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// Chapter 4: Flamedramon vs. Shining Armor [Edited] 
// Story: the Fire of Courage 
// by NinjaMare 
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The barracks of the Royal Guards of Canterlot was quite a spacious area, not only was it a place where the guards changed out of their armor, patrols swapped with others, it also housed a massive training hall that had practice dummies and targets mounted on the walls along with practice weapons. Though it wasn’t as worn down as well used as Flamedramon thought it would be when they entered it, then again it could just be that the guards cleaned and maintained it, so it looks new before actual training happens. But like with guards that he’s come across so far, as well as his impression on the captain, all of the guards in the barracks training hall didn’t seem to be taking their training seriously. The unicorns were practicing their magic, pegasi worked on their acrobatics, and the earth ponies trained in martial combat and restrain tactics. Yet none of them seemed all that interested in really improving themselves, just practice enough to maintain their current level of skill.

But today the barracks wasn’t just a place for the guards to train themselves in maintaining whatever skills they had, today the barracks was going to be where the captain of the Royal Guard spar with Flamedramon, to see what a supposed hero from another world is capable of. News of the event raced through the castle so fast that after mere minutes of the challenged being made, the barracks was already being filled up with even more guards, even maids and butlers and other castle staff were piling up into barracks. And as more and more ponies came they all started sitting or standing while talking with one another about their captain challenging the strange creature that has accompanied Twilight Sparkle to the castle. Some of the ponies were even making and taking bets on who would win this sparring match.

“So who do you think is going to win this little sparring match?” An earth pony guard mare asked her fellow guards as ponies were placing their bets amongst their little groups, while Shining Armor and Flamedramon took their positions in the main combat arena.

“Well the captain didn’t get his rank for nothing.” An pegasus stallion commented as his wings ruffled as he looked to his fellow guard. “He was the only one to ace not only the written exam for the post, but showed the most skill in training out of his class to make captain.”

“Maybe.” A unicorn mare guard said as she brushed some of her mane out of her face, before she looked squarely at Flamedramon.

“But that other guy is ripped! I mean look at those muscles, and that body, you can definitely tell that he works out and uses it.” the mare commented as she looked at the Digimon’s well-toned and fit body, she even subconsciously licked her lips as she looks at Flamedramon’s muscles.

Speaking of said digital monster and captain, both were standing in the center of the barracks combat arena, where the captain was stretching and limbering himself up, while the Armor Digimon seemed to be doing a few minor warm ups. While the combatants got themselves ready Twilight, Rarity, and Spike were sitting among the guards, and were wondering how this mock fight was going to go down, as well as see if Shining Armor would be alright. But what the trio found a little odd was that Flamedramon wasn’t dawning his armor, in fact he seemed to be very disinterested in the fight, or at least something close to it.

“To make it clear Shining Armor, this is a sparring match. Not a real battle to see who wins or not by traditional definition, correct?” the Digimon asked as he and the captain finished with their own warm ups.

“That’s right. But I don’t want you to hold back, I want to see what you’re really capable of. I want to see how I can stack up to a hero from another world.” Shining Armor said as his horn flushed with magic for a brief moment to rev up his magical flow.

“I would advise fighting against you at one-hundred percent for this little spar.” Flamedramon warned as his tail flicked about.

“I can tell that your strong, just not strong enough to face me if I were to go all out.” Shining Armor again seemed to look offended that Flamedramon suggested that the captain was weaker than him, and not even a true threat or challenge.

“As I said before Flamedramon, I’m stronger than I look!” Shining Armor barked back as his ears twitched in irritation. “So don’t treat me like a colt playing soldier, I want you to give this sparring match everything!” The captain said with a snort as he pawed at the ground, as for the Digimon himself he simply gave a sigh as he shrugs his shoulders.

“Very well then.”

Twilight, Rarity, Spike, and the rest of the audience in attendance then watched the Digimon raise his arms, and held them in a X formation in front of his face, then in one swift motion swung his arms back down to his side. But it was not a simple act of pumping himself up as many of the ponies believe, instead as the arms swung back to the Digimon’s side they all saw Flamedramon’s chest, feet, and head burst into flames! Everypony in attendance was thoroughly shocked in seeing the flames just, spontaneously erupting out of nowhere, and just bathing the Digimon. But their shocked turned to astonishment as the flames died down, and everypony then saw that Flamedramon was now dawned in his armor, and was already getting into a fighting position. And as he did so, the ponies felt that the atmosphere in the room changed, as if the air has become humid and thick which made it hard to breath. However the atmosphere wasn’t the only thing that changed.

When Shining Armor, or any pony looked upon the Digimon, they all could instinctually feel an intense presence or aura emanating from the digital monster. It was a sensation that caused all of them to shiver. Even Shining Armor swallowed a lump that had developed in his throat, while sweat actually started to form on his forehead before getting into a battle-ready pose, with his horn lit with magic to ready any spell. The captain was just going to use his own combat skills, as he thought that the Digimon was just a pure brawler, but after the display of fire and dawning of his armor the captain decided to use his magic as well. With both the captain and digital monster now ready to begin their match, a tall stout unicorn guard then approaches the arena, and as he does so he glances between the captain and the Digimon.

“This will be a friendly sparing match; the winner will be decided when one of the combatants surrender, where the match would be concluded. Challengers, are you both ready?” The stallion announced and clarified before he looked between both competitors, to which they both nodded their heads in confirmation.

“Then, begin!”

The moment that the stallion started the fight, everypony watched in startled surprise as Flamedramon bolted over to Shining Armor with such incredible speed that from the onlooking crowed, it appeared that the Digimon had teleported! Shining Armor was taken aback by the Digimon’s surprising burst of speed that he couldn’t defend himself probably, the only thing he was able to bring up a small shield spell to block a punch, but it was soundly shattered upon making contact with punch, which continued on with its flight course until it struck the stallion square in the face! The captain was sent flying backwards across the ring, till he skid to a stop two feet away from the edge of the arena, while his nose dripped with a few drops of blood.

After recovering from the attack, and curing his bleeding nose, the captain retaliated by firing a fairly strong magic blast at Flamedramon. But as it closed in on the Digimon, who seemed unfazed and not even attempting to dodge the attack, everypony watched as the magical missile was instantly backed hand by Flamedramon’s right gauntlet, dispersing it with ease! Everypony was utterly shocked at seeing the digital monster quite effortlessly knock away the captains attack, even Shining Armor was utterly dumbfounded by the action. Shaking the shock away the captain then gathered a lot more magic into his horn, and then fired off a few more magical blast’s at the Digimon, but like the one before, they were all simply knocked away, preferably into the air or sent crashing into the ground where they quickly dissipated back into the ether.

Shining attempted to fire more blast’s at his opponent, five magical blast at the same time with each being fired in different directions, before they arced their way towards Flamedramon. But the Armor Digimon didn’t even flinch. Then in an impressive display of skill and speed, the Armored Digimon either punched or kicked each magic blast till they all were dispersed. After the fifth magic blast was bested, the ponies, including Shining Armor, were just left staring at the Digimon in awe. However the captain was brought out of his astonished state when the Digimon again lunged towards him, forcing him to create another shield, only this time he was more prepared so when the Digimon went in for a punch, the shield held, if just barely as a sizable crack covered the surface of the shield where Flamedramon struck. But before the stallion could repair his shield, or even make a counter attack now that his opponent was in closer range, Flamedramon spun on his feet and delivered a sweeping powerful kick which shattered the shield in one go! But the stallion didn’t waver, or get distraught, instead Shining Armor went in for a counter attack, standing on his hind legs and going in for a punch of his own while the Digimon recovers from the wide kick. Yet the Digimon seemed prepared as his tail lashed out, and caught the captains leg and brushed him off to the side.

“Wow! He’s really good!” One guard said in bewilderment as he watched the captain recovered and went in for another attack, but he again missed with two of his own punches, while Flamedramon spun around the captain and knocked him to the floor with a low sweeping kick.

“I hate to say it, but the captain is definitely out classed in this fight.” Another guard said as she watches the captain recover from his drop to the floor, dodging a tail smack from the Digimon who went back on the offense with barrage of punches of his own.

“I don’t even think this guy is even taking the captain seriously.” Another guard said as his eyes watched the Digimon very closely as the captain tried to dodge all of the punches, only managing to do so against a few but getting scrapped and bruised by others as he tried to use magic to make his opponent back off. “I mean it may just be me, but he doesn’t seem to be using a whole lot of his actual power.”

Twilight and her two friends continued to hear various comments that the guards were making, and while Twilight, Rarity, and Spike weren’t adept in fighting in any compacity, they could definitely tell that Flamedramon wasn’t using probably half of his skill and power. At least based on what they’ve heard from the Digimon himself when he went into detail about how he fought in the past, it was also suspicious that they haven’t seen Flamedramon even use his supposed fire-based powers. All he’s been doing was using his physical skills throughout the fight.

“Twilight are you sure your brother will be alright?” Rarity asked as she watched Flamedramon deliver another punch to the stallion, this time to the captains gut, causing Shining Armor to ‘gaffe!’ and drop to his knees.

“I hope so!” Twilight said worriedly as Flamedramon just stood over her brother, who was clutching his stomach as he looks up to the Digimon. It was hard for her to see her brother be easily beaten in this fight, especially since she knew how much pride her brother took in his role of captain and being a physically adept pony.

“Do you give up?” Flamedramon asked Shining Armor who just gritted his teeth as he looked up to the Digimon. And as much as he would like to try, Shining Armor knew that right now he wouldn’t be able to best the Digimon, he was just far stronger and more skilled in combat than he was. Especially with the captain suspecting that the digital monster was indeed holding back.

“I give up.” the stallion said as he hung his head as he sat there, while the guard that started the sparing match declared the official winner to being the Armor Digimon, getting a hushed or low conversations from the audience about how the fight went. Even the ponies that were taking bets were all shocked to see the difference in skill between the two.

With the match concluded the Digimon dis-armored himself in another flurry of fire, causing the ponies to again gawk and talk about what they just saw, as he now stood over the stallion in the buff. Flamedramon then offered the stallion a hand to take so he could help him up, and once he did Shining Armor placed his hoof in Flamedramon’s hand and was lifted up from the ground onto his hooves. The guards, along with Twilight and her two friends, trotted towards the group and started to check over the two. Though it was mostly on Shining Armor as he was the one receiving all the hits, while Flamedramon has barely any kind of blemish on his skin, aside from a few knicks from Shining Armors attempts to fight back near the end of the fight.

After the guards and Twilight checked Shining over, and saw that none of his wounds were life threatening, or hazardous to his overall health the stallion turned to look at the Digimon, who was getting praises from the other half of the guards and castle staff for his skills. There were even a good amount of mares that were swooning over his prowess.

“Well I’d have to admit, your definitely a lot stronger than I thought you were…even when you WERE holding back.” the stallion commented as he looked up to the Digimon, who looked down at him with a small smile.

“Same to you.” Flamedramon said as he held a hand out again. “You certainly did better than I thought you would, specially towards the end when you used your magical blast to try and make me back off.” The Armor Digimon complimented the stallion who gave a small chortle.

The stallion gave the Digimon an equally friendly smile, and placed his right hoof in the Digimon’s hand where the fingers wrapped around it, and the two shook to show everything was in good sportsmanship. As well as acknowledgement in each other’s skills. After the sparring match was over with, everypony returned to their usual assignments and tasks that they admitted to leaving to witness the fight. Meanwhile after getting Shining Armor to the medical wing to ensure that was indeed alright, Flamedramon and his friends then left the castle, before bidding the guards and Shining Armor a farewell as they made their way through the city, and heading straight for the train station.

“Well this was certainly a bit more exciting than I initially thought it was going to be.” Twilight stated as she and the others passed by various groups of ponies as they closed in on the train station, where they all stood and waited for the next train to pull up.

“You can say that again.” Spike mused as he rode on Twilight’s back as he faced the Armor Digimon that was behind the dragonling and his caretaker. “I’m still blown away on how you handled that fight Flamedramon, I mean Shining Armor is a really tough pony, yet you handled him like he was nothing.”

“Well I have more actual combat experience than he does.” Flamedramon said as the group stood amongst the small crowd of ponies at the station, where they could hear the train coming towards them. “Training can only take one so far, but I’ll give it to him Shining Armor was certainly a lot better than I initially surmised.”

“Well hopefully the rest of the day will be far more relaxing.” Rarity said as the group watched the train come closer and closer to the station.

Once the train started to make its way into the station once it left the tunnel, and came to a slow stop when it finally pulled in the train was then unloaded of its current passengers as they exited the cars. Yet as the ponies exited the cars, the group was met with startled yelps, and curious glances and hushed whispers, as the ponies all focused on Flamedramon. When the last of the ponies exited the train, the ones that were already at the station started to board the vehicle, but as Twilight and her entourage made their way into the train car the unicorn noticed that Flamedramon wasn’t boarding. And was just leaning down to look inside, and looking around the train car.

“Flamedramon, is everything alright darling?” Rarity asked the Digimon as she peered up to him with a curious expression adoring her face.

“No offense, but your trains are rather, cramp and uncomfortable for my liking. I’ll just make my why back to town on my own.” Flamedramon said as he pulled his head back out of the train car, leaving the two mares and dragonling to look at him with questioning looks on their faces.

Then in one huge leap the ponies saw Flamedramon bound over the train! The ponies in the car then rushed to the other side and were left looking on with amazement at what they were seeing! All of the ponies in the car was watching the Digimon leaping and bounding down the mountains face side, expert scaling down without appearing of being in danger in tripping and falling to his doom, effortlessly landing on the cliffs and ledges with such grace and fluidity, before leaping to a new spot. None of the ponies could even say anything to describe what they are witnessing, as they watched Flamedramon scale down the mountain till he was out of sight. No longer visible to the ponies as they just, stand there, looking out the windows with looks of amazement and wonder plastered on their faces.