As the evening reaches midnight, the celebration seemed to have reached its zenith, with everyone enjoying themselves while making lasting memories with the new type of party. Unfortunately, not all was fun and games in the castle, as one shadowy figure disguised as a waiter, at last, managed to spot the prince of Canterlot all by himself, looking out into the night at the top of a flight of stars on a balcony, lost deep in thought.
It was undoubtedly a unique opportunity that he wasn't going to miss, so he made his way toward his unexpecting target with a drink on a silver plate in one hoof, and a hidden blade on the other.
He began to close the distance, but before he could get close enough to strike, a certain pink mare found him first and surprised the assassin with an unexpecting yet strong hug. "Bluey! There you are." She chuckled as she looks at him with a smirk, "You thought that a waiter costume could fool this mare? Well, I'm sorry to tell you this mister, but this mare has the eyes of a hawk!" She looks him in the eye with a smile. "Speaking of which, that’s a nice touch with the contact lenses, total devotion to the disguise, but unfortunately it’s still not enough to shake me off your trail!" She booped his nose with her hoof. "Still it was entertaining, let's do it again!"
The assassin blinked at her owlishly in confusion and then in concern when he noticed that the two of them were gathering the attention from the nearby guests and worse, the royal guards. "Sorry miss you have me confused for somepony else." The assassin states flatly as he tried to brush her off and push the mare away, but she refused to let him go.
"Oh come on Bluey, I know it's you. So stop with the charade." She chuckled and grabbed his hoof. "Come on, let's play something el…" She then felt something in his hoof and grew confused when she saw a thin bracer, discreetly tied along his foreleg. "Oh, what is this?" She asks in confusion while playing with the device.
"Wait, no!" The assassin tries to stop her but it’s too late as she activates it, the blade snapping forth and in to place, its dully glinting tip almost reaching her face. "Bluey..." Pinkie slowly looked up to him in concern. "Why do you have a hidden blade?" She then notices something else that caused a pang of fear to shoot down her spine. "And why are you not wearing a horn?"
The guards, now alert and closing fast, caused the would-be assassin to panic and shove the mare away before throwing a smoke bomb on the ground to startle everyone and break line of sight on him. Taking advantage of the confusion, he threw caution out the window and charged out of the smoke at the prince who surprisingly hasn't noticed him yet. He leaped into the air with his weapon at the ready and bears the prince to the ground while plunging the blade into the prince's neck and spine.
The assassin smiled in triumph for precisely one second before becoming concerned and then scared when the prince just chuckled with an eerily high pitched voice, his head slowly rotating hundred and eighty degrees to looking him in the eyes, revealing that he was nothing but a scarecrow disguised as the prince with a smirk on its face. "Welcome to your trap," The scarecrow hisses out before grabbing his hoof and disarming the assassin. its jaw then hinges open impossibly wide and from it, a net fires out and entangles him and immobilizing him on the ground.
Startled and confused the assassin tries to break free while noticing that the guests around him wavered like mirages before dissipating to reveal even more soldiers, all armed, armored and approaching him with Amber leading them while Stellar stayed behind with a charged horn which she just turned off.
"Well lookee here ladies and gents! We caught us a big one." She chuckled while looking at her companions. "An assassin attempting regicide? And the beloved nephew of the princesses to boot? Oh, you are so going to Gelded Maiden, Bub." She smirked as the stallion continued to struggle with the net.
Something the guardspony finally caught the attention of the stallion though and he paused in his struggles to speak. "Beloved nephew? Please, that sack of manure is as loved as a root canal." He replied, earning himself a solid back hoof in the face from Amber. "Consider yourself warned, speak about our prince like that again and I will cut out your tongue," Amber warned him in anger.
"Are you alright miss Pie?" Another guard called out while he approached Pinkie Pie and helped her back to her hooves. "Yeah, I think so... what is going on?" She asked, somewhat confused at all that was happening around her.
"It looks like you stepped into Stellars illusion miss. How though, I have no idea. I was under the impression that the spell had a perfect success rate in keeping civilians out of the affected area. We detected the intruder the moment he took down one of the waiters, we then enspelled and lured him here into this empty ballroom to detain and interrogate him." He explains "It’s a good thing too, since it appears that he was planning to take the prince’s life."
She gasps and looked at the scarecrow still holding the blade. "He was?" She then looks at the stallion in question. "Oh wow. He is mean."
The assassin meanwhile just keep staring at Amber. "Loyalty, I can respect that" He then grabs his mask. "Too bad, yours is to a soulless monster."
Pinkie gasped when in front of them, they saw their a pony having a striking resemblance to the prince staring back at them with a glare. Not only that but before being covered by it, they all saw an X scar on his forehead where a horn would have been.
"Well, at least you have a pretty face" Amber half-joke at the revelation, but Pinkie was still freaking out.
"Amber! Look at his eyes, he's a crystal pony!" Pinkie yells at everypony in the room.
"Do NOT compare me to that bastard!" The assassin screams in complete rage. His blue eyes flashing red as an aura of the same color engulfed his body and start to burn everything around him. Both the net and a golden wig he was wearing burnt away, revealing a black mane and tail.
"Guardsponies! To arms!". Amber yells in warning to the cohort of guards around who immediately began to react, but it was too late as the stallion spat what appeared to be a translucent magma from his mouth hitting some other nearby guards. The afflicted ones scream out in pain as the assassin makes good of his escape, diving out of a nearby window. Some of the guards give chase while Pinkie, Stellar and Amber along with a smaller squad of soldiers with medical training stayed behind and went to tend to their injured comrades. Amber attempted to hold one of the struggling guards down only for her hoof to get burned on contact with the magma.
"Amber are you…" Pinkie tried to help, but Amber shakes free of the pink mares helping hooves. "Don't touch me! It will burn you!" She warns her off through clenched teeth "Get out of here, it's not safe ."
"But you are injured!" Pinkie protested as she pulls a fire extinguisher from her mane emptying its pressurized contents over the guards in hopes of extinguishing the flames but to no avail. "We need to take you to the infirmary!"
"I said, Go after him!" Amber yells again in complete fury. Pinkie got worried when the guard stood up again and looks at her in rage, her eyes turned red, and Fire began to emerge from her injury. "Amber?"
"Of course you wouldn't listen, stupid civilians are always getting in the way, would it kill you to obey just ONE command!" Her mane actually ignited in flames as Amber dipped forwards aggressively to attack her. Not only that, but the other guards that were affected by the fire were doing the same, and appeared to spread the anger to their victims, like some sort of burn infection.
"Guys?" Pinkie asked in fear when she found herself surrounded by brainwashed and enraged guards, Stellar trying to guard her.
Meanwhile, in the real ballroom.
The prince was lost in thought while leaning on a balcony. His mind still was churning with questions and doubts he could not even begin to figure out how to even ask. Tempo’s words still ringing inside his head.
You are the spitting image of your father.
The Prince shook his head rapidly, trying to clear his mind. Father, I have a father, another father. Most likely an even better father. Of course, I would have one here too. A pony dad and mom, it’s so obvious now. Yet why did I never bother asking about them before? More importantly…, The prince looked over his shoulder to see one pair of princesses chatting with the nobles. Why would my aunts never mention them even once, after I had a brush with death like I did? Did…something happen? Did they get into a fight? If so, why did I end up living with my aunts instead of with them? I mean, if it was a question of safety, I suppose two demigods could be the best possible option…
The prince stopped to think over what he just realized. Holy crap, I have what are basically two demigods as blood relatives! Ok, seriously, it has been almost two months but how the hell did I miss that?! He scowled to himself for missing such a staggering revelation before shaking his head Calm down, calm down, that is a…whole can of worms you do NOT want to open right now. Concentrate on what is currently happening.
He looked up at the stars. So what happened to my pony parents? Are they in a secret diplomatic mission? Or perhaps they died? If they’re alive, should I figure out how to reconnect with them? With all the political games, what does the family I know have to say?
The prince holds his head, a migraine having sprung up as the questions continued to pile up unabated Argh! So many questions! Why isn't anything easy?
"Prince Blueblood?" Slightly startled by the new voice, the prince looked behind him once again only to find Jet Set staring back at him with a smile. "Taking a break from your party, I see. Are the activities of the night starting to overwhelm you?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.
In response, the prince just sighs and turns his attention back to the moon, so Jet can't see him rolling his eyes. "What do you want Jet Set?"
"Well, aren't we a bit cold toward one of your closest friends? And here I just wanted to talk with…"
"Jet, no offense but right now I would like to be alone if you don't mind."
The tension in the air started to get heavier.
"And what happens if I DO mind?"
The prince just groaned in frustration and shook his head. "Whatever, I'm leaving" He turned to leave, but Jet blocks his way.
"As I said, I want to talk."
"And like I said, now is not the best time."
"Oh sure, it's not. It never is, right?" The prince ignored him once again as he passed Jet Set, and entered the ballroom with Jet Set giving chase, "You are always busy, with other projects, right? Never owning up to your mistakes, always running away. Searching for a scapegoat to take the fall for your errors." Jet Set screams as the prince continue walking.
Geez, what got into him? The prince thought in concern as Jet Set turns more aggressive.
"Who is going to be the next one to pay for your mistakes prince? Your maid? A Guard…perhaps that Fluttershy mare you took advantage of off in the gardens?"
That last comment caught Blueblood off guard as he sees a lot of the guests gasping in shock and looking at him with disgust "What?" The prince asks in disbelief as he slowly turned around to face Jet but is then surprised when Jet Set pulls out a golden sword and points it at him
"You can't keep running forever, Blueblood, the time for you to pay for your crimes has finally come!" Jet yells trying to grab as much attention as possible
"Jet, what are you doing?" The prince asks, the raw edge of worry creeping into his voice, as they both start to gather an audience, he could even see Upper Crust faking surprise while subtlety motioning for more ponies to come and see. For some reason, Blueblood couldn't see any guards either, and the changeling princesses that were there just stood there, apprehensive.
So they want an audience for this? I suppose this means they don't want my head then? I'm pretty sure, no one wants to see a public execution and those two couldn't possibly be so stupid as to go invoking my aunt's wrath. The prince ponders as Jet continues.
"I'm imparting justice."
That is the only reply Jet gave the prince before lifting his sword. The prince was about to dodge of the way. When to his surprise, instead of attacking, Jet tossed the sword to the ground in front of the prince. "Prince Blueblood of Equestria, by the ancient law established by Commander Hurricane herself. I, Jet Set. As a graduate of Celestia School for Gifted Unicorns and member of the noble peerage in good standing, formally accuse you, Prince Blueblood with the crimes of abuse of power, and of breaking innumerable laws without punishment. I declare you unfit, unjust and unable to lead Canterlot and therefore issue a duel for your position."
He then took out and tossed multiple copies containing the list of past crimes Blueblood made public for everyone to see “The prince himself has shown us his crimes Canterlot, the right of challenge is justified!”
Jet tells taking a step back from the prince and favors him with a baleful glare.
“Do you accept?”
Ok…what is happening? The prince asked himself as he tries to recover from the jump and the unexpected challenge. “This is ridiculous, I'm not going to fight you, just because you challenge me. Besides, I can’t fight you even if I want. I don’t have any proper training on sword fighting ." The prince replied yet, his challenger did not back down.
"Don't you dare act all high and mighty Blueblood!! Did you or did you spend time this last couple of weeks training with the help of your elite guards?” Jet accused the prince taking him by surprise.
"How did you know that?" The prince questioned, surprised by the revelation.
“Go ahead and deny it if you want, just like everything else,” Jet Set remarks while continuing to rile up the nobles “You preach about turning over a new leaf yet as soon as a problem arises you turn tail and refuse to acknowledge it?" He stomps into the ground shattering tile, and charged his horn, lifting a chunk of the floor up into the air before making it shine, and transform into another regular sword which he then grabs with his hoof and points it at the prince. Finally, some guards took notice of the developing situation and moved to surround the prince in a protective matter, yet this action does not discourage Jet Set. In fact, it seemed to only drive him to new heights of righteous anger. "No more. We, the ponies of Canterlot have endured your presence for far too long and gave you all the opportunities for redemption. That time is far gone, and it’s time for you to pay for your past crimes, now pick up that sword and face me like a stallion! Or forfeit the battle, and with it, your title as a prince." Jet Set commands the prince pointing at the golden sword in front of the prince.
Jet Sets grandstanding continued gathering more ponies, and to the misfortune of the prince, he started to notice some of them were looking at him with stern looks, others were beginning to mumble to one another. He also saw how the swords had the guard and hilt modified. It resembled more a hollow cupholder, with enough room for a hoof to fit inside.
“Even princess Luna sought our forgiveness and underwent one thousand years of banishment for her transgressions against the crown, with her title stripped away.”
My Aunty did what? The prince then remembers the words his aunt Luna told him on the first night he spent in Equestria. Auntie…was that the past you were telling me about?
The prince felt sad for his auntie until he thought of the angry glares that he was starting to collect from everyone present in the room.
No, this isn't good. Jet Set is trying to spread distrust and anger toward me. If I don't stop this, the point of this party will be lost, my aunts will be back to square one…no it could even get worse. Scarlet…was this your end game?
The prince tensed and gulped as he weighed his options and tried to read the room to determine the best course of action.
"Jet Set please, be reasonable. You are demanding a duel against a pony that has never lifted a sword in his life, a complete and total novice with a blade. What honor or satisfaction is to be gained by beating a newcomer."
Blueblood said before looking at everyone. "As you all know, my memories are gone, I have recognized that in the past I was someone far from deserving forgiveness, but I'm telling you everypony, that pony is gone. And the stallion standing in front of you just wishes to put all of that past behind him." bending down, Blueblood then pick one of the copies of accusations that Jet had thrown. Appealing to the crowd's compassion, "I promise you that I will be held responsible for my actions."
He looks back at Jet with a stern expression. "But it will not be like this, violence can't solve all of your problems, even less so when it's not fair for one of the participants, if you have a dispute with me then let us talk like civilized…"
"…Look at him ponies of Canterlot!" Jet interrupted him and addressed the crowd, setting the guards even more on edge than they already were. "Look at our supposed prince of Equestria, a scared and fragile colt" He points at the plushie the prince was still carrying. "So afraid to confront his own consequences that he refused to fight me! As I enforce the law one of our own founders established!"
The audience starts to glare at the prince and start to voice their own angered opinions.
"It’s true."
"The prince is nothing but a coward!"
"He doesn't even care on stomping on the constitution!"
"Is this the prince, we want?" Jet asks stoking the crowd even more. "Is this the pony we want as our ruler? What kind of monarch does as he pleases and never accepts his mistakes? Or better yet, what kind of princesses would let such a pony, walk away without any consequences?"
The prince eyes wide in horror at his words as the audience agrees to Jet Set’s words. No, not that, Jet Set, don't you dare!
"How can we trust the princesses of Equestria when they refuse to enforce their own law, and deny us the right to challenge the prince?! The law is clear everypony, just as Commander Hurricane said and later ratified with her friends, an unfit commander has no place in leadership, a prince without authority doesn’t deserve a crown, a chancellor without respect for the law has no business on the desk. The prince of Equestria is all of those things, nothing but a mockery of the title and a bad joke for all of us to endure. He has no power, no right to order us around and no place living here in the castle with our monarchs.”
“YEAH!” The audience get even more violent, and the guards now stood on the knives edge, ready to defend the safety of the prince
“Yet the princesses keep hiding the idiot behind their tails, the act itself, even now in light of all this evidence, it’s an insult to all of us. If they will not respect the law then how can we trust…?"
"STOP!" The prince yells bringing all the attention to him once again, even the guards look at the prince with confusion. Breathing heavily the prince levitated his plushie away, giving it to a nearby Luna and Celestia, before taking a step forward and regarding at the sword in the ground. With eyes closed and a shaking hoof, he managed to take up the weapon "Don't…don't involve my aunts into this." He tells Jet Set with barely contained tears.
I'm sorry aunty Celestia…aunt Luna. But there is no other way. I…I can't break Canterlot even more.
Sniffing once and cleaning his eyes he looks at Jet Set with determination. "Jet Set, as you said. I need to repent for my crimes, like a stallion.”
The guards gasp and gather around the prince “Your Highness no!, Please listen to reason! I know his reputation, He is a master swordspony and duelist, you stand no chance against him!” One of them says his concern.
“I know…but it the only way,” The prince tells him back in anger. “At least this way I save my aunts reputation.”
“Heh, so you finally listen to reason and admit that you had…” Jet chuckled at him, but the prince interrupted the stallion before he could continue.
“Nevertheless, It IS as I said, I have no experience with sword fighting, so if we really are going to do this, and if my knowledge of dueling etiquette is correct. I, as the challenged party, get to choose the weapons. As such we use only training swords, that will be my condition.” The prince declared “Step down my level in a fair duel or win with dishonor by fighting a pony who has never held a sword before” He then toss the golden sword away, the ponies around them curious by his claims and look at Jet Set in expectation for his response.
The noble stallion meanwhile stated a mental link with his wife.
Now what? Our plan depended on him using the sword.
Don’t worry honey just repeat after me.
“It will not be that easy prince, but if it will save me from having to listen to any more of your excuses? Fine, but I will not be denied my right to a proper fight, we will using live steel swords with their scabbards bound by honor knots to the guards. Should be satisfactory...Prince?”
The prince thought it over for a moment before merely nodding in agreement. A guard soon brought forth the sword he has previously throw and quickly removed his own scabbard, sheathing the blade and tying it down securely. The guard then nodded to the prince and returned the weapon to the Prince.
“Now, Jet Set, if you would?”
“Oh, but of course prince.” He was about to conjure a scabbard for his own blade when the prince held up a hoof, “ No, use one of my guard's scabbards.” the prince told him with a glare, his tone brooking no argument. Jet seethed inside but outwardly remained calm, ultimately smiling “As you wish” Jet Set accepted another guard's scabbard and placed it on his own sword. Securing it with a jerk of the bindings.
“Now, shall we begin?”
“Lets.” the prince agreed as they both leave toward the garden followed quickly by their audience and the royal guards. The noble couple smirking in victory
Now everything's in place, just finish him, darling!
With pleasure, how long will it take before the spell takes hold again, dear?
It already has, and will just keep increasing its power, as long as he holds that sword, his fears, and anguish will keep piling up and increasing until he is nothing more than a scared and pathetic kitten.
So it should not take long then? Shame, I really wanted to enjoy this.
Patience my dear, removing him will be but a stepping stone towards our destiny.
All the while this was happening the changelings kept trying to contact the real princesses. Yet each attempt they made was met with white noise and broken fractions of their voices as if they were out of range from their mental link.
(Stop music)
In the meantime, outside the castle.
"Formal Attire herself choose that mare to be Blueblood’s legal guardian?" After managing to calm Celestia down, the princess of the night started questioning her sister about why she had been so on edge since her encounter with Tempo, so reluctantly, Celestia gave in and told her the whole story. Luna, in turn, returned to being confused once again by the entire ordeal.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean that she is worthy of the title, not anymore at least." The princess replied, her voice full of venom towards the mare.
"Would you care to elaborate dear sister? Because so far, from what I'm hearing, it sounds like you took away our nephew from a mare who by law, has the right to raise him all along."
"I needed to take him away from her Lulu, you have to understand, Crossfire Tempo…she hasn't been the same mare Formal Attire entrusted her son to in the first place," Celestia whispers out, pity tinging every word before sighing and looking back at her sister.
"When Blueblood’s parents died, Tempo has suffered a terrible accident during one of her exhibition flights, one that forced her to be on a full body cast for years. It was a terrible experience for her and a potentially worse for Blueblood. She couldn't even move and was barely able to breathe. Of course, she was in no condition to take care of our nephew. He was 3 years old at the time, for pony’s sake Luna!"
Celestia bellowed out loud in exasperation before pausing for a moment to compose herself. "I couldn't leave any of them alone like that, so an agreement was made. In exchange for letting me be Blueblood temporary guardian, Tempo could live in the castle and have access to the royal staff for her recovery, it was the least I could do…but then things took a turn for the worst for that poor mare and by the time she recovered she was somepony else, somepony that no longer wanted to lead the wonderbolts."
"What happened?"
Celestia was about to respond when they heard the shouts of the guards. "Stop! You criminal!" Off in the distance and when they look towards the source of the ruckus, both monarchs were shocked to find their nephew, on fire and being chased by a group of guards that were firing arrows at him.
Acting fast, the princesses rushed toward them, and Luna used her magic to stop the guards while Celestia gets in the way of the 'prince.' Yet she gasps when she notices the black mane and scar on his face as he merely shoved her out of the way and makes his escape.
"What is the meaning of this?" Luna asks her guards in anger.
"Your Highness, you don't understand, that is the assassin!" One of the guards, a thestral, answered her.
"What?!" Both sisters screamed as Luna ends her spell.
"He is a crystal pony, who tried to kill Prince Blueblood. Most likely he is the same criminal that made the first attempt, we and some sentinels managed to corner him, but all of a sudden, he surrounded himself with a red aura and starts spitting some strange magma that injured some of our comrades and then made his escape!"
"He is the one that…" Celestia's eye flashed white in rage as she slowly starts to look in the direction in which the assassin ran away. "Where did he go?" Before she could do anything, Luna stops her sister once more, this time her face filled with determination yet also worry for both her sister and her nephew’s sake.
"Focus sister, we don't have the luxury of act irrationally now. Time is of the essence" Luna pleaded with her sister.
"O-of course…you are right, Luna," Celestia tells her while regaining her composure. With a nod, Luna lay down her plan
"Leave the chase to me, I can navigate my night better than you."
"Understood, and I will go fetch Cadence. If this stallion really is a crystal pony, perhaps she would know exactly what he did and how to combat it." Celestia informed her, and with a nod, both princesses take action as Luna with her guards resume the chase and Celestia teleports away in search of her niece. Neither of them noticed the small red flame on Celestia's chest left by the assassin, as that was starting to glow and spread.
While that transpired back in the castle, chaos was spreading in the main hall at an alarming rate as both Pinkie, and the guards kept losing ground.
"Oh come on guys! It's a chocolate cake?! Who doesn't like chocolate?" Pinkie complained before hiding again behind her party cannon while guards smeared with the desert shot magic beams at her.
A guard quickly picked up the poor mare while the remaining group headed to the double door, closing it behind them and trapping the afflicted guards. Pegasus guards did a quick job of securing the windows, using snow clouds to seal them with dense layers of snow.
In the second entrance, guards held the door as their companions tried to break free, while the rest attempted to recover their breath. "Miss Pinkie, could you please not anger our partners even more?" one guard told her while Stellar checked the mare for any burn marks, before sighing in relief once she didn't find any.
"But it was chocolate cake. Chocolate. Cake. Who can remain angry after having a taste of that?" Pinkie argues back.
"Well, I'm not that crazy for chocolate actually." One of the guards holding the door informed the party mare before leaning against the door once more when it was about to break open. "Ah, perhaps this is not the best moment to discuss flavor preference."
"Agreed." The guard helping Pinkie nodded before looking at her. "This place is no longer safe miss Pie. We need you to go seek help before this spirals out of control any more than it already has."
"Okie Dokie!" Pinkie makes a salute and dashes away. Once she is gone the guard addresses Stellar who keeps looking at the door intently.
"Think you can give us a scream?" The guard asks her in worry to which she merely looked at him and nodded before looking at the door again and began to inhale.
"Ok fillies and colts! We will be using the sonic hammer! On my mark, clear the way!" He instructs the ones holding the door. Once he gets confirmation the guard look at Stellar, who plants her hooves on the ground and lowers her head.
"Steady…" He pays attention to Stellar’s actions until she lifts her head once again. "…NOW"
The guards dive out of the way and cover their ears, letting the enraged soldiers jump out into the open, only to run face first into a near solid wall of sound caused by the scream emanating from Stellar, one so big and powerful that it threw them all back and obliterated all the glass nearby.
Startled and holding their ears in pain, the corrupted soldiers were easy to restrain, quickly being apprehended and immobilized by the unicorn’s spells or chains and manacles used by the pegasus and earth guards.
Their victory is short-lived though, as they see a hole torn in the floor in the middle of the room and Amber was unaccounted for.
"What room is below this one?!" One guard asks in fear.
"The royal kitchen…which is where Scarlet currently is." Another soldier answered, making him and the others gulp and look at the hole in worry. "May Equestria have mercy on that mare." The guard tells them in fear.
Meanwhile on the center of the Royal Garden
The tension in the garden was almost palpable as both stallions kept eyeing one another while making their final preparations to start the duel, a noble stallion by the name of Fancy Pants had agreed to act as the judge for the event; an impartial third party that would ensure fairness during the duel and will not tolerate any cheating. For a moment, Jet Set gulped when Fancy was in the midst of inspecting the swords that they would be using, only to breath in relief when he nodded and gave them back to both of them. His wish winking with a smirk.
While both Jet and Blueblood studied their opponent's body language, Fancy Pants went over the rules of the duel.
"The rules of the duel are simple. The stallion who is disarmed is unable to continue the fight or surrenders, loses. Both combats have chosen the use of a sword and as such, said weapon and your hoofs will be the only forms of attack allowed during the duel. Magic is permitted but only as a means to avoid or defend, illusion magic is forbidden, as well as strikes to vital organs or the eyes.
The arena will be enchanted so that it will heal and/or regenerate any injury that you might accrue during the fight, but the pain from the injury will remain. Keep that in mind."
Wait, regenerate? So that means that we can cut off limbs too? Oh boy, now I’m happy I demanded our swords to be sheathed. The prince thought as Fancy kept talking.
"Additionally, the only offensive magic allowed is that which is cast on or through the sword itself. As long as the weapon is what is being used, it will be allowed." Fancy continued. "There will not be a time limit. Since the duel was issued due to the evidence of crimes against should the prince loses his title will be removed.”
“And be given to me” Jet Set added snidely, earning a glare from Fancy Pants.
“You overstep your boundaries, Jet Set, the law allows you a duel with the prince and nothing else. You can only claim that title if you get the approval of the people of Canterlot, and only when and IF you win” Fancy calmly remarks back to the noblestallion.
“ Can you not hear them?! I have the approval of the people, Fancy Pants. That title is as good as mine” He claims, assured of his impending victory.
The monocled noble just shook his head and rolled his eyes in response as he continued “If the prince in turn wins, it will be declared that he been absolved of all of his previous crimes, all of them. The battle will start as soon as I give my signal; Duelists, do you understand?"
Both stallions nod and ready their weapons, waiting for Fancy Pants’ signal.
At that moment, a curious Fluttershy took notice of the growing crowd as well as the prince and approached them intrigued, by the gathering.
"Ah excuse me?" She asked a nearby noble. "Do you know what is going on?"
"Prince Blueblood is about to receive a beating." He responds in excitement.
"W-W-What?!" Fluttershy gasps in shock.
"I know, right?" The stallion smiled and look back at the two ponies. "That narcissistic, spoiled brat has had this coming for a very long time."
Fluttershy desperately tried to move forward and stop the fight, but her efforts are soon denied by a group of soldiers acting as security.
"You can't go beyond this point miss." One of the guards tells her.
"Let me go! We need to stop this, Blueblood…he is going to get hurt!"
"I'm sorry miss." The guard answered her with a neutral expression. "The prince is bound by ancient law written from the times before the Princesses. We can't do anything... no matter how much we may want to."
"But…it's not fair, he didn't do anything bad." Fluttershy tries again, but her efforts are met with the same result. "He is a changed pony, he really wants to prove it to everyone, violence will not solve anything. Please…some pony, stop this." She looks at the prince in fear and worry. "Blueblood!"
Due to the shoutings of the nobles and the effects of the sword starting to mess with his head, the prince was unable to even register Fluttershy’s voice and instead could only perceive the hate and anger everyone was aiming at him.
Not even a single one is going to support me? But I…I thought I was really getting to them? What did I do wrong I…No! There is no time for that, just calm down. Stay focused
The Prince shakes his head, trying to clear his mind as both stallions await for Fancy’s signal. No one in the garden noticing the small fires coming from the castle as another battle inside was taking place. The changelings were finally able to get in to contact with the princess but for some reason could only hear yells and screams in their heads.
"Begin!"
It was Jet Set seized the initiative, exploiting the prince’s small distraction as he lashes out and lands the first strike. The leather and wood of the scabbard impacting with a dull thunk and a burst of pain for the prince but otherwise causing no lasting damage. The pain and surprise though made the prince lose his footing for a second as their swords clashed again. Locking into a bind and bringing the two stallions heads close enough to talk. "What is the matter, prince? Scared?" Jet Set taunted Blueblood with a smirk, his tone jovial.
"What happened to 'we were friends'?" The prince queries in response as he angrily forces Jet Set away and attempts to counter-attack, only for Jet to stop his advances with ease before spinning around, landing a clear buck to his chest. Once again forcing the prince back a couple of steps while holding his chest. "You said you wanted to build our friendship once more? Was that all just lie?"
Jet Set chuckled and shook his head. "Oh Blueblood, hearing you say that is just simply hilarious. Did you honestly think for even a moment, that you have any real friends?" Jet struck again, the prince managed to dodge the blow, but it cost him his balance due to the unfamiliar weight of the sword, leaving him open for a fast slash on his side. "There is absolutely nopony in all of Equestria who doesn't hate your guts."
Ignoring the phantoms of pain throbbing in his body, the prince does his best to remain on guard, lifting his sword with a shaky hoof. His resolve and energy starting to waiver under the hard gaze of everyone looking at him with anger and disgust. "It stings, doesn't it?" Jet asks while lazily regarding his own sheathed and bound blade while taking his eyes off the prince as if he wasn't a threat. "Knowing the truth?" his eyes snapped up and focused with frightening clarity on the prince. Lunging forward the noble slashed away viciously, nearly hitting the prince’s throat before he was able to back away trying to gain some distance to breathe and come up with a plan of attack. But wherever Blueblood retreated to, Jet Set followed. Shifting his grip slightly the Noble changed tactics and launched a series of harrying thrusts, over and over and over, boxing the prince in until Blueblood was unable to effectively retreat and was forced to continuously parry, Jet Sets wide array of attacks from his current position of strength continued unabated. It was only a matter of time before one would land. "Knowing that despite your boost of confidence, your prideful attitude toward your lineage and your claims of being the best stallion that ever existed. You are nothing more than a coward and a hypocrite, it really hurts, right!?" His sword flickered through the prince's guard and found its mark. The prince could only let loose a strangled gasp of shock as the sword smashed into his sternum forcing the air from his lungs in an explosive huff. The prince collapsed to a knee struggling to breathe as Jet backs away, flourishing his weapon about to put on a show and continue to familiarize himself the marginal but noticeable added weight of the scabbard.
Fancy Pants stepped in between the two combatants and waited to see if the prince would rise to continue while the audience cheered for Jet as he gloated in front of them.
"Do you see it, Canterlot? Our prince nothing but a weak and pathetic colt who's only concern is for bits and power, a corrupt ruler who doesn't care about trampling over his own citizens."
That last comment hit home as the prince had a moment of clarity and started to picture Jet Set like his father. A fact that morphed his failing resolve and pain into growing and seething anger. He ignored the pain which suddenly did not matter as much now and stood once more nodding to Fancy Pants to indicate that he can still fight. Before pointing his sword at his opponents turned back, struck by a moment of inspiration and recalling his brief lessons in magic with Celestia.
The art of magic has 3 principles: Stamina, Focus and Memory, if you master all three, there is no spell you cannot cast. Always keep those rules in mind, and I’m sure there will be nothing you can’t do Blueblood.
Cocking his arm back he bellowed his opponent's name.
"…Jet Set!!!"
Taken off guard, the noble slowly turned to the prince in surprise only to hiss out in pain as a strike scored a deep gash on his chest. Uncomprehending, he looks from the prince to the rapidly healing wound on his torso and to the still sheathed blade in the prince's grasp several paces away. Looking back to the prince's eyes, he could see the prince looking at him with a glare, a glowing horn, and a smoking and blurred blade that just launched an air strike.
Focus magic can achieve a solid form, yet the effort needed to maintain it for extended periods is exhausting. But if I just keep it solid for just a brief moment…
Slowly low ringing began to fill the air rising in pitch as the glowing of the prince's horn intensified. "Don't you dare, turn your back on me! We weren't finished." The prince commanded as the ringing and glow reached an almost painful tone and brightness. Both of which fade slightly as the prince launches another air cutter, which the noble barely ducked out of the way of.
"Aren't you going to say anything!?" Jet Set growls out to Fancy Pants in anger. His question was obvious.
"The rules say to only use your sword, technically speaking he is still using it." Fancy pants responded with a dismissive shrug.
The prince then charged in, and this time when their swords collided, he poured magic into his weapon which then discharged into a wave of force that sent Jet Set flying back into the air. Recovering and following through, The prince launches another magical slash that found its mark on Jet Set’s back, opening a near bloodless but devastatingly deep cut as he smashed into the ground, rolling painfully over the wound twice before coming to a halt.
"On your hoofs Jet Set! This is far from over!" The Prince commanded, his palpable rage cowing the violent audience to silence as they too were surprised by this dramatic shift of fortunes.
What in Equestria is going on?! How come his spirit isn't broken yet? Jet Set asks his wife in disbelief through their link as he slowly gathers himself, hissing once again in pain at the searing pain on his back and gasping for a breath as he tries to stand up, Fancy keeping a close eye on him.
You moron, all that gloating and boasting you were doing, it must have angered him so much that he overpowered and blocked out the spell. Upper Crust reprimands him through the link. If he remains this angry, he might turn the tables on you and win, you oaf!
Him? Turns the table on me? Oh honey, so far I was just playing around, and barely even fighting. He simply got the drop off me, but now. Now I will get serious Jet Set smirks, and after finally managing to stand up, both his and the prince's injuries healed entirely. He nods to Fancy Pants, who returns the gesture before stepping back allowing for the battle to continue.
"Ok your highness, no more mister nice guy." Jet taunts the prince as he charges his own horn. "Now we're going to fight for real."
Just like the prince did moments ago, Jet launched a series of magic slashes at Blueblood. while doing his best to avoid the furious return fire thrown out by the prince. Soon both stallions found themselves locked in a stalemate as the guards pour more energy into the shield spell around the arena to prevent any collateral damage as lances, waves, and blades of raw magic fly everywhere.
"A valiant effort, your highness." Jet Set manages to start monologuing as the fight continued. "Desperately trying to turn things to your favor, then again this isn't the first time you have been in this position, isn’t it?"
Taking a small pause, both stallions stop their attacks while at the same time as Jet Set regards the prince with a smirk, he knew that he had more energy than the prince did at the current moment, as the signs of fatigue were starting to show on the prince. "What would this be the seventh? Perhaps eight-time you have tried this stunt to gain the approval of Canterlot?"
"What?" The prince look at him confused, making the noble laugh as he starts to circle around him.
"Oh, of course, feign ignorance. That's worked so well for you in the past. You do whatever you want, without any regard for the citizens of Canterlot. You Take all the credit for the achievements of others, without any speck of shame. And when some pony exposes you for the joke you are, you simply go and make a grand gesture of kindness to obtain forgiveness. Just like this party. the dream of us being equal is nothing but a ruse, so that we forget that it's because of you that all of Canterlot is in an economic crisis."
"Hey that's right, Blueblood is the reason a lot of ponies are now unemployed." A female voice call from the audience, as Jet continued.
"It was you trying to do 'the right thing' and acting outside the law to arrest a pony that, even though he was corrupt was still keeping crime to a minimum."
"Yeah!" More voices agree.
"What? He kidnaped a hero of Equestria and was doing more harm than good!" Blueblood tried to defend himself.
"Sure, that's what you would say. Try to spin so that it doesn't sound bad. But going so far as send your guards to beat them up and then making up a story about you actually fighting and winning against him? Do you take us all for fools!" Jet Set bellowed at him in anger, more and more ponies agreeing with him.
"We all know you, Blueblood. You are nothing but a coward, a cheat and a weakling." His horn starts to charge once more. "But if you really want us to buy it again. Maybe you should have learned how to fight!" To the prince’s surprise Jet Set set his own scabbard on fire. The arcane fire glowing eerily in the night. "Or better yet, show us! Show us exactly how you beat Fort Knox! Let us see how long you last without your precious guards to defend you!”
Striding forwards into striking distance once more, the two stallions lock swords once again, but with the added weight and the increasing temperature, the prince soon knelt as Jet keep adding pressure forcing the flaming blade ever closer. “Not so mighty now, eh?”
Jet jumps back leaving the prince room to fire another burst of magic but after he swinging his sword, Jet Set rushed in and trapped the princes sword arm, moving it out of the way so he can strike the princes now unguarded chest, press the blade down as the arcane fire seared into the princes flesh. The prince cried out in agony only to hear a few words whispered in his ear.
“Feel the heat prince” Spinning in place, Jet Set bucked Blueblood away. Landing hard the prince held his chest in pain while curling into a ball.
"Fancy, I beg you, please stop this!" Fluttershy pleaded with him once more, tears in her eyes. Unable to continue watching brutal display. He simply shook his head. "Jet Set is still only using his sword. The duel will continue." He informs Fluttershy even though it was starting to get hard to watch.
"You heard him milady." Jet Set tells Fluttershy with a slightly condescending smirk. "The fight is still far from over." He then looks to the coughing and bleeding prince that was trying his best to stand up, only to be met with wave after wave of fire strikes from Jet Set.
“And where is your bravado now, Blueblood? Your stance is horrible” He struck at the prince's legs, causing him to stumble "Your Guard is a joke” He jabbed the prince once more in the chest, this time dangerously close to Blueblood throat. “Your parries are ill-timed and slow like a snail” He feinted the prince with an attack to provoke a reaction only to hit him with a backslash.
“At least give me a challenge” He shrugged with a chuckle before looking at the audience again “What do you say Canterlot? Is he pathetic or what? Do you really think someone like him could possibly stand a chance against Fort Knox?”
“No!” Was the overwhelming response he received as Jet continued to gloat and the prince try to recover from the barrage of attacks.
Come on…there must be something anything I can do! What else do I know? I…The teleportation spell? But I still haven’t mastered it, I can’t fight with half a spell.
It was at that moment that the prince got an idea.
Or can I?
"There are still more crimes you need to answer for!" Jet finally turns to look at him once the prince recovers.
" For the misery, he inflicts on millions!" The unicorn launched another wave of magic slashes that the prince who barely manage to defend using a small shield that took the bulk of the attack but did reach his hoofs.
“For the crimes that have gone unpunished” He ignited the sword again closed to melee range once more press the blade against the princes letting the heat lick his stamina away.
"And for the tears he makes our princesses…" He recovered his blade to attack again the strike was about to make contact but continued on fading through the prince's chest and out the other side with no effect. Blueblood, exhausted and bloody as he was, somehow found the strength to smirk at him while taking the time to look down at the sheathed blade that was passing through his chest. the two stallions stood and stared at this new development for a moment “…what?”
“Confused?” Sidestepping the prince managed to deliver a magic slash to Jet Set's side point blank, sending Jet Set flying and screaming in pain. The prince sank down to kneel from exhaustion while regarding Jet Set with that same goofy smirk, which was growing into a smile “I still…have more to offer, Jet Set.”
“You little…, don’t get cocky with me!” Jet unleashed a fury of air slash, but the prince passed through all of them like a ghost as he rushed in to capitalize on this change of fortune, Jet tried to block the incoming strike but the sword passed by his defense like mist. For a second Jet Set felt fear as the sword continued on its path towards his heart before flinching as the prince spin around and bucked him on the chest hitting him against the magical barrier.
Jet recovered and tried to counter, but none of his attacks seemed to be landing correctly. Little by little, the prince was gaining ground again.
Breathing heavenly both stallions paused to recover their energy, Neither of the two duelists dropped their glares.
You are losing Upper Crust growled at her husband over their link.
No I’m not! He argued back.
Then explain what is happening? How is he getting the upper hoof on you?!
If you let me think I might be able to think of something! What he is doing it looks familiar, almost like…
“You really don’t understand anything about magic don’t you Blueblood?” Jet asks with some anger. “I finally get what you are trying to do, its the same principle behind the teleportation spell, surround yourself with magic, turn intangible and direct yourself to a destination” He list “But you are just doing half the process.”
“Half is all I need” The prince answers with a smile “Plus do you know how hard is to learn that spell?”
Jet looks at Fancy Pants who merely shakes his head in the negative “He is using it to dodge, I allow it” He informs, making Jet to grumble, who then looks at the prince before smirking when noticing that he didn’t seem to have much energy left on him.
“Tell me prince, how much power do you have left?” He casually calls out while lifting his sword and igniting it once more “Because I can keep this up for a long time.”
The prince ignored Jet Sets barbs and kept attacking. Yet his movements start getting slower and more and more predictable as Jet Set goes back to toying with him.
“Just admit it Blueblood this is over!” Catching him off guard Jet manage to strike prince in the chest. Dropping him to the ground hard.
Coughing some more blood the prince tried to stand up, but Jet Set struck again, sending him flying until he slammed into the wall of force surrounding the arena. Blueblood's breath left his lungs once again as he slid to the ground limply, like a puppet with its strings cut.
“NO!” Fluttershy screamed in horror at the callous display. Some guards even refusing to look on as the prince struggled to stand once more, desperately searching within for some last gasp of strength and will to bring to bear, even while feeling pathetic, tired, battered and with the mocking laughter of the crowd echoing in his ears, Jet was the loudest among them. The prince had only barely managed to struggle to his knees as he heard the end of the fight approach. Blueblood looked up as Jet Set closed, determined to finish the fight with the small victory of not breaking.
Jet Set smiled in satisfaction as he regarded the prince flounder for a moment before advancing with deliberate steps, flourishing his blade once more. Fully intending to give the crowd a show as he finished the fight, he had only made it three steps though when Fancy Pants stepped in between the two combatants, leveling a distainful glare directed at Jet Set.
Stopping in his tracks the noble mind was marred with a confused and enraged snarl for only a second before it settled into the smirk that he had been wearing throughout the fight. “Seems we are done here, don’t you think Fancy? Just end this charade already, this is just boring now” Jet complained loudly as he stepped back, while resting his weapon on his shoulder.
Fancy could only sigh and look back at the prince in pity as he fought his hardest just to stand up. So it was with a heavy heart he raised his hoof. “The winner is…”
“N…no!” The prince managed to utter catching both him and Jet Set by surprise. Using his sword for support, he finally managed to stagger drunkenly to his hooves and glare at Jet Set.”It's…not... over yet.”
“Oh? Isn’t it?” Jet Set asks with a chuckle as he slowly approached the prince neatly sidestepping Fancy Pants as he went until he and the prince were face to face. “Then, by all means, prince, do continue. In fact as an act of kindness. I will let you have the next attack.”
Jet Set spread his hooves wide in a mockingly inviting manner, in preparation for the prince while Blueblood continued to glare at his opponent. All while still hearing the laughter in his head and all around him.
I can’t lose…I can’t…if I do…if I lost…my family…my home…I can’t lose everything again.
Tears began to fill his eyes as with a grunt of pain and a shaky hoof, he managed to lift his sword. His opponent remained still, unimpressed and nonplussed.
“Go ahead, I’m waiting…” He taunts the prince once more.
Mustering all the energy left in him, Blueblood brings down his sword down on to Jet Set's chest… and the sheathed blade glances off to the side as the prince collapses to the ground.
Aunties…cousin…Canterlot…I’m so sorry!
The prince's thoughts danced around with the jeers of the crowd in his mind as the ground rose to meet his face.
Cheers are heard once he hit the floor.
Immediately after the shield spell was lifted, Fluttershy rushed to the prince's side and lift his head in worry.
“Blueblood! Are you ok?” She timidly asks. The prince just trembled and cried, refusing to open his eyes as he continued to chant ‘I’m sorry’ over and over.
Fluttershy turned a rage-filled gaze to Jet Set as he just laughed and pointed at the display “That look fits you, Prince, finally put in your place!”
“You are laughing at his pain?” Fluttershy asked him in astonishment, “What is wrong with you…you…you big meany!” She calls him, but Jet Set simply ignored her and instead turned to Fancy Pants.
“Go ahead Fancy Pants. End this.”
With closed eyes and a pained breath, the noble simply raised a hoof into the air before pointing to the standing duelist. “The winner…is Jet Set. The Prince Blueblood, is no more” He announced making the crowd cheer in glee for a second time.