The next two rounds of the tournament passed rather quickly, at least for Fluttershy. It was certainly a surprise to see somepony like her make it to the semi finals.
Glancing at the tournament ladder she saw that she was going to have to face one of her friends in the final round. She was unhappy about the fact that she would have to crush one of her friends dreams in order to win, but she convinced herself that she could always split the prize money if she wanted to.
But her opponent for the seventh round was quite the surprise. "I wasn't expecting to face off against somepony like him." Fluttershy thought to herself as she made her way to the stage.
The stage itself seemed to be the fields of Sweet Apple Acres, plain and simple. Nothing really special about it.
"So you and I are facing off against each other huh?" a voice asked "Well I must say I'm surprised. But then you have made quite the name for yourself."
"Big Macintosh?" Fluttershy asked.
"Eeyup. The one and only." Big Macintosh replied "Of course if you want you can just call me Big Mac. A lot of mares do."
"Big Macintosh sounds better to me." Fluttershy said "Big Mac just sounds weird."
"You think so huh?" Big Macintosh said "Well it doesn't matter. What does is matter is how well ya fight. I wanna see if you're really as good as everypony says you are."
"You sure?" Fluttershy asked.
"Positive." Big Macintosh said "And don't even think about trying to hold back cause I'll know. Well it's a fine day for fighting and time's a wastin'. So let's stop talking and start fighting."
"Okay. I guess." Fluttershy said.
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia asked as both fighters took up their positions. Both fighters nodded. BIg Macintosh even replied with his trademark "Eeyup." "Round 1, Fight!" Princess Celestia said.
Neither fighter made a move for a few moments. Fluttershy sized up Big Macintosh and Big Macintosh sized up Fluttershy. Both of them were a tad bit shy though Big Macintosh was nowhere near as shy as Fluttershy.
"So do you wanna make the first move?" Fluttershy asked.
"Eenope." Big Macintosh said.
"So you want me to go first huh?" Fluttershy asked.
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said.
"Well okay." Fluttershy said. She nervously attacked Big Macintosh with a kick. Big Macintosh blocked it with ease.
"I hope you can do better then that." Big Macintosh said "Cause if not then you can kiss the final goodbye. Now let me show you what a real attack is like." Using his powerful legs Big Macintosh kicked Fluttershy.
"Wow! How did you get so strong?!" Fluttershy asked.
"Years of applebucking." Big Macintosh said "When you work the fields as long as I do your legs get a good work out."
"Well this fight has only just begun." Fluttershy said. But she wasn't sure if she could damage Big Macintosh on her own. So she reluctantly decided to call in some assistance.
Big Macintosh was confused when Fluttershy suddenly whistled for what seemed like no reason. But within seconds he found out why. A mob of bunnies, squirrels, beavers, otters, a bear, and other forest creatures appeared. "Mother." he said as the animals overwhelmed him and trampled him.
"Sorry about that Big Macintosh." Fluttershy said "If it makes you feel any better I can't do that move again in this round."
"I figured there was some kind of catch to that move." Big Macintosh said. He then attempted to attack Fluttershy with another kick. But this time Fluttershy dodged it and delivered a flying kick. Big Macintosh tried to play it cool and shrug it off, but it was obvious that he had felt that attack.
As the fight continued both fighters soon became brusied and fatigued. Fluttershy surprisingly seemed to gain the upper hoof but Big Macintosh was an opponent who didn't go down easily.
"30 seconds remaining." Princess Celestia called out.
"I just have to keep avoiding Big Macintosh's attacks." Fluttershy thought to herself "And then I'll win automatically when time runs out. I can do this!"
"I know what you're thinking Fluttershy." Big Macintosh said "And it won't work." Not wasting a second he tried to attack Fluttershy with a punch. His front legs may not have been as strong as his rear legs but they were still a force to be reckoned.
Fluttershy barely dodged the punch. But only through a last minute sidestep. She didn't have enough strength to fly.
"I don't believe it!" Big Macintosh said.
"Sorry Big Macintosh." Fluttershy said "But I'm not going to lose my advantage if I can help it."
"You caught on quicker then I expected." Big Macintosh said.
"I always do seem to think quicker on my hooves." Fluttershy said "It's just something I'm good at I guess."
"You're telling me." Big Macintosh said, he knew he was likely losing his only chance to turn the tables but he didn't care. He was already coming up with a plan for round 2.
"Time up!" Princess Celestia said "By decision Fluttershy wins the first round."
"You're a lot better then I expected Fluttershy." Big Macintosh said "I didn't think you'd won your other matches by a fluke but I didn't think you'd get past me."
"Well I'm just full of surprises." Fluttershy said "Though you should know that there was one thing I didn't use you on in the previous round."
"Oh I know all about that so called stare of yours." Big Macintosh said "I just I had something like that when Apple Bloom got into trouble. I seriously wonder if she listens to a word I say."
"I'm sure she does." Fluttershy said "But like all fillies her age she can't help but be curious."
"Yeah well I swear one of these days her curiosity will get her or somepony else into serious trouble." Big Macintosh said "I just know it."
"Oh I don't know about that." Fluttershy said "Her friends and her mean well."
"Well good intentions or not they're always a headache." Big Macintosh said "But I'm getting ahead of myself. For now I've got to focus on stopping you in the next round."
"Well just so you know I am kind of starting to feel confident." Fluttershy said "I really think I can go all the way."
"You think so huh?" Big Macintosh said "Well if you think so then you should be able to beat me. Not that I'll make it easy."
"I wouldn't want it to be that way." Fluttershy said. She then felt her wounds being healed and her stamina being restored by Princess Celestia.
"Fighters are you ready?" Princess Celestia asked as both fighters again took up their positions. Both fighters nodded. "Round 2, Fight!" Princess Celestia said. The heat was on.
"Time to go all out." Big Macintosh said, he instantly attacked Fluttershy with a kick. Fluttershy dodged it and unleashed "The Stare" on Big Macintosh. But Big Macintosh, having been subjected to the puppy dog eyes look by Apple Bloom so many times, was unaffected.
"No way!" Fluttershy said "Nothing can resist 'The Stare'."
"Guess I'm an exception." Big Macintosh said, attacking Fluttershy with an uppercut.
"I could use my animal friends now." Fluttershy thought to herself "But what if they fail as well? I can't rely on others to do things for me. If I wanna win this fight I have to make it happen on my own!"
"Do you surrender?" Big Macintosh asked.
"Of course not." Fluttershy said "You're going down!"
"We'll just see about that." Big Macintosh said. He attempted to attack Fluttershy with a punch but hse flew up and avoided it. She then hit Big Macintosh with a flying drop kick and followed it up with a quick punch.
Fluttershy quickly gained the upperhoof as she frequently dodged Big Macintosh's attacks and countered with attacks of her own. But sometimes Big Macintosh managed to slip past Fluttershy's defenses and get in a hit or two.
It was not a surprise to anyone when both fighters again became bruised and fatigued. This fight had not quite been a seesaw match but it was still incredibly intense.
"Well now I can see how you've made it so far Fluttershy." Big Macintosh said "I think I might have underestimated you."
"Don't know how that could've happen." Fluttershy said.
"Well it doesn't matter." Big Macintosh said "Because your winning streak ends here and now!" He tried to attack Fluttershy with the most powerful kick he could muster up. But to his shock Fluttershy dodged it and whistled for her animal friends.
Within seconds the animal mob was posed and ready to attack. Big Macintosh took one look at that mob and he knew then and there that he was completly and utterly doomed. All he could say however was "Uh-oh." Not a second after the mob had finished with him Big Macintosh fell to the ground.
"K.O.!" Princess Celestia said "The winner of this match is Fluttershy who will move on to the finals."
"Well I lost." Big Macintosh said "So now you have no excuse. You have to make sure you win. If you lose I'm going to be really mad with you."
Fluttershy gulped "Really?" she asked.
"Eenope." Big Macintosh said "I was just messing with ya."
"Don't ever do that again." Fluttershy said "You could've scared me to death."
"Heh heh sorry bout that." Big Macintosh said "I never really was that good at jokes."
"Don't ever let Pinkie Pie hear you say that." Fluttershy said.
"I won't." Big Macintosh said "If she ever comes around here I'll keep my mouth shut."
"You don't have to do that." Fluttershy said "Just try not to make jokes. Unless you want Pinkie Pie to start giving you lessons."
"Well perhaps that won't be so bad." Big Macintosh said "I might actually consider that some time."
"For real?" Fluttershy asked.
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said "Not right now though."
"So are you going to cheer for me in the final?" Fluttershy asked.
"I might make an appearance." Big Macintosh said "Events like that really aren't my thing though."
"You and me both." Fluttershy said. Princess Celestia then healed the wounds and restored the stamina of both fighters. Now it was onto the finals for Fluttershy where her greatest challenge awaited.