Literally Snails

draco always has to haze a member of the group.

"In order to do that, you'd have to know what the inhaler is and how it works," Tricis advised. "Now you're just spinning fantasies." @Unicorncob "That's usually something the captain decides, who fights who." Shining Armor explained. He looked to Jade and asked, "So among the four teammates who bothered to show up to this meeting, who do you want to take over in your absence?"

@Unicorncob @Dynamo Pad @reader8363 @dragon4111 It looks like Snow isn't coming back, so I guess I'll control frostflame for now. I'll probably just have him die when he fights @Arid_Blitz . So I guess @DwhitetheGamer will be with us for the finals too.

Darn. This is what I was worried about. Could you at least stick with us till the next round starts and get killed off? That will help me a lot

Tricis nodded sagely to Jade. She didn't mean to lead her to her decision, but this was important. "So long as you don't let it control you, fear of death is a valuable asset," Tricis lectured. "It pushes you to reach new heights. Tells you when to run and when to fight. A clever warrior with a healthy dose of fear is more likely to stay alive." "I know that Crimps is a vile place, and there is a reason the princesses have no dealings with it."Shining armor answered, "but to be honest, I have not had the time to research their team. Perhaps you could enlighten us."

"Again, you aren't listening. I said she wasn't capable of finishing it when this tournament began. I'm not choosing the schedule." Tricis said. "And Im happy that you say you finished your training. Im sure youre very proud of that. but you still need to prepare for the finals as well. Like all of you.

Tricis didn't respond positively to sarcasm she didn't dish out herself. "Yes, that's exactly what I said." She replied. "And when would you finish her training instead? After she's dead or before she's capable? Please shower me with your wisdom." @Unicorncob Tricis turned her attention to her apprentice, "the fact of the matter is, it would have been better to finish Jades training earlier, but she wasn't strong enough when this tournament began. She might not even be strong enough now. In fact, it would be risky for us to attempt this tommorrow. In the end it is Jades decision." She narrowed her eyes at her. "Jade, if you think you can fight Rokata as you are now, I can send Copper back home and you can fight without it."

I think some people here werent paying much attention and made posts that didnt make sense. Lets just move on.

@Unicorncob @reader8363 @Dynamo Pad @DwhitetheGamer @dragon4111 @Snow Frostflame Rose, Draco, and Pad arrived at Shining Armors private observation room with Jade, Tricis, and Copper. Frostflame was still nowhere to be seen. Tricis watched Copper and Draco interract before Shining Armor cut in. "We needed all of you here to get you on the same page," he said "Jade wont be able to make it to the semi finals because Tricis needs to complete her training. That means we have an alternate, and that also means we'll need to pick one of you to act as captain in her place."

Its not a hotel room. Its an observation room in the arena that shining and copper are at. Is there anything I can do to spark your interest back?

@reader8363 @dragon4111 @Snow Frostflame It would be really helpful to get a reply from you guys so the RP can continue.

Tricis turned to Jade, standing between her and the door with Jade in the center of the room. "Jade, Copper here is going to be fighting in your place during the semi finals. I picked him myself and I know his abilities will be enough to make sure this team makes it to the finals in your absence." Tricis explained. "Jade, do you understand why you won't be participating in the semi finals?"

I think so. Let me try and get in contact with snow first

@Dynamo Pad Went to the hotel to get you guys and already made a post saying he was at the hotel. You should be replying to him.

@dragon4111 @reader8363 @Snow Frostflame Can I please get replies from you guys?

@dragon4111 @Snow Frostflame @reader8363 I went ahead and made a short post while waiting, but we need replies from you guys.

@DwhitetheGamer "I'd rather you just saw," Tricis said as the two went to Shining Armor's observation room. They opened the door and there was Shining Armor and Copper sitting inside.

@Unicorncob @Dynamo Pad Tricis nodded at Dynamo. "Yes, it would be best to get out of here, but there's someone you need to meet first." She said as she stood up. "Dynamo, can you find any team members you can and that them to come to Shining Armors private room? Jade and I will need to go there first."

Odds are you wont be interracting with team Rokata much.

He could have a history with Tricis since she's the one who knew to hire him You know that usually makes a character less interesting to watch, right?

@dragon4111 are you certain you want Drago to react that way to seeing that fight? It's fine for him to act like he's not worried but he should at least know on the inside that he's in trouble. Unless he's super unobservant.

That would be wildly out of character for him.

@Unicorncob @Snow Frostflame @reader8363 @dragon4111 @Dynamo Pad @Arid_Blitz @DwhitetheGamer "Will the team captains please take their positions!?" Topaz asked in a showpony manner. The earth pony from the Spirit Warriors stepped into the ring, and Rokata soon followed. When the two stood off, she was dwarfed by the green pegasus. "Rokata..." The earth pony said, "I hope you live up to your reputation." "As I you." Rokata replied. His darkened voice echoed through the ring, picked up by Topaz's mic. "You have great power. It's unfortunate that you chose to enter this tournament, but I will respect your legacy with an honorable end." "You really think that's possible?" The captain replied with an angry snarl. Rokata lifted a muscular hoof and pointed at the rest of the Spirit Warriors. "It is. And I'll prove it by fighting all five of you at once." Topaz gasped and held her mic tight while wagging her tail like a puppy. "This is an incredible development, ponies! Rokata has just offered to fight the entire Spirit Warriors team five on one! This should certainly change the betting pools." "What? But that's insane!" The captain shouted, she stepped closer to Rokata with a growl, "You mock us!" "Easy, captain," A unicorn with a blue belt said as the other four members of the team stepped into the ring. "This will only make him easier to defeat!" The captain growled and pointed at Rokata. "Fine then! Five on one if that's what you want!" Topaz leaned in toward Rokata. "Rokata, do you accept these impossible odds?" "Naturally. They're my terms. Sorry if that makes things harder to announce," Rokata answered. "Err... right..." The crowd stirred as the five members of the spirit warriors got into position. "Rokata's fame must have gotten to his head!" A gryphon near Jade and Pad shouted. "No one can fight a whole team at once!" "Alright fighters, final match of the second round... Begin!" Topaz announced. "You just made your last mistake, Rokata! The spirit warriors are unstoppable as one!" The captain shouted as her four teammates entered a formation behind her. Rokata frowned, still standing where he was. "You once had great honor. I will restore what you've sacrificed." The captain leapt into the air with her legs spread in a T formation. "Form up! Spectral dragon!" She commanded. The captain was enveloped in a massive red aura that extended far from her body. The other members of her team jumped in different positions, all surrounded by an aura that matched their belts. When the five of them were all in the air, their auras started to take shape. Two of them created yellow and green auras in the shape of massive leathery wings. One created a chest and front legs, another created hind legs and a tail, and the captain created a massive dragon's head. They all linked together into a gigantic, multicolored, glowing dragon that nearly took up half the ring. The aura creating it was see-through, and the members of the Spirit Warrior's were visible within it. "This is unbelievable, ponies! The Spirit Warriors have created a dragon out of their own auras and it's so bright I can hardly look at it!" Topaz announced. The dragon lifted it's front legs and fired a stream of blue fire at Rokata. Rokata flexed his wings and lifted out one hoof in front of his body. When the stream of flames hit his hoof, it split to either side, leaving Rokata unharmed as the rogue flames instead crashed into two areas of the audience. Rokata flapped his wings and dashed forward so fast he was like a blur. The dragon whipped around to face him but it was too late, he was beneath the dragon in less than a second. His right front hoof was glowing with a purple aura, similar to the technique Jade used to power up her kicks but infinitely more deadly. He punched at the pony in the center of the dragon and the whole beast errupted in an explosion of energy. The four other members of the Spirit Warriors were blown out of their positions and landed on the ring. The purple belted pony Rokata punched was no-where to be seen, completely destroyed in the spectacular explosion. The remaining members recovered on the ground and turned their sights to Rokata. Each started jumping and kicking at him one after another. Rokata started backing away and swiftly dodging each attack. It wasn't until a dozen missed kicks that Rokata started counter-attacking. He sidestepped when a unicorn swung at him and then punched the pony in the back. He erupted in a red mist of blood and bone when the kick struck his back. The punch was so powerful it created a shockwave that exploded a section of the audience dozens of yards away! The explosion happened next to where Dynamo, Jade, and Tricis were sitting, the destruction ending only feet away from them. Rokata did the same to another Spirit Warrior that attacked him, and again, it created an explosion in the stands. This time the explossion occured mere feet bellow where Jade was sitting, and it became obvious that Rokata was getting as close to Jade as possible and missing on purpose. Other audience members that were unfortunate enough to sit near the members of team lotus flew from their stands as the concrete pews errupted. Rokata dodged and struck a fourth member of the team, creating an explosion to Jade's right and leaving only the opposing captain alive. She angrilly yelled and leapt at Rokata with a powered up hoof, swinging at his head. Rokata ducked beneath it and caught her hoof with his left fetlock, holding her in place above him. "With this, you die a warrior's death, restoring your honor," Rokata stated. He punched upward at the trapped eath pony, exploding her midsection and showing the ring in her remains. The crowd cheered vigorously as Rokata returned to the center of the stage, chanting his name. Rokata stopped next to Topaz and looked up in the stands at Jade. Even from that distance, she could tell he was looking directly at her. She, Tricis and Pad were surrounded on all sides by rubble and fallen spectators. Something to work for, Jade Lotus.

"Try listening the next time someone speaks. It can be rewarding," Tricis replied. She was clearly on edge and had no time to curb her snark. "They were decorated by Celestia in her service. I've heard of these fighters. The spirit Warriors used to work with the princesses as dragon slayers. They have a remarkable ability to channel magical energy through their entire bodies as if they were one big horn. However, the fact that they're showing up here means they've sacrificed their principals since those days." "No Jade. You and I will not participate in the semi finals." Tricis explained. Still, she never looked away from the stage. "This is why." @reader8363 @Snow Frostflame @dragon4111 @DwhitetheGamer Topaz made a sweeping gesture to the other side of the arena, "And in this corner, we have the team that needs no introduction..." "Guys I don't feel so good," A pegasus stallion on the Spirit warriors with a purple belt whispered to the captain in a panicked voice. He was breaking into a sweat. Indeed, everyone in the arena who was in tune to the supernatural was starting to feel a sense of uneasiness. For the members of Team Lotus, it felt just like the first time they were in the Arena with Team Rokata, a bone chilling sense of uneasiness causing their heartrate to rise. "Somethings not right. Something's coming that shouldn't exist." "What the hell are you talking about? Calm down!" The captain said to her teammate. "...the resident badasses of the tournament..." Topaz continued. "I'm telling you, captain, it's not supposed to be here!" The purple belted fighter explained in an exasperated tone. The doors on the opposite side of the arena slowly opened as the crowd broke into a frenzied cheer. All five members of team Rokata were on the other side. Rokata himself stood in front of the others. The massive pegasus was the only member of the team who wasn't dwarfed by the Minotaur Onyx, who stood in the back. "Team Rokata!" "RO-KA-TA! RO-KA-TA!" The crowd chanted. The five members of team Rokata approached the ring casually.

@Dynamo Pad "Nothing at all," Tricis said, never looking directly at Jade. She listened to what Pad said about learning something from team Crimos' fight and shook her head. "Share it with the others then. Jade and I won't need to know about them." @reader8363 @Arid_Blitz @Snow Frostflame @dragon4111 @DwhitetheGamer There was a short intermission after Crimos's victory for the fighters to leave the ring and the next two teams to get ready. The arena was nearly silent for that time. There was a rumor whispered among the crowd that Rokata would actually show up to this fight. It felt like there was a sense of anxiety and apprehension in the crowd. "Alright fans, you've waited a long time for this!" Topaz announced after about fifteen minutes of silence. "But it's finally time for the final fight of the second round, and this is one you won't want to miss! I'm sure you all know what's about to go down, so let's get it started!" She dramatically gestured to the right side of the stadium. "In this corner, we have the surprising up-and-comers, a team of martial arts champions decorated by Celestia herself, it's the Spirit Warriors!" The right doors opened, revealing an all-pony team of fighters in similar light blue uniforms. A white earth pony with red hair stood in the center and seemed to be their leader. She had a red belt around her uniform, the other members each had a different color belt matching the color of their mane and tail. The five approached the ring. "For those of you in the betting mood, putting a wager on the Spirit Warriors has a huge payoff right now. The odds against the Warriors is 4 to 1, that's the second lowest we've seen just after Team Lotus' last fight! Will we get another upset like in that battle? It seems unlikely, because you all know what they're about to go up against!"