Chapter 9: The Fight

With a plan in mind, Discord and the ponies ran to Zecora's hut in the Everfree Forest. When they got there, Zecora was doing that weird thing when Twilight came over to ask her about the parasprites.

"Zecora!" Everybody cried, making her loose her concentration and fall.

"Oh not again." Zecora sighed. "Does this thing have an end?"

"Sorry to disturb you, again." Twilight blushed. "But we need your help."

"My robot, Sweetie Bot, is on a rampage through Ponyville." Discord explained. "The only way to stop her is to deactivate her by pressing down on her horn."

"But we can't get close enough to her without getting blasted." Applejack finished.

"We were hoping you had something that could protect us against her." Rainbow Dash asked.

"Hm, come with me and we shall see." Zecora offered.

Everybody followed the zebra into the hut. Zecora looked around her shelves, trying to find the perfect potion that would protect them against the robot filly.

"Ah! Here we are." Zecora cried, bringing out a bottle of purple liquid. "But it will only last for an hour."

"An hour is all we need." Discord swiped the bottle and poured the liquid into eight cups that just appeared out of thin air. "How much are we suppose to drink for instant effect?"

"Two gulps should do." Zecora answered. "If you want full protection too."

"Yes please." Rarity sighed, using her horn to take two gulps of the potion.

When Rarity drank the potion, a bright purple ring went up her body, kinda like Danny Fenton when he transforms into a ghost. When the ring disappeared, there Rarity stood, her body shining with a thin, purpley clear body armor, just a layer of it.

"Let's see if it works." Applejack went up to Rarity.

Applejack turned around and kicked right into Rarity's torso. Though it hurt Applejack a little, not a single crack was put in the armor.

"Why, I didn't even feel that!" Rarity beamed. "This potion works like a charm."

Everybody else took two gulps of the potion and the same thing happened to them. They were all covered in a layer of purpley clear body armor.

"You are ready." Zecora smiled. "Now go and stop that robot filly."

"Roger that Zecora." Rainbow Dash soluted and dashed out of the hut, the others following her.

When they got back to Ponyville, it was a DISASTER! The whole town was on fire and ponies were laying on the ground, either hurt or dead. Many ponies were still running around, dodging missiles that were coming at them, or screaming because their pelts were on fire.

"This... This is horrible." Discord sputtered, tears in his eyes. "I can't believe sweet little Sweetie Bot could turn out to be so evil."

"We'll stop her Discord," Fluttershy assured the draconequus, placing a hoof against his paw. "Don't worry."

Suddenly, they all heard a terrifying laugh. They looked around, but they couldn't find the source of the laughter.

"You really think you can stop ME?!" The voice cackled. "You'll have to find me first."

"Sweetie Bot, please!" Screwball begged. "This is MADNESS!"

"Madness?!" Sweetie Bot's voice sneered. "What do YOU know about 'madness'? I thought this is what you wanted. After all, YOU'RE the one who told me that I was nothing but a ROBOT!"

"But I didn't think it would drive you to do something like this." Screwball shook her head. "I just wanted my father back."

"Well... now you've got him... and you're all gonna die."

The group heard a loud "BOOM" behind them and turned quickly to see a large green fire ball coming straight at them. They all dodged the blast and it hit a nearby building instead.

"Come on, Sweetie Bot." Rainbow Dash flew up, her front hooves curled up in a fighting position. "Come out here and fight you coward."

"Coward, me?" Sweetie Bot laughed. "I shall think not, dear Rainbow Dash. Perhaps it is YOU who are the coward."

Rainbow Dash suddenly heard a machine recharging. She turned around just to see a laser come straight at her.

"WHOA!" The pegasus cried as she dodged the laser.

More lasers kept shooting up at her, nearly hitting her wings.

"Soon, all creatures will bow down before me." Sweetie Bot cackled, still shooting at Rainbow Dash.

"I don't think so." Rainbow Dash growled, finally seeing where the lasers were coming from.

Rainbow Dash followed the lasers and came down with a japanese anime type kick, planting her left back hoof into Sweetie Bot's torso. The force of the kick caused Sweetie Bot to slide against the ground, tearing it up until she hit a building.

The others joined Rainbow Dash and looked at the building. When the dust cleared, there Sweetie Bot stood, her eyes blazing red and her breath coming out in rasps. Sweetie Bot growled and brought two machine guns out of her sides. She aimed and fired the bullets at her targets.

Discord and the ponies gasped as they dodged the speeding bullets. Every once in awhile, a bullet would hit them, but thanks to the armor, they were left unscarred.

"That protection of yours is gonna wear out eventually." Sweetie Bot sneered. "Then what are you gonna do? You can't escape me, traitors."

"She's right." Twilight sighed as they all hid behind an overturn bench. "We only have another 40 minutes before the potion wears off."

"And that little filly ain't showin' no signs of tirin'." Applejack shook her head.

"There's got to be someway we can get close to her." Rainbow Dash thought.

"Or maybe just someone." Pinkie beamed. "Discord, you can teleport, can't you?"

"Yes, Pinkie, I can." Discord nodded. "But that little filly knows all my tricks. If I teleport at her, she's gonna know right where I am and blast me all the way to Dead Mare's Desert."

"Oh," Pinkie hung her head.

"It was a good idea though." Discord encouraged the pink mare. "Just, not good enough."

"All's we need to do is pressed down on her horn and she'll deactivate." Rarity rubbed her chin. "There's got to be someway we can do that."

"Whatever we do, we better do it fast." Applejack looked at herself. "I don't know how much longer the potion is gonna last."

She was right. The armor was already starting to ripple, a sign meaning that the potion is starting to wear off. The group only had another half hour to stop Sweetie Bot, or all would be lost.

Suddenly, they all heard the sound of charging. They looked out from behind the bench and gasped as they saw a missile coming right at them. The group tried to jump away from it, but they weren't fast enough. The missile hit the bench and exploded, blasting everyone in different directions. The group laid there, groaning at the blast, their armor blinking away, then blinking back, like a virus on a computer.

Discord sat up and looked at all his friends. They weren't really holding out too well, and with each attack from Sweetie Bot, the armor wore out even more. He wasn't sure how much longer they'd be able to hold out, not with a blast like that. He looked at Sweetie Bot, who had a sadistic grin on her face, getting ready to shoot another missile. Discord sighed and stood.

With Sweetie Bot distracted, Discord charged at the robot. He kicked her in her torso and she went flying through the gazebo. The missile shot and hit the roof. Wood, glass, and debris came crashing down onto the robot filly, burrying her alive in the wreckage.

As Sweetie Bot tried digging herself out, Discord gathered all his injured friends and hid in another building that was, surprisingly, still standing.

Everybody stood on their feat, shaking their heads clear. The armor flickered once more. They now only had another 15 minutes before the potion wore off.

"What are we gonna do?" Fluttershy squeaked. "We can't get close to her."

Discord looked at all his distressed friends. He sighed, knowing what he had to do. They protected him once, now it was time for him to protect them.

"I'll do it," He said. "By myself."

"But Discord," Fluttershy gasped. "She'll kill you."

"I have to sacrifice myself, in order to save you all." Discord's ears dropped.

"No, we'll think of another way." Twilight shook her head.

"Please, don't argue." Discord frowned. "This is MY decision. I wanna help you, and if I have to sacrifice myself to do that... then I will."

Discord sighed and looked at all his friends. They all had tears in their eyes, knowing they had no power against his mind.

"But, what about me dad?" Screwball asked.

"The girls will take good care of you, Screwball." Discord patted her head. "I just, have to do this."

"But Discord." Pinkie bawled. "We love you."

"I know you do." Discord nodded. "But this is just something I have to do alone. I created her. It's my job to stop her."

Discord sighed, looking at the ground. He suddenly started singing.

*I will give my all.*

*This will become my final stand.*

*Claws are dripping in crimson red.*

*Endless suffering I will stop.*

*How I wish there was another way.*

*I will not fade.*

*I will step up.*

*I'll discover the true meaning.*

*Of the word of "sacrifice".*

*Please let me become your "hero".*

*I'll protect you, my dearest friends.*

*I will give my all.*

*Standing bravely, I decide there.*

*I will give you all a spark of hope.*

*If I don't survive it at all.*

*I hope you know you're precious.*

*I will give my all.*

*I will sacrifice.*

*I'll discover the true meaning.*

*Of the word of "sacrifice".*

*Please let me become your "hero".*

*I'll protect you, my dearest friends.*

*Ah, my sacrifice.*

*I'll discover the true meaning.*

*Of the word of "sacrifice".*

*Please let me become your "hero".*

*I'll protect you, my dearest friends.*

Discord looked at all his friends. They all had tears pouring out of their eyes, shaking their heads and saying don't do it. That there must be another way. Discord sighed and shook his head.

*I'll discover the true meaning.*

*Of the word of "sacrifice".*

*Please let me become your "hero".*

*I'll protect you, ah, my precious ones.*

*I'll discover the true meaning.*

*Of the word of "sacrifice".*

*Please let me become your "hero".*

*I'll protect you, my dearest friends.*

"I'm... sorry... but, I have to do this alone..."

With that, Discord turned and left the building. The others stayed and watched him go, hoping that he would be alright.

A/N: HOOWEE! What a fight! Bet you weren't expecting that! Is Discord gonna be able to stop Sweetie Bot on his own? Will the others step in? Find out on the next chapter.

The song is a SLIGHT reworded version of "[HetaOni Soundtrack] England's Song {Sapph}". You should check it out. It's really good. And while you're at it, why don't you check out the possible next song, "[HetaOni Soundtrack] This Is Where I Fall {Sapph}".