"Now wasn't that something folks?!" The announcer asked the satisfied crowd."Now, we must take a short break to clean the arena, so please be patient! It will only take a few minutes.

It certainly was something. The arena was scarred by blasts, and the rock foundation was cracked by the cumbersome weight of Vernteidiger's steel-hooves. A cleaning crew rolled in to dispose of the wrecked automation, and earth mages used their magic to repair and reinforce the cracks and holes made by the last fight.

Spike watched as the injured Miriads were dragged off the battlefield to the infirmary by Wantthai guards. Syrune was battered and bruised horribly by Vernteidiger's vicious blows, and Galaeron had two cauterized puncture marks in his back where the two wires had entered his body and electrocuted him. Spike was appalled by the sheer brutality of the hulking steel-beast, as was Twilight, who watched from Equestrian's viewing box along with Draven and the others; situated high above the roaring crowd.

"It's incredible how much destruction one of those metal-giants can cause..." Twilight muttered quietly to herself; looking down at the scarred arena. "How can they create such technological monstrosities? Who are these 'Ausrüstrians'? "

"Are you saying you didn't know about Ausrüstung?" Gin was surprised by Twilight's lack of knowledge on the subject, and she inquired further; wondering why Twilight knew so little. "Your princesses never mentioned anything to you? Your schools don't teach children about Ausrüstung in your history class, or whatever you Equestrians do when you're young?"

"No, I can't say that I have heard of Ausrüstung," Twilight confirmed her lack of knowledge to Gin and the others.

"I think I know why." A quiet voice behind the group chimed in.

It was Fluttershy. She and Winslow emerged from the staircase leading into the main room of the Equestrian quarters, and she picked up on their conversation just as they approached Twilight and the others.

"I-um... have a secret I've been keeping from you and the rest of our friends, Twilight." Fluttershy bowed her head, trying to conjure up the courage to speak her mind.

"It's okay Fluttershy, you can tell us," Twilight assured the nervous mare.

"Um, okay..." Fluttershy said with an uneasy expression. "Back in Equestria, I ventured out into Everfree looking for Angel, the usual. Only this time, I stumbled on something..."

Twilight and the others remained silent; letting Fluttershy continue.

"Eventually, I found him, but he wasn't in a hollowed out log or up a tree. He led me to an abandoned town." Fluttershy explained.

"A town in the middle of Everfree?" Twilight thought to herself.

"It was old, very old. But, at the same time it wasn't. The houses were made of metal, and there were broken chariots that lined the streets, only it didn't seem like they needed to be pulled." Fluttershy continued, taking a deep breath. "Then, I saw it..."

Fluttershy began to tremble in fear, and Winslow tried to calm her down. He succeeded, and she came to her senses soon after.

"It's alright Fluttershy. Tell me what you saw..." Twilight tried he best soothing the panicked mare.

"It was... standing in the street, near the center of town-- a big, lumbering creature made of metal. It looked like that thing that just fought in the arena. Only, it wasn't as big. It was my size." Fluttershy claimed, shivering with fear. "I thought it was a lost pony, and I called out to it. That's when I felt Angel's heart beat faster, and then I knew something was wrong."

Fluttershy held herself tightly to cope with the anxiety she felt, and the terrible memories she visualized over and over. She took another deep breath and continued.

"The creature's head turned all the way around to face me, and that's when I knew it wasn't a pony." Fluttershy cried. "It's eyes were so empty, I knew it wasn't alive. It ran at me, and I told Angel to run and hide, but the monster turned its whole body and began running at me on all fours. We ran and ran until we reached the edge of Everfree. He tried grabbing Angel... it tried to catch him, but I wouldn't let it... I couldn't let it."

"So what happened then?" Gin asked.

"When we finally made it to the edge of the forest, I looked back and saw the monster running at full-speed. I thought it would get us, but just before it reached the edge of Everfree... it hit something." Fluttershy cleared her throat and continued. "It wasn't a tree stump or a rock, it was jumping, and it looked like it hit a wall."

"A wall? Like a magical barrier?" Twilight wondered. "And you passed through it... so that means it was very high-level magic. The only kind of pony I know that could cast a spell like that is an...-"

"Alicorn," Draven finished her sentence, "it was an alicorn."

"Well, after I escaped, I sent a letter to Celestia that told her about my experience," Fluttershy added. "She didn't write back... she visited me personally instead."

"Personally? How come I didn't hear about this?" Twilight said; slightly angered by Celestia's secrecy.

"She told me to never tell anyone about what I saw, she didn't even ask if I was alright. It was the first time she actually scared me..." Fluttershy whimpered.

"That doesn't seem like her at all." Twilight thought. "Why would she be so blunt?"

"If I may interject again, I think I know what Fluttershy saw back in Equestria." Draven wormed his way into the conversation again. "I think Fluttershy might have stumbled on the lost town of Liberty."

"Liberty? What in Equestria is that?" Twilight asked.

"Two hundred years ago, four intellectuals; a scribe from the Crystal Empire, a general from Canterlot, a scientist from Manehattan, and the mayor of Ponyville met in secret. They were unhappy with the monarchy that ruled over Equestria, and the system of identification known as 'cutie marks'. " Draven explained. "They devised a philosophical idea, one that would shake the very foundation of Equestria, known as democracy. It was a system of government in which officials are elected by a nation and nobility isn't required. Instead of a princess, the leader in this new system would be called a president, and even the president would be elected once every so often."

"That's astounding! A nation ruled by an elected official?" Twilight became extremely interested in the topic at hand, not realizing she had interrupted Draven. "Go on, please, go on!"

"After many months of planning, the four ponies began construction of a town they named Liberty. They invited ponies from across the nation in secret, to join their community, and many did. The scientist began constructing technological wonders and released them to the public, the scribe wrote down laws and rights on documents, the general defended his people with an army of loyal soldiers, and the mayor made the scribe's writings law. Their little experiment became a total success, and the ponies living there were extremely happy with the way things were run in Liberty. But, it didn't last." Draven's jolly demeanor shifted to melancholy as he went on with his story. "Celestia was against their movement, and so, the rest of Equestria was as well. Celestia charged into the town with her troops, but she was halted by the four ponies who had defied her."

"Four ordinary ponies stared Celestia down?" Twilight muttered under her breath.

"Aye, it takes stones to do such a thing, but they believed in their little town, and they defended it," Draven said, more confident. "They had renamed themselves, on their own terms. Archibald Mason- her former general- Valiant Hoof, Ivan Aquarius- the scientist from Manehattan- Brilliant Spark, Natascha Chetbrovsky- the scribe from the Crystal Empire- Righteous Pen, and Richard Chesterfield- the former mayor of Ponyville- Mayor Old Glory. They had signed a document, declaring their independence, and secession from the Equestrian monarchy."

"So then what happened?" Twilight asked.

"Celestia ordered them to leave," Winslow answered. "So they left and took their technology with them. They sailed east, and eventually found refuge in the Blacklands, and settled on the west coast, where the land was rich with resources."

"That's what Fluttershy found in Everfree, the ruins of Liberty. And that automation was one of the few machines they left behind." Draven informed Twilight and the others.

"And Celestia must have put that barrier up to make sure those robots wouldn't escape." Twilight deduced. "But, why would she do something like that? It doesn't seem like her..."

"She was a different ruler back then," Winslow added. "She was prone to irrational actions."

The group was silent for a moment, and Twilight looked over to the King of Wantthai, who simply sat and smiled at her with kind eyes, oblivious to the conversation. The look on his face calmed Twilight, and she took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. She thought she knew Celestia, she thought she knew the mare who wore the crown, but she was mistaken. "What else could she be hiding?", "Are there other secrets she's hidden from her subjects?". These were questions that ran rapid in her mind.

"Maybe we should end our little history lesson." Gin stated jovially as she saw the troubled expression on Twilight's face.

"Ladies and gentlecolts! You've waited long enough! It's time for the next fight!" The announcer yelled out to the crowd as he stepped onto his balcony above the arena. "Release the voting sphere!"

Out from the center of the arena rose the sphere. The audience then prepared their voting slips, and beams of light shot out from the enchanted paper into the glowing crystal globe. The sphere made whirring sounds as it filled with votes, and it lowered itself back into its hole in the center.

"Alright folks, let's see what we got!" The announcer shouted to the eager audience. "Our first two fighters are... Viper and Sigrid, representing the Changelings!"

Regardless of who won, Spike couldn't deny that the Changeling's team was a force to be reckoned with. Spike shuddered to think about how powerful the two would be together. His fight with Sigrid was long and difficult, and his fight with Viper was fast-paced and brutal.

"Or the second team is... Stín and Armandura, representing the Crystal Empire!" The announcer cheered.

This match would be tough, as the Crystal Empire's team was equally terrifying. Stín was a mage with otherworldly powers, and Armandura was a battle-mage; beating one of the Miriad's best soldiers in hand to hand combat.

"This'll be interesting!" Draven stated with a hefty laugh.

"Yes it will be," Twilight said with smile, "I'm eager to see Stín fighting again. I'd love to study his magic further."

"Although that battle-mage with the shroud seems pretty durable as well." Draven suggested; playing out scenarios in his head, trying to figure out who'd win the match. "Both sides have tricks up their sleeves."

The two teams assembled on opposite sides of the arena. Stín prepared his sword made of shadows and staff of light, and Armandura summoned a sword and shield made of purple energy. Viper took two daggers and cut across his back; two green tendrils emerging from his wounds. Sigrid tossed the armor encasing her cursed-arm aside and revealed the large skinless-limb within.

The two fighters from the Crystal Empire said nothing, but simply looked at each other and nodded, to make sure they were prepared. Viper gave Stín a hiss followed by a tongue display, but the quiet stallion paid no attention to Viper's ruckus.

"Ready? Three! Two! One! Fight!" The announcer joined in with the audience.

"Been waiting to fight you, wizard." Viper snarled as he began to circle around the Crystal Empire's team along with Sigrid.

"I'm going to have a lot of fun tearing you apart." Sigrid taunted Armandura.

"They are tenacious," Stín muttered to Armandura, "but that only prolongs the inevitable."

"Let's begin!" Armandura shouted as he advanced; landing a shield-bash on Sigrid.

"Why you little pest!" Sigrid growled as she tossed Armandura aside.

Armandura fell into a dive-roll and quickly got back on his hooves. He retaliated with an upwards sword-slash, but it was caught by Sigrid's cursed-arm. Armandura used Sigrid's arm as leverage to yank himself towards her face; giving her a hard punch right to her snout.

"Damn you." Sigrid cursed Armandura as she wiped the blood from her face.

Viper attacked Stín with great ferocity. His two tendrils reached out at the robed wizard at lightning speeds, but they were blocked by a wall of light that manifested as Stín struck the ground with his staff. Viper moved quickly and strafed to the side of Stín's wall; slashing him across his chest with another slimy tendril.

"Shadow Slash!" Stín shrugged Viper's attack off and slashed the air with his sword; releasing a wave of dark energy that Viper blocked with great difficulty.

"Damn that magic is strong." Gin uttered with a light chuckle; impressed by the abilities of the wizard.

"It certainly is. Viper had no trouble blocking Spike's basic attacks before, but with Stín, it's a whole different story." Draven added.

Armandura was holding his own well against Sigrid, despite her arm's impressive strength. He landed another savage kick that knocked the ax out of her normal hand, but Sigrid counterattacked with her cursed-arm; knocking him back. He recovered again- standing firmly, and brought his shield to his chest as a sign of respect.

"An Equestrian Ubique? That's a soldier's way of saying 'good hit'!" Twilight was pleased but also suspicious of the familiar action. "Is he ex-military?"

Sigrid took the salute as an insult and lashed out at him with her hand's bony claws. Armandura saw it coming and moved his head to the side; Sigrid's attack barely grazing the side of his shrouded head. As Armandura rushed past the strike, he brought his arm out and close-lined the angered mare.

"You bastard!" Sigrid groaned in pain as she got back on her hooves.

"He's a pile-driver that Armandura," Draven laughed, "built like a wall!"

Viper launched a ball of slimy liquid that began to wrap around Stín's body and immobilize him. Viper took the initiative and sliced Stín again, but it only angered the wizard. Stín's cold expression became furious as his eyes began to burn like white-fire.

"Burning Flash!" Stín bellowed as his body released a wave of omni-directional light; disintegrating the slimy prison around him, and knocking Viper back.

"That damn near blinded me!" Gin complained as she rubbed her eyes.

Viper got to his hooves quickly and began to scream and snarl like a beast. His head and body morphed like it did before, and Viper became a half changeling- half snake once more.

"Just like our last fight!" Spike pointed out to Coba.

"Yes." Coba agreed. "He will be harder to deal with now."

"Kill you..." Viper moaned in a raspy voice. "Kill you!"

Viper lunged at Stín, but Stín was waiting, and slashed him across the shoulder as he dodged the attack. Viper's anger redoubled, and he whipped him around with his tendrils; finally knocking him down with brute force. Stín got up and vanished in an instant.

"Where did he go?" Draven wondered as he scanned the arena with his eyes.

"He became a shadow," Twilight said as she pointed down at the misshapen shadow beneath Viper's feet.

"Where did you go?" Viper hissed. "Where did you-."

Viper's speech was cut-off as a large shadow rose up from the ground, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground.

"Still your tongue snake..." Stín's shadow groaned. "Shadow Crush."

Stín's shadowy body wrapped around and grasped Viper's body like a vice-grip, causing him to writhe in pain. Viper grimaced at this and attempted to bite down on Stín. However, Stín retreated, knowing a nip from Viper could mean death.

"Do you intend to kill me, beast?" Stín asked Viper.

Viper said nothing and hissed at the hooded wizard with malicious intent.

Armandura lunged at Sigrid with his sword, but Sigrid blocked and knocked Armandura on the head, making his ears ring from the force of the impact. Regardless of the pain, he got back up and struck Sigrid in the face with his shield again and again. It wasn't out of anger, but pure determination, smashing her over and over until she stumbled back. Armandura realized she was finished, and tossed her into the center. He turned his head and then focused his efforts on Viper.

Viper attempted to claw at Stín, but before he could, a hard shield made of magic slammed into the side of his face; smashing him down. Armandura then threw Viper into the center of the arena with Sigrid.

"Let's finish it!" Armandura yelled to Stín, although the cowl muffled his speech.

Stín's weapons disintegrated, and his hands rose; preparing to cast a final incantation.

"Strike from Neplatný, up towards Nebe!" Stín uttered in a booming voice.

A ring of shadows formed on the ground; encircling his two foes. And when they tried to stand up, they were immobilized by some unseen force.

"Strike from Nebe- down towards Neplatný!" Stín's shout echoed for miles.

A magic circle of light formed above Sigrid and Viper; granting them absolutely no method of escape.

"I- I can't move!" Viper grunted as he tried lifting his arm.

"Me neither!" Sigrid moaned.

Armandura threw his shield between the two magical barriers; creating a third magic circle. It spun rapidly, as did the other two when Stín raised his hands to cast the final spell.

"Brace yourself!" The announcer warned the crowd.

"Equilibrium Shield Crush!" Stín and Armandura yelled at the top of their lungs, their voices echoing all around the stadium.

A contained blast of light, darkness, and purple energy swirled within the three magic circles. And the two trapped within felt the intense power scorch their bodies, feeling their power being drained. A wave of energy escaped the spell, giving off a warm glow, and eventually petering out as the circles faded. Stín lowered his hands and fell to his knees; having spent all of his magical power. As the smoke cleared, the unconscious bodies of Sigrid and Viper became visible.

"It is done." Stín uttered with his head bowed from sheer exhaustion.

"Oh- oh my!" The announcer said in disbelief. "The Crystal Empire wins! The Crystal Empire wins!"

The crowd went mad. They tossed their food in the air and hollered "Crystal Empire" over and over until their voices gave out. Spike and Coba were speechless, terrified by the duo's incredible power. They shuddered to think what would happen if they fought the two mages.

"That was..." Draven almost lost his words. "Unbelievable!"

Twilight said nothing. She had never seen a spell that used, not two, but three different magic types to subdue a target, it was unheard of. She pulled out a notebook and began frantically writing down notes.

"What in the world are you doing?" Gin wondered as she looked down at the shaking alicorn.

"I have to write this down! That was amazing! Remarkable! I have only heard legends of Starswirl merging magic like that!" Twilight's hands shook with childlike excitement. "And I witnessed it!"

"Oh, such a teacher's pet..." Gin teased the ecstatic mare.

Twilight wrote down her thoughts for a while before reaching the end of the page. Near the bottom, she noticed some writing... not hers. It was sloppily written scribbles, but she could make out the words nonetheless.

Nice notebook you got here!

-Your Friend

Mr. G

As she read the words, she didn't hear her own voice reading them... it was someone else's-- psychopathic and cold. Her whole body shook as she heard laughter echo in her mind; and again, it wasn't her own.

Author's Notes:

Whew! A longer chapter, but worth it! Hope it gives you a little background info before the next story-arc! As always, I hope you enjoyed!