Chapter 4: The Duel.
The next morning, Alex woke to find everypony looking anxiously at her. She hurriedly looked at the clock on the wall and let out a sigh of relief. It was only six o'clock, still plenty of time to prepare for the duel. Alex tried to get out of bed, but was stopped by Twilight.
"You need to rest. All that work you put into our armor really wore you out and you need your strength for the battle," she said as Pinkie Pie trotted in with a tray of pancakes and cinnamon buns.
"Hi, Alex! I made you this yummy breakfast 'cause you worked so hard to make us all these shiny suits that you passed out and you need to be able to not pass out when you fight your mean-meanie-pants half-brother and…"
Applejack put her hoof over Pinkie Pie's mouth, smiling at her exuberance. "We get it, Pinkie. Now would ya cut the yappin' and let Alex eat already?"
Pinkie nodded and set the tray on Alex's lap. Alex smiled and nodded her thanks, then settled back to enjoy her breakfast. Everypony was relieved to see she was ok and all settled down to breakfast. Afterwards, preparations began in earnest: Twilight combed the Canterlot archives for any useful spells, Princesses Celestia and Luna secured all rooms of importance in the castle, Shining Armor had guards stationed in strategic locations, Princess Cadance kept everypony in Canterlot calm so as not to spread panic, Fluttershy made sure all the little woodland creatures were safe, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were in charge of fortifications, and Rarity and Pinkie Pie made sure nopony disturbed Alex while she prepared and rested.
Alex sat cross-legged in the center of a small chamber in the castle. Rarity watched as a red aura of magic surrounded Alex. Alex closed her eyes and levitated her staff in front of herself. Sitting thus, she focused on the condition of her body and noted that she was at a disadvantage due to weariness, but that was of little importance when she thought of what Ryan would do should he prevail. Steeling herself against her disadvantage, Alex went through every spell and magic trick she knew and was confident that her knowledge could match or better Ryan's. Her final stage of preparation was to remind herself that no matter what, the thing which decided a wizards' duel in the end was the strength of their will and she knew that in that lay her greatest advantage. Thus prepared, Alex took her staff and made her way to the throne room to be with her friends for a little while before the duel. All were gathered there and even Pinkie Pie's usually smiling face was somber, for everypony could feel the tense atmosphere. Alex stood before her friends and sighed.
"It's the deep breath before the plunge, the calm before the storm. Friends, as I said before, I'm not sure I will succeed in defeating Ryan, but as long as there is breath in my body, I shall do all in my power to stop him. Now the rules of the duel prevent any outside interference, but that is only in the form of direct magic spell assistance, there is no rule against the support of friendship. Be there for me no matter what the outcome, if it is in your hearts to do so, for knowing my friends are supporting me gives me a strength and a hope that neither Ryan nor any darkness can ever extinguish. Know that if I should fail, Ryan will not spare my life, for so deep is his hatred of me that he cannot bear the thought that I should live. Such is the stake for me, but even should I fail, if I can but weaken his power enough, then my life will not have been in vain. Do not despair, for though I speak gloomily, I only wish to impress upon you the possible outcome of all this. Take hope my friends, for even if we should fail, darkness cannot triumph forever, for at the end of every night, there is a bright new dawn!" Alex's countenance changed from one of gloom to one of bright hope and confidence.
Everypony's mood was at once lightened and though the possible outcome of failure was still in their minds, the bright hope of promised dawn strengthened their resolve to do everything in their power to hasten that dawn. The bell in the tower struck 12 noon and everypony took up their positions around the courtyard. A tall man in a black hooded robe covered in strange gold symbols and carrying a staff covered in similar markings and set with a black jewel strode into the courtyard. Everything in his air spoke of confidence, pride, and above all, evil. He stood opposite of Alex and spoke. "So, you decided to come after all, Alex. And you managed to find your staff too. How nice for you!" His voice was dripping with evil and his tone was mocking.
"It's not too late, Ryan. Stay this madness! Give up the Black Rune Staff and return the throne to Greg! I can promise that you will receive the help you need. Come back, Ryan, please." Alex's tone was full of sadness and pleading at the end.
Ryan laughed. "Fool! Do you honestly think I would give up my rightful place as Master? I am merely taking what is my due. Now, prepare to meet your end, for you cannot hope to match me!"
Ryan raised his staff and threw a wave of black energy at Alex, who threw up a red energy shield. The blow was absorbed by the shield and Alex launched her own attack, a swarm of red energy balls that flew in a crazy, unpredictable pattern. Ryan blocked a few, but most found their mark and stunned him. Alex attacked again, this time with a powerful bolt of energy that caused Ryan to clutch his chest in pain. Alex prepared to launch another attack, but Ryan managed to knock it back at her, his unnatural solid black eyes blazing with hate. Alex deflected it and barely had time to send Ryan's next attack back at him. Ryan batted the attack back at Alex and she swatted it back at him and so they went, back and forth, looking for all the world like some odd tennis match, until Alex swung to early and was struck by the attack.
Alex's flesh felt like it was on fire and her nerves were all numb, like when you hit your elbow, but all over. Ryan seized his chance and bombarded Alex with attack after devastating attack. Alex held on, but was gradually forced to her knees by the barrage of attacks. Ryan chuckled as his last attack forced Alex to support herself with her hands, panting heavily. Ryan slowly approached Alex, mocking her as he did.
"Pathetic little fool! Did you honestly think you could triumph over me? Your magic has always been second rate to mine. You are nothing more than an annoying insect that I shall now crush out of existence. Did you honestly believe that you could save these creatures you call friends? Now as I promised, I shall kill you and your 'friends' will do nothing about it. And what's more, once you are gone, I shall enslave these inferior creatures and then the rest of the world as is my right. You have failed, dear half-sister. With that knowledge as your final thought, despair and die!" Ryan raised his staff to strike the final blow.
But his staff was met by Alex's before the blow could land. Alex threw her half-brother back with incredible force and using her staff, stood to her feet. The ponies were amazed by what they saw and Ryan was shocked.
"But, how? You were…" Ryan stammered.
"You may have more brute power than I, Ryan. But I have something you can never have in your current state. The power of the magic of true friendship!" Alex raised her staff and sent an attack more powerful than any she had yet used at Ryan.
He tried to block it, but the force was so great that his staff was knocked from his hands and he was thrown to the ground, his head striking it with a sharp crack. Alex then telekinetically seized the Black Rune Staff and shattered it with her magic. The ponies cheered and gathered around Alex congratulating her.
"Hold on! I did not do this alone! It was your silent support that gave me the strength to beat Ryan. This is just as much your victory as mine. But the celebration will have to wait. Now, I must attend to my brother," said Alex as she bent over Ryan's unconscious form.
"Why? He tried to kill you," Rainbow Dash pointed out.
"That wasn't his fault. Ryan was once a kind boy, if rather gullible and jealous of my magical talent. He was very competitive and grew to resent the fact that I had greater discipline than he did. Therefore, I was granted access to more and greater spells. Eventually, he fell into bad company and they filled his head with tales of the Black Rune Staff, that would grant whomever claimed it great magical powers. Ryan would not rest until he possessed the Staff and that was his downfall, for even though the Staff would grant its wielder great power, that same power would also corrupt and eventually destroy the wielder. So you see, it wasn't his fault. He was under the sway of the corrupt power. Now I will have him taken to the Mountain of Healing. The Healers will see that he receives the care and guidance he needs," said Alex.
At a whistle from her, an eagle the size of a pony appeared and said, "What is your command, O Princess Alex?" with a bow of its head.
"Prince Ryan is gravely ill. I have destroyed the Black Rune Staff and he is free of its influence, but he must be taken to the Healers at once. Go now, and once Ryan is safe with the Healers, spread the word throughout the land of all that has happened and see that King Greg Harmonious is restored to the throne," commanded Alex.
"As you command, so it shall be done. But, pray, my Princess, what of yourself? Surely you will wish to see your cousin restored to the throne and join in the celebration?" asked the eagle.
"I shall be there in time for the celebration, but tell King Greg that I wish to remain here in Equestria to establish diplomatic relations and friendship," said Alex.
"As you command, my Princess," said the eagle as he spread his wings and took off, the still unconscious Prince Ryan secured to his back.
"Princess Alex? You never told us you were a princess!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
"Does it matter? I'm still just a girl. I didn't want any special treatment because of a rank I was born into. As in Equestria, all members of the Royal Family have some magical ability as well as a number of the general population. However, I do not feel that my rank is really anything of consequence because I did not earn it. Far greater do I consider the title of true friend and honest person than any rank title, for these are worth far more than gold," said Alex.
"But why, dear? If you had but told me you were a princess, I would have made you a far more splendid outfit. Oh! I have to make you a new outfit now! One that becomes a princess!" exclaimed Rarity.
"I beg you not to! Please, Rarity! The clothes I wear suit me far better than any fancy robes. Even before I was banished I wore simple clothes, for I felt as though I were wearing a lie whenever I wore my fancy royal robes. As for why I consider my born title as nothing compared to the name of true friend I was given by you, the answer is this. No one remembers kings and queens when they are gone, but a true friend is remembered for all time by those whose lives they touched. Far greater than the greatest power and more valuable than gold, is the love of true friends, for they will never leave you when your rank is gone and your power faded," said Alex.
"The greatest lesson in friendship and in being a ruler is that which you have just spoken, Princess Alex. I'm glad Humania enjoys the security of having a ruler such as yourself, who understands the meaning of self-sacrifice, truth, and love. You understand the responsibility of being a leader and have the loyalty to truth and your family to be a great ruler. I welcome you to Equestria and extend both my personal friendship and that of my kingdom. And I am most pleased to long at last met you in person," Princess Celestia bowed respectfully to Alex.
Everypony followed her example, but Alex bid them stand. "And I'm pleased to finally meet you in person, my friend. I have no need for formalities, Celestia. As I said, I'm just a simple girl and I ask that you forget my rank and just treat me like a friend. However, on behalf of my people and our King, Greg Harmonious, I accept your friendship, Princess Celestia and extend Humania's in return." Alex returned the bow.
"I accept on behalf of my people. Now that the formalities are through, why don't we all head inside and celebrate not only our victory in stopping Prince Ryan's evil plans, but also his release from that evil power to which he was enslaved," said Celestia as she led them inside.
Pinkie Pie was thrilled to finally be able to throw a party for Alex and was perfectly in her element in every sense of the word as she set up decorations and all manner of party things. Alex for the first time since she arrived, actually felt true joy and astounded everypony by laughing and joking and partying almost as hard as Pinkie Pie!
"Wow! I thought she didn't have the Element of Laughter in her," said Rainbow Dash as Alex chased Pinkie Pie around the room for no apparent reason, laughing like a spirited girl.
"I don't understand. She was so serious before and now she's acting, like Pinkie," said Twilight.
"Alex was serious while the situation demanded it, but she's still a child at heart. Don't worry, she's just having fun. Even rulers need to have fun every now and then," said Celestia with smile.
"I agree with the Princess. It's actually a relief ta see Alex havin' a good time. Come on ya'll! Let's join 'em!" said Applejack tagging Pinkie Pie.
The festive mood eventually wore off, but everypony was happy with the day's outcome.