//------------------------------// // 4 - The Faire // Story: Polygamy is Magic // by Ravenmane //------------------------------// I searched the lower levels of the palace in an attempt to find some suitable armor, best to look the part after all. In hindsight, asking Shining before he departed to resume his patrol might’ve been a good idea. By the time I was ready to give up, I found a few shining suits of steel armor. They looked as though they were completely unused, but I for the most part slipped one on and carried a second on top of it. Amidst lugging the armor towards a series of bleachers that seemed to have sprung out of nowhere along the thoroughfare, I saw Rainbow flying about and fastening streamers and banners everywhere. “Gonna let your mane down for this,” she called to me. “I’ll have to,” I called back, “this thing’s pretty uncomfortable right now. Hey, you see the way they look at me?” “You might remind them of Smoky out there.” I rolled my eyes. “I doubt he would’ve ever jousted against a sexy mare.” “I don’t want you goin’ easy Al.” I grinned. “Don’t make excuses before you lose Dashie.” “I found some training lances,” she called at me as I continued towards the empty stands. “Left em out at the bleachers!” ***** I cantered down my setup, making sure everything was up to what it said in the book, but when Twilight passed by, book in front of her face, I looked for some encouragement. “I’ll be making the announcement that the faire is open soon Alex,” she said. “Do I have everything setup right?” I caught sight of her eyes as she moved the book down. “Aside from empty bleachers, everything’s just fine. When we announce the start of the faire, I’ll send Rainbow your way. Just wait for the trumpeting of the flugelhorn and direct your attention to the palace. I want to have a few words just as we start the faire.” “Keep it short Twi and remember no talking about ya know.” She nodded and looked to the palace. “Do you think we can really do this?” I came up beside her and gave her a tight hug. “As sure as beating Fluttershy at jousting with my legs tied and blindfolded. As long as we all work together it’ll be that easy.” Twilight gave me a comforting smile. “You mean the world to me Alex,” she cooed in my ear before giving it a teasing nip. I tried to hide my reddening face behind a teasing façade. “We can save that stuff for our train ride home in victory.” “I’ll have to contend with Rainbow then,” she replied before heading back to her work. “I love you,” I called to her fading backside. ***** Nearly an hour after Twilight faded from my sight I heard an earsplitting sound from the castle. It was as if someone had decided to pick up a trumpet on a whim and try to play it, thinking they had years of practice. I could swear it was making my ears bleed. “Who in their right mind let somepony who can’t play an instrument sound the horn,” I grumbled before the flugelhorn sounded again. “Hear ye, hear ye,” echoed Twilight’s voice from the palace. “Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to the Crystal Faire!” Twilight’s proclamation of the Faire’s start drew the crystal ponies from their homes. In a way, I think I was more grateful to the proclamation than actually earning the trust of the crystal ponies. Then again, they still seemed to scurry away from the jousting arena whenever I looked away from a mannequin I set up to practice on. ***** As time wore on, I continued to practice, finding it helped fill the void caused by the lack of an opponent and audience. Occasionally, there would be a crystal pony that broke the norm to take a seat in the bleachers but it was always short lived. I felt like the laughing stock of the Faire, as if I was some dark and brooding stallion looking for attention. I just wanted them to enjoy themselves and I might just have to contend with being ignored for that to happen. Once I repositioned myself in one lane of the jousting field, I started to imagine my opponent as somepony that was actually evil and stared at them. I smirked as my eyes focused on the imaginary foe. I saw a pony, clad in armor black as night and with eyes that felt like they could pierce my soul. In my imagination, this seemed like far more than just letting my mind wander. I wanted an opponent and Rainbow had to be held up by something. The crowds would be cheering, calling my name. Even if it was all in my head, it felt good. Just to visualize it was exhilarating. My focus towards the illusory target was so intense that I saw them begin to charge. I steeled myself and charged down the lane, my training lance ready to strike. ~~~~~ In reality… Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened as her mate began galloping towards her, ready for a full attack. ~~~~~ “Woah,” she managed before soaring up, “what are ya doing Al?” I snapped from my fantasy as soon as I caught sight of the blur of colors in Rainbow’s tail flew through my field of view. Grinding to a halt, wings unfurled in an attempt to slow myself even faster, my eyes darted in her direction. “Sorry, lack of an audience must be really getting to me.” “You think? I told Pinkie you needed a helping hoof, she doesn’t realize what happens to you when you get restless.” “So, nopony’s been coming by?” I rolled my eyes. “Oh they’ve been coming around, long enough to relax on the bleachers and avoid eye contact. I really doubt I’ve heard the whole truth behind why we aren’t liked a whole lot.” “Look, I’ve told you all I know. Twilight admits there isn’t much to work with so I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Maybe it’s just a bad reputation or some superstitious thing.” “Maybe they’re hiding something.” “And just who do you mean by that?” “Princess Luna might be hiding something, or maybe the Nocturnes themselves are hiding it. I want to know why ponies are scared of me and nopony’s telling me just why that is!” My little outburst seemed to do something to the passing crystal ponies. As I looked towards them, I noticed that many of them started to draw closer. “Things went from bad to worse when your kind came to the empire,” hissed an old mare. No, if Granny Smith was old then this mare had to be ancient. “Well I’m not here to make things bad,” I said plainly. “I’m here to handle the jousting demonstration.” I glanced over my shoulder and saw Rainbow getting her helmet on. “Now that my prismatic assistant is here we can begin.” “Well you all do seem rather understaffed,” muttered a nearby stallion. “There’s just the seven of you right?” “Yeah, but I don’t want to impose. I mean to say that this is all for you crystal ponies.” “I understand that, but I’ve been talking with some of the other stallions around the empire. Well, the stallions that have been coming out to see the faire at least; we’re willing to pitch in if you want help.” “That’d be great,” said Rainbow as she came up beside me. “Pinkie and Applejack have been running around and doing all the concession stands on their own so they could probably use a helping hoof. Sounds like a good idea right Al?” “Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” I smiled and looked back to the stallion before us. “Talk with either the pink earth pony or the orange earth pony for where you can help out. Tell them that Alex and Rainbow Dash said you could help out.” The stallion nodded. “Shame I’ll miss you two and the jousting but I’ll need to tell the others. Take care!” As he departed, a few mares in the group went out to catch up with him. Rainbow and I waved after them. “Good luck,” we called out enthusiastically. “Now,” I said as I looked out to the remaining crystal ponies, “who’s ready to see some jousting?” The ponies that remained cheered as they headed up and onto the bleachers. It was comforting to see even the ancient looking mare heading up, an enthusiastic look on her face. Rainbow nudged me. “You want the lane near the bleachers or the one further back big guy?” “I’ll take the further back one, let you take center stage. We can always swap lanes later right.” “Sure.” ***** As time wore on, impact after impact dented both Dashie’s armor and my own. Neither of us dared give the other any quarter, knowing whoever received any handicap would exploit it for everything they could. As my gaze shifted from a newly splintered lance towards the audience I saw the crowd of cheering, shimmering ponies in earnest. It was a pleasing sight, the formerly dull crystal ponies seemed to drag my attitude down, but as they shone in their seats, I was filled with confidence and determination. This was what we were performing, quite the sight to see. Pinkie had joined us along the way, clad in a suit that reminded me of a jester. She had informed us about Twilight and the Crystal Heart when she arrived, but the three of us were too concerned with keeping the crystal ponies happy to question Twilight’s desire to go after the Heart on her own. Part of me wanted to go with Twilight, but as I collected a new lance, I felt like this was a better use of my time. Rather keep the crystal ponies happy than get a lecture. As I took my place I saw Rainbow get back onto her hooves, I caught that determined fire in her eyes. We’d both lost count of who had been dropped more, but every time she got up she tried to make that the last time. She met my eyes and grinned, steeling herself for the next sounding of Pinkie’s flugelhorn. The tenacity Rainbow or I showed seemed like nothing compared to Pinkie’s improvement on the flugelhorn. In mere hours she had gone from sour notes to sounding like she had practiced for at least a few months. Pinkie’s flugelhorn rang out, signaling Dashie and I to charge one another once more. My body ached more from the numerous charges than the collisions said charges brought. “Rainbow Dash,” chanted several of the crystal ponies. “Nocturne,” chanted the rest. Ever since we began, we tried to ignore using my name. After all, I still didn’t have a very ‘pony sounding’ name. I caught sight of the the sky flickering the instant before Rainbow’s lance met my armor, sending me flying as her worn lance shattered. It had been quite a few connections since she had to replace hers so I had been expecting it for a while. After I fell on my back in a bale of hay, Rainbow came over to check on me. “Still with me,” she asked me. “Noticed your attention drifted and I don’t want-” “I caught sight of the sky,” I muttered. “We’re running out of time.”