“Empress Tw-” Krabby had approached the Empress, but only managed to say a few syllables before pink magical aura yanked him back violently into the mat below, where he learned that it was very thin, and the wood below was hard and painful. He traced the aura back to Kid’s horn, both impressed and frustrated that someone that meek could conjure such a force.

“W-w-well, Miss Empress Twilight-” Kid stammered out, and she shook her head.

“I am not your only audience, contestant. All of Equestria must hear your voice.” She gestured to the crowd, and Kid squeaked audibly at the realization that there were cameras focusing on him too.

He pushed the nervousness as deep down as he could, and he focused on a spell, a little magical boost to his voice to slice through the din of the crowd. All the while, he never loosened the surprisingly strong telekinetic grip on the colt behind him. Krabby’s attempts to protest were muted as if his muzzle were glued shut.

“F… fillies and gentlecolts!” Kid’s voice boomed, and the crowd silenced. “I am proud to announce… the reveal of my creation, and my entry into the Science Faire! The Kinetimagical Inversive Reactor! Using a new method of collecting and arranging aurium particles, I can greatly amplify the amount of power generated through absorbing ambient magic in the atmosphere–”

Krabby continued to struggle against Kid’s telekinesis, not really listening to him. What he had to say wasn’t important, but Truffle was. He managed to make a slow crawl to the Empress, who he realized was looking at him. Her expression was inscrutable as always, as he tried to say something, anything about his fallen friend. He looked back at where Truffle was, a confused Sugar Bolt and Sunburst continued to do whatever they could- which he noticed appeared to be flailing about rather ineffectually.

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