//------------------------------// // Never Surrender // Story: Chevalier // by TheFlyingHippogriff //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Chevalier Chapter 5: Never Surrender The next morning, I went on patrol as I normally do and made plans to see Twilight Sparkle about the clue I found yesterday that is if she has not spotted it already. She is very smart, and that makes me think that she already did. I had to get on with my duty for the village. I met up with Applejack whom was in the village square selling her apple crop, "Well howdy officer," she greeted, "I say you've been handlin' things mighty well 'round here," that was until a griffon happened to be around that she recognized. "Uh oh...that's Gilda, you better watch herself, that griffon is trouble," Applejack whispered. So this was the griffon Fluttershy was talking about? She has not changed much since we were schoolmates. I saw Gilda coming toward the apple stand. I turned, and bought an apple cider donut, and pretended not to pay attention. I wanted to catch her in the act, and have Applejack as a witness. Gilda used her tail to snatch an apple out of a crate, "why that no good, thievin'...," Applejack lightly growled, but I stopped her. "Hush now Applejack, I planned this," I told her with a wink. Applejack smiled, and winked back. Now I wanted to follow her to see where she would go. That ended up being Cloudsdale. Her beak was about to take a bite of the apple when I took action, "I would not do that if I were in your talons," I said making my entrance. Gilda turned to face me and getting up in my beak, "now be a good griffon and return the apple," I ordered to her as a police-mare would. Gilda chuckled, not afraid of me. She should be afraid. "Oh? What're you gonna do, Tin-Can? Call the police?" Gilda teased, "You best know whom you are speaking to...because I am the police," I warned her, Gilda burst out laughing. I frowned at Gilda's reaction to me stating my authority and saw the rolling on her cloud and banging a taloned fist. I am not amused, "dare I ask what is funny?" I asked, annoyed by Gilda's laughter. Gilda wiped a tear away, and was coming to her senses. I am taller than Gilda by an inch, not that it makes much of a difference. I wanted to arrest her right there, and then. But I had another idea in store. "Oh nothing...nothing, I just can't believe they'd pick a half-breed freak like you to be a cop," Gilda replied, "Mind your language, Gilda, those are fighting words, now return that apple where you found it," I ordered, more fervently this time, "Make me!" Gilda blasted, "Alright then, the Equestria Jousting Tournament is taking place tomorrow in Cantorlot, there we can settle this," I suggested to her, I held out my taloned hand to her so we can seal the deal, "If I win, you will apologize to Applejack for stealing her apple, if I lose then I will resign as constable of Ponyville, and return back to the Westland, so do we have terms, Gilda?" I asked for her. The griffon was slow to shake my hand. This was not just a match between a griffon and a hippogriff, but our pride was also at stake. "You're on, I'll wipe the floor with your feathers and send you packing," Gilda boasted, "Right then, good luck," I said as Gilda flew away, Rainbow Dash happened to be there, "well that went better than I expected, don't you think?" "Do you realize what you just did?" Rainbow Dash asked as if I lost all my senses, "Gilda is a two time champion in the joust!" "Even champions can have hooves made of clay, Rainbow Dash," I replied, ready to teach Gilda a lesson in a fair duel. When tomorrow came, I knew I could not let the good ponies of Ponyville down. I put on my steel armor, and put on an armet-style helmet with the visor up. This was a tournament after all so I have to look my best. I was armed with a jousting lance. I was armed with a longsword at my side called a talon-and-a-half sword. The last touch was my dagger, and a small pouch of bits at my belt. "Well, well you certainly know how to dress yourself for the occasion, good luck out there," said Rarity, "We'll all be rootin' for yah," said Applejack, 'Yeah go kick Gilda's tail, Countess!" cheered Rainbow Dash, it felt so warm to have such wonderful friends. I left Ponyville for Cantorlot with my friends at my side for the procession of those who were planning to take part in the tournament. I was covered from head to hooves in armor except for my flanks. Everypony in all of Cantorlot was cheering when the participants entered the tournament field. There were even hippogriffs and griffons coming to cheer on their champions. Even the king was present here. "Welcome mares and gentlecolts, welcome to the annual Equestria Jousting Tournament," Princess Celestia announced, "this year we have our first hippogriff to take part in this tournament, representing Ponyville please welcome...Countess Wilhelmina of Faucon," I raised the tip of lance to the sky to the cheers of the Ponyville faithful, "she will be facing the two-time jousting tournament champion, Gilda Griffon," the griffons attending cheered while the ponies booed the griffon. I was more focused on my opponent. "Oh stuff it, you stupid ponies!" Gilda blasted at them. "Hey, I am your opponent, Gilda," I informed her, pulling down the visor. The tournament rules are simple. Each participant has three lances. If you knock them to the ground or cause their lance to break on impact you earn yourself a point. The first one to reach three points wins. Gilda was covered in dark grey armor with brass bordering. She growled, and closed the visor on her helmet. When Princess Celestia's raised hoof went down, the tournament began. Time seemed to slow down as we charged the tilt. Gilda scored the first point hitting me in the chest. Splinters of wood flew everywhere as I hit the ground. I shook my head to regain my focus, "Heh, I'll tell yah one thing, you last a lot longer than all the others that faced me" said Gilda. I was ready for another round with a ready lance. Once again as I charged, Gilda bested me and broke my lance, "can you feel it slipping away? Soon you will have to go back to the Westland, away from all those ponies you care for," she taunted, "just throw in the towel," "Never," I muttered, and cringed as I lifted myself back up on my talons and hooves. "Alright, your medical bill," Gilda said with fake sympathy. I looked up at my friends in the stands. They looked worried, especially Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. I nodded to tell them I am going to win. When we charged the tilt, I hit Gilda in the shield, and sent her down to the ground for my first point of the tournament. Gilda was shocked, and I was putting all my effort into finishing this. Gilda shook it off, and got up by her own power. I could hear her growling like a lioness under her steel helmet. I had the momentum now, and took advantage of it. We charged the tilt, and I broke Gilda's lance for my second point, "Match point, you half-breed freak," Gilda taunted, it was I noticed something was wrong. When we charged the tilt for the last time of the tournament, I found out too little and too late. Gilda won the match, or so she thought, "Pack your bags, dweeb, this tournament's mine," As I got up, I noticed something about the lance and the way she held it during the tournament. Now I took a stab at her. "Wait, look at Gilda's lance, it has been lightened, which is against the tournament rules," I pointed out to Princess Celestia, and the golden trophy was given to me. The prize belongs to my friends. I could not have done this without them, "Now then, I believe an apology is in order," I said moving aside for Applejack. Gilda growled, and flew off, "I did not think she would keep her word, come on my friends, let us go home," I stated. The trophy was placed in the Mayor's office in Ponyville. This is a day I will never forget.