Pinkie Pie had no trouble breezing through the early rounds of the tournament. None of her opponents proved to be much of a challenge for her, and she easily swept them all. Needless to say she was enjoying herself.
A quick peek at the tournament ladder confirmed that none of her friends had been eliminated so far. That was good news to her, even if it increased her chances of facing one of them in the later rounds.
Her opponent for this round was Octavia. "Octavia huh? Why does that name feel so familiar?" This puzzling thought remained in her head as she made her way to the stage. Despite her best attempts at raking her brain she couldn't find the answer to her question.
Those thoughts were quickly pushed to the back of her mind as she observed the stage. It looked almost like the ball room from The Grand Galloping Gala. In fact if it weren't for the absence of the fancy band and the high class ponies Pinkie Pie would've assumed it actually was the Gala.
"Ah, you must be my opponent." A prim and proper voice said "Pinkie Pie I presume?"
"How do you know my name?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Because I glanced at the tournament ladder of course." the voice explained "Pinkie Pie is your real name right?"
"Yes." Pinkie Pie said nervously "And you are?" She was certain she knew who it was but she wanted to be sure.
"Octavia Melody." the voice replied "A world renowned cello player."
"Now I know why your name felt so familar. You were that cello pony in that band at The Grand Galloping Gala." Pinkie Pie said, not realizing until too late that she probably shouldn't have said that out loud.
"Thank you ever so much for reminding me of that." Octavia hissed "That was the most humiliating moment of my entire life! Thanks to you my band and I couldn't get a perfomance anywhere! For several weeks after The Gala anyway."
"Yeah about that." Pinkie Pie said, regretting ever having brought it u "I'm really sorry about 'convincing' you and your band to play The Pony Pokey."
"Well your apology is a bit late." Octavia said with a hint of anger "Still, better late then never I suppose. And it's not polite to hold a grudge. Even one as tempting as this. Consider yourself lucky."
"I guess I should be grateful." Pinkie Pie said.
"You should." Octavia said "Because you don't know how much I want to bash your head in for what you did!"
"Look I said I'm sorry." Pinkie Pie said "So can we please move on? I really don't want to be fighting against you if you're gonna be a big old meanie pants."
"Reluctantly, I'm not going to let my grudge, or my anger get in the way of this fight." Octavia said "But I should warn you that I'm pretty strong."
"Well I guess we'll see which one of us is stronger then, won't we?" Pinkie Pie said.
"Indeed we will." Octavia said "Alright, I believe that's enough chit chat out of the both of us. Let's focus on the fight."
"Very well then." Pinkie Pie said "Let's go!"
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia said as Octavia and Pinkie Pie took up their positions. Both fighters nodded. "Round 1, Fight!" Princess Celestia said.
Pinkie Pie was afraid to attack Octavia first. She knew that this fight could end in the blink of an eye if she ticked off Octavia. And that, in her mind, was a big no no.
"Are you going to fight me?" Octavia asked.
"Y-yes." Pinkie Pie said "When I feel like it. T-there's no hurry right?"
"Don't tell me you're too afraid to fight me." Octavia said.
"Afraid? What would give you that idea?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Octavia asked "I can see you shaking in your horseshoes."
"H-how do you know it's not cold in here?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I know fear when I see it." Octavia said.
"I-I'm not afraid." Pinkie Pie said.
"Then prove it!!" Octavia insisted "I'm wide open!"
"O-okay. If you insist." Pinkie Pie said. She then launched a really weak and slow punch. Octavia dodged it, and if she wanted to ,she could've easily counter attacked. She didn't however.
"Come on Pinkie Pie, I know you can do better then this." Octavia said. "I heard you swept your previous matches with ease. Why is this fight any different from the others?"
"Because I don't want to make you mad." Pinkie Pie said "I want you to be happy."
"That's it? That's the reason you won't fight me?" Octavia asked "Because if that's true then that's pathetic! Look I'm sorry if I came off as grumpy earlier, but you can't always make everyone happy all the time. And you want to know something? Right now you're making me unhappy."
"I am?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Yes." Octavia said "And you know what would make me happy? A fight between the two of us where I knew we both gave it our all. So stand up and fight like you mean it! I promise that no matter what happens I won't be mad. Unless you decide to throw the match."
Pinkie Pie felt ashamed of herself. Her Granny Pie had always told her to stand up to her fears and laugh them away. How could she have forgotten that? And she called herself a Pie family member?
"Well what's going to be?" Octavia asked.
"I'll fight you." Pinkie Pie said "And I won't hold anything back!"
"That's the spirit Pinkie Pie." Octavia said smiling "Now let's see which one of us is better."
"Watch out, cause I here come!" Pinkie Pie shouted, racing forward and delivering a much more powerful punch to Octavia.
"Now that's what I call a punch." Octavia said.
"Glad you think so." Pinkie Pie said "And there's more where that came from!"
"I thought so." Octavia said "But this fight is far from over."
"I know." Pinkie Pie said "So let's make the most of it."
"With pleasure." Octavia said.
The fight soon became as intense as Pinkie Pie's previous fights. And this time it wasn't obvious that Pinkie Pie would win. To anyone watching, the fight could go either way as both fighters tradded punches and kicks.
As time slowly began to wind down both fighters grew fatigued and were panting heavily. Their hooves and bodies were covered in bruise marks.
Octavia threw a punch that she was certain would connect. But Pinkie Pie's 'Pinkie Sense' finally kicked in, allowing her to dodge the punch at the last moment. "What?" Octavia said.
Not one to waste an opportunity Pinkie Pie delivered a strong uppercut before grabbing Octavia. She then threw Octavia as far as she could. Octavia fell to the ground.
"K.O.!" Princess Celestia said "Pinkie Pie wins the first round."
"Are you alright Octavia?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'm fine." Octavia said, rising to her hooves. "That's the Pinkie Pie everyone knows and loves."
"You mean it?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Of course I do." Octavia said "And I must say, I didn't see that last move coming."
"Well what can I say?" Pinkie Pie said playfully "I'm a mare of mystery."
"Indeed you are." Octavia said "But don't get cocky. You haven't won yet."
"Of course silly filly." Pinkie Pie said "Everyone who's anyone knows you have to win two out of three."
"Well just so we're clear, I'm not going to let you just trot over all me." Octavia said "If you want to beat me again you're going to have to bring your A game."
"I intend to." Pinkie Pie said.
"You had better." Octavia said "Because the kid gloves are coming off. Now you'll see just how strong I really am!"
"Ooh! I'm so scared." Pinkie Pie said teasingly. As soon as she had finished saying this Princess Celestia healed both fighters, and restored their stamina.
"Joke all you want." Octavia said "I'm going all out, and I trust you'll do the same."
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia asked as both fighters took up their positions once more. Both fighters nodded once again. "Round 2, Fight!" Princess Celestia said.
"Take this Pinkie Pie!" Octavia said, starting off the round with a strong high level kick. Pinkie Pie dodged it, but just barely. Octavia kept on punching and kicking and Pinkie Pie continued to barely dodge every attack.
"Just try and dodge this!" Octavia said, racing forward with the intent of grabbing Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie however, rather then dodge or block, countered Octavia with a swift kick.
Already there had been major action. Both fighters seemed to be able to read each other perfectly. Whenever one fighter tried one move they usually only partially succeeded. For in a matter of seconds they were usually met with an equally powerful counter attack. Before long they began to grow fatigued, and became brusied and battered. A true display of skill.
"You're pretty good Pinkie Pie." Octavia said.
"You are too Octavia." Pinkie Pie said "Of course only one of us can win."
"So let's see who it will be!" Octavia said. Without warning she raced forward, intending to start a combo and finish off Pinkie Pie. And at first it seemed like it was working. However just as the last punch of the combo was about to connect Pinkie Pie dodged, cancelling it out and leaving Octavia vulnerable.
"Get a load of this Octavia!" Pinkie Pie said, pulling out an object that no one had ever seen before.
"And what, pray tell, is that?" Octavia asked.
"Oh it's nothing special really. It's just my patent pending PARTY CANNON!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
"What?!" Octavia said. Needless to say she was shocked.
"Say hello to my little friend!" Pinkie Pie said, pressing the trigger. Within seconds an incredible blast of streamers and other party decorations shot out at high pressure. The blast caught Octavia by surprise and by the time she had a chance to react it was too late. The blast overwhelmed her and blew her away. She didn't stop until she was pushed into the edge of the protective magic barrier that marked the stage. She fell to the ground, completly bewildered.
"K.O.!" Princess Celestia said "The winner of this match is Pinkie Pie."
"What hit me?" Octavia asked as she rose to her hooves.
"A whole bunch of party supplies, that's what." Pinkie Pie said "And thanks to you I know now that my party cannon actually works."
"You mean you never tested it before?" Octavia asked.
"Nope." Pinkie Pie said.
"So you had no idea if it would work when you pulled it out?" Octavia asked.
"Yup." Pinkie Pie said.
"Why would you do something like that?" Octavia asked "What if it didn't work? What then?"
"Then I would've come up with another plan." Pinkie Pie said "But sometimes things are more fun because they're unexpected. At least that's what I always say."
"I dobut I'll ever understand your logic." Octavia said "Anyway that was an excellent match. And if it makes you feel any better I actually really enjoyed playing The Pony Pokey."
"For real?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Indeed." Octavia said, smiling warmly "There was just something so nostalgia about it. Like a lost part of my childhood had finally come back to me."
"Well my Granny Pie always told me that song had magical properties." Pinkie Pie said.
"I guess that would explain why I felt the way I did after playing it." Octavia said "Well I've talked for long enough and said everything I needed to say. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going. I'll be rooting for you. Best of luck in all your future matches."
"Will we meet again someday?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Perhaps." Octavia said. And with that she walked off the stage.
"Octavia. You remind me so much of my family. Especially my sisters." Pinkie Pie said. But she said it to herself.