Who knew a not-so-friendly competition would lead to The End of The World?
This was suppose to be the day. Canterlot High was going to finally beat Crystal Prep. All they had to do was win a spirited game of Capture the Flag and victory will be theirs. They just didn't think the game would be called-off on account of a magic-obsessed Demon literally tearing the fabric of space and time.
Midnight Sparkle cackled as another tear appeared, revealing a World full of multi-colored ponies. A few more tears and she will finally reach the zenith of her research. Never has she experienced so much joy, satisfaction and power in her life! Not since...
"TWILIGHT!"
Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. Looking down, and ignoring the panic she caused to the students and teachers, her eyes locked with the pleading eyes of her now-talking dog.
Instead of feeling guilt and remorse, the demonic being just grunted in disgust as her hands glowed, "ENOUGH It's time for you to serve your Master, BEAST!"
Before Sunset and her friends could do anything, Spike was engulfed in a similar glow that corrupted his owner. When the light died down, the little dog was replaced with a towering purple and green winged dragon!
Midnight cackled once more as her pet blew columns of fire, creating even more bigger tears that reveals the entire village of Ponyville.
"Look out!" Sunset threw herself at Sunny Flare before she got hit by the flames. During the impact, a piece of paper flew out of Sunny's pocket. Luckily, Sunset caught it but her eyes widened in surprise just by looking at it. Her attention was drawn towards Twilight's magic-stealing device which was just a few feet away from her. The demonic being took notice of this and commanded her dragon to blast the flame-haired Wondercolt only for him to miss, allowing her to snatch the device and join her friends under the bleachers. Unfortunately for them, they were joined by the Shadowbolts.
Both sides were too relieved to be safe to even notice each other. The moment was broken when another blast was heard followed by a scream. The Rainbooms watched in horror as Spike blew more columns of flame, creating more tears and not caring who he could torch in the way.
That's it. They couldn't just hide any longer. Not when their friends are in trouble.
"Are you nuts?" Indigo Zap stopped them from their tracks, "She'll barbecue you alive!"
"If we don't, our friends will!" Rainbow replied, "Don't tell us you're just gonna sit here while she torches your friends too?"
The Main Shadowbolts looked at each other before returning their gaze back at the Rainbooms.
"During fortuitous events such as this, the best course of action is to hide yourself from all dangerous elements." Sugarcoat replied bluntly.
"Besides; the others can handle themselves." Sunny added.
"And technically, we're not friends." Sour Sweet added sweetly, but sourly.
The Rainbooms couldn't believe their ears. Those words burned like fire. Sure for some time they tolerated with the Shadowbolts cold treatment towards their school.
But now they crossed the line...
"Seriously? SERIOURSLY? SERIOUSLY?!" Fluttershy snapped, causing everyone to cringe, "Is Winning the only thing you're good at?! Is that why you pressured Twilight in releasing the Magic?! Is that the reason why you endangered everyone especially your friends?! Oh that's right. YOU DON'T HAVE FRIENDS! Who'd even want to be friends with a bunch of sore losers who only knows how to win? I can't believe we even wasted our time helping you during the Tri-Cross Relay. We felt guilty endangering you with our Magic, but after everything that has happened... I don't even know why we bothered to help."
Everyone remained silent... until Rainbow spoke fearfully, "If we survive, remind me never to ignore her compositions, ever again."
The Shadowbolts attempted to counter, just like they always do, but no words could come out of their mouths. This never happened before. Worst of all, another scream echoed and they soon find themselves sitting on the ground, hugging their knees.
"All we wanted, was not to let our school down." Sunny Flare glumly pressed her face to her knees.
Despite their disappointments, the Rainbooms found themselves sitting down beside each Shadowbolt.
"So you lose a few games, but that doesn't mean you're a complete loser all the time." Pinkie encouraged in an attempt to cheer them up.
"Everyone makes mistakes now and then" Rarity added.
"But not us. We're not suppose to lose. Winning these games, it's what we're suppose to do. It's what we are." Indigo Zap countered before sighing, "We never get any parties, or congratulations cards, or 'Job-Well-Dones'."
"Why not?" Applejack asked, "It's not like your school isn't proud of you."
"They are," Sugarcoat replied, "of Twilight."
"Twilight has always been the Pride of Crystal Prep." Sour Sweet sighed, before adding sourly but sadly, "Makes you feel like a third-grade horseshoe."
"She's smart, she has the best grades, her own personal lab..." Lemon Zest rambled, "How can you top someone..."
"Who used to be your best friend?" Sunset asked, holding up the paper she picked up. Only, it wasn't a paper.
The other Rainbooms' eyes widened upon seeing a photo of a younger Twilight embracing a little puppy Spike. Both were smiling at the camera right under a banner that said "Pet Adoption Day" along with five girls who looked like...
The Rainbooms turned their gaze towards the Shadow 5 who could only dip their heads in guilt.
Suddenly, everything began to shake. The bleachers were lifted from the ground, revealing Dragon Spike who threw the bleachers to who-knows-where (but you could hear crashing).
"That's mine!" Midnight cried upon seeing Sunset holding her device.
The flame-haired Wondercolt tried running away, but Midnight blasted the ground underneath her, causing her to trip and let go of the device and the photo. The device flew in Mid-air before landing in the hands of Sunny Flare.
"Well, well, well. Things just got a whole lot interesting." Midnight chuckled before flying closer to her classmates, "I should thank you all. It it weren't for your encouragement, I wouldn't have found this wonderful discover. As a form of gratitude, I shall bestow to you an offer; hand that over to me, and I shall eliminate the competition."
The Wondercolts gasped. They never thought Twilight, their world's Twilight, was capable of such... corruption. At first, the Shadowbolts were reluctant. Until...
"Or better yet, don't hand it over, and you join them." Midnight flashed a wicked grin.
The Shadowbolts eyes widened. Was this a chance for them to gain victory? Or was this punishment for pressuring one of their own? They wanted to win these games at any cost, but they didn't want to come this far.
"Hand it over already!" Principal Cinch cried, "You still have a reputation to uphold!" This outburst caused her to receive glares from the teachers, especially Dean Cadence.
The Main Shadowbolts were torn on what to do. Every Wondercolt were looking at them with pleading eyes, begging without words to not give in. Their attempts were in vain as the top students of Crystal Prep approached Midnight with Sunny holding up the device for her.
"Thought so." Midnight smirked triumphantly, one hand reaching for her device, "Who'd even be stupid enough to risk everything for their rivals?"
The Main 5 Shadowbolts could only bow their heads in guilt, when Midnight's words brought back memories of the day's events. Specifically, the Tri-Cross Relay.
"They, WOULD." Sunny glared, pulling her hand, and the device, away from Midnight's grasp.
Angered, the demon girl attempted to blast her, but was distracted by the loud music courtesy of Lemon Zest's headphones. Sunny threw the device on the ground in an attempt to destroy it, but, to everyone's dismay, Spike caught it in his claws.
"I knew I could always count on you, my No. 1 assistant." Midnight incinerated the headphones before scratching Spike on the chin and grabbing the device. The photo of her and her friends flew pass her, prompting her to grab it. She looked at the picture with longing, "Those were such memories."
The other smiled. Maybe there was still hope.
"Such useless memories." To everyone's horror, Midnight set the photo on fire until it was nothing more than a pile of ashes.
"T-Twilight...?" Rarity sheepishly asked.
"TWILIGHT IS DEAD!" Midnight roared, "Now the world shall bow down to MIDNIGHT SPARKLE!"
Thunder roared. The tears were getting bigger by the second, prompting the Wondercolts and Shadowbolts to embrace each other in fear.
"Spike! Finish them! They are of no use to me!" Midnight commanded, "And besides; We're not friends here, after all."
Those words stinged the Main Wondercolts and Shadowbolts, but mostly the Shadowbolts. Fluttershy could see tears flowing down Sour Sweet's cheeks.
"There, there. It's alright." She soothed in attempt to comfort the Shadowbolt.
"I've, always wanted a puppy." Sour Sweet choked, "But seeing him so happy with her... I, couldn't..." Dragon Spike silenced her with a roar before preparing to blast them.
"If this is the end, then at least I die with you guys!" Indigo cried, embracing Dash.
"At least you guys did something right for a change!" Rainbow smiled at Indigo who returned the smile.
"Before we're goners, I just want to let you guys know it was actually fun competing with you!" Applejack cried embracing Sugarcoat, "But I just wish we had more time getting to know each other."
"Me too!" Sugarcoat cried, "I always wanted to say nice things to people, but my straight-forward bluntness always gets in the way! I keep telling people their flaws when I'm completely flawed myself! I am nothing! NOTHING!"
"Sometimes I smile just to hide the insecurities caused by the pressure life gives me!" Pinkie cried, embracing Lemon Zest.
"Me too!" Lemon cried, "Music is a world where I can escape the cruelties which I'm afraid to face in the Real World!"
"I love you guys!" Sunset cried, tears flowing from her eyes, "Magic or no Magic, we'll always be Best Friends Forever!"
"US TOO!" The Main Wondercolts and Shadowbolts cried with tears in their eyes as they moved in a big group hug.
"UGH! Enough of these sentimental fireworks!" Midnight grunted, "SPIKE!"
At her command, the puppy-turned-dragon blew a large ball of fire at the Main Wondercolts and Shadowbolts!
Midnight cackled triumphantly... until her eyes widened in surprise.