//------------------------------// // The Challenge // Story: Circumstantial Evidence // by Mad Hatter //------------------------------// Sun went home to get some much deserved rest after work, having taken care of a small fire in the building next to Sugarcube Corner (Which building the source lied at was still under investigation). She was in a particularly bright mood, to nopony's surprise. The rather unnerving smile that played across her muzzle from time to time, however, gave her coworkers pause. After a minute most of them wrote it off to memories of the verdict, presuming it one of those things that they couldn't understand without experiencing it. They were partially right. In the usual amount of junk mail for this day, one was off. It was of a particularly fancy, sturdy type of paper, usually reserved for legal documents that needed storage for a long time (There was a drawer full of them from investigations at the firehouse, stretching back about a decade at least). More unusual, the clasp appeared to be pure silver, and bore the image of a crescent moon. Sun opened it without delay. The parchment therein would've been a surprise if the container didn't give it away. Sun Showers of Ponyville, It has come to my attention that you seek a duel of honor, and have requested I to oversee it, as per the laws set forth over a millennium ago. Indeed my sister Princess Celestia was quite surprised at this turn of events. After confirmation of the status of the law in modern Equestrian society, I assent to the position of judge in this matter. Return the envelope forthwith containing the name of yourself and the challenger, and the time, location, and date. Re-seal it, and press the royal symbol upon the clasp. This will return it to me in the most expedient way. Princess Luna of Equestria Sun Showers packed it into her saddlebags, along with a pen and protective hoofcover from her firefighting uniform. Now she just had to get the bastard's name. Without a name, number, or address, there was only one way to find him. Off to the bar. it was the last week before it was back to the regular rotation of "on call". Sun sauntered into the old watering hole with purpose. Swinging open the door somewhat dramatically, she scanned the crowd. "Hey Sun. The usual?" "You got it. Hey, you know the name of that guy who was on my flank last time?" "Yes... But all due respect, after everything that's happened I can't assume the best." "No worries, it's nothin' illegal, heh." she assured with a smirk that did anything but. "Can't just go giving out information you know. He's over there though. You understand that I'll be watching. Recommend you leave well enough alone." The last part was completely lost as Sun trotted over to the corner and the bartender readied to get the bouncer. The cerulean-maned pony was slumped over a table in the corner. He looked up at the enroaching shadow to see Sun. "Huh? Oh, you. Get lost before the bouncer does it for you." Sun smirked. "Good, you're not completely shitfaced this time. This won't take long. What's your name?" "The tartarus you wanna know my name for?" He snarled back. Thinking back to what the book said, she knew that any false pretenses would only end against her - and that was before factoring in that it was considered an insult to the princesses to run royalty on what amounted to a fool's errand. "I'm going to challenge you to a duel." she responded. "Duel?... Heh. Heheh. Hehahahaha!" The derisive laughter rang out across the bar as patrons started to watch the unusual event. "Yeah, sure. Name's Blue Beet." He twisted his head toward his cutie mark of the same. Sun pulled out the paper and wrote his name next to hers. "And what time and place for the duel?" *Snort* "Town square, noon tomorrow. You done bothering me?" She wrote that down as well, and placed it into the silver-clasped envelope. That caught Beet's eye. "Almost. Jus' one more thing." She pulled the hoofcover out of her bags. *WHOMP* "What the buck was that for? Bouncer!" The bouncer trotted up behind them. "Why did you go and do that Sun? You know the rules. To top it off you told the bartender you weren't going to do anything like this." Sun looked at the bouncer. "I said I wasn't going to do anything illegal, and I didn't. This is how you challenge someone to a duel." She put the cover back in her saddlebag. "Watch." She pounded her hoof on the emblem. It began to glow and seemingly disintegrated into silver-blue particles that shot out the window, much like how Spike's letters do with the fire. "I'll see ya tomorrow in the square. Don't be late - it'll piss off princess Luna." She turned and exited the bar to the dumbfounded stares.