Twilight woke up with a stretch. As she slowly got up, still in the bed, and using the bed sheets to cover herself, she saw the starting of the dawn and that she was back in her room. She looked down and saw that she was dressed, she looked and saw a note on a nightstand. She took it and was about to read it when she heard knocking on the chamber doors, “Twilight, Darling, I don’t mean to interrupt your beauty sleep, but I have the most dreadful news.” It was Rarity speaking, as Twilight tried to process everything, “Twilight, I will open this door and dump a bucket of cold water on you if I have too!” Twilight jumped out the bed and went to the door. However, she noticed that her step was a little uneven. Before she could deal with that, she opened the door. Rarity didn’t let Twilight ask, “Applejack and Sugarcoat are not on the path of their race. Agnus seemed to have attacked them last night, we don’t know where they are.”
Before Twilight could press, “And Meanie-weenie Sunset Shimmie got someone to fight in the Trial by Combat.” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in a very comical panic state, not unlike when Kerberos was in Magiville.
Before Twilight could reply, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy rushed news, “Applejack is okay, a few scratches we’ll have to tend to when she gets here, they just passed the 250-kilometer mark.”
Twilight then asked, “How? AJ doesn’t know any speed based spells that I am aware of.”
“You can always count on AJ to carry you out of a bad situation,” Rainbow answered as Twilight turned to her a little confused. Electing to explain, “She’s carrying Sugarcoat, who has a sprained leg. Three guesses who’s responsible for that.”
“That doesn’t explain… oh, Sugarcoat used her true-name magic to give AJ a speed boost of some sort.” Twilight concluded after a second or two of thought.
“Hopefully Cinch will call this particular contest and the wager over the Element of Honesty off.” Rarity commented on this new information.
“Indeed, my mother has, dearies.” They all turned to see Sunny. Next to the war cleric were Lemon, Sour, and Indigo. “In fact, we’re going to help get our sister out of there. Before you ask, we all have the same father, different mothers. If you want to help your friend, you better come.” As Twilight headed to where she stored her clothes, “Except for you, Princess, the trial by combat is still on and you have to be present.” Sunny informed.
Twilight gave a nod of understanding, if she wasn’t present for her “champion” during the bout chances were the whole thing would be rendered ineligible regardless of who the victor was, above all else she had to make sure the Element of Magic returned to its proper place, especially with what Princess Celestia has stated about it.
“I’M COMING AJ!” Rainbow shouted as she dashed past her friends and the Shadowbolts.
“YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU’RE GOING!” Indigo shouted zapping to catch up with the elementalist. Everyone else rolled their eyes at this before they started after save Sunny, Rarity and Twilight, the latter was far from being dressed for the occasion
“We’ll be back as quickly as we can, Darling. Give Flash our regards.” Rarity said as she and Sunny then left.
Twilight then got her clothes as Spike got off the bed and walked outside, “I’ll wait for you out…” Spike stopped and sniffed the air he then sniffed the floor next to Twilight’s feet all the way to her feet. “Uh” he commented somewhat confused but elected to shrug it off, “you must have taken a shower last night after I went to bed. Well, I’ll be outside.” Spike shut the door behind him not noticing the deep red blush on Twilight’s face, as what happened last night and likely earlier this morning dawned on her.
Twenty minutes later as she and Spike were on their way to the stadium, “Pleasant dreams last night, princess.” The two turned to see Sunset leaning against one of the walls looking at her fingernails utterly bored. Spike started to growl and snarl as a puppy could. If he was a dragon again smoke would be seeping from his mouth. Twilight also scowled. Sunset was not phased by this. “Ah, he’s so adorable, he thinks he’s threatening.” Sunset mocked the puppy. “Hope soldier-boy is up for the task. It’s more than the Element of Magic on the line.”
“What do you mean by that?” Twilight frown didn’t let up and seemed to intensify.
Sunset walked up to her, not unlike a high school bully, “Simple, it’s his life. Trials by combat only end one of two ways. Don’t you remember?” Twilight snarled and gritted her teeth at Sunset. “Hope you don’t have any plans for him after today. Unless he left you with something to remember his face by.” Sunset did not let up on her mockery, closing her eyes as she spoke the last part, laughing as she headed off ahead of Twilight.
Spike somehow managed to get onto Twilight’s shoulder, an impressive feat when you considered his current condition, and whispered into her ear, “What is her deal? The way she talked to you sounded like she was above you, a classic case of a Superiority Complex.”
“It's like she thinks she’ll win,” said Twilight before she took a calming breath, “regardless of the outcome. I have to agree with your assessment. I’m sure Flash won't let us down, too much is riding on this for that to not be the case.” Twilight then followed after Sunset, the trial was about to begin.
An hour later, Flash, in his standard issued Mystican golden color armor, electing to go with the most protection he had while making at some level a show of Mystica’s might, with his shield secured to his left arm, his sword in its scabbard, stood in the middle of the arena. He could tell that most there didn’t care if he won or lost, they wanted a show. He also knew that there were a handful that did care if he lost and died, with one only caring if he lost. He looked at Cinch’s booth and saw Baroness Cinch, Twilight, Sunset, Juniper, and Spike. He didn’t know why the others save Applejack and Sugarcoat weren’t there, not that he could blame them for not being there to witness this fight. However, his focus was on the only other being in the arena, his opponent, Reges Longhorn. Flash was not unfamiliar with minotaurs, Iron Will and a handful of others while not formally part of the ESM, were welcomed militia. But Longhorn made Iron Will look like a calf, even with his filed down horns. “Scared boy?” Longhorn asked as he held his hammer aloft, while armored in little more than a pair of pants, exposing his chest and arms, in an attempt to incite the audience to cheer, it was met with only boos. Flash knew that this was how Longhorn intended to prove his prowess, showing that he didn't fear death. Flash also concluded that Longhorn was planning to turn this into a show, prolonging the duel needlessly.
Flash was unphased by the minotaur’s bravado, he knew Longhorn was nothing compared to Sombra (Not that knowing Longhorn could not defeat him as easily as Sombra did was actually helpful, which Flash regretfully had to note). Flash also remembered some of his practice bouts with willing minotaurs, something he was now thankful that Shining Armor had insisted on, although he would never admit it to the marshal’s face, a man had to have some show of pride. His only response was to ready his shield and simply say, more to himself than anyone else, “True warriors can claim victory regardless of what everyone else says, and know actions are the only dialogue really needed on the field.”
“Well ladies and gentlemen, this year’s pheidippidiadromos was just called off, Angus McSteer has in fact cheated.” North Star started to announce, as a projection from what was most likely some sort of small cameras on Sugarcoat, showed the scuffle last night. Just as Applejack yelled ‘YEEHAA!’ the projection was cut short. “Last we heard they had passed the 250-kilometer mark, which is impressively fast and will likely be here soon and Angus will be taken into custody to join his fellow Rustlers in their incarceration, assuming he doesn’t try anything that would justify the use of lethal force.”
Blue Moon then stepped in, “And as soon as Applejack and Sugarcoat are brought back, they will be taken to the infirmary. In related news, the rest of the Rainbooms and Shadowbolts are part of the extraction team, so it looks like they will be alright in the end.”
“We can only pray. However, there is still another matter at hand, Blue. The other reason why we are here.”
“True, North, the Trial by Combat. And for the sake of clarity,” Blue moon then continued, “the subject of the trial is the ownership of a tiara. Now both Lady Sunset Shimmer and Princess Twilight Sparkle have made a claim ownership of it. For Lady Sunset Shimmer, Reges Longhorn has been given one last shot.” Everyone then booed, heckled and cursed at the minotaur. “And for Princess Twilight Sparkle, an up and coming member of Mystica’s Military forces, officially the Earborn-Skyborn-Magicborn Coalition, better known as ESM, Captain Flash Sentry!” The audience then cheered for Flash, well not so much for him but against Longhorn.
Flash’s focus, however, was on the matter at hand as he drew his sword and faced Longhorn. “You can run back to your mother’s skirt now and no one will think less of you. Not that we think highly to begin with.” Longhorn started again. Flash was not phased by this, he knew that in a real battle, Longhorn’s trash talk would have gotten the minotaur killed by now, but this was a duel of champions, normal rules of battle or rather the lack thereof didn’t apply and trash talking was in. Flash elected to remain quiet as he waited to come-up with the best comeback. “THIS BOY IS SO SCARED, HE’S SCARED STUPID! BWAHAHA!” Longhorn bellowed and continued to mock Flash.
“You call that a laugh, I heard a ghost’s chuckle with more life in it,” Flash said calmly as everything died down from the last mock. Longhorn glared at Flash, “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” Flash asked, “I’ve heard that cow tongues make great pet treats.”
“You better run, boy. I’m feeling sporting, I’ll give you time to drop your shield.” Longhorn said as slowly walked towards Flash.
“I am not leaving unless it’s with my shield on my back or my back on my shield.” Flash then shut his eyes. “Solar Dash”, he whispered expecting his ethereal wings to start beating at so that he charged Longhorn at the speed of light. But Flash’s wings did not move. When noticed that, “What?” he asked in a whisper. Seeing this hesitation, Longhorn swung his hammer from his left to his right hitting Flash in his chest and sending him flying a fair distance before rolling in the sand. Longhorn only chuckled as he held his hammer aloft as if triumphant. It couldn’t be, could it? Thought Flash. He then remembered Celestia once telling him to pay attention to his wording around supernatural beings and deities, mostly because of the implications, but she had expressed quite strongly that deity-like beings like herself may not be the ones entirely responsible because it also came down to emotion and intent. Flash suddenly remembered last night, his declaration to Twilight, the embrace, the kiss... and he mentally facepalmed himself, he just had to go and change patrons unintentionally before a fight in the name of the new patron. This meant he literally would be relearning his boons in the battle, not a good time when so much was on the line and that assumed that Twilight would make the same realization.
That being said; Flash had fought people bigger than him, people that wielded hammers, and people that were both bigger than him and wielded hammers. The only thing Longhorn had over Flash was a lack of combat discipline, which meant he was not as predictable as most of the people Flash fought. And Flash could fly. Just as Flash had finished shaking off the blow as Longhorn was more focused on the audience than him, music that sounded like it was part of a Vinyl Scratch Retro-Night rave started up. Flash looked to see Pinkie and the others, sans Applejack and Sugarcoat, having entered the booth coming from the stadium’s infirmary. The jester holding over her head an oversized portable stereo. “Come on, Flashy.” Pinkie said and started to lip synch with the lyrics as they finally started.
‘Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn’
You wonder how you keep going
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing
You can fly if you try leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find.’ As the first verse of the song played Flash and Longhorn charged each other, this time Flash was able to avoid the blow of the hammer, but he was not able to do anything to harm. However, Flash didn’t let up as tried again and again.
‘Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win if you dare’ This time around Flash was able to deliver a few cuts and jabs, but none of them seemed to do more than superficial damage, while Longhorn was more to keep Flash at bay and knock the Sentinel around. Flash had hoped this fight would be over very quickly, but it seemed that Longhorn was going to turn this into a show, a show of his might, even with his broken horns.
‘Everybody's trying to break your spirit
Keeping you down
Seems like it's been forever
But there's another voice if you'll just hear it
Saying it's the last round
Looks like it's now or never
Out of the darkness, you stumble into the light
Fighting for the things you know are right’ As the next verse started, Flash was again bashed around by Longhorn, but he recovered quickly and was able to evade the more damaging blows. However, he could tell unless he could deliver a crippling or miming, all the bones in his left arm were going to break due to the sheer amount of blunt force trauma that the shield by its design would not absorb.
‘Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare’ As the song continued Flash was finally able to make what would have been a killing thrust, but instead of slaying the minotaur, Longhorn seemed to engulf himself in flames, transforming himself into a fiery demonic being, with fiery horns emerging from the file-down stubs. Flash’s sword melted all to the hilt. As Flash stepped back in confusion, Longhorn charged him ramming the soldier into the wall, just under the private booth, partially burning Flash and aggravating the back-break Flash suffered from his fight with Sombra. “FLASH!!!” Twilight cried out as Longhorn backed up and taking Flash by his ankles and threw him to the other side of the stadium.
There was an instrumental, during which Twilight saw the hilt of Flash’s sword which landed next to her following Longhorn ramming Flash into the booth. On the pommel was a copy of her aura mark, which didn’t make sense, because if Flash was a Sentinel to Celestia why would the pommel of his sword… ‘he’s my…’ Twilight connected the dots and picking up the handle, threw it at Flash; as arming one’s champion was not against the rules in a Trial by Combat. As the hilt landed next to Flash’s right hand, Twilight didn’t know why or how, but she started lip-synching with the song Pinkie had playing.‘Dare - dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand’ As Longhorn charged, Flash took the hilt and shouted “STAR SABER!!!”, as a bar of blue-colored plasma formed from the hilt as he slashed at Longhorn as he rolled out of the way, leaving a cut in along the minotaur’s chest.
‘Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
The power is there at your command’, Flash then felt something emit from the hilt, beyond the blade of plasma. He felt his body actually heal from all the bashing he received, even the aggravation of the break in his back dulled away, it felt like how he felt when the Crystal Heart activated… No, this was when he learned what his class was when Celestia gave him the first boon he ever received, the boon which allowed him to have the epiphany that revealed his Aura Mark.
‘Dare - dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be’ Flash looked up to see Longhorn charging at him. Flash steeled himself and wait just long enough.
‘Dare - 'cause there is a place where dreams survive
And it's calling you on to victory’ As the verse started Flash again shouted, “STAR SABER!” and slashed Longhorn along the minotaur’s gut, successfully evading the savage’s hammer swing as if he simply stepped to the side and a victor’s grin forming on his face.
‘Dare’ As the final word of the song ended Flash held out his sword arm, holding his new sword, as metal replaced the plasma, in the air as Longhorn stammered to Flash’s right and reverted back to his previous state and fell to the ground, grievously wounded as sizeable slash went along his gut. The audience cheered and start to chant, ‘Flash, Flash, Flash,’ until Cinch stood up and held up her right hand as silence fell. “Captain Sentry, while it seems that you have won this duel, as the jury has so declared, the trial by combat is not over until either Longhorn or you is dead.”
Flash shot Twilight a quick look that she understood instantly, without knowing why, “That statement might indeed be quite factual,” Twilight started, “however, this is also a sporting event. While sports during the last time the Trial by Combat was used were a bit more of a gore fest, much to the displeasure of those who have been educated in our modern age, the rules the event and practice were never updated with other sporting events, at least in this nation.”
“If you are trying to weasel a way out, for your champion’s incompetence then you can just stop there,” said Cinch.
“Not at all,” said Twilight, “the fact is all of the sporting events that were display here had their development stunted, the Trial by Combat is the only clear case I can see of outright refusal to change with the times. If you had done as detailed a look into Mystican legal and sports practices as you tried to project you would have seen something like this coming,” as if to prove her point Twilight produced a dozen tomes seemingly from midair and placed them before Abacus Cinch, “those are all the latest in policies and principles in Mystican sports and legal code. If you are unwilling to read them, at the very least have the appropriate advisor and/or aids read through them.” Suddenly the entire stadium was filled with Twilight’s voice, “the fact of the matter is Flash did manage to incapacitate his opponent and under Mystican combative sports code that was enough to satisfy the event, I read up on your sports code,” Cinch’s face betrayed her surprise for a few seconds before returning to impassive, “and according to your own combative sports code, which a Trial by Combat falls under, any combative rules and traditions of representatives of a foreign power will be respected until the departure of said representatives. The judges were in clear violation of the very rules they were judging when passed down their verdict, something they should have been fully aware of. The only reason I can see for them to have passed such a verdict in earnest is that they were either not permitted to read up on Mystican sports codes regarding the event, something we willingly turned over when asked before the start of all this, or were told to disregard those codes. Either way, the blame for their apparent ignorance in this matter falls squarely on the higher power that decided this. The only power with that authority at this time is yourself, Abacus Cinch.”
Everyone then turned to Cinch, save one, then they all started to hear a deep laugh, sporadically interrupted with coughs. They all turned to see Longhorn, having gotten to his feet and holding his gut with his left hand, his right hand firmly gripping his hammer, still refusing to submit, “You seem to (Cough) ignore that according to (Cough) Mystican Law, local costumes supersede Mystican Law if there is a contradiction in rules (Cough) and there are no established diplomatic relationships betwixt the other nation and Mystica. (Cough) On top of that, I am not a subject of Midnight Castle. I am an outlaw, (Cough, cough) which means that I am outside of the law’s protection. SO COME ON BOY!!!” Longhorn then charged Flash.
Flash readied his shield and his new blade, the ‘star saber’ was going to be helpful but he needed another boon, he needed to be able to charge his foe too. He took a breath and thought for a second. It was all the time he needed as his ethereal wings, having flashed the color of Twilight’s Aura Mark, started to beat at a rate that would allow him to charge Longhorn at the speed of light. “STARBURST!” he shouted as he thrust his sword arm out and collided with Longhorn. It was over in a flash. Flash had flown past Longhorn leaving his sword in the minotaur’s chest, the point coming out the back. As Longhorn once again fell to his knees, Flash walked back to face Longhorn. Once face to face again, as the minotaur was left struggling to breathe and unable to do anything else, Flash took his sword by its handle and placed his left foot on Longhorn’s chest. He proceeded to both pull his sword out of Longhorn and push, well kick, Longhorn off of his sword. Longhorn’s heart stopped beating before he finally bit the dust. Flash then looked to the crowd as they cheered his victory, he took a cleaning cloth off of his belt and cleaned his blade before sheathing it back into its scabbard. Once done, “SUBJECTS OF MIDNIGHT CASTLE!” they all fell silent, “This here marks the end of The Rustlers and the terror they held over you!” Everyone then started to chant ‘Flash, Flash, Flash,’ until he held his right hand up again, after taking his shield off his left arm and using the strap on it to have it on his back. “Let this be the first many mutually beneficial exchanges between Mystica and Midnight Castle!”
As everyone cheered and chanted Flash’s name, Cinch turned back to Twilight, “Your champion seems very knowledgeable on handling a crowd.” Twilight was slightly taken aback, did Cinch just compliment her, “Miss Montage, bring the box, and then escort the victorious party to the infirmary.” Juniper did what she was told, handing the box with the tiara to Cinch before heading to the field as Flash started to finally stagger.
In the booth Twilight accepted her tiara and looked to deal with Sunset, only to find the pyromancer had left. “Looks like you were right, Spike.” Twilight then looked to the ground to find her dragon-turned-dog, but he was not there. “Spike? Spike!”