As the day started, ponies from the nearest areas of Canterlot purchased their seating tickets and headed directly into the grand hall where their seats awaited. Millions of those that didn't make it watched it live from their computers to see the gamer pony they were rooting for, and the casters and interviewers were already on the stage, taking their place in which they knew that there were gonna be some intense matches in these 1 versus 1 series. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were already gonna be in it, Luna would be the one casting of course while Celestia was talked into doing the after game interviews, began to take their place and they discussed on who is going to win this. Most caster say that Lukra will come out on top as always, however Luna will say that Dusk, Lakura's game name, will be the one to come out on top.
"We have never seen that pony's gameplay before Princess Luna," one of the casters said.
"Lakura is one of the best in Canterlot, however rumor has it that he has faced the creator of the game and almost beat him," Luna said while having confidence.
"Princess, we have all seen Lukra's gameplay and his power to put pressure on while building up his army to crush the player he is facing, how can this be that Dusk is going to come out on top?" the other caster asked.
Luna replied with this, "Just watch the games and you will see how well Dusk plays."
Backstage, players were getting ready for their big entrance, Lakura Dusk has gotten up early and notices that Naruna Light has came in late with the lack of sleep she had so she won't be here until the tournament starts. Naruna Light, was already up, was in the kitchen having breakfast while trying to stay calm, as the audience gather in the great hall of the castle, cameras were already Live and every pony around the nation were watching, those that stay for the pre-game on the players before the games start, are seeing that the games are just about to start. Lukra stepped forward with the Allstar clan behind him and crowd cheered knowing that the best clan in Zooiecraft III: Legends of War, are going to be great and intense games, clan leaders from around Equestria were already making their way onto the stage with the same cheering from the crowd, because the crowd didn't care on who to cheer for, at least it is for the games to come in the tournament. Lukra and the other clan leaders bowed their heads in respect and Lukra, himself, gave the signal to the announcers to start the tournament, with a roaring crowd, and the games have begun.
As the tournament started, Lakura Dusk has been shaking the competition with his outstanding gameplay, heavily focused and rough gameplay, the casters noticed that he could take down Lukra, and Lukra has been watching all his games and noticed that Lakura's game style has changed from their last random match on the ladder. Naruna Light was also watching the game and became shocked at Night Clan's best player beating every other clan member that he has faced and she was already done with her matches and waiting on who to face in the round of 8, for she barely got through that and seeing that Lakura Dusk got placed in the "Death Group" of the tournament it is to say that great games came out of this.
"I can't believe this," one of the casters were saying while the game is going on
"Dusk has made it to the highest tiers of the game," another one said.
And in the casters in unison said this, "Tractainian Nuclear missiles this is impossible, no one in this game has gotten to that stage of the game."
Lukra said under his breath, "Until now, the Allstar clan can't wait for this and Dusk has gotten better since I last faced him."
As the game progressed, the other player couldn't take much more of his army getting destroyed by this passive aggression, no matter if he had Warlocks, Flying Human detector ship which is the better version of the Warlord, it didn't matter. The player tabbed out with this: "good game Dusk and good luck" and the crowd goes wild and everypony watching the stream became in shock that the Brick wall, Salize has been broken to the point that game was already lost in his grip. Salize and Dusk shook hooves and the interview with Princess Celestia.
"Dusk, what are your prime thoughts of that last match?" Celestia asked.
"Well, it was a lot of aggression from him at the start, but when his aggression stopped and his defense was being built I did a lot of risk plays that some would say impossible," Lakura answered.
"And the Tractainian Nukes?" Celestia asked while Luna is looking at the casters which made them double think about Dusk.
"It was just for show, so much money and couldn't do much about his siege line so why not nuke it to force him to make units that he doesn't feel like making," Lakura answered.
"There you have it everypony, Night Clan's best player Dusk," Celestia said and the crowd went wild as Lakura went off the stage to get a breather for the round of 8.
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Day 2 of the Tournament and the last 8 players were practicing for the upcoming matches because the round of 8, round of 4, and the last 2 players will be playing today to face Allstar clan's players tomorrow for the title, even though they made it to the finals, the crowd and everypony that has supported them to take on the true players of the game and the Developer himself, Lukra. Lakura was the last one to get a last minute practice in and that clever build he did in the last match changed the way the players thought of the game is played and they knew that Lakura knows that build and will hard counter it if anypony is using that build. Naruna was finishing up her practice game before the round of 8 started, which made her think on who she was gonna be facing, not knowing who her opponent was going to be.
As the crowd returned for day 2 of the tournament every player were already on the stage, and waiting for the brackets to be drawn on who is facing who. The casters were having their usual pre-game show, giving their points of views and coverage on what happened yesterday of the games and giving their predictions on who is going to win. As the casters finished their pre-game show, all attention was on the big screen where the players would be facing and the drawing commenced, which the crowd, the ponies watching the show live from their homes, the casters, and the players were waiting for the first drawn player. The first player to be drawn was Naruna Light, which she got nervous immediately, and her opponent was, Lakura Dusk. When Lakura Dusk was drawn everypony went into a state of shock because these 2 are clan members however, Naruna has never gotten a chance to face Lakura at all, and is kinda worried if she made a fool of herself. Lakura became stunned in this, not only that he would be facing the pony he met on the train, he wasn't going to like this and basically he has to keep calm and do his best because, he hasn't seen Naruna Light's full potential in the game of Zooiecraft III. The drawing ended after the other 6 players were drawn, and the other 6 cleared the stage so the map vote can begin. As the casters begin to talk about the famous mirror match up in Zooiecraft III: Legends of War Zooie vs Zooie.
"So what are your thoughts on this famous match up?" Luna asked as the maps were being vetoed before the game started.
"Hard to say, its a crazy match up it shows what the Zooie race can do in its prime match up which it is Zooie vs Zooie," one of the caster answered.
"I think that nuke stuff isn't gonna be pulled off because of the powerful detection the Zooie race has, its too risky to use that strategy. Even though Lukra just dominates this match up to death with his insane mech play or full on air assualt that turns into a base race when high tier units enter the field," the other caster said.
Luna rolled her eyes as the casters kept putting their opinion in this match up with knowing that the maps have been vetoed and Lakura Dusk and Naruna Light have taken their seats in their booths and the game has started in this best of 3 series. As game 1 started, Dusk opens up with a Zooie Academy into Mech facility and pushes out and sieges up Light's base, which game 1 goes to Dusk. Game 2 began with a strategic opening by Light which was 1 Zooie Academy into Dark Core, and non stop harassing on Dusk which didn't have the reaction time with this, thus tying the game up to 1-1 on each player. As the crowd grew more louder, many viewers, and players were stunned on how deadly the Zooie vs Zooie match up is and can be, but when the map that says "Lost Sanctum of the Universe" in its name knowing that this map was made for intense games which makes it a non-veto map, because of its popularity. Game 3 between Lakura and Naruna was nonstop aggression from both players, opening Dark Zooies, Robo-tank v2.0, and many more which both players stabalized after their aggression which turned into why the Zooie vs Zooie match up came to be known as, the ultimate tank war, Recognators, Reconsiliators, several Z-wings, for air control, Cerus, Zooie Detector ships, and mechs to give a lot of fire damage takers. As the game progressed, the crowd, casters, and the viewers from all around Equestria watched as Dusk built an army with only few of his ground control units that he has had out on the field to think that Light would catch on and bringing game to his victory when he built "Platinum Star" and started a full scale attack and with not much anti-air, Naruna can't believe she lost in game 3 knowing she made it this far and she has a lot more to learn so she tabs out with this "good game Dusk, Good Luck, and beat them all." And the crowd goes wild yet again as this new rising player continues to stomp all those that get in his way but, he gives Naruna more respect than any other player he has met. Lakura decided not to have an interview until the true finals with Lukra, to him it seemed fair enough, Lukra gives a nod that he wanted to face Lakura alone, and the crowd goes wild and many fans of Lakura are suprised to see this from this pegasus.
Lakura finds Naruna sitting at a table watching the stream while the other 6 players battle it out for the other 3 places, he sits at the table across from her, orders some food, and notices that she feeling down. Lakura goes around the table to sit with her and try to cheer her up, which it got her to to feel a bit better. Naruna is still feeling down on her feelings though, she felt a bit better on the outside, but she did give Lakura a game that would make it great. As the two pegasus ate the food Lakura ordered, Luna watches in the distant seeing some "friendly bonding" time, she would just walk over there and interrupt but, seeing that Lakura hasn't been around a mare his age would feel great on him, and give him some company. Luna leaves the 2 pegasus to eat while the games are going on and goes to Celestia to find out on where Naruna lives, which so happens that Naruna lives in Ponyville but, not near the town's library. Luna slipped the address of Lakura's home in the bag of Naruna just in case she wanted to visit Lakura.
As the 2 pegasus finished eating, Lakura gave a smile at Naruna and headed back to the tournament hall where he would be playing up next, so Naruna stayed and played Zooiecraft III to get better at the game so she can keep up with the other players, just because she lost doesn't mean she can stop playing the game she loves to play. As the Round of 4 started, the crowd goes more louder when Lakura enters the stage, which suprised everypony and the Allstar Clan to think that a pegasus could get this much attention. Lakura Dusk played the games he went up against so well, bringing new strategies to the table of what is going to happen in the game of Zooiecraft III which happens more then ever, and he needed to win this Regional Tournament. As the Round of 8 ended, 4 players were defeated and only 4 remained, which the games of the final four dragged until there were only 2 left. Lakura made it to the finals and faced another pegasus, but this time with a different build in a Zooie vs Human match up of the game.
As the Final game of the day continued, Lakura and his opponent, Zanari, were tied 3-3 out of a best of 7, and the crowd went wild as the casters saw that both players were running out of steam, because of the ridiculous plays from both players. Zanari was losing more bases than his opponent due to the fact in the game that the Zooie race can rebuild with absolute ease with magnetizing, and the human race of Zooiecraft takes longer to rebuild making big mistakes can cost the game, which it did and Zanari lost to Lakura. As Zanari tabbed out, "I can't believe I lost to you Dusk, good game and good luck against the Allstar clan" the crowd goes wild and every viewer saw that Lakura Dusk has gotten to the Finals of the tournament. Lakura stepped out of the booth he was in when the series started, exhausted from those 7 games, he left the stage before the interviews could begin. As soon as Lakura entered his room he fell onto his bed and fell asleep as the after game of the tournament started and everypony left the grand hall of the castle for tomorrow will be the games against Allstar Clan's players, top of the game that no one or pony has beaten.
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The final day of the tournament, Lukra was already up and was talking to Celestia about when he wanted to host the next tournament. Celestia wasn't too much on the game, however she supported her sister in every way she could to make her sister feel happy. Around this time, another pre-game was occuring and several rebroadcasting over the course of the past 2 days of this tournament that happened. Lakura, now well rested, went to the dining hall and started to enjoy his breakfast for he needed the focus and strength for the games about to come. Naruna Light, was still in bed, stayed up all night watching countless replays and game dailies from Lakura's analysis videos that he made, which turned in a big profit over time. More ponies were arriving and taking their seats, whether they loved the game or not, a tournament finals were always something to be looking forward too, and 2 mysterious pegasus were already in the crowd when they heard the fame of Night Clan's deadly player, Dusk. For these 2 pegasus were Lakura's parents, they resolved their grudges after 10 years and are back together again, which they felt bad when they made their son have a rough young life. As the casters took to the stage, Luna was already in a pissed off mood with her cup of coffee and a coffee mixer, just to keep her awake, put a sign up by her to note that she will probally fall asleep during these matches, but not fully she wants to hear it all.
Stage flares started, the crowd goes wild, millions of ponies watching the tournament around Equestria can't wait for the ending of this tournament, Lukra steps out with a mic in his hand and in a loud voice it went something like this....
"MARES AND STALLIONS, FILLIES AND COLTS, AND ALL THE OTHERS IN BETWEEN. IT IS TIME FOR THE GRAND FINALS OF NIGHT CLAN'S BEST PLAYER, DUSK VERSUS MYSELF....ALLSTAR CLAN LEADER, LUKRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lukra shouted as the crowd goes wild which it pierced the sound barrier of the stream and almost making everypony deaf. Lakura steps out on the stage and shakes all the players of Allstar with his hoof respectfully to ensure that he has made it there to earn the right to face them all. After that Lakura looked at the screen and noticed something was strange on the board seeing that he is going to face Lukra, which he turned his head to Lukra, and this is what Lukra said, "It appears the young stallion is confused, for if he was going to face my clan he would beat them all. I wanted a challange, and I will have one." Lakura saw the crowd going wild after hearing those words and looked back at Lukra, as he walked up to the mic said this, "Then I will give you a challenge." The crowd went more wild then ever in the tournament as Lakura and Lukra shook and the final match began.
Both Lakura and Lukra opened fiercely in the Zooie vs Zooie match, doing a lot of harassment and leading into late game scenarios that ended in victory or just total chaos. The casters, the crowd, and the viewers of the tournament kept watching as all 5 games, yes its a best of 5 due to how long this match up can drag if it was a best of 7, noticing both Lakura and Lukra were doing the same opening every game which made them think why these 2 players were doing the same opening. In Zooiecraft III, it is heavy focus on the Meta gaming which can make the players think on what the other player might do. As the match number 5 on the map "Lost Sanctum of the Universe" thats where the real right begins. As the casters looked at the score, the series began to tie up to 2-2 on both players knowing that this map will become the deadly battleground of the game. Lakura and Lukra open up with heavy aggressive again this time, Lakura does the safe thing of expanding to keep the aggression on, Lukra doesn't pick up on what Lakura is doing but he continues with his aggression. When Lukra's army pushes into Lakrua's army, Lukra made a small mistake that costed him the game which Lukra knew he wouldn't come back from this so he tabbed out with this, "congrats Dusk it appears I have a lot to learn from your play style than any other player I have met in this game, I wish you best of luck, however it won't be the same on the 1v1 ladder than it is on tournaments, you knew I went easy on you so enjoy your victory, you earned it, good game." After those words were typed the crowd and the casters go wild that Lakura has become the champion of the Equestrian Gaming Tournament, which Luna is woken up by this to smile, that her clan beat their leader and she walked down to the stage and opened up the booth Lakura was in. Lakura had both hooves on his face with tears of joy that he had won his first major tournament, which he came out to claim the trophy and followed by an interview, which Lakura left with these words, "if you think that the best player of Zooiecraft can't be beaten, well that is how you decide on the moves you make and the actions that follow which may lead to intense games."
As Lakura got his things together, for he had work to do in 2 days for when he gets back to Ponyville he is going to be getting some rest while watching all the replays of the games and giving tremendous thoughts about the games. Naruna went to find Lakura, which she had no luck, so she decided to catch the next train back to Ponyville. Unfortunately Naruna was on the next train for Lakura had taken the first train when the ponies were trying to ask him questions and such, but Naruna looked in her bag to see a slip of paper showing where Lakura lived so she decided to pay him a visit when she got back to Ponyville. As the first train pulled into Ponyville from Canterlot, Lakura headed home, while being swarmed by the young ones as they constaly followed him to his home, which Lakura kept listening that he needed a break from this for just 1 day before he gets swarmed again for he knew that school is gonna start again for these young ponies and he knew the the school board are gonna call him in to help teach again. As Lakura got home, he smiled at the young ponies as they ran off to go enjoy their day, Lakura closed the door and fell asleep on the couch in his living room. As Naruna arrived in the Ponyville station, she returned to her home, but to her dismay her home was already gone due to her parents leaving when she left for the tournament to follow her dream and her parents won't be around a gamer pony that doesn't meet their expectations which she looked at the slip of paper and headed to where Lakura lived, hoping he would let her stay in the same house with him......