//------------------------------//
// 1- Twilight's Sacrifice  
// Story: Twilight's Prison 
// by Vale Decem 
//------------------------------//

											 
~1~




"How about a trade, Princess Twlight?" Tirek offered, snapping his fingers and revealing five ponies and a draconeqques all sealed in bubbles. "Your friends for all the alicorn magic in Equestria."

Twilight gulped, debating her options in her mind. As Tirek had stated, they were both at an impasse, a stalemate, Equestria would be destroyed before a clear winner appeared.  She could not give up her magic, that was decided, it would doom her friends and Equestria to a life under Tirek's rule, but could she abandon them?  She could choose to keep fighting, but risk them being hurt. Calmly, she faced Tirek, staring defiantly into his eyes.

"Tirek," she stated, "You will have to kill me before you hurt Equestria or my friends!"

Her horn began to glow with the aura of all four alicorns, a portal appeared before Tirek, sucking both of them in with it.

Celestia awoke to the prodding of a persistent hoof. Tiredly, she opened her eyes to the element of laughter, Pinkie. "What happened?" Celestia implored, turning to see both Luna and Cadence next to her.

"We were hoping y'all would know." Applejack answered, her hat over her chest in respect.

"It was really cool!" Pinkie announced, bouncing around the group of ponies. "Twilight was like BAAMMM with magic, and Tirek was like WOOOOSHH with his and there was a big fight! You could see it all the way from Ponyville. Did I mention we were in a cage? Anyways, Twilight tried to save us, so she was like KAAA-CHOOOOOO and them she and Tirek were gone. But then you guys showed up, so it's ok I guess!" she rambled.

"What Pinkie is trying to say," Rarity interrupted, grabbing the pink mare's tail with me magic, stopping her bouncing, "is that Twilight disappeared with Tirek rather than give up her magic. Heaven knows where the poor mare is now, though..."

"I believe I might," Celestia said, standing up. Her true heigh was about as tall as a usual pony, due to her being stripped from magic. "I and the other princess were trapped in Tartarus before, and because Twilight's spell sent us out, it might mean Twilight and Tirek were sent in."

"Tartarus? What the hay is that?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"Tirek's original prison- there is no telling what's happening to them both down there," Celestia said.

Deep, deep below the ponies hooves, Tirek screamed in rage, "Do you realize what you have done? I will have to wait years to get out again!"

"No Tirek," Twilight stated, "I'm not going to let you escape again!"

"Foolish pony!" He bellowed, "You will trap yourself down here as well, then! What could possibly be worth fighting me for eternity?"

"Something you will never learn Tirek!" Twilight exclaimed, lighting up her horn. "THE MAGIC OF FRIENDSHIP!" And with that she sent a powerful blast towards Tirek. The light of the spell quickly cleared to reveal him, still standing and dusting off his shoulder.

"So be it Princess! But you will never see those friends again!"

"At least I have saved them from you!" (The lavender alicorn's vioce broke) "At least I have saved them..."