The crowd of guards in the stands applauded and cheered for the twin Zebra Unicorns as they left the arena. Princess Celestia stood up and walked to the front of the royal box to announce the next match.
“Let’s give another hoof to Cancer and Dragon, for demonstrating their skills and knowledge in fighting. But, for also the dedication they had put into their match,” said the white Alicorn. “Seeing we don’t need to do major repairs to the arena, let’s get going to the third match today.”
The crowd cheered loudly wanting the next match.
“This first pony is a Unicorn that came from Manehattan. Don’t be fooled by his charm as he can do the unexpected. Introducing, Star Dust!”
The blue Unicorn stood up in the participant box and waved to the crowd. They cheered for him.
The Princess of the Sun raised her hoof to calm the crowd down to introduce the next pony. “This next pony comes from Ponyville. He’s a unicorn with a fun personality. But, looks can be deceiving as I introduce, Colorful Sparks!”
The other blue stallion stood up and joined Star Dust at the edge of the show box. He waved to the crowd as his opponent started to wave again.
“I look forward to our match. May the best stallion win,” Colorful Sparks said.
“The same goes to you,” replied Star Dust. “Your illusion spells are going to be an interesting matchup against my cosmic spells.”
“Let’s get you two down there so the match can begin,” Shining Armor said. He activated his horn and teleported them to the center of the ring.
In the center of the arena, the two Unicorns stood away from each other. The referee teleported in. “Alright. I know you heard this before. So blah blah blah, enjoy the fight,” the ref said and teleported away.
“I take he doesn’t like coming down here,” Star Dust said.
“I agree,” replied Colorful Sparks. “Why is there a ref anyway? I don’t know how you can cheat when there are pretty much no rules. Only stay in the arena.”
“Let’s get going then before the crowd starts to boo at us.”
“Fine by me.”
They both went into a battle stance and charged up their horns. Star Dust formed a small meteorite at the tip of his and sent it flying towards the blue stallion with an orange mane. Colorful Sparks changed tactics to use to his illusion one. Several copies of him appeared just as the rock slammed into a fake instead of himself. It disappeared as the meteorite went through.
“That was a close one. You are getting faster casting your spells,” All the Colorful Sparks said at the same time.
“You’re getting faster at making your illusions,” replied Star Dust. “Now then, let’s truly see who’s magic is better.”
“BRING IT ON.”
The blue stallion with black mane charged his horn up again. The other Unicorns ran in random directions to hide the real one. He took his time to try and detect which one was real. The Unicorn launched another meteorite and it made contact. But it was an illusion that disappeared. They were perfect copies. A pony’s eye couldn’t spot a flaw in any of them.
The orange mane Unicorn decided to land some blows while he can. From different intervals and directions, a Colorful Sparks pony would go by Star Dust and land a blow somewhere on his body. He swung his hooves at them, but realized it was an illusion. His opponent was creating more as they were being found.
Star Dust needed to get an upper hoof soon, or he’ll lose to exhaustion. He wished it was night time. That’s when he’s more powerful with the stars’ aid. The black mane Unicorn decided to try and communicate with the stars to hopefully convince Princess Luna to bring the night early. He summoned several meteorites to circle him as a defense barrier as he concentrated. Colorful Sparks ponies stayed away, waiting to see what happened.
------------In the Royal Box-----------
Princess Celestia was watching the match when Princess Luna teleported next to her.
“Luna. What’s going on?” she asked. “You’re normally still sleeping right now.”
“I know, but I was having a strange call from the stars asking to bring the night early,” the blue Alicorn replied.
“Why would they want that?”
“I think because they want to help that Unicorn, Star Dust. I have heard him several times communicate with them at night.”
“I never realized he had that capability. Do you think we should honor the request?”
“It would allow us to truly see what he’s capable of. He’s only been training in the daylight while his abilities come from the stars.”
“True, plus it will make a better match for the sudden change.”
“You really like to watch the guards duke it out in the arena. Shall we, sister?”
“Lets.”
Both Princesses lit their horns up as they moved the sun and the moon. The crowd of guards was wondering what was happening. They then saw the Princesses with their horns glowing and calmed back down.
-------Back in the arena---------
Colorful Sparks was getting tired of waiting. He was about to charge when he noticed it was getting darker. "What’s going on? Why’s the sun setting now?" Colorful Sparks asked.
"I asked the stars to convince Princess Luna if we can have the night early. My spells are better at night," Star Dust replied.
Soon, the sun set and the moon rose into the sky. Around the arena, torches began to ignite and emit light. Everyone could still see everything around them, only now the night sky was there.
"So, what did you need the night for?" the orange mane stallions asked.
"This," the black mane stallion replied.
His horn started to glow. It glowed brighter and brighter, blinding anyone who looked directly at it. Colorful Sparks closed his eyes. Once the shine was gone, he opened his eyes. All of his illusions were now gone. He looked towards Star Dust just in time as he slammed a hoof into his face.
"Found you,” he said. “Do you give up now?"
"Nope. I just need to step up my game," Colorful Sparks replied.
The orange mane Unicorn’s horn lit up and he then disappeared. Star Dust backed away when he realized his opponent went invisible. With the stars’ aid, he summoned several meteorites and had them orbit around his body. The black mane stallion listened carefully to find where the pony was.
He heard a noise from behind him. The Unicorn quickly sent a meteorite in that direction. He broke the object into tiny pieces to spread out, like a shotgun blast. The rocks only came into contact with the wall.
“Aw, were you hoping you had me there for a moment?” Colorful Sparks asked as his voice echoed in the arena.
“Come on out and show yourself so we can finish this fight!” Star Dust said while looking in every direction.
“The night isn’t just for you,” said from the echos. Suddenly, a whisper entered Star Dust’s ear. “I too prefer it.”
The black mane stallion jumped away as he felt a blade touch his front left hoof. The meteorites that were orbiting him, fell to the ground. Star Dust realized just how close he was to a serious injury. He did his spell again, but with more rocks to stay close to him. He needed a way to dispel that invisibility if he wanted a chance to win the match.
"What's wrong? Didn’t like my blade that close to you? I’m just trying to show you should never trust your defenses," said Colorful Sparks.
"I agree. Just like how you use that invisibility to sneak up on your opponents. That too will hurt you one of these days," replied Star Dust.
"Fang has been the only one able to detect me while I have it active. I’d like to see if you can dispel it."
"With pleasure."
The black mane Unicorn needed to do something to make it difficult for Colorful Sparks to maintain that spell. What did he have that would break the spectrum he was bending. An idea popped into his head. He activated his horn and channeled lots of magic. The stallion sent a beam into the starry sky.
"Was that supposed to do something?" asked his opponent.
"I’ll soon see where you are Colorful Sparks."
The starry sky soon started to change color. The Aurora Borealis appeared and was showing all the colors of the spectrum in the arena. The crowd ooh and awe at the sight. Star Dust looked around the arena, He soon spotted Colorful Sparks ten feet away as he was looking at the sky. The black mane stallion turned his gaze off him so his opponent wouldn’t realize his invisibility was gone.
Colorful Sparks looked down from the sky and looked at Star Dust. He was looking around, trying to see him. The orange mane stallion worked to sneak up behind Star Dust.
"Aw, did you think that the light show was going to dispel my invisibility? Sorry to say it didn’t work," he said.
The Unicorn prepped the blade that was attached to the right forehoof to slash off Star Dust's tail. Before he struck, his opponent said, "I did think that spell would stop yours. And did you know what, it did."
Before Colorful Sparks could react, he was double bucked by Star Dust's rear hooves and sent flying. The hooves made contact with the front of The orange mane stallion’s chest. He went flying back thirty feet and landed just before the arena wall, then slid right next to it.
As Colorful Sparks was getting up, Star Dust charged toward him. Once the orange mane stallion was on his hooves, he started to take hoof blows from his opponent. He did his best to block, but was still recovering from having the air knocked right out of him.
The black mane stallion was throwing every hoof combo and was making a hit. He knew not to give his opponent any breathing room. He didn’t want to deal with more clones or his invisibility spell again. Or worse, both.
After several minutes, Star Dust was getting tired. His fore hooves were slowing down. This gave Colorful Sparks the time to get off the wall and get some breathing room. Both ponies were now breathing hard. They were only a few feet from each other as they stared each other down.
"How are you able to stand after taking that beating?" Star Dust asked.
"I got beaten up by bullies as a colt. It toughened me up,” replied Colorful Sparks. “Your hoof hits are the worst I have ever received though."
"I had to beat up thugs to protect my little sister. Shall we end this?"
"Go right ahead. I still plan to win."
"Keep on dreaming."
They both began to charge their horns. Colorful Sparks created a dozen illusions of himself as they surrounded Star Dust. They prepared their blades to strike.
The black mane Unicorn was still charging up his horn. His body soon was emitting a silver aura around him. Now, just above him, a very small moon formed. It shined brighter than Luna's moon. There were tiny sparkles floating around it. They glowed brighter as they started to get bigger.
"Final Move! STAR FALL!" Star Dust shouted.
As on command, the bright objects around the small moon began to fall. They targeted all the Colorful Sparks surrounding him. The orange mane ponies were running around, trying to avoid being hit. It didn’t work as these were acting like heat-seeking missiles. An illusion pony disappeared one after another when the stars exploded on contact. Soon, only the original Colorful Sparks was left. There were still lots of mini stars that were falling, and they were all heading for him. Try as he could avoid them, he still got hit by several of them.
When the smoke cleared from the explosions, both Star Dust and Colorful Sparks were laying on the ground in the arena. Neither of them were moving. The ref appeared between them.
"This match cannot end in a draw. The first pony to get onto all hooves will be declared the winner." The referee pony said.
(Yes, I am doing that ending again.)
Both Unicorns realized they still have a chance to win. They struggled to pick themselves up off the ground. Each had placed their forehooves on the ground in front of them. They then ready their back hooves in a similar position. With all their might, they began to try and stand up.
Star Dust was the first to get his belly barely off the ground. All of his legs were shaking badly as he continued to get up. His face had lines of sweat rolling off as he tried to pull all the remaining energy he had left.
Colorful Sparks was in a similar situation. It took him several times to get his belly off the ground. His body was pretty bruised up from Star Dust’s hooves and magic blows. He didn’t give into the pain. He pushed himself harder than he ever has to reach the goal to stand first.
Both were now halfway standing up. You would need a measuring stick to see who was in the lead. The crowd could tell both were in pain and exhausted. The guards in the stands were cheering them both on. Chanting their names and stomping their hooves. This raised Colorful Sparks’s and Star Dust’s spirits up.
Wanting them to push even harder, the black mane stallion cried out in pain as he forced his body to move faster to stand up. He was almost there and was about to lock his knees, when the unexpected happened. His legs gave out and he fell back down to the arena floor.
The orange mane stallion saw this was his moment to take the win. He too cried out in pain as he struggled to stand. His body was shaking all over and lots of sweat was rolling down his body. He pushed harder and harder on the muscles in his legs to get him to stand. He was very close to standing on his hooves.
The ref was watching him carefully to see when Colorful Sparks was standing under his own hooves. He looked over to Star Dust and he was working on getting himself back up again. He was catching back up at a good pace. Neither of them has locked in their legs to get the win yet. Star Dust finally got back to the same level as Colorful Sparks. This is going to be very close.
“WE HAVE OUR WINNER!” The ref pony shouted out. He walked over to the winner and stood next to him. “THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS . . .”
“. . . COLORFUL SPARKS!”
The crowd still continued to cheer for them both as this was a most excellent match. Both Star Dust and Colorful Sparks collapse back to the ground after the winner was announced. They both looked at each other with smiles on their faces.
“That was a good match, Colorful Sparks. Congratulations,” Star Dust said.
“Thanks,” he replied. “I never realized how powerful you were. You have some amazing spells in your arsenal. I would never have thought those lights would dispel my invisibility. I think I should work on some defensive and offensive illusions spells. That way I will be better prepared for what situation I get thrown into.”
“That sounds like a good plan. There’s some good books in the Canterlot Castle library. I’m sure the Princesses would allow you to look through them to help you out. That’s how I know the spells that I can do.”
“I would like that. Now I just need to find out who I’m going to face next.”
“How about I take you to the medics so you can heal up before you face your next opponent,” A pony said.
They turned their heads and saw Captain Shining Armor was standing there.
“Yeah. I think that’s a good plan. Of course, we’re going to need some help to get there as neither one of us can get up,” Star Dust said.
“That’s why I came down to help you. Let’s get going.”
The Unicorn Guard Captain activated his horn and levitated them up to take them to the nearby medics at the arena entrance.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood up to address the crowd. “I don’t know about you all, but I was very impressed with the level of magic those two ponies pulled off. Don’t you agree, Princess Luna?” Princess Celestia asked.
“I agree, sister,” replied the Princess of the Night. “It was also nice to see the Aurora Borealis being displayed against my beautiful night sky. Shall we get onto the last match for the day?”
“I agree. Seeing there are only two recruits left, let's have them come to the arena. The match between Lightning Trails and Swift Blaze will begin shortly.”