"So," said Twilight, letting the word hang in the air, her perpetual air of bright enthusiasm gone. "I can't believe it's come to this."
"Neither can I, sister, yet here we stand," replied a grim-faced Shining Armour.
Rarity backed away just a little more, retreating to the other side of a low wall and subconsciously placing a comforting hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. The pegasus was already cowering behind a flower pot and Rarity didn't blame her. The air hummed with magic. It was positively humbling.
Twilight lowered her head in challenge and a bright bar of solid light burst from her horn towards Shining. It shone like liquid metal, casting stark shadows despite the midday sun. It was over in a moment and Rarity found herself blinking away a painful green after-image. She looked up...
To see Shining Armour surrounded by a purple shield, apparently unharmed.
"What?" Twilight cried. "You weren't supposed to be able to block that! My book said that only Cuend—"
Shining tilted his head to one side. "Barriers are my speciality for a reason, Twilight. Now let's see what you learned from the Princess."
Shining's horn grew brighter, and a bolt of lightning shot towards Twilight. Rarity winced, shutting her eyes, but no scream came from her friend. Cautiously, she peered out. Twilight stood, also unharmed, surrounded by her own purple barrier.
"Barriers may not be my speciality, but I certainly know how to erect one. You're going to need to do much better than elementary lighting spells to get the better of me, Shining." Somehow, Twilight ended up being so very adorable when she was trying to be smug. Even now, Rarity had to suppress an urge to go and pat her on the head.
Both combatants stared at each other.
And kept staring.
"So..." said Shining.
"Um..." Twilight rubbed the grass with a front hoof.
"It appears we can't actually hurt each other," Shining said.
"Well, this is awkward," Twilight observed.
Beside Rarity, Fluttershy peeked up over the wall. Rarity could sense, more than see, dozens of eyes peering out from behind curtains in the various windows.
"How do we settle this?" Twilight asked.
"Um..." Shining thought for a moment. "Funny face contest?"