Author's Note: I know this may have been one of my more boring chapters and I apologize but I felt it had to be done. Don't worry though. Next chapter I guarantee at least one fight in the tournament.
[Two weeks later.]
"So where is it being held again?" I asked as Goldie dragged me around Ponyville.
He sighed and facehoofed. He turned to face me and said," The prelimaries are going to take place in my gym."
I mouthed an 'Oh' and let Goldie guide me to his gym.
"So is this where the sign ups are too?" I asked desperately trying to make the time go by quicker.
Goldie made a arrifirmative grunt. With nothing left to say silence joined our conversation."Where have you been anyway Bass?" he asked abruptly.
"Well after the robot tryed to squeeze my guts out I rested for two days. Apparently my master said there was this poison that could help me," I said smiling.
Goldie stopped and threw me a shocked look. "How did giving you poison help you?"
"Very simple. Apparently the poison is dangerous because it makes ponies bodies work overdrive. Luckily he just gave me enough that helped me heal in two days. The rest of the time I have been practicing some new techniques master taught me." I saw Goldie had a confused look on his face. "I guess it isn't that simple really," I assented rubbing the back of my neck with a hoof.
We continued walking for a few more minutes. We arrived to the gym and we saw a table set outside.
"Okay time to get to work," Goldie said seating himself behind the table. He reached into a nearby satchel and pulled out several sheets of paper. He took out a pencil with his teeth and placed the supplies on the table. "Go ahead and sign up," Goldie offered pushing the paper and pencil towards me.
"Okay," I said signing my name on the paper hoofed to me. Goldie took out three more sheets of paper.
"What is with the other two? For backup?" I asked with a brow raised.
Goldie shook his head. "You see there are four divisions in the tournament. One is unarmed combat. Another is armed combat with swords and the like. The third is for other creatures besides ponies like dragons. You know with their fire breath and such." he explained slowly.
"Then what is the fourth division?" I asked instinctively.
"The fourth is for well 'special' ponies like Shadic. Truth be told this division was added due to Shadic winning last year's tournament," Goldie said bluntly.
"Okay I guess I will sign up for the unarmed combat then," I said trying to sound calm. This is going to hurt big time. Isn't it?
As if reading my mind Goldie nodded and wrote the unarmed classification over my name.
[ Fifteen minutes later.]
"Wow more ponies showed up then I thought would," I said surprised that already a massive line appeared in such a short time. "This is why you wanted my help?" I asked accusingly.
Goldie gave me a small grin,"Maybe."
"Hey guys," I heard a voice say. I rose my head to find a couple of my friends.
"Hey DJ. Hey Vibes," I said giving them a short wave. "So you guys going to enter the tournament too?"
Vibes shook his head. "No, we are just going to be playing music for it. You know set the mood and stuff," he explained calmly.
"Yeah we are going to rock!" DJ exclaimed confidently.
I smiled a little at his energy. "Well I am sure you guys will," I said supportively.
"We should get going to practice. See you tomorrow," DJ said walking off. "Come on Vibes," he said when he realized Vibes wasn't following him. Vibes shook his head and started after DJ.
"See you guys later," I said waving. My jaw dropped after they left. The line had grown even larger. I sighed. "This is going to be a while," I said already dreading the workload of the day.
[Near the gym. Unknown's P.O.V.]
I stood there in line for what seemed like hours.
When I finally made it to the sign up table the sun was beginning to set.
I saw two ponies there. One was a dark blue earth pony with a black mane.
The other was a zebra with a brown coat and dark blue stripes. His mane was long and seemed to go everywhere. His mane was similiar to coat except it had a more lively shade of brown.
"Hello! And welcome to the sign up table! May I take your order?" the zebra said with a wide smile.
I was left speechless so I decided to just nod.
"So which division do you want?" the zebra asked me with the same amount fo energy. I pointed at the one labeled 'special.'
He raised a brow. "You sure? I hear that division would be the hardest," he said hesitantly. I nodded.
He shrugged and said,"Well if you are sure then." He hoofed me a pencil and the sheet. "Nice costume by the way," he commented on my looks.
I was dressed in a suit that covered my body. I couldn't risk being recognized by anypony. I had to make sure my goal had no way of being discovered.
I signed up and left without saying anything.
I will avenge you. I will make him pay for his crime.
[Adven's P.O.V.]
I waited in line trying to talk with the others in line but they ignored me. One of them even growled at me. I guess that is what I get for trying to chat with a diamond dog.
I probably should have let Pinkie Come with me. Nah. She would probably just have been worried about me. Although I probably could have gotten a party out of it. Oh well.
"Hey Adven! How you doing buddy?" Bass greeted me happily tearing me from my thoughts.
"Fine. Sign me up for the armed combat," I said grinning.
"Alright," Bass said giving me a paper and pencil. "Sign here."
I nodded and did as he said.
"I hope we don't have to fight one another when the tournament happens," Bass said a little sad at the possibility. "But," his face became plastered by a confident grin," I wont go easy on you if we do. Just figured I should warn you not to hold back because I won't be."
I returned his smile in kind. I nodded my understanding and left. "Good luck," I said flying back home to get in some last minute training.
[Back to Bass's P.O.V.]
"Well I think that is it," I said exhausted finishing the last of the sign ups.
"Yeah. Now all we got to do is dismantle the ring," Goldie said cracking his neck.
"What? I thought you said we were just going to use your ring," I said confused.
"Yeah but we have to remove the ropes and poles. There is a ring out rule so we have to make sure there is a way to get out," Goldie explained as he began to dismantle the poles of the ring.
"Okay," I said dropping the subject to help Goldie.
"So how many ponies signed up?" I asked curious.
"I think about two hundred," Goldie replied nonchalantly.
"Wow that is a lot," I said shocked at the number.
"Not really we still have three more days for sign ups and then you will see how much is a lot," Goldie replied calmly.
Wow. I wonder how many will show up?
[Meanwhile in the Darkness.]
"Why did you call us here?" Velocity asked angrily.
"Very simply. I signed you all up for a 'group activity'," Infinite replied nonchalantly.
"What activity exactly?" Gilda asked impatiently.
Infinite ignored her and continued," I feel your failures as a team have been due to your lack of training and as such I have the perfect exercise for you," he said throwing out a flyer in front of them.
"What is this?" Blaze asked raising a brow.
"The annual tournament in Ponyville," the newest addition to the team said excitedly. "So is this what our 'activity' will be?"
Infinite nodded. "Have fun," he chuckled to himself as he left the team alone to ponder about their assigned 'team activity.'