As soon as the tourney ground had opened up, ponies started flocking to the gateway, and it took Ruby and the others a while before they could pass through it. When they finally entered the fenced-in area and started walking between the brightly colored tents that dotted the large field where the tourney was taking place, Rainbow Dash took to the air, an excited grin on her face. "All right! Let's get this started." Then she reached down to put a leg around Fluttershy's shoulders, and pulled her up until the other pegasus had to stand on her hind legs. "Shame that we're not in it this time around. I bet the two of us would blow the competition away like nothing." She looked at her friend and then gave her a light pat on the head. "Well, I would anyway."
Ruby frowned. "Actually, I don't think you..."
"You know what?" Rainbow Dash interrupted her. "I should totally join the joust. I mean, now that I am here, it would just be mean to not let those ponies witness my awesomeness. What do you guys think."
The frown on Ruby's face quickly deepened into a full-on scowl. "I think that is a horrible idea."
All heads turned towards her, and Ruby flinched as the realization of what she just said hit her. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed, and it wasn't hard to pick up on the challenging undertone in her voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Twilight reacted faster than Ruby would have thought possible. Before any more rash words could tumble out of Ruby's mouth, Twilight stepped in and calmly said, "It's not supposed to mean anything Rainbow. It's just that when you and Fluttershy took over the joust, you did it for the first time. And you did a great job, but the ponies who are competing now have far more practice and experience. It just wouldn't be fair."
Rainbow Dash crossed her front legs before her chest and pouted. "Yeah, not fair to them. I'm sure I could pick up the basics easily enough."
"Maybe you should watch a couple of bouts before you make a decision." Emerald offered. "I was there and watched the performance you two put on.” She pointed at Ruby. “Both of us did, and we definitely had a lot of fun. But this time around, things work a bit differently from what you are used to."
Rainbow Dash let out a dissatisfied snort, but then shrugged. "Fine. I'll take a look." Then she glanced at a soldier that was walking past them and said, "I don't get why this is such a big deal anyway. We don't have competitions to see which guardspony is best at poking stuff with a spear."
Ruby could not completely hide the annoyance in her voice when she replied, "These tourneys aren't for guards or soldiers. Only knights have the necessary training and equipment to compete."
Rainbow scratched her head. "So they don't even get to play? That seems a bit unfair. So who was the first guy to say 'Okay everypony, this is how this goes: Knights over here, soldiers over there. Knights get all the cool armor and can hold regular competitions to see who is the most awesome. Soldiers get nothing'?"
"It's not like that, Rainbow," Ruby said. "Knighthood isn't something that just happens to you. I wasn't born a knight. Neither was Emerald. My parents weren't nobles, and even if they were, it wouldn't matter. I used to be a soldier before I received my accolade, and while a knighthood has many privileges, it is something you have to earn. You aren't just arbitrarily chosen for it."
"Oh," Rainbow Dash said, and she looked a lot more interested all of a sudden. "That sounds pretty cool, actually. It’s kind of like being a Wonderbolt!"
Ruby thought back to the short time she spent in Equestria since the Empire's return, but the term 'Wonderbolt' didn't ring any bells. “Maybe? I'm afraid I don't know what that is.”
Rainbow looked at Ruby as if she had just declared her ignorance of the existence of the sun. “What?!”
“They are kind of a big deal over there Ruby,” Emerald said in a tone of voice that wasn't quite as disbelieving, but still somewhat reproving. “They even compete in the Equestria Games.”
“It mystifies me that you would think that means anything to me,” Ruby said. Addressing the still baffled Rainbow, she continued, "Now, if you're actually interested in how the knightly tradition originally started, there is a legend about that. Many centuries ago, the crystal ponies had no Empire or even their own nation. Instead, they lived divided in small communities and clans, leading a harsh and unforgiving life..."
"Is there an abridged version?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Ruby glared at her. "Many moons ago. Our first queen, Grātia the Protector, fell in love and married a member of our tribe. She created the Crystal Heart, to make sure that the tribe of the one she loved would always be protected, and have a safe place to call its home. But because she sacrificed a lot of her own power to create the Heart, she named twenty warriors as her champions, who were sworn to not only protect the Heart, but every member of the tribe. Those were the first knights of the Empire. Except the Empire didn't exists at that point, but they were in spirit."
“I see,” Rainbow Dash said. "So, do you belief that's what actually happened?"
"Well, it's not like I was there," was Ruby's rather flippant answer. "But yes, I think that's what happened."
"I actually read some interesting things about that legend before we came here." When Ruby turned her head to face the speaker, she looked right at an eagerly grinning Twilight.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Of course you did." Then she let out a resigned sigh. "All right, go on."
"With pleasure," Twilight replied, apparently not the least bit upset by her friend's less than enthusiastic tone. "There are several independent contemporary sources that confirm this legend, so it's fairly likely that it happened the way Ruby said. But I believe the tradition of knighthood among the crystal pony tribe goes back even further than that. You see, crystal pony clans never had a lot of professional warriors. Life in the Frozen Plains was always hard, especially before the magic of the Crystal Heart made the area around the Crystal City reasonably temperate and arable, and crystal ponies don't have the same aptitude for agriculture as earth ponies do. As a result, significantly more ponies had to work a lot harder just to keep their communities fed.”
Rainbow Dash frowned and scratched her head. “Uh-huh. So, did I miss the part where this has anything to do with why they always had a smaller military?”
“It has everything to do with that Rainbow,” said Twilight. “You can't train ponies to be soldiers when they have to tend their fields for most of the year. That's why back in the day, before the crystal ponies united to form the Empire, leaders and chieftains usually only had a retinue of about five or six warriors who had no duties besides protecting the community and honing their combat skills. It seems the name for those ponies was horsecarls. They weren't knights in the modern sense of the word, but from what I've read, they had a lot of the same duties, as well as a very similar code of honor.”
Ruby had listened very attentively to Twilight's elaboration. “I have to admit, I can't say I heard of this before.”
Twilight shrugged. “That's not really surprising. It's ancient history, and I mean makes-the-royal-sisters-look-like-spring chickens ancient. When you go that far back, myth and fact start to blend together, until you can barely distinguish them any longer. Still, I think it's interesting to look at the things we have now, and try to figure out how we ended up with them.”
As they talked, they slowly traversed the maze of tents, stalls, and little stages where bards and puppeteers plied their trade, until they finally stepped into a large, open field with the jousting track and spectator seats at its center. The groundskeepers had evidently taken great care to prepare everything for today's competition; the tilt barrier that separated the competitors’ tracks was still glistening wet with fresh red paint, and the sand of the tracks was perfectly even and unmarred, aside from the rake marks where holes and mounds left by yesterday's competition had been smoothed out. The spectators who had already assembled were seated on the wooden benches of the bleachers that surrounded the jousting field, and their excited voices filled the air and blended together into a buzzing flurry of calls and murmurs.
Compared to the other grandstands on the field, the royals stands were smaller, but also brightly painted and roofed by a canopy of colorful silk. They stood at the center of the tourney track, where the competing knights were most likely to break their lances against each other, so the occupants were guaranteed to have an very good view.
Ruby and the others approached the stands from behind, and Emerald walked up next to the steps leading up to the seating area. "After you," she said, while gesturing towards Twilight and the others to go ahead.
“Why, thank you, Emerald,” Twilight said, and she and her friends quickly moved up the wooden stairs. Ruby and Emerald followed close behind them.
There were twenty-four large, cushioned seats to choose from, twelve placed on either side of the currently vacant thrones that were reserved for the prince and princess. However, Ruby quickly noticed that one of the seats was already occupied and flanked by two Imperial knights. The mare sitting in it was currently watching the group of newcomers with obvious interest. She had the looks of a pony just entering her golden years; wrinkles and deep laugh lines were visible on her face, and while her aquamarine coat was no less bright and radiant than that of any younger crystal pony, her light blue mane was beginning to show streaks of silver-gray. She was wearing a richly embroidered robe made from purple velvet, and her mane and tail were fashioned into several dozen thin braids, which had gems and delicate wires of gold and silver woven into them. A simple diadem, made from a hair-thin silver chain and a small, drop-shaped diamond rested on her head.
Ruby and Emerald bowed their heads as soon as they saw her. “Forgive the sudden intrusion, my lady. We would have announced ourselves, but we didn't know that you were here,” Ruby said.
“No trouble at all, Dame Ruby Chip,” the elderly mare said. “In fact, I was hoping to run into our guests at some point, so I would say we can consider this chance meeting to be a lucky coincidence.” She hopped down from her seat and walked up to Twilight with quick, graceful steps, the hem of her robe brushing over the wooden boards with a soft whisper. After a few moments of silence, the mare began to frown, and then turned her head to look at one of her guards. “This is supposedly the point where you announce me, young man,” she said in a tone of voice that was halfway between mild annoyance and subdued amusement.
The addressed stallion flinched and blushed. “Of course, my lady. Begging your forgiveness,” he said hastily. Then his posture became ramrod straight, and his voice loud and official, “The Grand Duchess Mirror Shine; Head of the High Council of Nobles, High Lady of Diamondspire; Stewart of the Western Imperial Provinces.”
“There,” Mirror Shine said with a small smile. “That wasn't so hard, now was it?” Then she turned back to Twilight and bowed briefly. “Apologies, your Highness. Most of our knights earned their title fairly recently on the battlefield, and few of them ever received an education as pages or squires. Their valor and devotion are beyond question, to be sure, but certain social graces and some of the finer points of courtly protocol continue to elude them. I hope that you will not hold that against them.” She glanced at Ruby and Emerald with a smirk. “Especially considering your escort.”
“Of course not, my lady. I don't mind,” Twilight assured her.
“Very gracious of you,” Mirror Shine said. “Now, let me tell you that it is a great pleasure to finally get an opportunity to greet you as honored guests of the Empire, Princess Twilight Sparkle. You and your companions are most welcome here.”
“That's very kind of you, Grand Duchess,” Twilight said, following up her words with a slight inclination of her head. “And it is a pleasure to meet you as well. Cadance speaks very highly of you, it is a shame that we never had an opportunity to get introduced.”
Mirror Shine nodded. “Agreed, but I fear that is mostly outside of my control, since my duties keep me away from the capital more often than not.” She had made her way past Twilight at this point, and exchanged a few quick words of greeting with their other guests. When the turn came to Spike, she paused briefly, before gifting the little dragon with a warm smile. “My, that I would live to see the day where I can welcome a dragon as a hero and a friend of the Empire. The last time I conversed with one of your kind, I barely managed to get away with all my limbs.”
“Oh,” Spike said and scratched his head a little awkwardly. “Yeah, I guess dragons and ponies getting along is kinda rare. But I wouldn't do anything like that.”
Mirror Shine laughed, and gently stoked the scaly comb on the little dragon's head. “No, I don't believe you would. You seem like a perfectly gallant little gentleman. But we should take a seat. I can assure you, the cushions are a lot more comfortable than the floorboards.”
While Mirror Shine walked back to her seat and the Equestrians picked out chairs for themselves as well, Rarity addressed the Grand Duchess, “Excuse me, my lady? It doesn't surprise me that Twilight knows of you, she is very well connected here after all, but I'm afraid you have the rest of us at a disadvantage. I for one am not overly familiar with the Imperial nobility.”
“Oh, that's quite all right, my lady Rarity,” Mirror Shine said. “You see, dukes and duchesses are essentially stewards of the Imperial provinces, so my duties are mostly administrative. The title of Grand Duchess” – she paused, and although her expression remained perfectly composed, Ruby knew that it pained her to speak of it – “well, I'm afraid that one rings rather hollow these days. The stewards of our provinces would normally form the High Council of Nobles, and their duty would be to advise and assist the rulers of the Empire. Technically, I am the head of the Council at present, but leading an assembly that consists of only one mare is an empty honor, and it severely limits the amount of advise and support the council is able to offer.”
Rarity seemed confused at that. “Why aren't there more members on the council then?”
For a couple of seconds, Mirror Shine just stared straight ahead, but Ruby could tell that she wasn't actually looking at anything in that direction. “Not many of the Imperial high nobility are left,” Mirror Shine finally said. “Sombra did not want anyone within the Empire to be able to challenge or question his rule, and taking away our memories was apparently not sufficient for him to ensure that.”
Twilight's ears drooped slightly. “Yes, I heard... about how... I am very sorry, my lady,” she said quietly.
Mirror Shine glanced at Twilight, and when she saw the younger mare's sympathetic look, she gave her a friendly smile. “That is very kind of you to say, your Highness. Me and many other members of the council did not always see eye to eye, but none of them deserved such a fate.”
“How was your family spared?” Twilight asked.
Mirror Shine sighed. “The sad truth is that the tools Sombra used to hunt us down were of our own making. Because we were so terribly proud of your lineage, every noble house kept detailed records of their family tree. We wrote down every remote relative and every single connection to the royal bloodline, no matter how distant, old or unimportant. Copies of those records were kept within the palace, and when Sombra got a hold of them, well, it told him everything he needed to know. As for what saved my family, it was a fire, of all things. During the fighting in the palace, a portion of the royal archives was consumed by flames, and our records were among the documents that were destroyed.” She shook her head, as if to clear away the gloomy thoughts. “It will take the Imperial nobility decades to recover. But the important thing is that, thanks to Princess Cadance and all of you, we at least have the opportunity. All things considered, we are already much better off than we were just a few years ago.”
“How fares Diamondspire these days, my lady?” Emerald asked. "I hear your efforts to rebuild are finally starting to yield results."
“My efforts?" Mirror Shine asked with a raised eyebrow. "Emerald, you know ponies in my position don't do any actual work. We just point, nag and shout a lot, and then take credit for the work of others once they are done putting things in order. But it is true, the town is beginning to look quite lively again. The castle is still mostly a ruin, and seeing it like that isn't pleasant for me, but rebuilding roads and granaries takes priority over refurnishing my bedroom.” She chuckled quietly. “I still complain about it endlessly, of course. Such is the privilege of nobility. Apart from that, there are many things I am quite happy with. We should finally have a proper harvest this season, and our mines are creating enough of a surplus to trade for whatever we might still lack. Ruby, Emerald, you two should visit sometime when you can manage it. Who knows, I might even allow you to bring Malachite along.”
“Sounds lovely,” Emerald said. “I think Malachite would like the idea too.”
Mirror Shine laughed. “Oh, come now. We both know that is a lie.”
The sound of trumpets put a stop to their conversation, and drew the attention of the ponies and dragon in the royal stands towards the tourney field. A young crystal pony stallion was currently making his way to the center of the tracks. He was wearing a tunic made from blue silk with ornamental silver stitching around the hem, and a hat of the same color and material that had a slim red feather attached to it. He carried a scroll between his teeth, and a flugelhorn hung from a strap around his neck. Once he stood where everypony in the crowd could see him, he removed the scroll from his mouth, put the instrument to his lips, and played a quick sequence to ensure that he really had everyone's attention.
“Hear ye, hear ye,” he then called, while making a big show of holding up the scroll and letting it unroll. “Citizens of the Empire, honored guests from near and far. In the name of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor, let it be known that the second day of the Grand Crystal Fair Tourney has begun. The finest knights in service of our beloved nation have assembled here, so that they may test their mettle in honorable combat, and let you marvel at their skill and valor.” He paused, and the crowd began to cheer and stop their hooves, while more than a dozen trumpets played a short, but thunderous fanfare. “Let it furthermore be known that on this most joyous occasion, esteemed guests to which the Empire and its citizens owe a debt of gratitude are gracing us with their presence. And so it is with great joy that I welcome her Royal Highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, lady Fluttershy, lady Rainbow Dash, lady Pinky Pie, lady Rarity, lady Applejack, and Spike the Great and Glorious, heroes and treasured friends of the Empire.”
Ruby watched their guests as their names were called out, and their reactions were surprisingly diverse. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie simply smiled and waved at the cheering crowd, albeit with different degrees of decorum and enthusiasm. Fluttershy didn’t seem to be entirely comfortable with the attention, but she managed to at least gift the crowd with a nervous grin and a quick wave of her hoof. As if she was trying to make up for her friend's timidness, Rainbow Dash catapulted herself into the air with a powerful stroke of her wings as soon as she heard her name, and spent the next several seconds striking poses and triumphantly shaking her interlocked front hooves over her head. Spike was almost as enthusiastic as her, but since he lacked wings, he could only jump on the wooden balustrade to make sure he was visible to everyone. Still, seeing with how much gusto he kept waving both his arms around, Ruby wasn't sure if he might not take to the air anyway.
“May our brave competitors earn their favor, and may the pony most deserving win a glorious victory this day,” the herald continued.
Twilight and her friends had each chosen one of the comfortable seats, but Ruby and Emerald had simply sat down on the wooden floorboards just behind the princess. When Twilight noticed that they made no move to pick a chair for themselves, she gave them a slightly confused look. “Aren't you going to sit down?”
Ruby and Emerald exchanged a brief look that betrayed some degree of uncertainty. “Well, you and your friends visiting a tourney is actually a pretty big deal, Twilight,” Emerald said. “Normally, members of the Lance are allowed a seat in the royal stands, but as your escort, we're supposed to hang back a little, you know?”
“I see,” Twilight said and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “So, what if I made and official request for you to sit down properly, so we don't have to turn our heads every time one of us wants to talk to you?”
“Oh, I guess if you did, we could hardly say no. That'd be rude,” Emerald answered with a broad grin. “Right, Ruby?”
“I suppose so,” Ruby said with a quick, uncertain sidewards glance towards Mirror Shine.
The Duchess noticed Ruby's look, and immediately picked up on the thoughts behind it. “No need to stare at me like I might take offense at it, Ruby. Our guest made a request, and I would say it's only proper to comply with her wishes,” she said with a smirk.
That settled it, and while Ruby and Emerald stood up to choose a seat at the side of their honored guests, the duchess turned her head to address her guards. “I suppose if we are doing this, the two of you might as well sit down also. Plenty of chairs left, after all.”
The two stallions looked at each other. “If... it pleases you, my lady,” one of them answered carefully.
“That's what I just said, wasn't it?” Mirror Shine scolded. “And stop stammering like I might bite your head off any second, boy. What are our guest going to think of me if my own guard treats me like some viscous, fickle old dobbin?”
The stallion ducked his head until Ruby thought he might try to retreat into his armor like a tortoise. “Forgiveness, my lady. I never meant...”
Mirror Shine silenced him with nothing but a small hoofgesture. “Don't dig yourself any deeper, child. Just take a seat and enjoy the spectacle.”
Both of her guards nodded eagerly. “Of course, my lady. At once, my lady.” Then they swiftly walked away, and Ruby noticed that the seats they picked were quite far down the row of empty chairs.
“Why do you have to hassle the poor guys like that, my lady?” Emerald said with a chuckle.
“Ah, I can't help it," Mirror Shine said. "They get flustered so easily, and I find it rather charming. I guess I just want to make the most of it, before being in my service makes them so jaded my teasing no longer draws any reaction from them.”
While all of this was going on, an Imperial soldier unveiled the competitors board. It was a large, wooden frame, with twenty ornamented kite shields hanging on it in four horizontal rows. Each shield depicted the cutie mark of a competing knight, and Ruby studied them with interest.
“Wait, you're still in the listing today, Emerald?” she asked when she noticed a shield with the image of three blue down feathers. She knew that Emerald had been supposed to compete today, but seeing how they had other duties, Ruby had assumed her friend's place in the list had been taken by somepony else.
“I asked Malachite if it would be a problem,” Emerald said. “He told me it's all right, if our guests are fine with it.” She looked at Twilight. “Can you stand being left up here with Ruby for a spell when my turn comes?”
Twilight chuckled. “I think we can manage. Go ahead and compete, it's fine.”
The herald had retreated to the edge of the tourney track by now, and took a seat on a small wooden pedestal that gave him a good view of the field. “The lot has decided that our first competitor for the day is Sir Frost Grape the Unyielding, esteemed member of the Order of the Crystal Lance.”
Frost Grape came galloping onto the sand, and the tumultuous jubilation of the crowd almost drowned out the sound of trumpets that announced the knight's arrival. Frost Grape was wearing the typical heavy tourney harness with a very noticeably oversized left pauldron, and had a blue and white striped lance already fastened to his right side. He stopped in front of the royal stands to lower his lance in greeting to the Empire's guests and the Grand Duchess, before starting to leisurely canter around the field in a wide circle while waving at the crowd.
Rainbow Dash seemed a little confused by the knight's attire. “What's he wearing? That looks... really heavy.”
“Boy, is it ever,” said Emerald. “It's a tourney harness Rainbow. It's a lot more clunky than our regular armor, but since we don’t have to get anywhere in a hurry, that's not such a huge issue here, and it offers a lot more protection.”
“I guess.” Rainbow Dash gave Frost Grape an uncertain look. “But me and Fluttershy weren't wearing that. I think you guys might be doing this wrong.”
Emerald and Ruby glanced at each other.
“Yeah...” Emerald said.
Ruby cleared her throat. “You did a fine job back then, considering that you never saw an actual joust before.”
Emerald nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. And we had a great time watching it, even though you might have gotten a few minor details wrong.”
“The important thing is that nopony got seriously injured,” Ruby concluded, not noticing the disapproving glare Emerald shot her.
Fluttershy's ears dropped, and her eyes went wide. “I... injured?”
Ruby shrugged, still unaware that Emerald's eyes were trying to burn a hole through the back of her head. “Well, I'm just saying. With that light armor and your wings exposed like that, I guess you're both lucky you got away without a few cracked ribs or even a mangled wing. Also, I'm pretty sure you two were using war lances with a blunt tip, not proper tourney lances, and that's just a recipe for disaster.”
Rainbow Dash's wings unfurled, and she let out an agitated snort. “Hey! That's nonsense! I would never have involved Fluttershy if it were that dangerous. I saw pictures, we had a book and everything. I was totally doing everything by the book!”
“Literally,” Pinkie Pie threw in, seemingly oblivious to how heated the verbal exchange had become.
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Huh...? Wait, yeah! I was literally doing it by the book. Thanks, Pinkie.”
"Well, it still wasn't right," Ruby persisted. "I would have to see the book, but maybe the artist took some liberties, or it was showing squires during jousting practice. They usually wear lighter armor while they are still learning to aim their lances properly, and don’t put as much energy into their cha- hey!” Ruby flinched, and it was now her turn to stare angrily at Emerald, who had forgone subtlety and decided to just sharply poke the back of Ruby's head.
"Alright, Ruby. We are all very impressed that you know more about jousting than the ponies who did it once in their lives with no prior knowledge of how it works. You can stop rubbing it in now," Emerald whispered.
Rainbow Dash crossed her legs in front of her chest and stared at the ground with a sulky expression on her face. “Well, that's hardly my fault then if the stupid book got it wrong.”
“Calm down Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “Let's not get into an argument over this. You and Fluttershy did a good job, and everything worked out fine. Nopony can expect you to get every last detail right when doing something like this on such short notice.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Rainbow Dash mumbled.
“So, what exactly are the rules here?” Applejack asked, her tone so intently cheerful and curious that it was obvious she was trying to change the subject.
Emerald jumped at the opportunity. “The contenders tap their lance against the shield with the coat of arms of the knight they want to challenge. Then they face each other in three bouts to compete for points. Hitting your opponent's left pauldron is worth one point, hitting it hard enough to break your lance is worth two, and throwing your opponent to the ground gets you three. That's pretty much the gist of it.”
“Alright.” Applejack said. “Sounds straightforward enough.”
Frost Grape was standing in front of the competitors board now, and the crowd fell silent as every pony on the stands watched him expectantly, eager to learn whom the knight would chose as his first opponent. The stillness was once again replaced by frantic cheers as soon as the tip of Frost Grape's lance had touched the surface of a shield that was hanging in the upper right corner and depicted the image of a sundered length of chain.
“Sir Frost Grape the Unyielding challenges Dame Silver Mist,” the herald called when the crowd's excitement had died down.
Emerald pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “That should be interesting. Silver Mist is a fairly young knight, and she hasn't been in a lot of tourneys so far. But her technique is amazing.”
“She's good,” Ruby agreed. “But I doubt it will be enough. Frost Grape has about thirty pounds of muscle on her. She would have to land a heavy hit to even make him flinch. I say she makes it to the second bout at the most.”
At that moment, Silver Mist entered the field, welcomed by a blast of trumpets and the excited shouts of the crowd. Like Frost Grape had done, she stopped in front of the royal stand to greet the ponies and dragon sitting there with a dip of her lance, before galloping to the end of the track opposite to her waiting challenger.
Mirror Shine watched the young knight attentively. “I must admit, I did not have the pleasure of seeing Dame Silver Mist compete before today. But Sir Frost Grape is a formidable opponent by anypony's standards.”
The herald produced a small flag of red silk from behind his podium, and the ponies in the stands fell silent. Silver Mist and Frost Grape stood with lowered heads, their hooves eagerly pawing at the ground, and their tails whipping back and forth. Clasping the handle between his teeth, the herald raised the flag and let it linger high in the air for a couple of tense seconds, before bringing it down with a swift motion of his head.
Immediately, both knights dashed forward like arrows loosened from a bowstring. Each pounding step of their armored hooves kicked up small clouds of sand behind them while they flew across the tourney ground, their heads lowered, and the blunt, gleaming tips of their lances aimed at the flat surface of their opponent's pauldron.
“Oh my.” Rarity's voice was slightly shrill and shaky with excitement. “Isn't this just marvelou...”
Before she could finish, the two knights had closed the distance between each other, and both lances found their mark. The wooden shafts barely had time to bend, before they had to surrender to the tremendous force of impact and exploded into splinters. For a moment, the clangor of metal banging against metal and the cracking of splintering wood drowned out all other sounds, including the frantic cheering that had erupted from amidst the crowd as soon as the lances made contact. Frost Grape never broke his stride and galloped forward almost as if nothing had happened, but Silver Mist stumbled and swayed dangerously far to the left. Struggling against both the power of Frost Grape's strike and the energy of her own momentum, she desperately attempted to keep her hooves underneath her body, but there simply wasn't enough room for her to regain her balance before she crashed into the barrier that confined the tourney field. For the second time within the span of a few heartbeats, the dry snapping of breaking wood could be heard, and Silver Mist, having ultimately lost her fight against gravity, hit the ground with so much force that she spun over twice before finally coming to a halt.
From the corner of her eye, Ruby saw how Rarity's mouth paused its movement in the middle of forming the last syllable of the word that had almost been past her lips, and while it remained in that position, standing slightly agape, the rest of her expression quickly changed from excitement to shock. Ruby barely picked up a frightened squeal coming from Fluttershy, while astonished calls of 'Whoa!' and 'Holy Hayseed!' from Rainbow Dash and Applejack were much more noticeable.
“Told you,” Ruby said to Emerald.
Rarity remained speechless for a moment, before she pointed a slightly trembling hoof at the motionless Silver Mist. “Goodness gracious, is she hurt?”
“She's fine,” Emerald said. After several more seconds had passed without the slightest twitch from Silver Mist, she added, “Unconscious, but fine.” Then she sighed and shook her head. “Pity too. That was a great hit, but I guess you weren't that far off Ruby. Good technique, but not enough to make up for the weight difference.”
“I have to admit, I didn't imagine it would be quite this” — Rarity stared at Silver Mist, who was currently being loaded onto a stretcher — “violent. Are you quite sure she will be fine?”
“Absolutely. It really looks a lot worse than it is,” was Emeralds reassuring answer. “You take a tumble, the lights go out, and that's the worst that happens usually. Plenty of bruises and the like, but the armor is thick and has very heavy padding, and the lances are slender and made from soft wood so they break rather easily. This is supposed to be training for us and a spectacle for the crowd, we're not trying to kill each other.”
Rarity gulped nervously. “I shall take your word for it.”
“Serious accidents are quite rare, my lady Rarity,” Mirror Shine assured her. “Even back when I was competing, the worst thing that ever happened to me were a few slightly bruised ribs. And a much more severely bruised ego, of course, but even that probably did me some good in the long run.”
Rarity looked at the duchess. “You took part in a tourney, my lady?” she asked, not being able to conceal her surprise.
“Certainly,” Mirror Shine said. “Back when I was still young and foolish. Or perhaps foolish in different ways would be more accurate to say. Almost every Imperial noble tries their hoof at the joust at some point; it is much to glamorous and prestigious to resist. Fortunately, four tourneys in which I never made it past my first bout were enough to knock those silly notions out of my head for good, and I learned that I am much better suited for life at court. It can be a battlefield as well, but it is at least a battlefield where one can fight well groomed and wearing comfortable clothes.”
At this point, Silver Mist had been carried off the field. “Dame Silver Mist cannot continue,” the herald called. “Sir Frost Grape the Unyielding has won the day's first victory.”
Rainbow Dash didn't seem to share Rarity's reservations. “Ruby was right Fluttershy!” She said while tapping her friend on the shoulder. “We were doing it all wrong. This is way better!”
Fluttershy's voice didn't quite match her friend's enthusiasm. “Ehm... if you say so?”
Frost Grape waved at the cheering crowd, while a young soldier removed the remains of his lance and strapped a new one to his harness. This would normally be the duty of a squire, but like every current member of the Lance, Frost Grape didn't have one. It was rare that a young pony showed enough promise to be directly assigned to or chosen by a Knight of the Order, and whatever assistance they needed could usually be rendered by the palace staff.
A new lance fastened to his side, Frost Grape strode confidently towards the shields bearing the devices of the knights he had yet to face, and without the slightest hint of hesitation, he struck the image of a gold-rimmed magnifying glass.
Mirror Shine let out a quiet chuckle when she saw Frost Grape make his choice. “This should be interesting.”
“That's Malachite, isn't it?” Twilight asked. She had to speak fairly loud, since the crowd was going mad with excitement.
As if to answer her, the herald called, “Sir Frost Grape the Unyielding has challenged his brother in arms, Sir Malachite the Trollslayer.” His voice was nearly cracking with enthusiasm, despite his best efforts to remain levelheaded and unemotional.
“There you have it,” Ruby said. “Poor Frost is getting a bit cocky.”
Twilight gave her a questioning look. “Is he? I was going to ask you Ruby, and I don't want this to come across as disrespectful, because I'm sure Malachite is a skilled and accomplished servant of the Empire. It's just that after seeing this last match, well, isn't Malachite...”
“He's a bit of a shrimp,” Rainbow Dash said, and seemed a little puzzled when her comment drew a quick bark of laughter from Mirror Shine. Noticing the disapproving looks most of the other ponies were giving her, she defensively added, “Well, he is. No offense to the guy, but Fluttershy could probably push him over.”
“Oh no, I wouldn't do that. He seems like a really nice pony,” Fluttershy was quick to object.
“Please excuse Rainbow,” Twilight said. “But Malachite is a good deal smaller than Frost Grape, and weight and strength seem to be a major factor here. I'm just wondering if this is even fair. Is he allowed to use magic to make up for his other disadvantages?”
“I almost wish that was the case,” Ruby said. “It would be a lot less confounding if he was using magic, but Malachite is simply as slippery as an eel covered in butter.”
Twilight looked confused. “I'm afraid I don't follow.”
“What Ruby meant to say is that his technique is, well, flawless,” Emerald explained. “Malachite is good at noticing details. It's his talent. He knows exactly where to put his lance, and how to avoid the lance of his opponent. He's not unbeatable, one good hit and he pretty much goes flying, but I've seen him stomp through entire lists without anypony scoring more than a glancing blow on him.”
“Oh, I see,” Rarity said. “Skill and refinement of technique triumphing over brute strength. That is something I can get behind.”
Twilight nodded, but she still seemed a little skeptical. “I suppose.”
When Malachite entered the field, the first thing he did was trot towards the royal stands and bow his head to Twilight and her companions, and Ruby thought she noticed a very brief moment of hesitation when his head turned towards Mirror Shine. The helmet of his tourney armor had his horn completely encased in steel, so even if he wanted, he would not be able to use his magic.
Since the heavy headgear lacked a visor, he had to take it off to be able to address the Equestrians properly. “I am glad to see that you could find the time to attend the tourney, my ladies, Spike. I hope you enjoyed the spectacle so far.”
Then he turned to Mirror Shine and inclined his head slightly. “Grand Duchess.”
She returned the gesture. “Sir Malachite.”
After a few seconds of nervously fumbling around with his helmet and avoiding eye contact, Malachite said, “I wasn't aware that you would be attending the tourney today. Actually, I didn't even know you were in the city. A brief notification would have been appreciated.”
Mirror Shine raised an eyebrow at that. “Why, begging your pardon, Sir Malachite. I wasn't aware that I needed your approval before I can visit the capital or attend an official Imperial function. Clearly, a most foolish oversight on my part. It won't happen again.”
“That isn't what I meant, and I think you know that,” Malachite said defensively.
“Hmm. True,” Mirror Shine admitted. “Something else I know is that if I had announced myself, you would have volunteered to scout the northern mountains, or battle a flight of marauding dragons rather than stay here and exchange as much as three sentences with me.”
The normally perfectly composed Malachite looked extremely uncomfortable at this point, and as he glanced over at Twilight and her companions, he said, “I don't think this is the right time or place for such a conversation, would you not agree?”
“Yes, this is a rather awkward talk to have in front of guest, Malachite,” Mirror Shine said chidingly.
Malachite's face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. “I wasn't the one who started...” He swiftly bit his tongue and cleared his throat. Ignoring Mirror Shine completely now, he gave Twilight and the others one last nod, put his helmet back on, and briskly walked away, his sharply whipping tail still betraying his agitation.
Emerald had watched the scene like one might watch an artist creating a portrait. “You know, my lady, I don't know anypony else who can make him lose his temper like that. It's a privilege to see you work, and I hope one day, you will share your secrets with me.”
“How kind of you, Emerald,” Mirror Shine said. “But I'm afraid it's not something I can teach. The poor boy simply doesn't stand a chance. Family will do that to you.”
While the Equestrians watched the little squabble between Mirror Shine and Malachite, their faces had shown anything from amused interest to awkward confusion, but the duchess' last sentence seemed to instantly answer almost any question that had been on their minds.
“Ah, I see,” Rarity said eagerly. “You must be Malachite's mother then?”
Mirror Shine fixed Rarity with a disapproving gaze, and the other mare jumped a little. The duchess seemed slightly irritated, but Ruby knew her well enough to notice the mischievous glimmer in her light-gray eyes. “A rather telling assumption, my lady,” Mirror Shine said frostily. “But actually, I am his sister.”
Ruby had to admit, Rarity's reaction was quite the sight to behold. At first, she just looked slightly puzzled, but as the sheer magnitude of her faux pas was gradually sinking in, her expression soon changed to horrified and was swiftly moving towards panicked. Rarity threw a desperate glance towards the tourney track, but the competitors were just taking their places, and the herald made no move to start the bout just yet, and so Rarity began to frantically check her surroundings for something, anything, that would allow her to change the subject. What she finally settled on showed that her efforts had not been overly successful.
“My, I must say, these cushions are amazingly comfortable,” Rarity said as she poked at the pillows she was sitting on, her voice sounding a little shrill. “It's like they're stuffed with clouds.” Mirror Shine's eyes never moved away from her, and Ruby though she could see tiny droplets of sweat starting to form on Rarity's forehead. “You know, some brilliant pegasus tailor actually designed a fabric that makes it possible to stuff pillows with clouds. Marvelous idea. I have been trying to get my hooves on it for ages now, I imagine it would do wonders for my...”
Mirror Shine suddenly started to laugh, and leaned over to gently pat the unicorn's cheek. “It's all right, my lady. Forgive a silly old mare her little jape. No insult was perceived, I assure you; it is an understandable mistake to make. After all, there are more than forty years between us.” Rarity nodded, and her accelerated breathing began to slow down a little. Mirror Shine continued, “You see, we are actually half-siblings. Our father, the late Duke Diamond Cutter, was married six times during his long life, and well, let's just say the old goat managed to preserve his virility well into his twilight years. Malachite and I having sixteen other siblings is a testament to that.”
Rainbow Dash whistled through her teeth and poked Applejack with her elbow. “You think there might be a distant relation here, AJ?”
“Funny,” Applejack said with a roll of her eyes. “I know us Apples have a reputation for breeding like rabbits, but none of my kin have as much as eighteen young'uns.”
By now, Frost Grape and Malachite were finally in position, the murmuring from the crowd had died down to a low whisper, and the herald had raised his flag, ready to give the signal for the match to start. Ruby's eyes darted back and forth between her two fellow knights, their expressions concealed beneath their massive metal headwear, but their tense posture and frantically whipping tales betraying their eagerness to see the herald's flag descend. Despite the distance between the two, their difference in height and bulk was very noticeable, and Ruby could tell that Twilight still seemed a little uncertain about Malachite's chances.
The herald still held his flag raised high, and although utter silence had descended on the tourney ground by now, even a passing glance at the crowd revealed that the spectators were aquiver with anticipation; their eyes wide and unblinking, and, in their eagerness not to miss the slightest movement on the field, some of them leaned so far forward on their seats that they were in serious danger of toppling over. Ruby saw the herald's ears twitch, and immediately afterwards, the downwards movement of his head gave Malachite and Frost Grape the signal to begin their first bout.
Accompanied by the shouting and stomping that immediately erupted from amidst the eager crowd, the two knights dashed forward, and although Ruby had scarcely more than a few seconds to appreciate it, she nonetheless took note of how much Malachite and Frost Grape differed in movement and posture as they raced towards each other. Frost Grape's heavy steps struck the ground like hammer blows, kicking up a hailstorm of sand all around him and leaving deep indentations behind wherever his hooves had torn into the field. His lance was expertly aimed and leveled at Malachite's left pauldron, but since it could not help but emulate the powerful movements of its wielder, the tip of the weapon bobbed up and down and swayed left and right.
In contrast, the tip of Malachite's lance seemed almost still enough to balance an egg on it without much difficulty, and it never deviated more than an inch or two in any direction from the point where Malachite had decided it should strike. His movements and hoofsteps were a lot more graceful and controlled as well, to the point where it almost seemed as if his hooves barely touched the ground at all, and instead merely brushed against the sand to steer whatever force propelled his body in the right direction.
When the two knights met at the center of the field, both of them managed to strike their lances against the pauldron of their opponent. But while Malachite's weapon hit at the very center of Frost Grape's shoulder piece and immediately shattered into fragments, Frost Grape only managed to nick the edge of Malachite's pauldron, and his lance glanced of it without breaking. Neither of them was in any danger of taking a fall, but Malachite had won this round.
“A hit and a broken lance,” the herald announced. “Sir Malachite takes the lead, with two points against one.” A soldier marked the score on a board with a piece of chalk.
“Can I look?” Fluttershy asked, and Ruby only now noticed that the pegasus had turned her head away from the tourney field and covered her eyes with her right front leg.
“It's fine Fluttershy,” Twilight said. While her friend hesitantly ventured a peek and then sighed in relief, the princess turned to Ruby and asked, “How did he do that?”
“I wish I knew,” Ruby said and shrugged.
“Oh, don't make it sound so mystical Ruby, you know darn well that there isn't much of a trick to it,” Emerald scolded her before turning to Twilight. “There are ways to avoid your opponent's lance when you see it coming Twilight. If you pay attention to the way it moves and time your steps right, it might just fly past you altogether, and even if it hits, all you have to do is twist your body and your shoulder to the side just right to make it slide off your pauldron.”
“That sounds pretty easy actually,” Applejack said.
Emerald grinned. “Doesn't it? Problem is, you only have a couple of seconds to try and analyze your opponents movements, and even less time to react when their lance strikes you.”
By now, Malachite and Frost Grape had once again taken a position at opposite sides of the field. Both of them were currently waiting to receive new lances, even though Frost Grapes lance was still intact. But to ensure that the weapon had not been cracked or damaged and thus would break more easily in the next round, lances were never used more than once.
“It just happens way too fast to really think about it, so for most of us, it comes down to training and instinct,” Emerald continued. “Malachite, on the other hoof, he's a special case. Once he sees you take your first step on the sand, he reads you like a book. Try to dodge or feint, change your technique every round, alter your speed or the rhythm of your steps at the very last moment before your lance strikes him, doesn't matter. He just knows.”
Emerald fell silent when the sharp descent of the herald's flag announced the beginning of the second bout. Once again, Malachite broke his lance against Frost Grape's pauldron, but in addition, he managed to avoid the weapon of his fellow knight completely this time around, by ducking his shoulder underneath it just before it struck. Frost Grape began to grow visibly agitated, and while he waited to receive his new lance for the final round, he began to stomp his hooves and viciously paw at the ground.
“Looks like your friend is getting a tad bit frustrated down there,” Applejack noted.
“I can't really blame him,” Ruby said. “I know how he feels. It's infuriating to know that you only need one good hit to send that snip flying, but just can't get one in to save your life.”
“This goes by points, right?” Rainbow Dash asked. “That means it's pretty much over for Frost Grape now, isn't it?”
Emerald gave her a quick, confirming nod. “Pretty much. Unless Malachite gets knocked down like Silver Mist, but I don't really see that happening, especially since Frost Grape is really off his game at this point.”
True to Emeralds prediction, Frost Grape had lost his form during the final round. Ruby could tell that his vexation at Malachite's superior performance had gotten the better of him, and Malachite avoided his lance without much trouble, while the hit he received from him in turn made Frost Grape break his stride and take a few hasty steps to the side to recapture his balance.
“Oh, marvelous,” Rarity called while clapping her hooves together enthusiastically. “I have to admit, after witnessing that first contest, I was starting to have some doubts if this was truly going to be something I would enjoy, but this is exactly what I hoped for.”
The herald announced the final score, and while the crowd cheered and Frost Grape’s name was taken off the list, the two knights walked before the royal stands and removed their helmets.
With a voice that was somewhere between annoyance and genuine admiration, Frost Grape said to Malachite, “You could not even grant me one proper hit out of sheer pity?”
Malachite smiled and shook his head. “After I witnessed what you did to poor Silver? No, I'm afraid I wasn't willing to take that chance.”
“Such a shame,” Frost Grape said, before he bowed deeply in the direction of their guests. “Nonetheless, it was a great honor to demonstrate my skills to you. I only wish it could have lasted longer. But I hope you all enjoy the rest of the tourney.” He looked at Malachite and smirked. “I would wish you luck, but I don't think you'll need it.” Then he turned around and left the field.
“I think that went rather well,” Malachite declared.
“Quite so,” Mirror Shine confirmed, a barely visible, but unmistakably proud smile on her face. “Expertly done, Malachite.”
Malachite hesitated for a second, as if he was expecting her to say something else, but then he returned the smile and bowed his head. “Thank you, Mirror Shine.”
The duchess waved her hoof dismissively. “Credit where it's due, dear.”
“Of course,” Malachite chuckled, while his eyes lingered thoughtfully on the competitors board. “Now, who should I pick next I wonder?”
He shot a quick glance at Emerald and winked at her, before he started to canter towards the board to make his choice. A soldier hurried to bring him a new lance as he approached the board, and Malachite picked up the weapon with his magic as he passed him, twirled it over his head a few times, and then gently tapped it against the shield that carried the device of three blue down feathers.
“Aha!” Emerald shouted and jumped out of her seat. Almost every pony on the stands let out a startled gasp, but Ruby had expected something like this to happen and remained relatively calm. While the Equestrians were still reeling from her sudden outburst, Emerald put her front hooves on the wooden balustrade and called, “Big mistake, my friend! Today's the day, I can feel it!” Then she simply jumped down onto the sand of the tourney field and landed next to Malachite, who had already walked back from the competitors board. His calm demeanor and affable smile suggested that Emerald's boasting left him less than impressed.
Emerald pointed at him and narrowed her eyes. “Stay here. I'll go change.”
Malachite nodded. “I shall wait then.”
“Oh, you better,” Emerald said and ran off, almost stumbling a few times because she was already loosening the straps of her armor with her teeth..
“Huh,” Rainbow Dash said as she stared at the narrow alley between two bleachers where Emerald had disappeared from sight. “She really thinks she has your number.”
“Yes, it seems like she does. Perhaps I should be worried,” Malachite agreed, but neither his tone of voice nor his expression betrayed concern. He looked at Twilight and added, “Do not be fooled by her cheerful behavior, she can be quite fierce when she wants to be, your Highness.” He hesitated for a second and seemed to try and remember something. “No, wait. Earlier today, we agreed to forgo the titles, didn't we? I'm sorry Twilight, I'm afraid it must have slipped my mind.”
“Don't worry about it, Malachite,” Twilight said. “That was an impressive display just now.”
“Thank you,” Malachite said with a quick bow of his head. “I have to admit, I take no small amount of pride in my jousting skills.” He looked at Ruby and smiled. “From time to time, I think some of my comrades need a reminder that strength, when employed with finesse and wisdom, is a useful quality for a warrior to possess, but it will win you no battles on its own.”
“I really don't know why you look at me like that,” Ruby said. “I did beat you in the joust before.”
Malachite made a confirming gesture with his head that was somewhere between a nod and a bow. “That you did Ruby. I would never try and take that away from you. They were well deserved victories.” Despite those words, the content little smirk never left his lips, and after a quick pause he added, “Both of them.”
Ruby's eyes narrowed slightly, and her lips compressed into a thin line. “You are being particularly smug today, my friend. What gives?”
“Oh, no reason,” Malachite said with a shrug. “I am simply in a good mood. The day has treated me fairly well so far.”
“I hope you enjoyed the heck out of it then.” Emerald, now clad in a tourney harness instead of her richly ornamented ceremonial armor, had reemerged from one of the narrow passages between the wooden bleachers across the field, and was quickly trotting towards them. “Because let me tell you, it's all downhill from here.”
Applejack looked at Emerald and let out a hearty chuckle. “She talks a good game, at least.”
“Yes,” Malachite said. “I must say, her unshakable confidence is really starting to trouble me.” Once again, Ruby and the other ponies, and dragon, on the stands had to take his word for this, as his tone of voice still betrayed nothing but calm amusement. “But I suppose I will have to see things through.” He bowed to Spike and the ponies in front of him. “Wish me good fortune.”
Evidently, Emeralds patience was starting to wear thin. “I swear, if you flap that silver tongue of yours any harder, it will lift you off the ground and carry you away. Are you done flirting now, or do you need a few more minutes so you can keep trying to bag yourself a princess, you sly dog?”
Ruby saw a slight blush rise into Twilight's cheeks, but as per usual, Malachite didn't do Emerald the favor of being embarrassed by her teasing. “You wound me Emerald. To accuse me of such base motives, when all I am trying to do is show our guests the courtesy and respect that is due to them.” With a smirk and a wink he added, “Besides, you know that I have but eyes for thee, oh Emerald, fairest mare of them all.”
Ruby groaned. “Just... stop this, both of you. Listening to your nonsense is giving me a headache. Talk like this is why ponies speculate about the two of you.”
Malachite looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Ponies speculate about Emerald and me, do they now?”
Ruby was fairly certain the scowl she gave Malachite in response could have split a glacier in half, but her friend just countered it with a look of perfect innocence.
“Emerald?” Ruby said. “Please knock this cheeky nitwit off the field, would you?”
“Of course, honeyflank.” Emerald blew her a kiss. “Anything for you.”
“Don't do that!” Ruby called, but both Emerald and Malachite had already turned away and were now trotting towards their respective end of the tourney track. Ruby heard quiet snorting sounds around her, and when she tore her vengeful gaze away from Emerald, she saw seven ponies and a baby dragon who were all trying very hard not to laugh. “This isn't funny!” Ruby insisted, despite being presented with strong evidence to the contrary. She gestured towards the crowd of ponies surrounding the field, quite a few of them already busy giggling and whispering amongst each other. “They'll talk about this for weeks! You have no idea how annoying it is when ponies root for you to hook up with your friend for some weird reason.”
Mirror Shine gave Ruby one of the mischievous smiles that every pony closely acquainted with the duchess quickly learned to dread. “Well, if you don't mind me saying so, Ruby...”
“I do!” Ruby blurted out. “I mind. I mind very much, my lady. Begging your pardon.”
“My, how touchy you get,” Mirror Shine chuckled.
“Could we please just agree on this discussion being over?” Ruby pleaded.
“All right, sorry,” Twilight said while trying her best to stifle a few more bursts of amused giggles. “Emerald doesn't seem to mind, though.”
Ruby shook her head and grinned; her anger had evaporating as quickly as it had flared up. “No, she really doesn't. Things like that don't bother her. If I'm being completely honest, I've actually come to admire that about her.”
Twilight nodded. “The two of you are very close.” It clearly wasn't a question.
“Emerald is an insufferable doofus with severe delusions of humorousness,” Ruby said. “But yeah,” she quickly added in a much softer tone. “I've know Emerald for years, and she's pretty much my sister. We met way back when —“ Ruby paused and placed her half-raised front hoof back on her seat, resisting the urge to try and rub away the sudden, severe itching of her scars “— when things were a lot bleaker than they are now. It was hard, but we pulled each other through.” A soldier was trying to strap a lance to Emerald’s harness, a simple task that was made harder by her waving at the crowd with much more enthusiasm than was strictly necessary. Ruby watched the strange display and smiled tenderly. “I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her.”
She felt the light touch of a slim hoof on her shoulder. “It's good to have somepony like that,” Twilight said.
Ruby couldn't tell exactly what it was, but something about Twilight's words made her certain that it wasn't just an empty phrase, and that the other pony really, truly understood what Ruby was talking about.
By now. Malachite and Emerald were prepared and eager to begin. The crowd fell silent, and the herald raised his flag.
Ruby heard Twilight chuckle. “'Severe delusions of humorousness'?”
“Malachite came up with that,” Ruby admitted.
“I see,” Twilight said, and the herald's flag whipped down.