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#Post#: 2733--------------------------------------------------
A Good Day For Combat
By: Sir Providence Date: May 20, 2014, 11:38 am
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The bright and warming morning sun shone over the city of
Canterlot, ponies taking this as their cue to begin waking up in
their comfy beds and going about their daily rituals. Hygiene,
breakfast, maybe reading the paper or magazine, then off to
work, the normal pattern for normal everyday ponies making their
lives the best they could in the city life they'd chosen. Most
already knew the outcome of the day and had even gone so far as
to make plans, be it to meet somepony or even just go home for
dinner, they hoped for an average end to another average work
shift that would them finish off with all the time they'd need
to relax and prepare for the next almost clockwork grind that
would always be comfortable and familiar to them.
Some ponies in the city however didn't have this luxury. For
them, today's morning ritual consisted of stringing bows and
polishing blades. They woke up not in a comfortable bed in a
nice warm and relaxing bedroom, but in the bowels of one of
Canterlot's oldest arenas where great races and displays of
musical and artistic talent was the norm. Today, instead of art
and speed, the arena was being geared towards a different
showing of skills that was more appropriate for the bows and
blades being prepared, and those who'd wield them were already
going through the effort of warming up and readying themselves
for the coming rigors of combat.
Instead of an elaborate race course or stage with rows of seats
organized before it, today the arena was decorated for combat,
the terrain in its center being both flattened to offer even
ground while also being dotted with small obstacles to liven
things up, large rocks for cover, rough hoofing to encourage
complete awareness of ones surroundings at all times, and more
was what awaited those believing themselves capable enough to
hold their own in front of countless spectators all cheering and
demanding to be impressed.
It had taken a couple of weeks for things to be set up just
right for the event, the flyers floating through every nearby
town and city as well as the many posters slapped onto the walls
of shops making its presence be rather well known, and finally
it was almost time to begin. Today ponies would finally be
seeing some action, officials of the tourney taking the names
and registering the equipment of the final new combatants brave
enough to join at the gates as stallions and mares came to claim
fortune, fame or recognition of their skills. Fans of the
tourney were already forming small crowds as they eagerly
awaited the start of the preliminaries, many of them watching
those who registered with a critical eye as they attempted to
determine each individuals chances, or at least how bruised
they'd be when they get carried out of the arena.
#Post#: 2736--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Kite Date: May 20, 2014, 4:09 pm
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Kite soars above the city of Canterlot, enjoying the cool breeze
and lack of sound at this height. He doesn't have long to enjoy
it though, the knight having already spotted the arena where the
tournament was to take place. He circles for a few more seconds,
regretting the relatively short length of flights when traveling
within the city. Nothing as nice as a good long-distance
journey. Still, it beat walking through the crowded streets,
especially in his heavy armor. He angles himself downward,
gliding in toward his destination in wide, lazy spirals. He's
just glad he's not in any hurry to get signed up, though even
taking his time the flight is entirely too brief. His landing
isn't the most graceful one, the large pegasus hitting the
ground with a loud *thud* and clanking of his armor, but that's
to be expected when flying in plate. He shrugs off the impact,
used to such things by now, and makes for the arena's entrance,
checking that his sword and lance are properly secured as he
goes. There's a little bit of a line when he goes in to
register, but it doesn't take long for it to be his turn, and
after giving them his name and letting them check over his
equipment, goes to wait with the others for the preliminary
rounds to begin.
#Post#: 2738--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Striker Date: May 20, 2014, 4:26 pm
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Striker woke up in his dorm at the university in Canterlot,
prepared to start his typical morning routine: breakfast and
washing up before a day filled with magic theory, research, and
practice. Striker loved studying to be a pyrotechnician, but
truth to be told, the same old thing every day was beginning to
wear him out. Even explosions can get boring, after trying for
hours on end in the same room to perfect one particular type.
But he stuck it out, knowing that the intense magical training
would pay off when he could get a job working with special
effects.
Striker's breakfast was interrupted by a knock on his door and
somepony calling, "Hello, Striker?"
"Just a minute," he replied, and trotted over to open the door.
His mentor, Professor Sparklerspun, called simply Sparks by his
longtime students, stood outside the door. "What is it?" Striker
asked. It was unusual for his teacher to come looking for him
this early in the morning, before any classes had started.
"I received a call from Marigold this morning, asking for a
replacement for their special effects pony for a tourney they're
running in Canterlot. I told them I knew just the stallion for
the job," Sparks said.
"Who, me?" Striker said, shocked by the suddenness of the news.
"What happened to their guy?"
"Yes, you, do you know anyone else studying advanced
pyrotechnics in this university?" Sparks replied sarcastically.
"As for the original special effects leader, don't know, didn't
ask. Now get moving, the tourney's starting today."
Striker closed the door to his dorm behind him as his mentor
shooed him out and into the hallway, leaving his half-eaten
breakfast on the table. "Can't you do it? You're more
experienced, after all. I'm not even officially licensed yet!"
"I've got a lab to run for the first-years today, and they'll
probably set themselves on fire if I give someone else the job
of looking after them." Striker winced, remembering a particular
lab mishap that had ended with half of his hair burnt off and
Professor Sparks vowing never to let him near a Bunsen burner
again. Sparks had obviously broken that vow, but since then,
Striker had kept his hair cut much shorter. "Besides, lack of
experience is exactly why you are going - you'll get more of it.
As for licenses, you're not designing anything, just making sure
nopony blows themselves up. Less talking, more moving!"
"Alright, I'll do it," Striker said, accepting that Sparks
wouldn't change his mind. "Where's this tourney at?"
"That's what I like to hear! It's down by that old arena, south
of campus. Can't miss it. Good luck, have fun, don't let
anything explode where or when it shouldn't," said Sparks,
already moving away from Striker, back towards the university's
main building.
Striker ran like mad towards the arena, only slowing to a trot
after several nobles had glanced at him disdainfully. When he
arrived at the location of the tourney, small crowds had already
begun to form. He spotted a pair of working ponies carrying a
box with explosives warning labels and followed them into a side
building. "Hi, I'm Striker, the replacement... What are you
doing?" Striker stood in the entrance of the building, horrified
by the sight of room that violated nearly every safety
precaution he knew of, and probably several others he didn't.
"You can't just stack them up like that! If one was lit by
accident, this whole room would explode! And half of these
containers aren't even sealed properly..."
By the time Striker had finished sorting out the mess of the
storage room, he at least agreed with Sparks that he was
qualified for the job. Most of the workers didn't seem to know
the first thing about fireworks, although they did what he asked
them too quickly and efficiently. Once he was reasonably sure
that a stray spark of static electricity wouldn't set off enough
explosive force to send them all to the moon, Striker found the
original special effects pony's notes and began to study them.
As he read through the tourney's program, his eyes grew wider
and wider. He hoped that the special effects team he would be
leading was well trained, and that somepony knew how to operate
a fog machine, because if not, the show would be a disaster
waiting to happen.
#Post#: 2739--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Honey Dew Date: May 20, 2014, 6:45 pm
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Today was the day. With a stone-faced, inscrutable countenance,
Honey Dew approached the arena to be used for this so-called
tournament. After hearing about it through word-of-mouth, she
knew that instant that it would be one of the best opportunities
for her to test herself, one of the best opportunities to put
all of her years of training to its limit. There would be all
sorts of ponies here, from all walks of life, with a vast array
of styles and weapons for her to pit herself again. Plus, the
competitive side of her practically made it impossible for her
to pass this opportunity up. The fame and recognition didn't
matter so much to her, but she did feel the need to prove
herself to herself. It was just a bonus that if she got far into
the tournament, the renown might help her and her music career
out...
Wait was all she could do, however. While she'd already signed
up for the tournament weeks before, there was a line she had to
sit through just so she could get in. Idly, Honey took one of
her tessen from its holster around her waist before flipping it
open with a 'snap!', then lazily waved it back and forth to fan
air towards her face. She continued this until it came to her
time at the front of the line, where she mentioned she had
already signed up and stepped inside the arena after they
confirmed so she could stand in the waiting area as instructed,
her gaze idly roaming over the other ponies nearby as she waved
her fan at her face so she could gauge the competition a little
bit.
#Post#: 2758--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Sero Date: May 22, 2014, 11:18 am
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"So, fame or fortune?" A white unicorn with golden eyes and a
fading blue mane and tail asked the two newest ponies to arrive,
him having already been waiting in the area the fighters had
been gathering in. Unlike the rest of the ponies present, the
unicorn didn't seem to have any gear on him, nor was he fiddling
with any weapon or repeating instructions for spells quietly to
himself in preparation for what was to come, but instead
appeared to have been simply reading a book as the others filed
in and filled up the waiting area, him having looked up with a
friendly smile only due to how the newest arrivals had found
their way close to him. "Or are you just here to mess around
like some of these other guys are? I swear the younger hopefuls
are just here because its an excuse to fight. I guess there's
nothing wrong with that, its good to have a place to vent
sometimes, but it improves ones chances of winning if they have
something to fight for no matter how vain it may sound." He
chuckled, his magic turning the page of his book.
#Post#: 2761--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Shadowed Mesa Date: May 22, 2014, 3:03 pm
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The train pulled up to the platform, slowing down and finally
coming to a stop with a loud hiss of steam. "All for Canterlot,
get off here!" bellowed a large conductor stallion. Ponies began
disembarking, streaming out onto the platform. Yells and
laughter carried over the general hubbub of the crowd as waiting
ponies called out to the new arrivals. Nopony stood still, all
bustling to get luggage and shoving one another to get off the
now crowded platform.
Except one.
Mesa stood in the doorway of the train, looking awestruck as she
took in the scene before her. Her gaze travelled past the
platform and to the busy streets beyond, to the tall buildings
and the brilliant castle in the distance. Mesa had never seen so
many ponies in her entire life. "Hey lady, you getting off or
not?" Said a cross voice behind the mare, and Mesa glanced back
to see several ponies lined up behind her, waiting to get off
the train. "Right, sorry," she muttered quickly, stepping down
onto the platform to let the others pass. Mesa closed her eyes
and took a deep, calming breath before she took in her
surroundings again, now looking more determined as she set off
at a trot.
It wasn't too difficult to find the arena, with large signs
plastered over several walls pointing Mesa in the right
direction. She quickly located the line of combatants waiting to
be registered and took her place at the end of it, studying the
ponies around her curiously as the queue slowly moved forward.
She noticed several ponies watching those who registered and
talking amongst themselves. Spectators, Mesa guessed. She
instinctively straightened her shoulders and raised her chin,
not allowing her nervousness to show. She reached the front of
the line and registered, giving her name and showing her weapons
before they let her through. She eyed the other ponies in the
waiting area, then settled over by a few other combatants and,
with nothing better to do, started checking over her crossbow as
she waited.
#Post#: 2772--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Honey Dew Date: May 22, 2014, 11:27 pm
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Turning her half-lidded, empty gaze towards the pony that
addressed her, Honey simply stared at the white-coated pony as
he spoke, her fan slowly waving back and forth in front of her
face, its polished blades no doubt catching some light with each
pass. Her gaze briefly moved down to the book in his lap, trying
to inspect it for a few moments to try and perceive what it was,
before lifting her gaze and sweeping it over the room once more.
"I fight for neither. I am only here to test my skills in a
situation I have not yet to have the opportunity to do so in. In
other words, I fight for myself. Are you trying to get into the
minds of your competition, then, or are you one of the
assistants here for the tournament?"
#Post#: 2792--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Kite Date: May 23, 2014, 4:33 pm
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Kite, much like some of the others, has been checking over his
equipment while he waits for the preliminary rounds to begin.
There's really no need to, he'd already made sure his armor and
weapons were in peak condition before he'd come here, but at
least it gave him something to do. He stops when a nearby
unicorn asks the ponies nearby why they're here, and Kite looks
over at the grey mare when she gives her answer. "Same, for the
most part." He answers, wondering the same thing as Honey Dew.
"The fame and fortune don't hurt though."
#Post#: 2795--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Sero Date: May 23, 2014, 8:04 pm
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"Huh. Guess that's a bit of a change then," he said, looking
between the two before glancing back at his book as he levitated
a bookmark into place between its pages then closed it,
"yesterday I asked a stallion who'd somehow mixed up the date
for when the tournament was starting and was wandering around
outside the arena the same question, and I got an earful out of
him where he claimed to already be the new champion, and that
his fans were just late in realizing what they were." He sat up
a little straighter, giving the room a visual sweep in search of
the pony mentionedthenshrugging as he failed to spot him. "Don't
see him around today though. Maybe he wised up. Had a strong
feeling he was all talk.
"As for me though," he moved on to the questions asked of him,
"I'd have to say... Mmm... Neither. Sort of. Think of me as just
being a pony with a back stage pass." He smiled despite empty
look from the mare of the two, "I mean, I suppose I could join
and fight as well, would only take a minute to add my name to
the list and it does sound like it would be fun, but... eh, I
think ill stick to watching. I'm more interested in the history
and such anyway. Taking this opportunity to learn about
different styles and techniques is golden too I'd say. Take that
pony for example," he gestured over towards a newly arrived mare
carrying a crossbow, the unicorn offering a friendly nod hello
should she look his way, "I'd rather watch and take notes on how
she plans on using that crossbow in the coming rounds than have
her point it at me. Nah, much rather she pointed it at you two."
The pony joked as he stowed his book away in his saddle bags.
#Post#: 2797--------------------------------------------------
Re: A Good Day For Combat
By: Honey Dew Date: May 23, 2014, 8:32 pm
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The white-coated pony said only to think of him as somepony with
a backstage pass which earned a very slight lift of an eyebrow
at him. She really wasn't even aware there were backstage passes
to something like this. Something about it still seemed a little
strange to her, though. There for history he may have been,
but... something told her that was only half of the truth. Was
he one of the ponies that helped put this tournament
together...? Only humming to herself, Honey turned her gaze to
the crossbow-wielding pony in question, her cold, calculating
gaze sizing the pony up as the one who pointed her out spoke.
"Point it at us as much as she wants," Honey said flatly, her
gaze turning away from the mare once more with a slight snort of
disdain. "But if she has only the one weapon, she's foolish to
try. I can already think of several ways to combat just that."
Even if Mesa had walked over to the small group as she said
this, her words nor the conviction of them would have changed.
She then glanced back over to Sero again. "So, how did you come
about acquiring these 'back-stage passes', hmm?"
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