Being set down in the ring by a tournament aid was a tall yellow stallion with red hair and wearing the same brown stetson as the Element of Honesty.
"Applejack, that is your father!" Rarity said, remember his face from the few times she had met the apple farmer during her fillyhood.
"Wow, Applejack, your dad's a lot younger than I thought he was." Pinkie Pie commented. Applejack was about to ask what she ment, only to then notice that yes, the Bright Mac standing in the ring was indeed younger than Applejack remembered her father ever being.
In the waiting area next to them, a pink Unicorn with a pale blue mane was leading an unreformed changling with purple eyes into the arena. "Come on, mister Pharanx, it's your turn to fight!"
The Changling groaned, "Guh, I'm supposed to fight an Earth Pony? Tshk, could have been worse." He then grumpilly flew up to the ring.
Bright Mac was surprised at his opponent, of all the creatures he had been expecting to fight, a malnourished bug pony was not one of them. "Sure you don't want to drop out, friend?"
Pharanx looked at the apple farmer, "Friend? That's a dirty word." He then cast a beam of purple magic out from his horn. Bright Mac just barely dodged the attack. But Pharanx didn't relent, casting spell after spell. As the stallion was starting to tire, one shot connected with his head, freezing the pony in place.
"Guess that's that." The Changeling said, disappointed at the outcome. Yet as he turned his back, he was suddenly kicked in the flanks by his opponent. "What?!" Looking back, it seemed his spell only ended up paralyzing his hat in place, not his whole body. Bright Mac swung around for another kick, this one pushing the startled changling back by a few meters.
Pharanx shakily picked himself up and stared down the farmer. "Okay, now this is getting interesting." He then engulfed himself in purple flames, causing many in the audience to gasp in shock, as he transformed into dark furred yak with purple horns.
"AHHHHH!" The changeling yelled as he charged down the now smaller pony. Bright Mac just managed to roll out of the way before he was trampled. But Pharanx was quick with his turnaround and caught him from behind, tossing the stallion into the air like he was a scarecrow.
Bright Mac tried to pick himself up, but it seemed his injuries were too much, and he was left kneeling. "I surrender."
"Pharanx of Universe Q is the winner!" The audience erupted as the winner was declared, but amidst the cheers were many upset jeers, the reputation of the Changelings as parasites apparently being known to many.
Down in the fighter's waiting pit, Applejack was disappointed her father's double didn't win.
"Good fight, dude!" Spike cheered as the now untransformed changeling returns to his area.
"Tch." The warrior only scoffs as he disappears back into the corridor.
Spike looked upset that his friend's brother was apparently still a sourpuss. Celestia put her hoof on the small dragon's shoulder in comfort. "Don't worry Spike, I'm sure he'll learn the true power of love and friendship sooner rather than later."
"I think he already has." Starlight commented. "His wings were long and shiny like Thorax's were after he was accepted by the Crystal Empire."
"Our next match," The announcer declared, "Is Luna of Universe N, against Mistletoe of Universe J!"
Universe J was in fact the Nightmare Moon universe, the black Alicorn sneering that her lesser half would be called before her not once, but twice. Turning to a bat winged pegasus in midnight armor, apparently the fighter Mistletoe, she commands, "End this pale reflection of your Queen's brilliance."
"As you command." The warrior then enters the ring. Her red eyes standing out against the dark green of her coat and mane. She flares her wings, glints of metal at the wing's 'finger-tips' betraying the weapons she is armed with.
A second later, the Luna of Universe N sets down. Unlike our Luna, this one wore no armor or jewelry.
The nightguard took to the air, ready to attack; only for the Alicorn to fire a burst of blue grey magic out of her horn, striking the mare in the forehead. The pegasus lost all momentum, dropping to the ground like a stone.
"I'm sorry, child." The other Luna said, "But I cannot afford to lose."
"The- The winner is Luna of Universe N! By a knock-out!" An attendant said, after having completed the thirty-count.
This came as a total surprise to the ponies of Universe P, even the Alicorn sisters having no idea what spell the other Luna cast that had put the other pony to sleep like that.
Nightmare Moon was merely miffed at the outcome. "Failure."
"The next fight is Scorpan of Universe B, against Lyra of Universe Y!"
Entering the ring was an old human man with a brown beard, a gold crown sat atop his head and he carried a wooden scepter in his hands.
On the other end was Lyra, or a version of Lyra, dressed in yellow and gold robes, her tail was shaved save for a mohawk at the very end. A gold lyre was strapped to her side.
The human Scorpan bowed, "A pleasure, my little Pony. I trust this fight will be an honorable one."
Lyra gave no reply, only rushing forwards and grabbing the man's hand. "Oh!" She said, feeling at the appendage. "So many bones. And the fifth digit moves independently, HA! I was right!"
Scorpan was naturally put off by the mare's behavior. "Whatever are you doing?"
"Oh! Sorry. Humans are kind of an urban legend in my universe. The chance to study one is- er I mean, one of you, is such an amazing opportunity."
"I see," He withdrew his hand. "I hope you don't mind if I cut your 'investigation' short for a demonstration of human magic."
"Human magic?"
"Ventus!" with a single word and a wave of his wand, a gust of blue wind pushed the Unicorn away. She tumbled head over hooves before catching herself, staring at the man. "Termino!" A circle of magical energy appeared under the mare, who found she could not get up or move her body at all.
"One, two, three..." The organizers started the pin count.
Lyra tried to cast a spell, but every time she got close, her hooves felt numb and broke her concentration.
"... 28, 29, 30! The winner is Scorpan!" The victory was met with a few applause, the two quick matches leaving many in the audience disappointed.
Scorpan dispelled the circle, letting Miss Heartstrings move again. "That was crazy!" She cried out, "I've never heard of a spell like that before!"
"If you wish, I would be glad to teach you."
"Really?!"
Down in the waiting area, Applejack was elbowing Rainbow Dash. "So, how long do ya think you'll last in the ring before ya lose."
"Lose? What makes you think I'm capable of losing?" She bragged, sweating.
Applejack just turned her attention back to the arena, "Ten Bits says you'll last a whole minute."
"Our next match, Fluttershy of Universe Y versus Rainbow Dash of Universe P!"
Rainbow was started to hear her own name be called, but immediately perked up once she heard her opponent's name. "Deal."