//------------------------------//
// Loyalty vs Treachery 
// Story: Aspects of Chaos 
// by LordLycaon 
//------------------------------//

	The Mane 6, Celestia, Cadance, and Shining Armor stared wide-eyed at the gray-haired pegasus-turned-alicorn, who floated down towards the floor, her hooves landing with a thunderous sound. There was silence in the throne room. Monochrome grinned at the group of stunned ponies, her eyes glowing with visible animosity and sick glee. "What's wrong, my little ponies?" she asked in a near-mocking tone. "Haven't you ever seen a goddess before?"

"What in the name of…" Celestia said in shock. "How did you absorb Discord like that? Why did you betray your fellow Aspects?"

Monochrome laughed at that. "Really? That's what you're asking me?" She was suddenly gone in a flash of light, reappearing right next to Rainbow Dash, who shot up and backwards in the air in surprise. "I'm the opposite of little Dashie, here. I am the Aspect of Treachery. Of course I'd stab my so-called 'comrades' in the back!"

Rainbow scowled at her double. "That's just low!" she shouted angrily. "How can anypony just throw away their own friends like they were a bunch of cheap toys?"

"Friends?" Monochrome burst into a fit of laughter at that. "I don't need friends! All they would do is get in my way! Now, if you'll excuse me…" She teleported to Celestia's throne. "I have a city to reshape into the image of yours truly!" Her horn began to glow with an evil red light, which created a wave of red power that turned the pristine walls and floors into black tiles.

"That's bad!" Twilight shouted. "Everypony, stay close!" Everyone stood near her as her horn glowed with purple energy. The whole group then vanished in a flash of purple light. They all reappeared about halfway across Canterlot, where they had perfect view of the castle as it was changed from a magnificent palace, into a massive, jet black tower with dull gray flames burning at its peak. Twilight stared at the structure with a mix of fear and awe. "That's… unbelievable… I can only imagine how much magic it takes to completely transform an entire castle into a completely different building."

Celestia sighed and reluctantly nodded slightly. "Monochrome has to be stopped," she said solemnly. "And the only pony I can think of who has a chance against her is… wait, where are Rainbow Dash and Luna!?"

"W-what?" Fluttershy asked. "B-but Rainbow was right next to me when Twilight teleported us into the city!"

Before anyone else could make any theories, a rainbow-colored blur zoomed in front of them, vanishing to reveal both the missing ponies. Struggling somewhat, Rainbow gently set down a still-out-cold Princess Luna on the ground before landing herself. When given shocked and surprised looks, she said, "What? She was out of Twilight's range. We couldn't just leave her."

Twilight was about to say something, but Celestia spoke first. "Rainbow Dash," the Princess of the Sun said, getting the rainbow-haired pegasus's full attention. "You are the one who must stop Monochrome. You're the only one capable of this task."

"Wait, what?" the young pegasus replied. "What about my friends? Shouldn't they help me?"

"Don't you remember what Discord said?" the princess replied. "The only way to defeat each Aspect of Chaos is with the opposing Elements of Harmony. Your Loyalty is the only thing that can conquer Monochrome's treacherous nature." Everypony stared at Rainbow Dash, who actually looked… nervous.

"But… look at what she did to the castle! There's no telling if I can even get close to her, let alone beat her! She's way too powerful for just one pony to face alone!"

Twilight put a hoof on her friend's shoulder, giving a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Rainbow. Just because you have to be the one to face her, it doesn't mean you have to go in alone. We're coming with you. We've got your back." The rest of the Mane 6 all nodded in complete agreement, all with looks that told Rainbow that they had faith in her.

Rainbow looked over at Monochrome's tower. She gulped down her nervousness and faced her friends again with her usual cocky attitude. "All right!" she said as she hovered up above them. "Let's go finish this once and for all!" The entire group gave shouts of approval as they galloped off to the tower, leaving Celestia, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Luna at the city's gates.

Celestia nodded her own approval to the six young ponies who had saved Equestria time and again together. "Good luck, my little ponies," she said quietly. "I have a feeling that you will need it."

-o-

Monochrome knew exactly what was going on. She knew that the Mane 6 were on their way at that very moment. She knew that they were going to use Rainbow Dash to try and beat her. She also knew that it was futile. She had already planned ahead for this. She was ready.

Suddenly, the doors to her throne room swung open, the Mane 6 charging in, led by none other than Rainbow Dash, who looked more than ready to rumble. "Monochrome!" she shouted at her counterpart. "I hope you enjoyed your ten minutes as ruler of Equestria, because we're here to stop you for good!"

Monochrome simply chuckled at that claim. "Oh, is that so, little pegasus? Well, far be it from me to keep you from trying, even if it's completely pointless."

Rainbow sneered at her double. "Let's do this!" she exclaimed as she rushed over at the evil alicorn, who simply yawned in response. Just as rainbow was about to crash into Monochrome, however, the alicorn vanished from sight. The blue pegasus stopped in midair and looked around with wide eyes… until she heard her friends all cry out. She turned quickly, ready to fight, but gawked when she saw that her friends were all trapped on the wall, their hooves tethered by red energy. "Hey, what happened!?"

"I happened!" called the voice of Monochrome from above. Rainbow looked up to see that ceiling was now gone, revealing the graying sky above and the dull flames that floated above the tower, with Monochrome hovering just below the inferno. "I want to take my time with you, Rainbow Dash. By the time I'm done, you'll understand that loyalty is as meaningless as resistance!" The gray-haired alicorn unleashed a beam of red magic that slammed into Rainbow before she could react, sending her soaring out of the tower.

"Rainbow!" her friends called as she managed to regain stable flight. She groaned in pain, her coat covered in scattered burns. She looked back up at Monochrome, who was literally glowing with malevolent power.

"You can never beat me, you little brat!" the alicorn claimed with a mad grin. "I'll turn the entire world into my personal paradise! Everypony will kneel to me! I am unstoppable! I am a god!"

The cyan pegasus scowled at her counterpart. "Like that's gonna happen!" she shouted as she flew towards Monochrome in a headlong rush. She easily broke the sound barrier, and was nearing the speeds she needed to do the Sonic Rainboom. But before she could perform the legendary technique, she slammed headfirst into a wall of red power that sent her flying backwards. She managed to stop herself just in time to feel a hoof slam into the back of her head, which sent her spiraling down towards the tower again. She crashed painfully into the floor, earning her several scrapes, cuts, and bruises, and barely conscious.

Monochrome descended slowly to the floor in front of her throne and trotted toward the pegasus, chuckling darkly the whole time. "Do you get it now, brat?" she asked. "This is where it all ends for you! You never had snowball's chance in Tartarus against me!" Her eyes and horn then glowed with malevolent red light. She lifted Rainbow into the air and proceeded to smash her into the walls repeatedly, with incredible force.

"Oh, no…" Twilight muttered in fear. Rainbow Dash was clearly outmatched here. The young alicorn had no idea what to do. Monochrome's binding spell seemed to block all her magic, preventing her from helping at all. She and the others could only watch as Rainbow struggled hopelessly against Monochrome's relentless attacks. Monochrome was right. This was a pointless endeavor.

"Don't give up, Rainbow!" shouted the usually meek voice of Fluttershy. The others stared at her in disbelief. In response to this, the yellow pegasus said, "She's never given up before! She can't give up now! You have to win, Rainbow!"

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie shouted, "If you win, I'll make the world's biggest cake, and cover it with all different colored frosting!"

"That ruffian doesn't even deserve to be in your presence!" Rarity called out. "You must show her exactly what she's really dealing with!"

"If yer the iron pony," Applejack chimed in, "then you wouldn't let that oversized varmint beat ya! She'd end up claiming that title from ya!"

Twilight stared at her friends, then back to Rainbow Dash, who was now just floating in front of Monochrome, who was now undoubtedly preparing to deal the final blow. She closed her eyes and said, "Rainbow. You have to win!"

Monochrome laughed at the Mane 6's pep talks as though they were just humorous jokes. "Now that's just adorable! You're little friends think you can actually win! Hilarious! Now, hold still so that I can finish you-"

Suddenly, the pendants and tiara that were the physical manifestations of the Elements of Harmony glowed with a divine white light, each one pulsing with their bearers' words as they cheered Rainbow on. Out of each gem within each piece of jewelry, a sphere of light with the matching color emerged and swirled around the dazed Rainbow Dash, who was just awake enough to say, "W-what's going on?"

Monochrome stared in shock at what was happening before her. "W-what? What is this?" Each of the Mane 6 was just as baffled as the lights spun around the rainbow-haired pegasus. Their questions were then all answered at once when the six orbs of light all merged into Rainbow Dash's pendant. There was massive flash of pure, blinding light as this happened, forcing everypony to shield their eyes as best they could.

As the light faded, they all opened their eyes to behold Rainbow Dash, whose coat had been turned pure white, and her mane and tail transformed into what could only be described as multi-colored flames. The pegasus looked just as dumbfounded about her change as everypony else, which was evidenced by her statement of, "What the? How did? When?" It didn't take long for her to realize something. "Whoa… I think I just 200% cooler than I already was!"

"What in the hay just happened?" Applejack asked.

Twilight immediately said, "The Elements of Harmony must've somehow all merged together with Rainbow! I remember reading somewhere that Princess Celestia used something just like this to beat Nightmare Moon! And now…"

"I'm gonna do the same thing to beat Monochrome!" Rainbow exclaimed with her trademark grin. Her eyes burned with a fiery determination that surpassed every look she had ever had before. Seeing those wild, purple eyes, Monochrome suddenly felt frightened. "All right, sister!" Rainbow continued, scratching her hoof on the floor. "It. Is. ON!" With that, she flew towards gray-haired alicorn, creating a Sonic Rainboom the instant she moved.