"Care to explain why in the hell we're doing this?" Aria asked Iron Mare as the heroes were going to a training session.

"I with her," Sonic came in. "This isn't the best team-building exercise you've come up with."

"What he said," Shadow popped a ball.

"Well, that because this isn't about team-building," Iron Mare exclaimed. "It's about team-busting. When the Legion, hacked the Nexus Simulation, I had to put together an even better program to give us an edge."

"New data, new algorithms, new everything. The Nexus Probability Engine, predicts a sure path to victory in any combat situation."

"There are no sure things in combat," Matterhorn told her. "You forget the human factor."

"The human factor is in there. It's just... insignificant statically speaking."

"Insignificant? Do it again. This time with me, Aria, Rock Roller, and Shadow. We've got a little surprise of our own."

Moments later...

"Active the laser battle balls," Iron Mare told Rainbow.

"Incoming," Rainbow kicked every last one of them.

"Sonic Shredder!" Matterhorn shouted.

Matterhorn jumped up while Shadow did his Chaos Spear, Aria did her Galeforce, and Applejack hurled a boulder.

"Plant one at Matterhorn's feet."

Rainbow threw one on the battle at Matterhorn's feet making her trip over then threw one at Applejack and Aria.

"I hate this game," Shadow coldly said.

"This is how we'll beat the legion, the Probability Engine is perfect. No more surprises."

Then out of nowhere somewhere smash through the window and grabbed Knuckles.

"Um, I surprised," Rainbow admitted. "What the hell was that?"

"Not what, Rainbow, who," Iron Mare said. "Got a lock, it's Zavok."

"Wait, Zavok?" Sonic asked. "You sure."

"Yep, now we know who the Legion busted out."

"Have a nice dip," Zavok said as he and Knuckles went to a river.

"Merlok, lock down the tower and scan and frequencies for the Legion," Iron Mare said as they went to Zavok's location.

"Looks like we trash the LOC ahead of schedule," Rainbow was pumped.

"Nexus Probability Engine is active."

Meanwhile, the fight between Zavok and Knuckles was underwater and the boat to hurled into the sky.

"Cyber Witch, boat!"

"Done!" Twilight used her magic to bring to the boat to the docks.

"Ma'am, there are no signs of The Legion near the tower," Merlok told her.

"It's a distraction, running probability."

"Zapp, Aria, get down there..." Sunset calls for them.

"Hold on," Iron Mare stops her. "N.P.E. says there an 85% chance Nightmare Mechanic is about to pull an ambush."

"N.P.E?" Sonata asked.

"Nexus Probability Engine," Radiance told her.

"Oh."

...

"The Claw believes that the Siren and the Thunderer will appear any second, boys," Nightmare ordered.

Up top

"Tornado, Hurricane. Funnel. Now," Iron Mare told them.

Both nodded and circle the robot location and elevated the water.

"Prepare, what the hell," Nightmare gasped when saw the water was dried up.

"Nice try," Adagio said as she, Mareveouls, Rarity, and Fill-second jumped in with Iron Mare right behind him.

"FIsh out of the water," Iron Mare said before blasting them off from Rarity's gem shield.

"You'll think that will beat me--oof!" Nightmare boasted punch by Aria and Zapp.

"How about smokes, mirrors, and a siren?" Iron Mare asked.

"Claw, it's not going as planned,' Nightmare touched his earpiece then Zaovk appeared.

"Zavok," Zapp exclaimed before hitting him with the Thunderer which allowed Nightmare Mechanic to teleport out of here. "By-vok. Now that was a good one."

"Not clever enough," Zavok regains his ground before Lemon Zest blasted him with her Boom Canon.

"It was a good one," Lemon said. "Comedy's like her third language."

Knuckles appeared out of the water and straight for the zeti.

"No one pulls a surprise attack on me and gets away with it," Knuckles furiously said as both punched each other.

From out of nowhere, a blast blindsided Knuckles then Zaovk punched him on spot and went to the ground.

Zavok was about to continue his onslaught for Dusk Claw appeared on his wrist.

"Zavok, disengage," Dusk Claw ordered him.

"Never," Zavok shot back. "They will all feel my wrath."

"I understand but the numbers do not lie, there is a 75% chance you will fail. Fall back."

"Very well," Zavok stopped himself then Cozy Glow appeared.

"Hasta la vista bitiches," Cozy stuck her tongue out and teleported herself and Zavok out of here, making Rainbow stomp her foot.

"I hate the kid," Rainbow said then flew back to the others.

...

"You still doubt the numbers?" Twilight asked Sunset.

"Why don't ask Knuckles?" Sunset said pointing to him lying on the ground in pain. "We need to get him back to hideout this isn't over."

...

Meanwhile, Cozy Glow and Zavok made it to the underwater base where Zavok was being treated by the medical team.

"The numbers do not lie?" Zavok said as Dusk Claw and the others walked in.

"They do not," Dusk Claw said. "But sometimes we do. A good performance, by Miss Glow and yourself for taking out the echidna. The first domino falls."

Cozy, Mane-iac. Trickster, Danger Dame, Golden Touch, Starline, Crimson Sparrow, and Nightmare Mechanic laughed with him.

...

...

'Two minutes before Zavok knocked down the front door,' Iron Mare explained to the others. "This happened... a cosmic anomaly in Death Valley. Lasted just a few seconds. No casualties but..."

"It turned the desert to glass," Tails stated while putting badgadges on Knuckles. "The energy readings are the off the charts."

"Readings we've seen before,"

"The Alicorn Amulet, I thought that was a legend," Matterhorn thought about it.

"It's not," Sunset told her. "Princess Twilight. told me after she and the Princesses battle the Mystic Knights' leader The Mystic King. the amulet was lost... but never thought it would land here. Its power is unmatched like any other."

"But never like this, I think Legion of Chaos attacked to distract us."

"It was more than a distraction," Sonic came in. "Ever since we let ACME take him, prisoner, Zaovk's last words to me before last defeat was 'I will make you suffer that you ever showed mercy on me.' Any this shows he wasn't kidding... "

"I can take the horn head any day, any time," Knuckles shouted before falling.

"Debatable," Zapp said. "We should not underestimate Claw's cunning."

"We're not, were out thinking them. Whatever the Legion is up to, with N.P.E we can handle it."

"Dude, we know you are one the smartest people in the room, but there's more to what we do than probability," Sunset tries to reason with her.

"Ma'am. ACME satellites are detecting a spike in magic energy," Merlok said.

"Get a lock on its location we lose it again. Got it."

*BOOM* All saw The Legion of Chaos submarine into a jet flew off.

"Quinn is going to be jealous," Indigo exclaimed.

"Not once it's a pile of scrap. he won't."

"Anyone else thinks their sudden departure seems a little convenient?" Sugarcoat asked then look down at their computer and saw the transmitter.

"Well played," She grimly said before smashing it with her foot.

"They intercepted the coordinates of the Amulet and have head start. Shadow, Matterhorn, Arctic Ace, Saddle Rager, Double Trouble. Vine, and Diamond Damsel stays behind if any attacks. the rest of us will go after them," Iron Mare told them.

...

"Both me and Hurricane can fly faster this," Rainbow spoke up.

"Hell yeah, we reach the Amulet and secure it..." Indigo added.

"NPE doesn't like your chances in that scenario," Iron Mare said.

"Neither I nor Hurricane are nerds, but we do know that you're getting obsessed with your new toy."

"Care to explain."

"All right look, When the Claw hijacked my armor and unlocked the playbook he got our secrets. I put you all in danger,"

"It was a mistake, happens to all of us," Sunset said.

"I don't do mistakes."

"Even the best leaders can make mistakes. You can't live in fear."

"Who said anything about fear? "

"Fear comes with the job. It's how you deal with it that matters."

"If I told you the odds that you were gonna say that, would you hit me?"

"No. But that will," Tails interpreted. "Metal Sonic at Twelve o'clock."

Metal Sonic attacks the jet.

'Brace for impact."

"NPE got this, I hope."

Metal Sonic did his Spin Attack slice right through it but Applejack and Rarity holding it.

"You magic number engine didn't see that coming!?" Aria exclaimed.

"It did. I didn't Claw to know we're ready for it."

"We're ready for it. You've got to let us do our jobs," Marelvous told her.

"Speaking of... Hurricane, Tornado, go time. Fly ahead and try to secure the Amulet."

Both Rainbow and Indigo drop and flew ahead.

"Zaovk's coming around," Sugarcoat saw him. "Is the plan to let him punch us the moon?"

"Thought about it. But how about Sparkplug and Rock Roller handle him instead?"

"But what about..." Applejack started to question.

"Trust me, Cyber Witch, Shadow Sage care to Teleport us?"

"Oh, crap," Sonic exclaimed.

...

"This risky, Claw," Starline exclaimed. "The stakes are too.."

"I know the stakes better than any of you," Dusk Claw told him. "Imagine it is as a simple game of superpowered chess."

"And we are your pawns?" Trickster brought up.

"Hardly, you are my knights."

*ALARM*

Then out nowhere Zavok was fighting both Applejack and Pinkie and went out of the then and the explosion came after they left.

"Suprise," Sonic weakly said.

"What's wrong with him?" Moondancer asked.

"Sonic doesn't do well when traveling by magic," Tails explained.

"Admit it, you didn't see that one coming," Iron Mare said.

"Are you insane? You'll destroy us all!"

"You and I both know you can save us, with one order."

"Starline, Deploy Metal Sonic."

Metal Sonic went outside and lift the ship then Iron Mare and Sunset blasted Dusk Claw and Starline, Rarity froze Cozy Glow, Trickster and Mane-iac, and Sonata the shocked the others.

"Ladies, we still have one bad guy unchecked. Chances are he coming at you."

"Read you loud and clear," Rainbow said.

"10-4, who's the asshole," Indigo responded.

Then a dark shadow was over them,

"I think we found it," Rainbow sad Crimson Sparrow was in Roc form.

...

"Your game has improved considerably, Velvet," Dusk Claw said to her. "But I wonder just what sacfrices you're willing to make?"

Dusk Claw fires serval repulsor blasts at Iron Mare, Twilight, Tails, Twilight did roll and fired blast of magic at him. Meanwhile, Knuckles threw a boulder at Nightmare only for him to dodge, then lunge himself at him and Aria.

On the other side of the desert, Zavok unleashed a Fire Blast at Pinkie but she dodge it which Applejack punch him sending to the ground and Pinkie press the pressure

"Ooh, I got one, Fry-vok!" Pinkie suggested.

...

Golden Touch, Starline, and Cozy Glow fire shot from their blasters, then Starlight blasted with her magic then Rarity threw Ice Bomb at them,

"Keep the pressure," Sonic shouted. "Don't give a chance to recover.

"You think," Starlight replied.

...

"We're streched way too thin." Sunset shot fireball at Trickster who dodges it.

"We're winning, just stick with your partners." Iron Mare told her while chasing Mane-iac.

"Look at the big picture, Knuckles is bang up, and Tornado and Hurricane can't land. We're being set up."

"Phoenix trust me on this."

"He should listen to you more often," Dusk Claw said then swaped places with Nightmare Mechiac and Danger Dame.

"Hello, Phoenix, Tails and Cyber Witch," Danger Dame greeted.

"Iron Mare, then pulled a teleswap."

...

Both Rainbow and Indigo headed straight for Crimson Sparrow only for Metal Sonic to kick both of them.

"Look like they decide not to stick around," Rainbow said.

...

"You fall before me power," Zavok engaged with Aria and Kunckles.

...

"Starline, Cozy and Golden Touch just blinked outta here," Lemon exclaimed. 'Tell me you gadget predicted saw that coming,"

"Just stay on target."

"I guessing no."

None them realize that Mane-iac and Crimson Sparrow were baiting them

...
...

Iron Mare chased after Dusk Claw and blasted him.

"So that's was your big play? Swap dance partners?" Iron Mare asked. "Would it surprise you to hear I was counting on it I'v been planning this fight since you form your team."

Iron Mare grab Dusk Claw and hoisted him to the air. "I almost don't care about beating you to the the Amulet...all I care is shutting you down."

Iron Mare did a UniBeam to fry the Dusk Claw's armor.

"You just got checkmate and don't worry about your heart. I shorted it out long enough to bring you to a cell. Don't too bad about losing."

Iron Mare flew out of sight leaving Dusk Claw behind.

"So you say, so always you say," Dusk Claw walked slowly.

"Listen up, just a few more seconds and we'll finish this for good."

"Not sure we have those seconds!" Sunset exclaimed. "Me, Tails and Twilight are getting asses handed to us."

Then Knuckles and Aria got slammed into wall of rock.

"You said you didn't to make more mistakes," Twilight said. "I think you're making right now."

Twilight lift some rocks and threw them at Danger Dame.

"The Claw is down, and the Amulet is just over this rise... where's the bright shiny thing that risk our necks for it. Unless...Dusk Claw didn't steal out coordinates, he replaced them with false ones.... Everyone break off from your battles and converge on the Claw."

"They can't hear, even if they wanted to," Dusk Claw said.

Danger Dame causes a rockslide and Nightmare Mechanic did Shadow Pulse Blast at Twilight, Sunset, and Tails sending them over the valley. Rarity and Starlight were knocked out. Lemon Zest and Sonic were tangled in the The Mane-iac's hair while she and Crimson Sparrow fist bumped. Metal Sonic landed slowly while Rainbow, Indigo crashed. Cozy Glow fire her laser at Zapp, Sugarcoat, Pinkie, Applejack, Amy, and Adagio and all of them fell into a ravine. Zavok threw Knuckles and Aria right into Marevelous, Radiance, Moondancer, and Sonata.

"No way," Iron Mare witness the battles and saw the power the of Alicorn Amulet being drawn in by Dusk Claw who easly over powered her.

"What do your numbers say now?" He asked.

"They're saying we can't win," Iron Mare said.

"Armor integrity is down to 5%."

"I'd just as soon never hear the word percent again. Thank you."

"A true genius manipulates the odds. He does let them manipulate him. You were right. I couldn't win against you. Not without the amulet."

"So. I let you follow you to reasonable conclusion and just like that your entire strategy has fallen like empty figures."

The Legion of Chaos round up all of the heroes.

"This can't be happening?"

"It already happened."

"Enough posturing," Mane-iac reminded him. "Finish them and be about our work."

"As you-AHH!!" Dusk Claw screamed and fell. "What's happening?"

"The Amulet is unstable," Starline explained. "If we are to keep it, we must contain it, stabilize it.."

"Starline is right, you have no choice," Crimson Sparrow came in. "Would risk it all for for petty revenge?"

"If we leave them alive, they will come after us and spoil whatever plan we got in store," Trickster said.

"The clown is right. They are beaten, not broken," Cozy grimly agreed.

"And now you'll see the lesson that I have learned, that your ego has not, Miss Glow," Dusk Claw retorted. "Better to create the odds than play them, Trickster unleash your toys."

"With pleasure," Trickster grinned the press button that launch two missiles. "Two missiles, One to Centaur City, and the other to Las Pegasus but which one you save? Or will let both perish to follow us? *Cackles*

With that The Legion of Chaos left with Amulet.

"Everyone, I... I messed up bad."

"Save the apologies for later... right now what can those missiles do?" Twilight asked.

"Normally, they couldn't crack a dent in Ice Breaker Shield but power up by unstable magic and phantom energy... I don't know what to do. by the NPE we can only save one."

"And that why you have a team, silly," Pinkie popped out of nowhere. "For the gal who has all the answers doesn't?"

"What's the plan?" Sugarcoat ask Phoenix.

"Two teams. Power, speed, skill evenly split," Sunset said. "Iron Mare, Hurricane, Ice Breaker, Rock Roller, Aria, Zapp, Marevelous, Sonic, Shadow Sage, Bishop on one. I'll take the others."

"Those missles are sheilded. They have the lastest evasion software...Let's do this."

...

...

"I got visual on the target," Rainbow saw it then Tails fired with his cannon.

"She wasn't kidding on the countermeasures," Tails exclaimed. "Any ideas?"

"I got one, Knuckles throw me," Sunset requested.

"Hold on, I thought you arm was hurt?" Twilight asked.

"It is," Knuckles said then threw Sunset.

"Now fire,"

Tails fired energy blasts from his cannon, Amy threw her hammer, Twilight, Moondancer, and Starlight fire blasts of magic, and Rainbow did her Galeforce.

"Are you sure this will work?" Twilight asked as Sunset's body glowed with fire.

"I'm sure of it," Sunset did her Flame Spiral and missile exploded.

"Now that was 20% cooler!" Rainbow exclaimed. "This is Rainbow, first is down."

...

"Alright, we not going let them show us are we?" Indigo smirked.

Even if your targeting system was online, you would be unlikely to overcome the shielding, ma'am.

"Sometimes, I to good for my own good." Iron Mare said while Zapp fired lighting bolts at it.

"Give me the right weapon to blast it," Lemon exclaimed.

"No one can hit it."

"Just figure out your power problem."

"Try this," Iron Mare gave her a piece of her armor.

"Sweet," Lemon smiled.

"So, Bishop how shot we'll need to take it down?' Aria asked.

"We need two shots, one for it to move and the other one has to be big enough to take it down," Sugarcoat said.

"Zapp, I need a charge!"

"No problem!" Zapp fired at Iron Mare as she was absorbing it.

Cells are 305% capacity.

"Not rush to you. but the missile is about to hit its target!" Sonata exclaimed.

"Now!"

Rarity, Starlight, and Lemon fired then Iron Mare unveil an Unibeam destroyed it.

"And that's how it's done!" Sonic said.

...
...

With Twilight and Sunset

"None of this turn great today," Twilight groaned. "Zavok is out, we get out butts kicked by a cyborg and worst of all,The Legion of Chaos as the amulet."

"Look on the bright side," Sunset tries to put a positive spin. "We're not dead and save two cities."

"Your right, but no telling what happens next with them having the amulet."

"Along as we handle it together," Sunset reassured her.

Next Chapter: Episode 3- The Ambassador Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 7 Minutes