I can’t… I can’t do this anymore!

Stand, Garrett! Stand up and fight!

Please, just make the pain stop…

It’s too late for that! The only way out is to finish the fight.

But she’s too strong-

Perhaps, but I’m not out of tricks yet. Now stand! I can grant you the power to defeat her, but you have to pull your own weight. Do you understand?

…

Do you understand!?

… yes.

Then get up and finish the job.

*****

Devil-Ish stood in the middle of a large crater in Whitetail Woods, Celestia hovering not too far away. The dust had cleared to reveal surrounding trees had toppled over from the power of the attack. The dark stallion kept his left hoof off the ground, his smile fading into a frown. He glanced at the setting sun and flew up to the princess’ level.

The villain said nothing, just stared in disgust. He was obviously through with words and prepared for whatever his opponent could dish out. The two remained still for some time, both of them waiting for the other to flinch. A cool breeze blew through their manes. Finally, Devil-Ish made his move.

He charged at the princess at blinding speed. Celestia saw the attack coming and quickly dodged to the left. Devil-Ish turned hastily to get behind his foe, but before he could circle around, she was already hot on his tail.

He piloted through the dense forest trying to lose her, but she kept up with him. Swerving and dodging the enormous trees, the chase continued for some time. Becoming increasingly annoyed, Devil-Ish’s horn began to glow bright red. He turned and saw the white alicorn still following him. In an instant, he fired a red beam of energy at the princess. She barrel rolled to the side just in time to evade the attack. But just as she had avoided the first beam, a second was fired.

A third beam was fired, then a fourth, and a fifth, each one coming closer and closer to hitting the target. The princess was barely able to keep up with the onslaught as the villain gained a significant lead. Devil-Ish smiled grimly as he charged his horn yet again, but this time blasted a nearby tree.

The crackling of the splitting wood filled the air as the trunk gave out. The huge tree fell to the ground, slowly at first, but swiftly gained speed. Devil-Ish flew under the falling log but stopped a few yards away. A neon red aura engulfed the tree and broke its fall. Just as Celestia came bursting out of the thick forest, the sharp tip of the tree was already flying at her.

Thinking fast, a golden glow joined the red aura and she summoned all of her might to push it back toward Devil-Ish. Their powers seemed evenly matched, the tree barely moving an inch. Occasionally, one of the alicorns would push the giant spear forward a few feet, but never enough to overpower the other.

Sweat dripped down Celestia’s brow. She struggled to keep up with Doubt’s strength, but with the setting of the sun, her power was rapidly dying. She grinded her teeth and closed her eyes, feeling the might of her foe slowly intensifying. Her wings grew tired, but the second she landed would give him the upper hoof.

The tree began to splinter from the pressure both combatants forced upon it. The princess became exhausted from all the magic she had used in the battle, but how was Devil-Ish retaining so much power? He was a formidable spirit, but he had used just as much magic as she had, and he was still pushing his limits.

Suddenly, a moment of weakness. Celestia felt her opponent falter and lose his concentration. At that moment, Princess Celestia focused every ounce of energy she could spare and pushed the tree at the monster like a freight train. The sheer force of the throw was enough to shake nearby trees. She breathed in heavily and sighed in relief. “It’s over.”

“Oh yes it is”

Celestia turned around to see a hoof crashing down into her head. She tumbled to the ground, smashing her back against a huge rock. She felt her spine crack a bit as her body collided with the boulder. She grunted in pain, but stood back up regardless. Devil-Ish landed just ten yards away and charged at her again.

The princess dodged as best she could, but to no avail. She took a right hoof to the face but remained standing. Though she tried to fight back, the princess was drained. Her magic was nearly gone and her body badly beaten. The wound her spine had taken would not allow her to fly or even walk properly. And her horn had nearly been shattered. She opened her eyes just in time to avoid another right hoof, but was knocked to the ground by a powerful buck.

As she lay on the soft grass, broken and bruised, she let loose a tear. Doubt had beaten her. There was only one thing left for the great princess of Equestria to do. She had to keep her sister safe. The scene played over in Celestia’s head:

“Luna, run. I won’t let him hurt you again.”

“B-but sister-“

“Go already! I’ve killed him once, I can do it again.”

She had promised her sister that no harm would come to her. And she intended to see that promise through. There was one hope for Equestria: The Elements of Harmony. No matter what happened to Celestia now, she had to make it back to Canterlot. She had to break the spell on the door. If she didn’t, all hope would be lost.

“Celestia! What an honor to have you bowing before your new kings.”

The princess looked up at the gray stallion. His wicked smile sickened her, as she coughed, “You… are no king of mine.”

“Oh will you give it up! You’ve lost and we have won! It’s over!”

Devil-Ish approached the beaten mare and levitated her off the ground so that they were face-to-face. “But I’m going to give you what you didn’t give me; a choice. We will let you live…” He paused and smirked at the weak princess, then continued. “… if you hand over your entire kingdom to us.”

Celestia stared into his soul piercing yellow eyes, took in a deep breath… and spit in his face.

Devil-Ish wiped his face and frowned. “HAVE IT YOUR WAY!” He shouted an inch from her face, throwing her to the ground. The stallion flew high into the air. His horn began to glow red again, and continued to shine. Bright as a star, his power built in his horn until it could have been mistaken for the sun.

*****

Rainbow Dash weakly soared across the sky, flapping her wings as best she could. Her day had been spent flying around Ponyville on a wild goose chase, and suddenly she became the new Spike. Her tired wings could barely support her weight just as the city of Canterlot became a speck in the distance.

“Almost there,” She though to herself in an attempt to stay motivated.

~BOOM!~ The ground shook from an unknown explosion and frightened Rainbow out of her skin. She turned to Whitetail Woods to see what appeared to be a huge red pillar. She stared at the explosion until it died down and faded to reveal a burning forest. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. What could have caused such a tremendous eruption?

She turned back to Canterlot, against her will, and forced herself to fly even faster. Whatever was going on in Whitetail Woods, it was not good. The sooner Celestia knew about the epidemic, the sooner she could put an end to it.

*****

The fire danced through the forest, burning trees and sending wildlife running. The sounds of the forest were replaced with the racket of the crackling flames. The forest smelled of burning pine and grass. And in the center of the woods, a massive crater scarred the earth.

The dark alicorn landed inside the crater, smiling as he did so. He trotted excitedly over to a source of smoke where Celestia’s body laid. But something was wrong. Seconds after he put pressure on his left hoof, he lifted it off the ground and yelped in pain. A look of confusion replaced his joy. “This can’t be right…”

Devil-Ish flew over the smoke and noticed a fading trail of light leading back to Canterlot. His look of confusion was replaced by anger. “CELESTIA!”

*****

Princess Celestia limped down the hall, toward the Door of Harmony. The only thing that kept her going was the memory of her favorite student, and her promise to keep her sister safe. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever as she lugged her wounded body through the ruins of the castle. She glanced over at the stain glass windows she had shattered.

She finally reached the Door of Harmony. She stared at the multicolored door and quietly cried. She knew that Doubt would arrive shortly to finish the job. But perhaps by sacrificing her life to save Equestria, No one would ever doubt her love again. Maybe…

She shakily placed her battered horn into the door and performed the spell. Her last spell. She knew Doubt of all spirits would underestimate the powers of the Elements of Harmony.

With her last oath fulfilled, Princess Celestia spun around to face down the long hallway.

She didn’t have to wait long before a red flash blinded her. Devil-Ish appeared at the end of the hall, half grinning and half growling. He had lost all patience and called out to the white mare, “No more running Celestia! It’s the end of the road for you.”

The princess looked at the monster with teary eyes. “I know.”

Silence filled the room, so thick it was tangible. Devil-Ish looked ready to say something else. But Celestia’s words caught him by surprise. Both warriors were badly beaten, shaken to their cores. The fight had taken its toll on them both. But the winner had been decided.

Devil-Ish charged his horn one last time. He said nothing as he fired a thin beam of energy, no larger than a thread. The attack was silent and painless as it pierced Princess Celestia’s heart. The white mare fell to the floor; eyes shut tight and tears dripping. She felt nothing as her body hit the solid marble. Blackness surrounded her vision. Colors disappeared. Then she only saw shapes. She mustered one last breath of air as the cold slowly crept along her body. She sighed one final word, “Forgiveness…?” She closed her eyes for the last time.

The sun had set.