"He's planning a quadruple twisting, interrupted five-flying two-and-a-half, with a combo tuck and pike..." Vibrant whispered over the PA, the whole stadium as silent as a tomb as the suspense of the next competitor's turn was about to start, for the Diving Event, one of the cornerstones for competitive water sports.
"High degree of difficulty."
Cheese Sandwich stood on the diving board, wearing a speedo, swim cap (that somehow contained his wild mane of curly brown), and swim goggles, his face and poise as stoic as whenever he wore his fedora and poncho. Everypony was on the edge of their seats, some nervously chewing their hooves, as they awaited Cheese to make his move... when he eased down his front half... and jumped!
Everypony watched in awe as Cheese span in mid-air while a line of streamers suddenly flared out in a spiral, before he front-flipped forward several times, before he evened out and dove straight down, "La-la-LAAAAA!!"
*SPLASH*
...
...
...
The crowd went nuts as Cheese surfaced, a stream of water launching from his mouth as he smiled, his swim cap coming off so that his chocolate brown curly mane exploded open, and he waved with a smile as the judges for the event held up the points Cheese had won.
9.7
9.1...
10!!
"WHAT A DIVE!!" Spike cheered.
"AND WHAT A SCORE!!" added Vibrant.
Several more events passed, and the Equestria Games were already more than halfway over. The week-long series of competitions was nearing its conclusion and yet they were far from over.
"Well, spectators, we're well past the halfway point and the end of the Equestria Games is nigh," commented Vibrant, Spike sitting next to him in the announcer's box.
"That's right, Vibrant, but as they say, it ain't over till it's over," Spike added, "and our next event is a little unorthodox but still all kinds of awesome! Fillies and gentlecolts, it's time for... the HEAVY DRAG RACE!!"
Down on the field, the game officials had prepared a straight racing track, covered entirely with slightly damp dirt, that was about one-hundred-and-fifty meters, with ten lanes and at two points of the race were ramps covered with sand, the second ramp the higher and steeper obstacle, and the racers at the starting line were being strapped to some sleds bearing extremely heavy weights!
Among the racers was Big Macintosh, who rolled his shoulders, was taking calm and even breaths, knowing this wasn't gonna be as easy as pulling the plow on his farm. Hoo boy, before this is over, Ah'll wish it was that easy!
"Like any race, folks, this race is won by being the first to cross the finish line, but unlike most races, what's important here isn't so much as speed as it is to be strong, enduring, and hardheaded for sure!" Spike commented.
"You said it, Spike, but for those of you unfamiliar with the Heavy Drag race, I'll explain," Vibrant began, "the racers are strapped to those sleds you see behind them and those sleds are loaded up with extremely heavy weights! In fact, in order to qualify, each sled must bear no more or less than one ton of weight! The object of the race is to pull those backbreaking heavy sleds down the track and be the first to get their sleds all the way across the finish line."
"The rules here are, the racers have to stay in their own lanes and there is no contact at all during the race," Spike added, "and after the first ramp, there is a short break allowed for the racers to catch their breath. Also, be advised, this is a contest of physical strength, so there is no magic allowed, and some measures have been taken to insure no cheating."
Down on the track, Big Mac gazed over his competition and saw mostly heavyset earth ponies like himself, muscles trained and hardened to the perfection that can come only from years of good and honest labor. He also saw a minotaur, a dog, a drake, even a yak! Mac was confident in his own strength, but he would be fool to think this competition would be a walk though the apple orchard.
"Racers!" Shining Armor marched in front of the starting line and the competitors, "Once the race begins, you are permitted a break after you make it across the first ramp. Don't rush, pace yourselves, or you'll wear yourself out before you get anywhere!"
Shining stepped off the track and turned around, amplifying his voice, "On your mark.
"Get set...
"GO!!!"
Immediately, Big Mac pulled with all his might and grunted from the sheer weight of his sled but he started off with a good pace as he and the other racers got on their way! Out of the corners of his eyes, Big Mac briefly noticed the competitors on each side of him were behind, but he was keeping an even pace with several other racers. The first ramp wasn't far ahead but already the harness hitching Mac to his sled and weights were beginning to hurt. Snorting, he growled tenaciously but didn't give it all. He couldn't afford to wear himself out too quickly, especially since it was only the first ramp.
He ignored the roar of the crowd. He ignored the commentary. He focused only on the ramp as he and the other racers began to climb it. The platform at the top of the ramp was elevated precisely a yard from the ground but the ramp itself extended two meters, and the loose sand didn't make it easy. Snorting from the weight of his load while digging his hooves into the sand, Big Mac slowed his pace, knowing rushing would work against him, as he noticed a few other racers had rushed but the loose sand made it difficult to keep a footing-
"YAK SMASH!!"
The other racers all flinched and looked to see the yak racer was now beating up on his sled, several game officials rushing in to remove him from the race.
"And it looks like the Yakyakistan racer is out," commented Vibrant as one of the game officials, a unicorn, cast a sleep spell that easily sent the yak to dreamland.
"Well, being disruptive like that makes for a very poor sport," Spike added in a shruggy tone.
Now there were only nine racers and Mac realized he and a few others were leaving the others in the dust! He increased his pace just a little and grunted with relief as he pulled his sled onto the top of the obstacle! Pulling it down over the side was the easy part, but the race was far from over. Reaching the bottom of the hill, Big Mac wisely paused to catch his breath, as did the other racers who'd kept an even pace with him, and Big Mac didn't even register the commentary as he took even breaths to ease his heartbeat and lungs.
Looking ahead, the track stretched on even longer than it had taken to get where he was now, and there was still the second hill, which rose up two meters from the ground and the ramp was just a little steeper! Which was why he needed to take this moment to recuperate, even as the other racers were beginning to catch up over the first hill. But it was only moments later that the minotaur racer began to proceed, which caught the others off-guard, including Big Mac, and spurred them onward.
Thankfully, this development meant the racers lagging would have to choose between taking their break or toughing it out to catch up and wear themselves out even more. The distance between the first hill and the second hill was almost double the distance between the starting line and the first hill. Longer to take and wear yourself out but simpler than the steep climb the second hill was going to be. To Mac's relief, the minotaur was beginning to lag. Understandable, since he was racing on two legs instead of four, like the rest.
Some minotaurs liked to think of themselves as superior to quadrupedal animals, even if they were sentient, citing their walking on two legs and their arms with hands and fingers were some kind of evolutionary superiority. In some ways, maybe, in others, especially in these circumstances, it was a bit of a handicap.
The second hill was only a few yards away!
Big Mac's lungs and hind legs were really beginning to burn, but he had the Apple Family determination (or stubborn streak, as some might argue), and he absolutely refused to let his team down.
And then he stopped.
More racers stopped alongside him, and a quick glance showed Big Mac that a couple more racers had dropped out of the race, either from exhaustion or they got stuck or perhaps even disqualified for some reason. His blood had been pounding so loudly in his ears he'd hadn't heard any commentary to explain what had become of the other two racers, so now the competition had dropped down to these seven racers, Mac included.
"Huh?! Why have they all stopped?" questioned Spike over the PA.
"It's strategy, Spike," Vibrant answered and explained, "The second obstacle is much bigger and steeper, after all. Each racer needs to take a moment to gather themselves, to steel their resolves, find their center! And once they've tapped into that primal strength necessary for this very moment..."
He didn't know how, but Big Mac knew he made the first move, the others following, as they began their descent up the second hill and Vibrant yelled out, "TO CLIMB IT ALL IN ONE GO!!"
The crowd roared with encouragement at the racers, and somehow... Big Mac was the first to step hoof onto the top of the second hill! Only for the exertion to take its toll and he collapsed. Oh how he wished this was over, the pain alone, his sweat-soaked coat bringing an uncomfortable chill over him, every breath a burning cold inflation of his lungs, his muscles throbbing and begging for mercy. Worse yet, the sled was still on the hill and its weight was pulling at him, threatening to drag him down back and there would be no way he'd make it in time back up if that happened.
But somewhere in his mind, Big Mac couldn't help but feel a vexing stab of disappointment. He knew he was better than this, stronger than this! He'd gone hoof to toe with no small amount of ornery monsters to protect his farm, ripped entire trees down all by his lonesome, plowed an entire field in record time. He was the strongest earth pony in all of Ponyville, but even stronger had always been his spirit!
"One... more... TRY!!!" Big Mac grunted as he struggled at first but he couldn't remember the last time he'd ever stood so tall!
With a stubborn snort and a stamp of his hoof to steady himself, he pulled his sled, not ignoring the pain but embracing it! He let it give him strength rather than stunt it, more than enough to pull his sled up and over the top of the second hill! This time, Big Mac heard the cheers and awe of the crowd as they looked on in wonder of his physical tenacity, and roared with excitement as Big Mac led the charge into the last thirty yards before the finish line!
"I am biting my claws, somepony win this already!" Spike whined over the PA, "GO BIG MACINTOSH!!!"
"He's almost to the finish line, but remember! It's the first sled across the finish line that wins," Vibrant spoke, his urgent tone causing everypony to lean forward, "Wait! Big Mac, he's- He's STOPPING?!"
"Mac, what're you waiting for?!" Spike knew he shouldn't be showing favorites but phooey! "They're coming up behind you!"
"Hey! Hey, there he goes!!" Vibrant pointed out as Big Mac suddenly lunged forward, right as the minotaur was catching up. "They're neck and neck! Ponyville?! Minox?! It's...!!!"
The flagger waved the Ponyville flag and everypony knew!
"THE WINNER IS BIG MACINTOSH OF PONYVILLE!!!"
The big red earth pony collapsed in a heaving and sweaty lump of plum tuckered out, as a game official hurried over and gave him a bottled water, which Big Mac eagerly chugged, and was relieved to feel the harness removed. He looked towards his team all standing at the sidelines and smiled to see them all cheering and whooping at him, but it was the warm and proud smile on his wife's face that made it all worth it.
"The Games are nearing their end, but there's still a few events before all is said and done," Spike announced late the next morning as the stadium filled back up with spectators.
"And up next is the much-anticipated Aerial Relay!" added Vibrant as everyone watched the game officials set up the course for the Aerial Relay, and Vibrant went on.
"For this event, the teams that qualified are... Ponyville, Stratusburg, Vanhoover, Mt. Eyrie, and of course Cloudsdale, who are represented by Captain Spitfire of the Wonderbolts, alongside Fleetfoot and Rapid Fire!"
"I tell ya, Vibrant, this is gonna be an event to remember! Just a warning in advance, everypony?" Spike commented with a chuckle, "As soon as the relay begins... don't blink!"
"Ha! Good advice, Spike, because I wholeheartedly agree that you won't wanna miss even a second of what's to come, folks," Vibrant laughed. "Now just a quick recap on the rules, in order to win, the flyers of each team of three has to pass along a baton to the finish line. The next flyer in your team cannot proceed until your teammate before you hoofs the baton to you, and if any one of you drops your baton your team is automatically disqualified!"
"So no pressure," Spike cracked, causing a tremor of chuckles to echo amongst the spectators.
In no time at all, the game officials had set up the course and the relay teams were fidgeting in their feathers to get started. The teams were told where each successive flyer had to be for the relay exchanges and as everypony took their places, Team Ponyville had a quick word.
"We are so gonna win this!"
"Oh, I promise to do my very best."
"For Ponyville, guys!"
They high-winged and Soarin went to the starting line while Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew over to their places along the course. As he took his place at the starting line, Soarin thought, If we medal here, Ponyville will be tied with Cloudsdale for the lead. But odds are, they'll medal too.
Then he heard a clearing of one;'s throat and looked to see Fleetfoot, who gave him a challenging bob of her brows but with a good-natured smile. Chuckling under his breath, Soarin gave her a wink, and was glad they were still on good terms since the freak weather incident at Canterlot, where Soarin's actions and the lessons he'd learned helped him unlock the Element of Unity. As he stood there, however, he also thought of how different things could have been. That he might still be with the Wonderbolts and flying alongside them here for Cloudsdale... against his Dashie and their friends from Ponyville. He also thought, if his son hadn't gotten sick, Bulk Biceps would be standing where he was now.
Even though he'd been assured by his team, Soarin still felt a little bad that he was flying the thunder Bulk should have had. So, he wouldn't be flying just for his team, or his new hometown, or even for his fillyfriend.
Bulk Biceps, this is for you, buddy... Soarin raised his wings as he heard Shining Armor say:
"On your marks!
"Get set...
"GO!!!"
"AND THEY'RE OFF!!!" Vibrant declared, "And it's no surprise that for the first leg of the relay, Fleetfoot of Cloudsdale and Soarin of Ponyville take the lead!"
"Such speed, such skill!" Spike geeked out, "And they're coming in for the second leg as they approach their teammates!"
Soarin and Fleetfoot both got to their teammates, Fluttershy and Rapid Fire respectively, practically at the same time. Rapid Fire understandably got ahead of Fluttershy, but thanks to Soarin's speed, she (and Rapid Fire both) had a considerable lead over the rest of the flyers.
"Now Rapid Fire of Cloudsdale takes the lead, followed by Fluttershy of Ponyville!" commented Vibrant.
"She might not be the fastest flyer, Vibrant," Spike responded, "but Fluttershy is obviously graceful and cautious enough to keep an even pace and maintain a decent lead as the rest of the second relay begin to catch up!"
Despite being nowhere near as fast as Rapid Fire, Fluttershy was indeed more graceful and cautious, as Rapid Fire was going so fast he kept having to slow down in order to make the turns or fly through the hoops without losing control or touching them. This gave Fluttershy just what she needed to more-or-less stay on his tail despite the rest of the second relay flyers beginning to catch up.
They closed in on the third leg and both saw their teammates, Spitfire and Rainbow Dash. While the captain held a steady gaze at her brother, Rainbow Dash was waving Fluttershy to hurry up!
"Almost there, almost there...!" Fluttershy reached out baton to Rainbow Dash right as Rapid Fire gave his to Spitfire, and the captain quickly zoomed off... immediately followed by Rainbow Dash!
"And once again Cloudsdale and Ponyville are neck in neck!" exclaimed Vibrant.
"Between none other than Spitfire and Rainbow Dash, two of the awesomest flyers in all of Equestria!" added Spike.
Indeed. Neither the captain nor the reserve gave each other an inch as they zoomed at breakneck speeds through the course. Even as they zoomed through the air, Spitfire couldn't help but admire this young pegasus, not only for her determination but for how hard Dash was pushing the captain in this race. She was gonna go far once she made it officially into the Wonderbolts, and perhaps Thunderlane would too. There was a part of Spitfire that still held a guilt that cut deep by her deception from back at the tryouts and how it cost her a good Wonderbolt. Even though they'd made amends, Spitfire still carried this shame after the realization of how unprofessional it was and how such reflected badly on her and would tarnish the `Bolts if it were ever made public knowledge.
It had been a humbling experience and she only wished the cost of the lesson had not been a good teammate.
But perhaps she would do better with Rainbow Dash, and they both angled their wings as they ascended towards the finish line, which was situated on a small hoop-shaped cloud, just like it had been at the tryouts. Both mares pumped their wings faster than their heartbeats, they were gonna feel this tomorrow but they were closing in on victory.
I just gotta fly faster...! both mares thought in that brief and fleeting moment when both were mere inches away from finish line.
"And the winner iiiisssss....!!!!" Vibrant drawled as the two racers crossed the finish line and almost immediately the stadium fell as silent as a tomb, eagerly awaiting the name of the winner.
"Iiiiiiissssss... I have no idea! It was too close for me to tell!"
"Hold on, Vibrant, somepony's here," said Spike's voice, and over the Pa everyone could hear some hushed and rushed whispers until Spike yelled, "YOU'RE KIDDING!!!"
"What-what-what?! Don't keep us in suspense any longer, Spike!" Vibrant groaned in a fidgety tone, "Who won?!"
"Well, fillies and gentlecolts, the game officials confirmed it but you gotta see it to believe it," Spike responded, "Let's consult the jumbo-tron so you all can do just that!"
All eyes turned to the giant screen of the jumbo-tron as it lit up and everypony watched the footage of Spitfire and Rainbow Dash crossing the finish line together so quickly they were a fiery and rainbow colored blur.
"The tech experts are gonna replay that in slow-motion," Spike explained, and true to Spike's word, the footage rewound a few seconds and then paused before the blurs were cleaned up to show Spitfire and Rainbow Dash. Then, frame by frame, they were shown, the two pegasus mares getting closer and closer to that finish line...
Until everyone saw it.
"Well, everyone, Spike was definitely right but even though I'm seeing it I still can't believe it!" Vibrant commented. "Spitfire and Rainbow Dash crossed that finish line at the exact same time!"
"Who woulda thought it, eh Vibe? But it's there, clear as day," Spike announced, "The winner of the Aerial Relay is a tie between Team Ponyville and Team Cloudsdale!!!"
The crowd was at a loss at first, but the applause started small before it grew into a wild excitement!
Still in the air, Rainbow Dash was at a loss until she felt someone tap her on the withers and saw it was Spitfire, "Dash, I said it back at the tryouts but I'm gonna say it again - You are somethin' else."
"Th-thanks, Spitfire, but..." Rainbow Dash wasn't sure what to think or feel She'd lost before, she'd won so many times, but ties were so few and far in between for her she couldn't even remember the last time she'd tied with anyone in a competition.
"Well... If Bulk's son hadn't gotten sick that he had to stay behind, I'm pretty sure you'd have beaten me."
"Well, well! The totally awesome Rainbow Dash has a humble side," Spitfire teased with a soft smirk, "Who knew?"
"Heh, very funny," Rainbow held out her hoof and Spitfire bro-hoofed her as they both gave the other a smile of respect.
The late afternoon was beginning to fade with the evening as the games were almost over.
"Well, this has been quite a week, eh Spike?" Vibrant commented, "So many amazing athletes from every corner in and out of Equestria, and every single one of them showed their stuff here in this stadium!"
"You bet, Vibrant, but I've said it before! It ain't over till it's over," Spike replied, "because now it's time for the Games to conclude with its final event!"
"And by tradition, that event is... the Ice Archery Finals!" Vibrant announced and everypony cheered as the four competitors of the teams that qualified for the event made their way onto the field.
"Ice Archers! Take your places!" called Shining Armor
They were Cloudsdale, Vanhoover, Ponyville, and Baltimare. Blueblood smiled confidently as he strode among his rivals, the four of them looking ahead to the targets while approaching their bows and quivers which had been laid out on a long table for them. The targets were wooden circles painted gray with white six-pointed stars in the middle, dividing the targets into six-sections.
"Unlike traditional archery events where the aim is to hit the target dead-center," Vibrant explained, "here in the Ice Archery event, the archers shoot magic arrows at the targets, and ice spreads from the point of impact. The aim here isn't to get a bullseye (no offense to our minotaur visitors) but here, the archers fire their ice arrows at the targets over and over. The first to completely encase their targets with ice is the winner!"
"Like with our previous events," Spike added, "no magic is allowed except for manipulation shoes, and as a security measure, all unicorn spectators have had a disabling spell placed on their horns to insure no cheating is done by anypony on or off the field."
"And so, the beginning of the end of the Equestria Games!" Vibrant wrapped up with a dramatic tone.
"Archers! Ready!" Shining Armor called out, and each of them grabbed their bows and one of their arrows.
"Aim...!" They nocked their arrows and aimed as they pulled back on the bowstrings.
"FIRE!!!"
Shimmering streaks of light blue flew across the field, all of them hitting their targets, one on the lower left, one the upper right, one dead center, and one on the upper middle. As there was no need to be accurate except to stay on target, Blueblood paced himself as he continued to nock, draw, aim, and release. It was only about fifteen seconds into the competition but he'd already frozen a third of his target. But he noticed another target covered with just as much ice as his own ,and saw it was the archer of Cloudsdale. His neighboring rival who was between him and the Cloudsdale archer noticed too, and appeared to panic a moment before increasing his pace, and his next few arrows flew a little haphazardly.
Blueblood smirked as he thought, Amateur...
Sure, the Vanhoover archer had been skilled enough to qualify for this event but he was clearly not as experienced as the rest of them. Now it'd been over thirty seconds, and all the targets were now at least fifty-percent covered, Blueblood's and the Cloudsdale archer's targets both over sixty-five percent. The Vanhoover archer, feeling the pressure, fumbled with his next arrow, but in his rush he mistepped while aiming during his drawback and...!
*trip*
His arrow flew skyward... into a cloud! Not a moment later did spikes of ice erupt from the cloud as the ice arrow's magic began to freeze it over, turning the cloud above the stadium into an aerial glacier that was already beginning to fall! The crowd gasped in horror and immediately began to panic and run in all directions, bumping into each other as they ran for cover- Any cover!
"NO!" Shining Armor cried out from the middle of the field, the other alicorns standing up in shock, while Spike hurried out of the announcer's box.
A few pegasi took flight straight for the falling glacier, more following, as they all situated themselves under the colossal chunk of ice in a fruitless attempt to slow its descent.
"STEER IT TOWARDS THE FIELD!!" Rainbow yelled out.
"AWAY FROM THE CROWD!!!" Spitfire added.
"SOMEPONY CUT THE DISABLING SPELL!!!" Shining Armor yelled to the staff.
"THERE ISN'T TIME!!" one of them shouted back and it wasn't a second later that a little purple dragon ran out into the field.
"DASH! SOARIN! FLUTTERSHY!! MOVE!!!"
The pegasi all broke away from the ice as Spike hopped onto Shining Armor's back and then leapt from pegasus to pegasus like stepping stones up towards the ice. Once he was close enough, he took the deepest breath he'd ever inhaled, and...!!!
*FLAWOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHSHHSHSHSHSHSHHSHSHSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH...*
A fog of steam, followed by crackles and hisses, and Spike landed on the field, grabbing a conveniently placed umbrella and opening to the downpour of the sudden melting of the ice, preventing himself from getting drenched. For a few moments, all was silent, everyone in awe of what had just happened before their very eyes! Until...
"I... I can't believe what I just saw, folks," uttered Vibrant over the PA, "but it seems my co-host, Spike the Dragon, just saved everypony in this stadium!!"
The crowd immediately responded with a roaring applause and Spike smiled before giving a quick bow and heading towards the vomitorium entryway when he saw all of his friends from Ponyville as well as the rest of their team rush over to him, whooping, cheering, and giving Spike just the biggest smiles.
"That was AWESOME!!!"
"So gallant!"
"Incredible!"
"Amazing!"
"Totally didn't see that coming!"
"Eeyup!"
Spike smiled a little sheepishly at their praises when he felt a hoof tap him and he turned to see the Royal Sisters, Prince Sombra, and Princess Cadance, who said, "I just wanted to be the first to thank you personally, for saving those ponies and the Games!"
"Such an amazing act of bravery deserves recognition," Luna added.
"Perhaps a statue depicting Spike in all of his glory," Celestia suggested with an impish smile.
"Say, Spike... the Brave and Glorious," Sombra mused before chuckling, "Somehow, it fits."
"Uh, thanks, everypony, but..." Spike shrugged, "I just saw what needed to be done and did it!"
"And taking action in the manner you just did..."
All eyes turned to see Sir Godric and his team from Mt. Eyrie approach, all of them looking upon Spike with respect as the older griffon spoke, "An act of valiance, worthy of a knight. My apologies for this informal word, Your Majesties, but I simply had to express my admiration of this young one."
"He is quite the character," Sombra chuckled, as did everyone else, which made Spike blush. "But, I think we should conclude the Games, and Spike? A quick word, if you please."
The target crackled as the last visible part of it was frozen over and Shining Armor yelled, "CEASE FIRE!!"
The ice archers stopped and lowered their bows while putting their arrows back, as Shining Armor stepped out to examine the target that had been completely frozen over, and nodded with affirmation.
"The winner of the Ice Archery Finals is... BLUEBLOOD OF TEAM PONYVILLE!!!"
As the crowd cheered, Blueblood held his bow high and proud while gazing out to seats just below the VIP box and couldn't wait to see his Rarity.
The flags raised, with Ponyville's flying the highest as they'd won the medal count, and every spectator watched the closing ceremony as Spike lit the fireworks that signaled the official end of the Equestria Games. Once the last firework faded out in the dying light of the day, the cheers began to cease, for the Games were over. But right before the spectators began to sit up and start leaving...
"Ho-hold your horses, everypony!"
Everyone halted in their steps as a spotlight fell upon Spike, standing in the middle of the field, holding a microphone, "The Equestria Games may be over, but as a special treat, tomorrow the Crystal Empire Stadium will host an exhibition competition, the Trinity Cup! Each and every one of you are invited to attend tomorrow to spectate what will most definitely be a competition you will never forget!
"Because... this competition will have only three competitors, and not just any competitors!"
Suddenly, three pillars of power erupted and rose skyward, a thunderous effect causing everyone to momentarily cry out, intimidated, as the first pillar of power was a dark magenta, the second an intense red, and the last a blazing turquoise, and after a few moments, the pillars suddenly receded and vanished as spotlight fell upon the spots from where each one had arisen... to reveal three alicorns.
"The competitors who will compete tomorrow in the Trinity Cup will be none other than the three alicorn princes! Shining Armor, Sombra, and Midnight Blaze!!!"