“I said, not without you!” Fluttershy repeated as she cradled Twilight’s head.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Twilight nearly shouted. The exertion left her coughing, and her ribs chose that moment to voice their discontent. “There’s no reason for us both to die, so get out of here!”
“I-I’m sorry, but how are you going to make me?” Fluttershy trembled, but refused to back away. “I won’t go anywhere without you, and that’s that!”
"Why not?!"
"Because I—" Fluttershy paused and swallowed loudly. "I'm staying! Do you want to argue about it, or do you want to enjoy the time we have?"
After a long moment of silence, Twilight sighed. “Of all the times to finally stand up for yourself,” she muttered.
“What was that?” Fluttershy said.
“It’s nothing.” Twilight sat still while Fluttershy stroked her mane. “I just don't have the energy left to argue, anymore.”
“Oh.” For a few long moments, neither said anything. Finally, Fluttershy spoke up. “It’s—it’s love, you know.”
Wide-eyed, Twilight twisted her head to stare at her. “What was that?” The rumbling in the silo intensified, and the catwalk began to sway.
“Y-you asked me last n-night if what I felt was infatuation or l-love,” Fluttershy continued. She blushed and flipped her mane over her face. “Th-the answer is love.” Her hooves trembled but continued to rub Twilight's head. “I know we just met yesterday, b-but I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer. I hope you’re all right with—”
“No, I think I understand what you mean,” Twilight said with a smile. She put a hoof to Fluttershy’s cheek. “And I’m glad you feel that way, because I think I love you too.”
Fluttershy gave a choked laugh and leaned forward to kiss her. However, after a few moments, a strange noise reached Twilight’s ears. She pushed Fluttershy away and narrowed her eyes at the hatch, where a blue-white spark had appeared, slowly moving in a circle. Finally, it completed its journey and returned to where it started before disappearing.
The section of the hatch it had circled fell out, opening a small hole to the outside world. Someone poked their head over the edge and shouted down.
“Howdy!” Applejack yelled with a wave. “Y’all need a hoof down there?” A rope ladder fell through the hole and unrolled on its way down.
“Maybe we’ll live through this, after all,” Twilight said. Fluttershy said nothing, instead hugging her more tightly.
As they took hold of the ladder, the rocket began to shake. The smoke coming from its base had started to darken.
“Applejack! Pull us up!” Twilight shouted. “We’re almost out of time!”
“Ah’ll do mah job, so shut up and stop orderin' me around!” Despite Applejack’s annoyance, the rope ladder began to ascend, pulling Twilight and Fluttershy with it.
With each yank from above, Twilight’s leg and ribs sent waves of pain lancing through her, but she gritted her teeth and stayed silent. Fluttershy had a wide grin on her face as she continued to stroke Twilight’s mane.
Finally, they reached the top, and Applejack reached out to pull them onto solid ground, where at least a dozen other officers had congregated.
“Heya, Twilight!” Pinkie said, grinning and waving. Over her back, a singed and unconscious Princess Luna flopped. "Look who I found! Applejack said I could keep her!"
"I'm sorry, Twilight, but I led them here," Rarity said as she approached. "The Cakes admitted that they lied because their foals were held hostage, and Applejack seemed like she had forgiven you—"
"For some things," Applejack said with a scowl.
"—so I told her which way your tracking spell had sent you." Rarity glanced downward. "I hope you can forgive me for breaking your trust."
“We'll talk about this later,” Twilight said quickly. “We can't stay here. That rocket’s going to blow any second, and we do not want to be anywhere close by when that happens!”
“Alright, hop on, then,” Applejack said as a sour look crossed her face. As soon as she had Twilight on her back, she, Fluttershy, and the rest galloped as quickly as they could away from the hideout.
Behind them, a loud rumbling shook the earth, and the ground collapsed as the missile launched and exploded. Gouts of flame soared skyward with billowing smoke before a fireball leaped from the hole. Despite their distance, Twilight felt the heat from the blast, and it nearly knocked her from Applejack’s back.
“Woo-ee,” Applejack said, slowing to a halt. “That’s a beaut, ain't it?”
A metallic object split off from the explosion and arced towards their position, its flight marked by a trail of smoke. It hit the ground directly in front of them and bounced twice before finally coming to a halt.
From inside his prison, Discord coughed and hacked. “Well, it’s nice to see that—” He paused to cough up a puff of smoke “—that you’re all okay. I just have one question for you.” His eyes narrowed. “Where was my rescue?!”
Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle, then laugh loudly at the indignant look he bore. “Sorry, Discord,” she said, wiping tears from her face. “Maybe next time you’ll choose a prank that you can control.”
“Yeah, well…” He grumbled incoherently.
She continued to chuckle until a wave of fatigue swept over her. She swooned and dropped to the ground.
“Twilight?” Fluttershy said, eyes widened. “Twilight, are you okay?”
Twilight tried to answer, but instead closed her eyes as everything went dark.