By the time the group of four friends reached the hotel, it had been mostly evacuated and the Manehattan Guard had set up a cordon. A separate area had been set up for anypony that had been injured, and a quick check revealed that no ponies they knew were among them… nor the growing list of deceased.

Or at least they thought so. Sweetie Belle pulled away as she spotted Spitfire dressed in her flight outfit and covered in dust landing nearby and hastily walking towards the tents. She was carrying a white-furred unicorn stallion in her arms.

“When somepony is ready, this guy could use some medical treatment.” Spitfire set the stallion down on a free bed then stepped back out as one of the medics came over. Her gaze was drawn to the tent flap as Sweetie Belle entered, her eyes wide with worry. “He’s fine, just unconscious. Got third degree burns on his right hand, going to second further up his arm and on his side.”

“Not only that,” the medic muttered, checking Blueblood’s face. “First degree flash burns around his eyes and lips, blood coming from his ears. Probably close to the blast.”

Running back outside, Sweetie Belle looked up with worry at the fires on the top floor of the Mareriott, hoping her sister, if she was up there, was somewhere relatively safe. A pair of purple arms wrapped around her, and she spun around, facing her husband. Their gazes met briefly, then she burst into tears and pressed her head into his shoulder, the other couple looking up in concern.

“Alright, the majority of them are outta there! Teams of ten, floor by floor. Let’s move out!”

Recognising the voice, Applebloom turned and spotted her cousin, an orange high visibility jacket over her shirt, singling her out amongst all of the yellow reflective jackets, who all started moving towards the building. Babs was about to follow them when she spotted her observers, taking her hard hat off as she walked over. “What in Tartarus are you lot doin’ here? It’s not safe.”

Applebloom stepped closer and wrapped her arms around the mare, hugging her tightly. Pulling away, she looked past the cordon and then up at the building Babs’ colleagues had just entered. “‘ave ya seen Scoots or Pip?”

“Sorry, no. We dunno what happened or where yet, but the results… well, I gotta get to work. You guys head over to the white tent, tell them I sent ya.”

With that, Babs broke free and ran into the lobby, weaving carefully through the crowd of staff and guests who were still being evacuated. It was slightly hard to see, as the illumination was provided by emergency lights, and she only saw her teammates by the lights from their helmets. They were waiting by the service elevator, which as standard for a high rise operated on a back up generator in times of emergencies. Babs and her team would be working their way down from the top, and this was the quickest way for them to get up there. Once she was in, her deputy Silver Wisp hit the button to ascend, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Alright, what’s eating ya?”

“They could’ve picked a better time,” replied the stallion, giving a shrug. “Like when the hotel was empty, or when I was not on the way to my marefried’s.”

“I highly doubt events like this takes our personal lives into consideration. Let’s just get up there and help who we can. Ya can tell me about your new mare later.” The rest of the ride was silent, the elevator coming to a stop several moments later, and the occupiers prepared themselves.

As soon as the door opened fully they were out into the corridors, moving in pairs in different directions. Babs and her partner, a unicorn stallion, searched room by room, thankful that they were empty and relatively undamaged until they entered the seventh one.

From where she stood at the entrance, Babs could see several rooms away and three floors down, the ceilings up to the roof gone, and that didn’t look very structurally sound any more. Thankfully at a distance she considered safe, several fires were burning away, the smoke fortunately billowing out through the massive hole in the side of the building.

As she continued her inspection of the destruction, she noted there were no damaged utilities such as gas pipes. This wasn’t an accident… somepony planned this. She was about to move to the next area when she spotted a white leg sticking out from behind an upturned bed, with no accessible route. “Crescent, we need to get over there.”

“Sure thing, boss.” The stallion lit his horn and pulled up some of the rubble from below, forming a bridge to the other side of the expanse, keeping it stable. Babs tested it with one foot, and once she was satisfied made her way across it, pausing a moment when she saw who the pony was.

“Rarity, can ya hear me?” Babs knelt down to the unicorn and checked for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when she discovered the unicorn was not dead, merely in a state of shock. Ripping the sheet from the bed, Babs wrapped it around Rarity and then lifted her up over her shoulder, carefully stepping back across the rubble. “Alright Crescent, drop it carefully.”

Babs turned to survey to floor below, but the occupants of that room weren’t so lucky. It might not have felt like the right thing to do to her, leaving the bodies behind, but her priority was to rescue the living,. Tapping her partner on the shoulder to tell him she was safe, they made their way back into the corridor and towards the elevators, where her team had already gathered with several survivors, two of which approached Babs when they saw her charge.

“Rarity? Are you okay?” Fluttershy helped Babs set the unicorn on the floor of the elevator, then sat down next to her and held her close, Pinkie doing the same from the other side. There the three friends remained, silent like the other survivors, as the rescue team once more set out to see if they could help anypony else, leaving two ponies behind to look after the group as the elevator took them to safety and medical attention.

Even though the stars were shining and the moon was illuminating the gardens, Twilight Sparkle sent silent thanks to her friend, who had requested her help, for it gave her a good reason to leave the party after the opening ceremony early. Now she was stood in the gardens of Manehattan’s royal residence under a white trellis which had flowers entwined with it, facing out towards two seats.

Behind her stood Lecture, watching the event unfold with curiosity, for he had heard of the act yet never witnessed it. He watched as Twilight went through one of her books over and over again, always the same section.

Closing her book, Twilight looked to the other document in her hands, an official wedding certificate. She thought the official ceremony should be enough for anypony, but given the peculiar nature of her friends' relationship, they requested an extraordinary private one. If it would make them happy, Twilight would oblige.

“Okay then, let’s get started,” the alicorn said as she turned to the changeling, Lecture stepping forward and holding his arms out ready. Twilight unbuttoned her white blouse and slipped it off, placing it across the changeling’s arms. She followed by slipping her knees length black skirt down her legs. The last thing she took off was her black lacy bra, but she kept the matching panties on. Thank Faust it’s summer, otherwise I wouldn’t have agreed to this. “And the next stage, please.”

The changeling gave her a nod, turning to an open chest behind him and putting the clothes inside of it, withdrawing four different items from it. Moving to Twilight, he wrapped a black leather corset around her waist and began to lace it up tightly. Bending down, Lecture helped Twilight change from her shoes into a pair of high heeled, thigh high PVC boots, the mare taking the whip he offered her a moment later. With Lecture's help Twilight walked to a lectern and once there cast a small spell. A tug on a collar signaled the stallion stood on the other end of the path that it was time.

He disappeared, only for another stallion to take his place, dressed in a wedding suit. Pausing for a moment, Braeburn looked over the scene and blinked, then walked down the aisle to where Twilight stood. She indicated where she wanted him, then turned to give Lecture a nod, and the changeling lit his horn.

A moment later music began to play, Braeburn turning to look back the way he had come. From the end of the path came Snips, dressed almost the same as Braeburn, but it was who was next to the unicorn that drew attention.

Clad in only stockings and suspenders, Silver Spoon crawled along on her hands and knees, cuffs locked around her wrists and ankles with chains that kept her in that position. Around her neck was a large collar that forced her to keep her muzzle up, the leash leading to her coltfriend’s hand, and she had a large ballgag in her mouth.

Reaching where the two seats stood, Snips took the one on the left and had Silver Spoon kneel at his side, both of them smiling. Following along the path were Snails and Diamond Tiara in the same attire as their friends, and they took the other position.

The last mare to appear was the one Braeburn was waiting for, a grin coming to his face when Trixie appeared, a leash clipped to her collar and the other end in his cousin’s hand. She was dressed in white lingerie and heels, a veil hiding her face. Her arms were secured behind her back in a white armbinder, and her feet were locked into a pair of white ballet boots, making her walk down the aisle more difficult.

Coming up next to Braeburn, Big Mac lifted the veil to reveal Trixie’s face, the mare smiling as wide as she could around the ballgag, her eyes shining with playfulness. Accepting the leash from his cousin, Braeburn leaned in and kissed the tip of her muzzle, the mare giggling as they turned to face Twilight.

“Welcome to all those present on this joyous occasion, to witness this mare giving herself to this stallion. She will become his to do with as he wishes, in body and mind.” Twilight looked at the small gathering, taking a deep breath before continuing. Thankfully, Trixie had asked for a quick ceremony. “Is there any pony present who wishes to object to this bond?”

There was no reply, Twilight looking to Braeburn with a smile. “Braeburn Apple, do you take Trixie Lulamoon to be your loyal slave, to reward her when good and punish her when bad, but to also ensure she is well looked after and not mistreated?”

“Ah do, yer majesty,” came the response, albeit in a slightly shaky voice, Twilight turning to Trixie.

“Trixie Lulamoon, do you take Braeburn Apple to be your master, to obey his every command, and to carry out his pleasure, earning his care in return?”

“Yeph, youph maphephty.”

Twilight nodded to Mac, who pulled out a small red gem in the shape of an apple, passing it to his cousin. Braeburn accepted the item and turned to his mare, clipping it to her collar. She gave a muffled giggle and winked at him, pointing her muzzle down. With a raised eyebrow Braeburn slipped his finger down Trixie’s corset, feeling something in her cleavage.

He pulled it out and smiled, holding up a silver pendant, a replica of Trixie’s cutie mark hanging from a chain. Braeburn happily put it on then reached behind her head and unbuckled the gag, both ponies turning to Twilight and waiting for those magical words.

“I now pronounce you Master and Slave. May the leash be passed.”

Braeburn accepted the leash from Big Mac and pulled Trixie closer, the mare dropping to her knees to she her submissiveness. Braeburn gave a small chuckle then stood her back up, the pair staring into each others’ eyes. At least until a throat being cleared caught their attention, the pair turning to face Twilight

“We have a room set aside for you to consummate your vows with deeds. There is a range of equipment provided for your entertainment. Please, both of you enjoy yourselves,” Twilight said, making a crack in the air as she lashed out at nothing with the whip.

With a grin on his muzzle Braeburn started walking towards the manor, pulling Trixie behind him. They were followed by Snips, Snails, and their mares. Big Mac went to leave as well, but Twilight grabbed his collar with her magic and pulled him over to her, tapping the handle of the whip in her free hand.

“You still need to be punished. Bend over!”

Scootaloo was torn between fleeing for her life and attempting to help Pipsqueak, and her hesitation gave the two pegasi the opportunity they needed to get closer. The larger one moved in first, stepping within arm’s reach and slashing at her torso. She jumped back just enough for the swipe to cause a rush of air over her exposed chest.

She went to grab his wrist, but that’s when the second attacker shot forward, attempting a straight stab at her neck, but his reach fell short due to his arm being smaller. The dangerous dance continued with Scootaloo on the defence, but she ran out of room to back up when she hit one of the damaged walls, her eyes going wide as the two pegasi closed in for the kill, her eyes closing.

She opened them when she heard a scream of rage, and the larger of her attackers was grabbed around the waist by hands covered in white fur and dotted with brown splotches. Just as the pegasus looked down in confusion, he was thrown through the air towards the rubble

In his place stood Pipsqueak, the bone of his left shin sticking through his skin and fur, a steady flow of blood trickling down his leg. He slowly shuffled forward, standing in front of Scootaloo, protecting her from the other pony.

The small pegasus stepped back, slightly wary now, but he still had a task to do. Tossing his knife from hand to hand, he looked for an opening to attack, and then he saw it. Feigning a slash to Pip’s side, the pegasus waited for the earth pony to move his stance, then sent his foot flying towards the injured leg.

Pip fell to the floor with a pained scream, the pegasus taking the opportunity to strike at Scootaloo, but a black, light blue, and burnt orange blur shot in through the gap to the outside, crashing into the small pegasus and pinning him to the floor.

Holding tightly onto the pegasus’ wrists, Arctic Halberd reared his head back and then shot it forward, sending a painful tremor through the pony’s body. Or he would have, if not for the concoction of drugs the pony had taken earlier, which included strength enhancers, as Halberd discovered when the small pegasus began to push Halberd from him.

Fortunately, further help arrived in the form of Boreal Spear, who took the room at a glance; Pipsqueak on the floor, Scootaloo against the wall, and Halberd being pushed from the floor. Spear jumped over to his friend, forcing the unknown pony from him and tossed him to another part of the room.

The pegasus threw out his wings in anger, then charged with his knife aimed at Spear, but out of all of the room’s occupants, Spear was the only one who had managed to get some rest since the opening ceremony to the Games. When the pegasus went to strike, Spear sidestepped and took hold of the pony’s wrist, snapping it back so hard that the forearm bones snapped, the arm bending backwards.

Spear watched as the knife cut into the owner as he dropped it, leaving a long, shallow gash across his chest, and he fell to the floor. With the knife now in his hands, Spear took a closer look, noticing a liquid coating the blade. He lifted it up and sampled it with the tip of his tongue, then spat and looked to the pony on the floor, the life already fading from his eyes.

“Featherbane… where did they get that?”

With a growl, Halberd grabbed the pegasus and dragged him over to where Scootaloo was still standing. Spear joined him, wrapping their princess and Pip with a towel each, using a third to stem the flow of blood from the earth pony’s leg. Kneeling in front of the dying pegasus, Halberd pulled him up into a sitting position.

“Do you know who you were ordered to kill?”

“...n-no.” Finally showing signs of life, Scootaloo stepped forward and sat on the floor in front of her would be assassin, whose eyes went wide. A shaking hand was raised, and Scootaloo hesitantly took it, a gasp coming from her when she felt how cold he was already. “...m-my princess… I-I’m sorry... I didn’t k-know…”

“Hush now, you need to rest. Help will be here soon.” Scootaloo looked up to Boreal Spear, who shook his head, turning to survey the room. Placing her free hand on Halberd’s shoulder, Scootaloo nodded to Pip, sending her guard to check on her coltfriend, then turned her gaze back to the pegasus. “Tell me your name.”

“...W-Winter Tundra… your m-majesty.”

“Where are you from?”

“C-Cloudsdale. P-please… don’t tell my family I was here.” Scootaloo watched as Spear approached and reached into Winter’s pockets, pulling out the contents. A small plastic bottle took his interest, and after giving it a sniff, he leant close to Scootaloo and whispered into her ear.

“He will ask for forgiveness, grant it to him.”

Scootaloo nodded, wondering what it was Spear had discovered, but chose to ask him later, returning her attention to Winter, who had just squeezed her hand weakly. “..y-your majesty… please… f-forgive me… I-I did not know…”

With tears building in her eyes, Scootaloo pulled Winter into a tight embrace, his head resting on her shoulder. She looked up as Halberd and Spear stood in front of her with their heads bowed. The hand that Winter had in her hand fell from her grip, and his body went limp, Scootaloo holding him even tighter, a soft whisper echoing in the silence.

“I forgive you.” Gently placing Winter’s body on the floor, Scootaloo accepted Spear’s hand and stood, walking over to where Pip lay, giving her a weak smile. “How is he?”

“Alive, for now. The leg may yet be saved, but only if we get him out of here soon.”

Scootaloo nodded, kneeling down to kiss Pip softly. It was then that she realised there was still one pony unaccounted for, and she looked around her room, eyes narrowing when she spotted the missing pony.

He was somehow still alive, considering that Pip had wildly thrown him into the pile of rubble, and now had several steel rods sticking through his body. Scootaloo looked to Pip and he gave her a nod, so she stood once again and motioned her guards to follow, moving in front of the other assassin.

“Spear, what has you troubled?”

“The poison, your majesty. Its name is ‘Featherbane’, a creation from a Shadowbolt alchemist, and was used as a punishment for the worst of the worst criminals. Just before the end, it forced the victim into a moment of clarity, no matter how influenced by such things as drugs or alcohol, and forced them to speak the truth.” He passed the plastic bottle to Scootaloo, frowning. “This contained another of the Shadowbolts’ creations, it kept a pony on task, and made them ignore anything else. Given what he said, it is likely Winter Tundra was not informed as to you being the target.” Spear looked at the pony impaled on the rods, giving a low growl. “Which means this one was.”

“Spear, Halberd… I want to know everything. And I do not care how you find out.”

Halberd looked at Spear and nodded, getting one in return, then turned to Scootaloo. “It will be our pleasure, your highness.”

Author's Notes:

And you thought I was going to kill one of them off!

The ceremony couldn't serve to create marriage, because marriage is based on free will and equality, and because the ceremony would lack dignity needed for the legal act, and so we opted for a secondry ceremony. -- The wise words of Corwin Freiss.