//------------------------------//
// Chapter 22 
// Story: Emerald Chronicles 
// by Dandereshy 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 22

The battle came to a standstill upon Emeralds despair. He held Fluttershy close and kept yelling her name. "Fluttershy! Fluttershy, please! No, please…"
The others, hurt but still ready for a fight, backed down to help Emerald. Twilight and Rarity came up to help.
"Is she…?" Twilight asked, her voice trailing off.
Emerald only held her closer, his tears now trickling onto Fluttershy's coat.
Black flew lower nearby, scoffing. "Oh, please. I was trying to kill her the whole time. She's a strong one, I'll give you that."
Emerald screamed in anger, setting Fluttershy down and charging Black. He swung a hoof at his face, knocking Black down, but Black was up in a flash, and the two didn't fight for long, as Emerald was knocked aside easily. He groaned in pain and stood up, using a small plant to pull himself up.
"Emerald, don't get yourself killed! She's already gone!" Applejack called out to him.
He didn't want to let it end like this. "No, if I die, then that's what has to happen." He planted himself firmly right in front of Black and Trixie.
Black wasn't impressed. "Okay, if that's what you think will bring her back." He motioned for Trixie. "Kill him."
Trixie didn't move. She just stood there, looking over at the friends crying over Fluttershy. She actually appeared upset. "No," She said finally. "I can't hurt these ponies. They've never tried to kill me. In fact, I don't know why I'm even here. I can't believe I attacked the ponies who gave me the benefit of the doubt twice, and they could have killed me both times. I'm sorry, but this isn't right. I won't hurt them anymore." She stamped her hoof.
Black was actually surprised. "Wha…what did you just say? Are you…betraying me?"
Trixie walked over to the ponies. "I'm so sorry for all this. I wasn't thinking. He had such a way with words that I didn't realize what I was doing until it was too late. I'm sorry, so very sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"
They stared at her for a few seconds. Then Pinkie Pie said, "Of course we can."
She sighed heavily. "Thank you. Can I help you out in some way?"
"I don't believe this!" Black hollered, dismayed. "You didn't want to help me kill them this whole time?"
Trixie shook her head. "That's not what I meant. I wanted to because you were so good in…that's not important. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm changed. And I'm not going to join you while you kill my friends."
Black snorted angrily. "I've heard enough of this nonsense. This will be the last time any of you try to make a fool of me."
Trixie ran up to Emerald. "I know your girl is dead, so avenge her. Here," She took off the Alicorn Amulet and handed it to a stunned Emerald. He took it, unsure of what to say.
"Thank you." Is all he could manage.
She nodded a response and went back over to the other ponies. Emerald put the Alicorn Amulet on, and immediately he felt stronger. But how would he use the magic?
Black Flame started laughing, a low chuckle at first, but it progressed to a bellow, with him rolling around on the ground in a fit of laughter.
"What's so funny?" Applejack asked, irritated by his cackling.
He continued to laugh, but he got quieter, eventually he stood back up, wiping away a tear. "Oh, you ponies should know. Trixie gives him the Alicorn Amulet, and for what? I'll kill him while he's wearing it. It won't make him strong enough to stand a chance against me. Valiant effort, my little ponies, but futile."
Emerald stepped up to Black, an unwavering look on his face. "I'm going to make you pay for this. For hurting my friends, for trying to take over Ponyville, for using Trixie, and for…killing my special pony."
Black narrowed his eyes while giving a challenging smile. "I'm waiting…"
Emerald launched himself at Black, who didn't move, still smiling. Emerald collided with Black and they both went sprawling into some brush. Emerald tried to hit Black in the face multiple times, but only managed a few. Black was a bit more successful, and ended up knocking Emerald off to the side. He leapt high into the air and dived straight down onto Emerald, who rolled out of the way just in time. Emerald jumped up and spun around to go at Black again but he instead got a face full of Blacks' fire. He flew back into a tree, slid down to the ground, and got back up, saying, "Is that all you got?"
Black charged him, throwing fire balls that Emerald barely dodged. They smashed into each other, and then began throwing punches. Black turned and bucked Emerald up into the air. Emerald flapped his wings rapidly to correct his spinning. He had just enough time to see Black coming at him with a few fireballs leading the way. Emerald tried to dodge them while keeping an eye on Black, but one hit him in the chest and he cried out in pain as Black hit him in the midsection flying at full speed. They flew higher and higher, until Emerald managed to get ahold of his horn, and he hit him in the face while switching places so he was pushing Black higher.
"Ahhhhh….You won't win this Emerald! You will…er…fail!" Black stuck his hoof behind him and blasted Emerald in the face at point blank range with a fire ball. Emerald screamed in pain. Black hit Emerald three more times with fire, then flew into him flying down toward the ground, flying faster and faster.
"Oh my Celestia, this is getting bad!" Rarity cried.
Rainbow Dash flew up a little. "We should help him! He's gonna get killed!"
Twilight used her magic to grab her tail and stop her in midair. "No, you'll be killed! We need to get out of here while we can!"
"No! We can't just leave Emerald all by himself with this monster, he'll need us! We should help him!" Applejack countered.
Rarity looked sadly down at Fluttershy. "She has a good point. We need to stay here. We don't need another death."
Black and Emerald hurtled toward the ground at a frightening speed. Emerald tried to get out of the death grip Black had him in, but he was unable to. The ground rushed up at him and he closed his eyes and prepared for the pain. They hit the ground going at nearly enough speed for a sonic boom. The ground shook violently and debris was thrown away from the large blast of fiery magic that engulfed the two brawlers.
The other ponies grabbed Fluttershy and ran into the trees to get shelter from the rain of burning debris.
As the blast subsided, the ponies tried to see who was victorious. Their hearts sank when they saw Black standing at the edge of the pit that was created in the blast.
"No…" Twilight whispered.
Black stood over Emerald, who lay at the bottom of the crater, breathing rapidly and bleeding from his mouth. He lifted his head to see Black standing at the edge. "Do it, you son of a bitch. Kill me!"
Black smiled in amusement. "As you wish," And he powered up a large ball of magic and fire, and blasted Emerald relentlessly. Each hit put Emerald closer and closer to unconsciousness. He held on until the end. Black paused for a moment, to mock Emerald one more time before he killed him. "How does it feel? I mean, we all knew I would be victorious, but now that the time has come, how does it feel? Nopony can match me for power. I'm the new and rightful king of Equestria. I'll have to use one of your pathetic friends as a queen since mine left me. Big surprise. But in all fairness, I will say your efforts weren't in vain, you managed to scratch my horn." He laughed maniacally. Then he lit up a final ball of energy.
The last thing Emerald saw was the ball hurtling down at him.
Then he let go…