Surprisingly enough Rarity proved to be quite the skilled fighter. This was in no small part due to the many self defense classes she had attended, after all, a lady should always know how to defend herself against attackers.
The first three rounds proved to not be much of a challenge for Rarity and she swept them with relative easy. A quick glance at the tournament ladder showed that all of her friends were still in the running. That was good, even if it meant the chances were increasing that Rarity would have to face one of them later on.
That was not the case for this round as she saw who she was facing off against. But her opponent brought back memories that Rarity had been trying to forget. Still she knew she would have to face them or forefit the match, and she wasn't going to do that. Reclutantly Rarity headed for the stage.
The stage itself looked like an underground mine. The caverns were lit up with torches, providing an ample source of light. "This place hasn't changed a bit since I was last down here." Rarity thought to herself.
"Ah, pony has decided to show up after all." a familiar voice said "That is good."
"Yes, now we shall crush little pony." another voice said.
"And make her our slave." a third voice said.
"Why did it have to be you three?" Rarity asked "Didn't you Diamond Dogs learn your lesson last time?"
"Pony got lucky last time." the middle dog said.
"This time pony will not be so lucky." the big dog said.
"Yes, pony will lose." the small dog said.
"I see you've forgotten that my name is Rarity." Rarity said "Speaking of names I don't believe I learned your names. Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me them?"
"So pony wants to know the names of her future masters." the middle dog said "Then we shall tell pony who we are. Rover is my name."
"Pony can call me Fido." the big dog said.
"And pony shall know me as Spot." the little dog said "Pony shall not win against our combined strength."
"Oh please." Rarity said "I outsmarted you three last time and I can do it again. Or have you forgotten about my whining?"
"Go ahead, whine all you want pony." Rover said.
"You asked for it." Rarity said "Oh your breath smells horrible." She gasped when she realized she couldn't produce the high pitched shrieks that brought the Diamond Dogs to their kness last time.
"See? Pony can't whine." Fido said.
"What did you do to me?" Rarity asked.
"If pony wants to know the truth, pony will have to fight us." Spot said.
"Well if it's a fight you ruffians want then I'll gladly give it to you!" Rarity said "But you've messed with the wrong pony, and you're gonna be sorry."
"We'll see about that pony." Rover said "But to be fair we shall fight one on one. I shall go first."
"Good." Rarity said "And when I beat you, you will tell me everything."
"The only one who will be defeated is you." Rover said "Stand back boys, and let me deal with this."
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia asked as both fighters took up their positions. Both fighters nodded "Round 1, Fight!" Princess Celestia said.
"Pony can make the first move." Rover said.
"You'll regret that." Rarity said, attacking with a karate chop "Had enough yet?" she asked.
"No." Rover said "Pony will not get the best of me."
"Oh yeah?" Rarity asked.
"Yes." Rover said.
"I don't think so." Rarity said, attacking with a kick.
"Now pony will lose." Rover said, he attempted to attack Rarity with his claws. But Rarity dodged it and countered with a magic blast.
"Did that hurt? Sorry!" Rarity said.
"Let me take over Rover." Fido said "I shall whip pony."
"Very well then." Rover said "Crush her Fido!"
"Hey, that's cheating!" Rarity said "You can't switch back and forth like that!"
"The rules said we could only fight one on one." Fido said, tagging in "It did not say only one of us could fight."
"Well it doesn't matter." Rarity said "I'll defeat you, Rover, and Spot if I have to. Nothing is going to stop me."
"Prepare to lose pony!" Fido said, he threw a punch that Rarity narrowly dodged. She countered with a few kicks and karate chops.
"This is hardly entertaining." Rarity said "Aren't you ever going to actually fight?"
"If it's a fight pony wants then let me fight." Spot said "Pony will be no match for my speed."
"Show pony who's boss." Fido said as he tagged Spot in.
"Just try and keep up with my speed pony." Spot said "You won't know what hit you." He raced forward, quite fast and hit Rarity with a punch. But due to his small body it didn't really pack much of an oomph.
"Let me show what a real attack is suppose to feel like." Rarity said, charging up her horn and blasting Spot with a magic blast.
"Pony is too strong!" Spot said "Crush her Rover!"
"I shall indeed." Rover said, tagging in.
Despite Rover, Fido, and Spot constantly switching back and forth, they were no match for Rarity. She managed to dodge most of their attacks, and was able to frequently attack and/or counterattack.
"You Diamond Dogs just don't know when to quit do you?" Rarity said. Rover, Fido, and Spot had become heavily bruised, and had grown fatigued.
"Pony will not defeat us." Rover said "Pony will lose."
"Sorry to disappoint but it is you three who will lose." Rarity said. She raced forward and hit Rover with an uppercut. She then unleashed several karate chops and kicks which proved to be too much for Rover. He fell to the ground.
"Pony got lucky." Rover muttered.
"Rover!" Fido and Spot shouted, rushing to the aid of their fallen comrade.
"K.O.!" Princess Celestia said "Rarity wins the first round."
"So have you ruffians had enough yet?" Rarity asked "Tell me what you did that keeps me from whining and I might go easy on you."
"We'll never talk!" Rover said, rising to his feet "Pony shall get no answers from us."
"You tell her." Fido said "No pony is going to get the best of us."
"Next round will be different." Spot said "We shall try something new."
"You'll never defeat me." Rarity said "But I'd love to see you try."
"Pony dares to mock us?! Pony will pay!" Rover said.
"I highly doubt that." Rarity said.
"Pony will lose!" Fido said "Pony will be begging for mercy when this fight is over."
"So enjoy your victory pony, because it won't last." Spot said.
"I offered you three a chance to surrender." Rarity said "But if you insist on fighting me then I shall show all of you no mercy."
"We don't need mercy." Fido said.
"Mercy is for the weak." Spot said.
"Prepare to lose pony." Rover said.
"It is you three who should prepare to lose." Rarity said. Princess Celestia then healed the wounds of both fighters and restored their stamina.
"I'll lead." Rover said "Remember our strategy."
"We will." Fido and Spot repliedd.
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia asked as both fighters again took up their positions. Both fighters nodded "Round 2, Fight!" Princess Celestia said.
"Let's get this over with." Rarity said, she raced forward and attempted to hit Rover with a kick.
"Now!" Rover said.
"Ready!" Fido said, tagging in. He absorbed the force of the kick and seemed to shrug it off.
"But how did you" Rarity asked.
"We warned pony that we would not lose." Fido said, he then attacked Rarity with a punch.
"See how you like this!" Rarity said, firing off a magic blast.
"Incoming!" Fido shouted.
"I'm on it!" Spot said, tagging in. He then ducked and the blast sailed right over him.
"Why you!" Rarity said. She attempted to hit Spot with a punch but Spot easily dodged it. Rarity then tried to attack with a karate chop.
"Ready!" Spot said.
"Right!" Rover said, tagging in. He blocked the karate chop and headbutted Rarity.
Rarity began to grow worried as she could only get in one or two hits. The Diamond Dogs frequent switching was getting on her nerves. "I should've known you ruffians couldn't beat me in a fair fight." she said.
"Pony is just upset because we're winning." Spot said, switching in from Rover.
"We tried to warn pony, but pony wouldn't listen." Rover said.
"Pony has no one to blame but herself." Fido said.
"30 seconds remaining." Princess Celestia called out. Rarity had started to grow fatigued while the Diamond Dogs looked like they had barely even a scratch on them.
"Come on Rarity. You outsmarted them once before, you can do it again." Rarity thought to herself "There's got to be a way to outsmart their constant switching. You just need to figure out their weaknesses." Suddenly an idea sprang into her mind "That's it!" she thought to herself.
"Has pony given up yet?" Spot asked.
"Hardly." Rarity said, racing forward and preparing to strike Spot with a kick.
"Fido!" Spot said.
"I know!" Fido said, tagging in. He was prepared to block what he was certain was a kick. But to his surprise Rarity cancelled out of it and hit him with a magic blast. She then attempted to hit Fido with a karate chop.
"Get her!" Fido said.
"With pleasure!" Rover said, tagging in. Rarity outsmarted him by switching at the last minute to a kick. She then attempted to hit Rover with a magic blast.
"Oh no you don't!" Rover said.
"I'll stop her!" Spot said, tagging in. He had no trouble ducking under the magic blast but was surprised by a swift karate chop.
"Now I've got you ruffians right where I want you." Rarity said.
"Time up." Princess Celestia said "By decision the winner of this match is Rarity."
"No!" Rover, Fido, and Spot said all at once.
"I won!" Rarity said "Now tell me. What did you three do to me?"
"We'll never tell you." Rover said.
"Not ever." Fido said.
"Pony will get no answers from us." Spot said.
"I'd think twice if I were you." Rarity said "I could always rat you three out to Princess Celestia."
"Fine, we'll tell you." Rover said "We put something in your drink."
"We knew you would try to use your whining." Fido said.
"So we decided to 'fix' that." Spot said "You'll never whine again."
"Liar!" Rarity said "You three are hiding the cure from me! I want it and I want it now!"
"Pony will have to catch us first." Rover said "Let's go boys!"
"Yes sir!" Fido and Spot said. All three Diamond Dogs proceeded to run away. They didn't get far though as they were caught in the grip of Princess Celestia's magic.
"This has gone far enough!" she said sternly "I didn't interfere when you three started switching because I didn't want to risk an international incident. But what you three have done has gone way beyond the tournament rules and regulations!"
"What?!" the Diamond Dogs asked.
"It's simple." Princess Celestia said "The rules for this tournament are as follows. One: All fighters must sign up in advance. Two: All fighters must be official Equestrian residents or ambassadors. Three: Fighters are prohibited from interacting off stage, with the exception of the final match. Four: Fighters are not allowed to fix fights in their favor. Five: Fighters can not use strategies or abilites that grant them an unfair advantage. Six: All fighters must fight one on one, no tag teaming is allowed. And Seven: Fighters may not tamper with others fighters food or drinks. Any fighters that break these rules are expelled from the tournament. And you three broke rules three through seven. Therefore as head of the Equestria Battle Tournament, I, Princess Celestia, hereby declare this match null and void! Rarity wins by default, and you three are expelled from the tournament." She then used her magic to remove something that she spotted in Rover's coat. "Now leave and never come back!" Princess Celestia bellowed. The Diamond Dogs ran away in fright.
"Thank you Princess Celestia." Rarity said "I don't know what I would've done without you."
"It was nothing." Princess Celestia said "You were the one who put those cheaters in their place. Now then, this should cure whatever it is that those Diamond Dogs put in your drink. You'll be back to your old self in no time."
"Take care Princess Celestia." Rarity said.
"You too Rarity." Princess Celestia said "I look forward to seeing how far you go."