//------------------------------// // Chapter 20: Battle // Story: Avatar: The Last Alicorn. Book 3: Unicorn // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Twilight cringed as her friends moved about her, strapping the armor into place. The metal was light but solid, the same kind the pirates wore when they had to fight. It supposedly wouldn't interfere with her speed or flight, but it still felt awkward and strange none the less. She had never fought in armor and had only worn it for a disguise. However, going against Lightning would make it a necessity. The pegasus would have one of the finest suits available, without the offered protection the alicorn would get torn apart. The pieces strapped over the lower half of her legs, over her chest and her sides. A helmet came as well, but Applejack had been forced to modify it to allow her horn to go through, though it now stood firmly on her head. The most awkward parts though, were the wing blades. They molded perfectly against her wings, but made them heavier and clumsy. She barely felt comfortable flying at the best of times, wearing these she felt nervous going more than a few feet in the air. Though, she knew she had no choice. Most fights like this required the blades, the edges of the wings being far stronger than they looked and a pegasi's best weapon. According to Thunderlane, most fights of this sort ended by one pegasus or griffon managing to strike the other's wing at an awkward angle and dislocating or breaking it. Once the armor was fully in place, she took a deep breath and smiled. “So, how do I look?” “You look almost... cool,” Rainbow said grudgingly. “I should still be the one fighting out there.” “I know, I know. But she challenged me,” Twilight mumbled. She then glanced to Thunderlane, the pony who had offered her the armor. “So, what can you tell me about this Lightning Dust?” He sighed. “She's vicious and fast. Captain of one of the largest ships out here, not to mention quite a commanding personality.” He rubbed his chin. “Her crew is massive. If you can win her to your side, you'll be set.” He then shrugged. “But she'll crush you. She's fast, strong and determined. I don't know a lot about her history, though. She just appeared a few years back. But she acquired a crew fast and made a name for herself just as quickly. By the time we started hearing about you, she was known by almost every pirate in the skies. She values personal power over just about anything and it's said she'll give up her command to any member of her crew who can beat her. Most are too smart to try.” He paused for a moment. “I can only think of a few who could have beaten her in this contest, and even then it was only maybe. I haven't seen any of them since the fall of Las Pegasus.” “So, what are the rules for this fight? How do these things work?” “Well, it's not a fight to the death, so only dull wing blades. Other than that, just about anything goes. A few deaths have happened in these fights, but I wouldn't worry about that. Lightning is going to want you alive when she wins.” “If I win, will she honor the agreement?” Twilight asked nervously. She looked across the clearing where the other mare was setting up. As opposed to the alicorn's rather plain, simple armor, the pirate's was covered in jewels and gleamed like silver in the sunlight. It perfectly molded to her body as well, obviously having been crafted just for her. She'd occasionally jump into the air, flying up at speeds Twilight wasn't sure she could match even with bending. “No idea,” Thunderlane said with a shrug. “I've never seen her lose. Maybe she'll go through with it, maybe she'll have her crew slit your friend's throats and take you anyway.” Rainbow growled. “If she tries, she'll find out just how fast I can ground her.” Her wings twitched anxiously. Twilight slowly nodded, eying the other mare again. “Maybe. But... this is still my best bet.” She then glanced back. “So, Thunderlane. If you're so certain I'm going to lose, why are you helping me and offering me this?” She twitched a wing, making the armor rumble. “I've bet on you,” the stallion said with a smirk. “The odds against you are huge, so if by some miracle you win, I've made enough to repair my ship and replace this.” He gave the armor a light nudge. “Besides, you're the avatar. You'll need a miracle to win, but I hear you're in the miracle business.” Twilight sighed and nodded. “I've made a few in my time.” She turned back to her opponent, who was prodding the floor with a hoof. “Hopefully I can pull out another.” “You'll be fine,” Rainbow said with a snicker. “You've flown with me a hundred times. You'll be able to crush this mare like a grape. Trust me.” “Eeyup,” Applejack said before giving her a light smack on the cutie mark. “Yah are one ah the stubbornness ponies ah know. That pirate don't have an apple pies chance in a pig pen.” Pinkie giggled and nodded. “We've come too far to lose now. Besides, that'd totally ruin the story. You're going to kick butt.” She paused for a moment. “Unless you're supposed to lose but impress the mare so much she decides to help us anyway... hummmm...” “I... I think you'll do g-great,” Fluttershy said softly. “W-we'll all be cheering you on. Yayyyy...” Even Angel gave an encouraging nod. Twilight chuckled and gave a quick nod. “You're all right. I... I can do this. With all of you behind me, I can do anything.” She took a deep breath and raised her head. “I've already done so many impossible things. What's one more?” She stepped out into the clearing. Lightning smirked and trotted out to meet her, the pegasus' orange and yellow mane billowing in the wind. “One last chance, avatar. You can give up now and save yourself the pain and humiliation, or I can trounce you into the dirt and you can give up then.” Twilight snorted. “Not a chance. Let me guess, this is where you offer to let my friends go if I surrender?” The mare gave a snort. “Not a chance. I don't care what the others do with your friends. I just want you.” A smirk formed on her lips. “I think Lightning Dust the Avatar breaker sounds like a good title, don't you?” “You won't be the first, or the last, to try for such a title,” the alicorn said as she came to a stop, mere inches from the mare. “But I'll take you down just like I did all the rest.” “You'll try.” Lightning moved closer, their noses nearly touching. “I'm not like you, Avatar. I got my crew and everything else I have on my own merits. No fancy powers. No dragons or armies carrying me. I did it on my own. All we have are ourselves in this fight, you have no chance.” A griffon stepped between them, making the two back up. “Today's challenge is between Twilight Sparkle, the avatar, and Lightning Dust, captain of the Goldenbolt!” The crowds cheered, jumping up and down with excitement as they called out their favorites. To Twilight's disappointment, most were calling her opponent's name. “The fight will go until one is unable to fight any longer, or yields! There are no rules, aside from no bending!” He ran off, the crowd's cheers getting ever louder. “BEGIN!” Lightning didn't hesitate. The moment the word was out of the griffon's mouth, she charged forward. Twilight lifted a hoof, preparing to make a wall of stone between them as her instincts kicked in. She barely managed to stop herself, but her lapse left her open. The pegasus' wing shot out and caught the alicorn just above the chest, where the armor didn't protect, and sent her careening backwards. Twilight laid on the ground, gasping for air as the world swirled above her. A moment later one of the pegasus' hooves crashed down, crushing her side and sending a jolt of pain through her body. She lashed out with a hoof, but the pegasus was already in the air. “You'll have to be faster than that, avatar! Come on, test me! Show me how great and powerful you really are!” the mare yelled. “Your fancy tricks can't carry you this time!” The avatar groaned and rolled onto her feet, glaring up at the mare. Her first instinct was to shoot a fire ball at her, or send a gale of air to bring her down. But there was no bending allowed. She took a deep breath and readied herself. If she couldn't fight like a bender, she'd fight like a soldier. She thought back to the pegasi she'd seen, like the shadowbolts. She lifted into the air, her weighted wings making her ascent clumsy and awkward. Still, she flew up at the mare and tried to slash her with a powerful right wing. The mare ducked around the awkward strike, laughing softly. “Really? You fly like a one winged duck! Fight like this!” She then surged forward, lashing her wings out in perfect rhythm and catching the alicorn across the breast plate from each side. Her hooves then flew out, striking the helm and making the avatar's head ring as the helmet vibrated. But she wasn't finished. While Twilight was dazed, Lightning dashed forward and drove one wing against the other mare's, then lashed two hooves down against the alicorn's back, sending her rocketing to the ground. Twilight crashed into the dirt with a pained shriek, though her pain wasn't finished. A moment later the pegasus landed on top of her, back hooves first, slamming her even harder into the dirt before flying off a few feet. Lightning burst into laughter. “Do you yield?” The alicorn groaned, her head ringing as agony coursed through her body. She tried to focus, but all she could hear was the roar of the crowd as they screamed Lightning's name. Then the pain started again as the pegasus surged forward, slamming hooves and wings into her, battering her about like a rag doll. The mare was yelling something at her, but she was in too much pain to hear it. All she knew was the pain and the roar of the crowd. She was sent rolling across the dirt, landing with a soft moan, gasping for breath as she slowly raised her head. Her vision was blurry, making her blink a few times to clear it. Lightning called out again, this time the words cutting through her like a knife. “Do you yield?” Twilight whimpered and dug her hooves into the ground, slowly getting to her hooves. She heard a pop, but her body allowed her to stand. “N-never!” the alicorn yelled. She looked past the pegasus, to her friends who were raising their hooves and yelling out to her. She tried to pick out what they were saying, but the crowd overwhelmed them and before she could try to make it out, she was sent hurtling back by another wing slam from the pegasus. She toppled across the ground, rolling a few feet before stopping, letting out a soft groan. How did the shadowbolts make it look so easy? She didn't know how to fight without her bending, that's all she'd ever done. Heck, even Pinkie could likely fight better than her, and she was apparently using a style based on air style. Her bending couldn't... She stared up for a second, her mouth falling open. She could almost imagine what Rainbow would say right now. She slowly got to her hooves again, breathing raggedly. “Do you yield?” Lightning asked with a chuckle, mirth dancing in her eyes. “No,” Twilight said. The pegasus surged forward, but this time the alicorn was ready. She jammed her hooves into the ground, the same way she had a million times before. When the wing shot out to clip her chest, her hoof shot out at the other mare's chest. The two connected, but she wasn't done there. Her three hooves kept her grounded and steady, unmoving, unbending. Like a mountain. But her hoof struck out like fire. Fierce, powerful, designed to go through an object, to blast out the other side. Lightning flung back against their small arena, her hooves wrapped around her chest as she gasped for breath. An imprint of Twilight's hoof was dug into the metal plate, restricting her breathing as it pushed against her. With a loud groan, she pulled on some clips and her breastplate fell off, allowing her to take a deep breath. A large red bruise rested under it. The crowd had gone deathly silent, the only ponies making any noise now were Twilight's friends. “Yeah! That's how an earth bender does it!” Applejack yelled, jumping up and down. “You got her on the ropes, you can do this Twilight!” Rainbow yelled, flying a few feet into the air. “Show her those tricks you learned in Cloudsdale!” “SHUT UP!” Lightning yelled, before rolling onto her hooves and glowering at the mare. “You got lucky, Avatar. I was going easy on you, but not any more. Now, I get serious.” Twilight smiled, licking her lips. “Are you sure you don't want to replace your chest plate? I'll wait.” “No, I don't--” The alicorn didn't hesitate. The moment the no passed the pegasus' lips, Twilight surged forward, her wing out. In a perfect imitation of Lightning's strikes, the wing went at neck level to land a solid blow across it. The pegasus smirked. She pushed back and went on her back two hooves, her front hooves striking out to catch the wing as her own wings struck out to pincer the mare. “Foal!” Twilight grinned. At the last second she pushed up, her hooves tapping off the ground as her wings gave her just enough lift to sail over the hoof and fly over the startled pegasus. It took Lightning a moment to realize what happened, but by then Twilight was already in position. Her hooves lashed down as she spun, one connecting with the back of the mare's head as another two struck her back, driving her into the dirt. The alicorn finished her jump, landing behind the mare and jumping about, her hooves barely touching the ground as she moved. Light as a feather, uncatchable as the wind. “You don't think I'd be that obvious, do you?” she asked. Lightning got to her hooves, whipping about and glaring at the girl. “Don't count your eggs yet, avatar. We've only just started.” “I can go all day,” Twilight said with a chuckle. She dug her hooves into the ground, switching back to earth style as she waited, patiently, for the next strike. She hoped it would be a while in coming, despite her words she was aching all over and jumping about wasn't helping. But, for the first time since the fight started, she was making her come back. She couldn't allow it to slip away. Lightning took to the air, sending up a light dust of dirt. “How about you face me in the air? That's if you're not too scared?” The alicorn's eyes widened and a grin formed on her lips. The boastful pirate was beginning to remind her of somepony. Rainbow. She wasn't as fast, but could very well be stronger. Her friend and teacher was more refined, but the other mare's style was wild and violent. But they were both very aggressive, confident and arrogant. More importantly, that meant Twilight could win. She'd beaten Rainbow before. She just had to make sure not to fight the mare in the air. All she had to do was upset her enough until she screwed up. “I'm good here,” Twilight said with a chuckle. “Come and get me, if you please.” Lightning snorted, before turning into a dive. Her wings flashed out, the metal catching the sunlight as it went. The rush was fast, faster than Twilight could do without air bending. If she was in the air, she wouldn't stand a chance. But she wasn't. For all its speed and power, she'd seen this dive a thousand times, and she knew how to counter it. Heck, Rainbow would have yelled for almost an hour if she fell for such a simple attack. It was easy. The mare was fast, but moving in a straight line. At the last moment, Twilight switched her stance, unlocking her legs and pushing gently away. She ducked under the mare's wing, easily weaving around behind her as she flew by. “Missed me!” she called out. Lightning turned around and tried to run her down again. It had the same result, Twilight dodging about it with ease. Again and again the pirate struck, but each time she dodged about and avoided the blades and hooves, maneuvering easily around the blow. She was one with the wind, untouchable, unstrikeable, blowing past each attack with ease. She could see the other mare wearing out as well, sweat skidding down the pegasus' coat when she finally lowered to the ground. “Y-you're faster than you look.” “I was taught by the best,” Twilight said with a smile. “Dodge this!” Lightning said before charging forward, she lashed out with her wings, before thrusting her head forward to try to bash against Twilight's. The alicorn moved around, each strike narrowly missing. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched the movements. It was just like a bender battle, she could see it now. There were no elements and they were far closer, but the movements were almost exactly the same. She saw the wind up, the slight flexing of the muscles, the positions of the eyes to determine where the next strike would be, then moved to avoid it. In fact, the lack of bending only made it easier. There was nothing to worry about aside from the hooves and wings. No gusts of wind, no fire, no rocks. Not even spears of ice. Just the metal. Had she been at a hundred percent, she could throttle this mare. Unfortunately, the mare was relentless. Her wings and hooves flew over and over, without any sign of stopping. Twilight, on the other hoof, was finding each blow harder and harder to dodge. Some just barely nicking her. The armor slowed her down, her pain slowed her down, the sweat was pouring so heavily it made it hard to see and, worst of all, her breathing was getting steadily faster while the other mare just looked sweaty. Twilight was the better fighter, but she lacked endurance and was being steadily driven back. The other mare was too fast for her to dodge forever, even if she knew where the strikes would be. The crowd cheered again, but their chants were softer this time. She had to launch a counter attack, but the other mare wasn't allowing her an opening. Every time she tried to dive to the side or over the mare, she was always with her. The pirate truly was fast as lightning, easily keeping up with the slower alicorn. It was soon impossible for her to try avoiding any way but by backing up, Lightning releasing a torrent of attacks that she couldn't avoid without rapid backing. More and more got by her evasions, scraping metal and sending painful jolts against her bruised and battered body. She looked past the mare and saw Applejack. Her eyes widened and a smile slowly spread past her lips. She couldn't avoid them, the mare was too fast. But that didn't mean there was no defense. She pushed back one more time, before locking her legs. When the mare came at her, rather than jumping back, she pushed into the blows, shoving out with her own wings and legs. Lightning froze up for a moment, which was all the opening Twilight needed. She slammed her head forward, crashing their helms together and rattling Lightning. Twilight pushed in, shoving the mare aside as she took firm, powerful steps. Solid as a rock, she struck back, slamming her hooves, wings and even her head into the attacks. Lightning tried fighting back, but she was stuck quickly giving up ground, her hooves lightly stabilizing herself and holding back the force of her blows. Lightning hit three times for every one of Twilight's, but the pegasus soon found herself suffering far worse damage. While her shots were fast and awkward, sometimes just grazing, each of the alicorn's blows were firm and solid, knocking the mare back almost casually. Lightning growled as she was knocked back by another firm blow. “That's it!” She yelled before leaning back, digging her own hooves into the ground and striking forward with full force, wings and hooves out. Twilight smiled and bent her knees. Her body changed from rock to wind, allowing her to easily weave around the full powered assault. She moved past the mare, into her exposed stomach. She drew a single hoof back as her mind went back to all those years ago. Over a hundred years now. 'Ground yourself. Use your whole body to push every ounce of force into a single point, then release it on your opponent. Punch through, not at.' Her hoof flew forward and slammed into Lightning's side. There was a horrible shriek of metal as it bent and tore under the assault, before the pirate was sent flying to the side. The armor itself flew through the air, a hoof sized dent thrust nearly an inch through. Lightning hit the ground, gasping for air and laying there, her side covered in a large red welt. Twilight watched the mare, breathing heavily as she stared. There was nothing, the crowds completely silent as they watched. Even her friends couldn't make a peep. “I... I yield,” Lightning finally gasped. The crowd erupted, though this time they weren't in cheers. “The avatar cheated!” “Kill her!” “She bent, she had to!” “There's no way she could have beaten the captain otherwise!” The crowd started to surge forward, blades drawn. Twilight's friends were forced to run forward to her side, standing back to back as the pirates surged closer, rage in their eyes. “ENOUGH!” Lightning yelled, her voice so loud it echoed even over the crowd. For a moment there was silence as the crowd stood in shock. “Is this what I've taught you?” The mare growled and got to her hooves, spitting on the ground. Her knees shook, but she didn't fall. “Strength of one, THAT'S what important.” She motioned to the alicorn. “This avatar beat me. One on one, fair and square. I won't have anypony backing up on the word they gave. We'll give her the help she asked for, or I'll slit your throats myself!” The crowd slowly pulled back, blades sheathed as the pirates tried to quickly disassemble themselves from the source of Lightning's scorn. The pegasus gave a little snort, before limping towards the alicorn. “Well, you did it. You're one lucky mare, but you took me down.” “Are you okay?” Twilight asked, looking the mare over nervously. “I'm fine. Armor took most of the blow. But I'm no fool, one more real hit and I'd have been toast.” Lightning looked down at the remains of her armor. “If I hadn't removed the breastplate, that last hit of yours might have killed me. The side plates wouldn't have snapped so easily then. I know when I'm beaten. I just want to know... how? I thought you were supposed to be all about the bending and stuff? I should have crushed you.” Twilight blinked, before looking back at her friends. “I... wasn't alone.” She glanced to her friends. “I've trained with the fastest--” She turned to Rainbow. “--the toughest--” To Applejack. “--the most terrifying--” Angel, who just snorted. “--and the strongest.” She blinked a few times, keeping the tears back as she thought of Sunset. “If it wasn't for them, I never would have won. But they've always been there, supporting me. Helping me. I couldn't fail them, since I know they've never failed me.” She looked to Lightning. “You were powerful, but you weren't just fighting me. You were fighting everypony who has helped me on my quest. Everypony who put their faith in me. I couldn't let them down.” Lightning rolled her eyes. “Oh, ugh. Listen, just because you beat me doesn't mean you gotta go all sappy and lovey dovey. Just, no. But... you did win. So I meant what I said. We'll give you a place to gather your ponies and what not. I'll even offer my crew and ships to your cause.” Twilight nodded, but then stared for a few moments. “Wait, ships?” The mare chuckled before grinning. “We lost a lotta pirates when the Water Nation nearly wiped us out. Somepony had to take over the ships that lost captains. And those that lost too many crewmates to keep going. Or ones that just needed a powerful hoof to... guide them. Ponies tend to look for the strongest leader they can find when their worlds cut out from under them.” “You... how many ships do you have? Just how many pirates are in your crew?” “About a quarter of our remaining pirates. At least, that we know about. Eight ships at last count, not including the Goldenboat. About half my crew is out right now wrecking havoc, so when they return I'll probably have a few more ships.” Twilight's mouth slowly fell open. “But... that's... you have your own fleet?” The mare nodded with a chuckle. “Of course. Now, what exactly do you need us to do?” Twilight took a deep breath, before looking over her friends. “Okay, I'll settle things here. Rainbow, if you want to go see if you can find Gilda, I un--” “On it!” Rainbow said, disappearing with a burst of wind. Twilight rolled her eyes, but then turned to Lightning. “Well... I guess I'll start by explaining our plan.” ------ The sun was disappearing behind the horizon by the time they had everything settled. About a third of the current pirates agreed to offer their support on the day of the celebration. The others heartily agreed to offer transportation, but refused to participate in the battle itself. Terms of lodging and hiding the participants of the final battle were also agreed on. Lightning gave Twilight a map showing the best locations to hide the participants and gather their forces, as well as routes to take to reduce chances of encountering resistance. Everything was now prepared, all she had to do was get the news to the resistance and she knew the best way to do that. Unfortunately, Rainbow hadn't returned. A quick search of the area showed the mare had vacated the camp and a few questions answered why. One of the pirates directed her to a the cliffs overlooking the camp and a quick flight brought her up behind the rainbow-maned mare. She was sitting on a rock, her back to Twilight. “Rainbow...” the alicorn said softly. “W-what? H-hey Twilight...” the mare said hoarsely, her voice slightly ragged. The avatar froze for a moment, her eyes widening. “Rainbow... are you crying?” “What? NO!” The pegasus got to her hooves, wiped her face and turned. Her eyes were red and puffy. “I don't cry.” The alicorn sighed and moved forward, giving her friend a hug. “There there... it's fine. I understand, just because Gilda wasn't here doesn't mean sh--” “Right. Because griffons survive those kinds of injuries all the time,” Rainbow said bitterly, shoving the mare away. “I should have stayed with her, she was hurt. She needed me.” “She told you to come with us, we--” “She didn't know what she needed!” the pegasus interrupted, slamming a hoof down defiantly. “I was the fastest of all of us! I could have helped her and then caught up. I should have. She was in no shape to be alone!” Twilight shook her head. “Fluttershy healed her as best she could. We were needed in--” “Fillydelphia, right? Just look how THAT turned out. We barely got out with our lives! That's what always happens, we barely get there in time and just barely survive. Not to mention how many we always lose in the process! Gilda had nothing to do with us, she shouldn't have been involved in any of this. She--” “Did what she knew she had to,” Twilight said firmly. “If she needed our help, she would have made us stay. She didn't. She only took the help she needed, then sent us where she knew we had to be. Maybe she doesn't want anything to do with these pirates. Heck, it took us this long to find them. Maybe she's just laying low for now, waiting for the right time.” “Maybe she's dead with a broken leg and no wings,” Rainbow said bitterly. The alicorn sighed. “Perhaps she is. But, if she is, there's nothing we can do about it now. There are only a few things we can do now.” She pulled out the map and held it out to her. “And there are things only you can do. Gilda doesn't need you now, we do.” Rainbow took the map and cocked an eye. “What's this?” “A map to give to the resistance. It'll show them where to come. We need them to have it and you're the only pony who can do it.” Rainbow snorted. “What? Why me? Why not have a--” “Because you're the fastest. Have the most endurance. You're the only pony who can blow through every barricade, camp, ship and city between you and them. You can go straight there and even if you run into a dozen air ships, you'll be out of range long before they could even get their first flier out of their hold. The resistance needs this information, they need you to give it to them.” The pegasus frowned and looked at it warily. “Are you sure? It could take me days to get there, even as fast as I am. Can you go on without me?” “Only you can do it,” Twilight muttered. “I'd come with you if I could, or send Fluttershy. But we'd just slow you down. There's no pony faster or who has as much endurance as you. Not to mention your air bending. It has to be you, and only you. Anything more and we risk the Water Nation finding out.” Rainbow slowly nodded, before sighing. “Fine. What'll you all be doing until I get back?” “Preparing.” Twilight said, before looking over the pirates. “Harder than we ever have before. It's almost time, Rainbow. Our final battle.” She looked up to the sky and spread her wings, letting the air flow over her. “This time, they won't be attacking us. We'll take this fight straight to the core of the Water Nation. No more running.”