open The Town That Friendship Forgot

[Dynamo Pad 11,300]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

"We heard that from Samurai and the judges. From how he explained it, then it does make logical sense. I know we just had a Battle Royale before, but at least it would be more controlled." Frozen noted, Calhoun nodding in agreement. "I think a Battle Royale works because it would give Samurai a chance to fight. Considering if he beats you, then he has to fight Kronos. Battling multiple opponents in a row will take a lot out of you. It's why I understand Samurai brought up the idea." Calhoun responded, putting his two cents into the discussion. "If you want my honest thoughts, then I'm not entirely sure how to feel. So much has happened that I suppose it's not entirely real yet. I thought I'd be in the same situation as Cosmic, but I guess that isn't the case. Why do you ask?" The pegasus readjusted his glasses as he wondered if the griffon was saying something unintentionally about himself.

[Samurai Equine 51,369]

 @Starforce

Whatever was happening with her mane, Starlight notices but shrugs it off. "Sure. Anything I can do to make up for my sudden departure is just what I want." Starlight says with a relieved smile and lets Opia lead the way.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

@Starforce, @ExplosionMare, @Kronos the Revenant, @Courageous Thunder Dash, @Dynamo Pad, @Ragland Tiger

In the stands,

Trilby shakes Reality's hoof. "Pleasure to meet you." He does the same for Sparkly. "Any friend of Pencil is a friend of mine." He says confidently. Speaking of, he turns to Pencil. "I asked Thundy to look over my shop and make sure nothing happens to it while I am away. I am sure it is fine. At least I hope so... I just got back, so I can't say for sure." And Trilby turns to Dynamo as well. "Paper can take any shape, I suppose. Also, I'm doing fine. Just got back from a big trip. I'll share the details later." Trilby says.

About that time, Samurai joins the group and sits near Chelsea. "Hey everyone. Hope I'm not interrupting." Samurai says. Receiving his healing session, Samurai nods "Thank you, Chelsea-chan. I can all ready my magic reserves being restored. I'm sorry if my Battle Royale idea seemed hasty, but unlike what happened earlier, I thought the three of us could obey the rules and be civilized about it." He thanks her, all the while some his koroko appear only long enough to fix Samurai's armor of any scratches or imperfections. He also looks at everyone. "Dynamo-otoutosn! Bluebell-chan! You made it. Are you going to watch the event? It could go either way at this point. I just hope I can give the crowd what they want." Samurai says.

In the Judges' Booth,

"I'll take that as vote for the royale. And the rest of you?" Mayor White asks. “...I vote no. I think regular matches are the way to go. It's what we promoted.” Elusive says. "I agree with Ms. Elusive." Straightaway says. "Hmm... So we're split down the middle. Two in favor of the Battle Royale, and two opposed..." Mayor White sits up and looks over at the different fighters. Kronos seems to be enjoy the idea, but not so much for Thundy. Samurai's input is no good since he stated out loud that he'd accept whatever the other fighters agreed on. "...I guess that makes things clear then." Mayor White says. He then stands and turns his mic on again. "Attention please! It seems we have come to an undecided impasse. In the event that neither the judges nor the fighters can agree on a course of action, then we revert back to the original plan. The request for a Battle Royale is denied. After this short recess is over, Samurai and Thundy will report to the ring for their 1 x 1 match. That is all."

Edited November 14, 2021 by Firefighter Equine

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Dynamo Pad @Firefighter Equine

"I just wanted to make sure that you're okay emotionally. That's what friends do. They check up on each other after things like this happen. I know how you feel Frozen. You feel like there's a gap...a gap that needs to be filled." Thundy stated. He then heard the announcement that the battles would remain 1x1. "Well that's good they kept it 1 on 1." Thundy commented. 

@ExplosionMare @Ragland Tiger @Starforce @Reality Check

"Well, I'm glad they kept it the regular format. Let's see how Thundy would do against Samurai." Chelsea commented. 

 

[Dynamo Pad 11,300]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @Firefighter Equine @Starforce @Reality Check @Kronos the Revenant

"That's true when you put it that way. I guess paper can be really tricky in theory. It's why there were paper shinobi when everything was going on in the War for Friendshire. Shinobi are good with being hidden, so maybe Fold made sure to stay hidden. At the same time, turning into something else to drive away suspicion, or something along those lines." He explained, shrugging his shoulders as he wasn't entirely sure of his theory. "You went on a big trip? Where did you go to, Trilby?" He asks, learning that his friend had gone on a big trip. All before nodding at the mention that he'd share the details later. "I understand and I look forward to hearing about the trip." Hearing his name once more, he looked over to see that Samurai had made his way over towards the group. "Hey, Onii-san. We're going to watch some of the remaining matches, so it's nice to be here." He smiles, shaking his head at his apology. "It's okay and there's no need to apologize, Onii-san. I can understand the idea of a Battle Royale. If you win more matches, then you'll probably be overwhelmed later on. Even if one gets their energy restored, but still. It was a nice suggestion as 1 x 1 matches or a Battle Royale sounded interesting." He explained, before looking over towards Mayor White, who stood and spoke towards the crowd about the outcome of the fights. "I guess the original plan and the Battle Royale were both good options that it was difficult to decide. I'm really sorry to hear that your suggestion didn't go through, Onii-san. I do with you and Thundy good luck when your fight comes." He says, smiling as he gave his two brothers support for their match ahead.

@Courageous Thunder Dash

"I appreciate the sentiment, Thundy. I'm just not used to something like that, but will do so in due time. I suppose you could put it that way in a gap that needs to be filled. With everything that's happened, I feel like I'm on one side of a gap, while everyone else is on the other. I have a long way to go, but I'm honored to be given a chance to redeem myself." Frozen responded, Calhoun placing a a comforting arm around his shoulder. "It'll all work out, Frozen. If I have to, then we'll make a giant leap over the gap and make it together. You'll make it through it and we'll all get through it together." Calhoun grinned, before a sudden thought had occurred to the yak. Turning to Thundy, Calhoun curiously raised an eyebrow. "You said you know how Frozen feels. How is that so? Would you mind in explaining, or is it too personal to discuss at the moment?" He asks as the fights being turned back to 1 x 1 was announced. "While I concur that a Battle Royale would be most beneficial. I suppose that one on one fights are still plausible. What Calhoun asked is something I'm wondering myself. How do you know how I feel?" He asks, his look remaining neutral, but a hint of curiosity could be seen in his eyes.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Dynamo Pad

”Because of my experiences. See this is what is called empathy. Empathy is stepping into others shoes, not literally, and seeing the situation from their perspective and using that to acknowledge their situation. Anyway, I’d love to continue this, but the match will start very soon. Wish me the best.” Thundy said to Frozen and Calhoun. M

@Firefighter Equine@ExplosionMare @Starforce @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check

“When will match start? Bingo can’t wait to see match.” Bingo said. “Patience Bingo, still gotta make sure everything is in place.” Chelsea replied. 

[The Real Sparkly]

@Courageous Thunder Dash @Dynamo Pad @Firefighter Equine @Starforce @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check

“Good that someone is watching the shop for you, Trilby. Otherwise, I’d be concerned if you said you came all the way here and no one was watching over it.” Pencil replied.

Sparkly looked over and saw Dynamo approach with Bluebell in a wheelchair. She gave them a relieved smile, glad to see that Bluebell was out of the hospital. She stood up to greet them, prompting Pencil to stand up as well.

“It is good to see you again, Dynamo Pad and Bluebell. I am especially glad that Bluebell is here instead of the hospital. It is quite alright that you didn’t recognize me, Dynamo. My current appearance is my true form. The form you originally saw me in was merely a cover made from powder.

My real identity is that of a Princess Twilight Sparkle clone. However, I am not Twilight Sparkle, as my mind is that of someone from planet Earth. I am not sure how I arrived here nor am I sure how I arrived as a clone, but what I do know is I was sent here to reach Equestrians about the knowledge of Earth. My hope is that they use that knowledge to make a better Equestria.” she spoke to the blue unicorns.

Pencil’s ears perked as another announcement arrived from the speakers. According to some sort of vote, the Battle Royale was called off. Pencil sighed in relief, glad that a huge, chaotic fight was no longer a possibility. Instead, another series of 1x1s was going to commence.

“Well, I’m glad that mess is being avoided.” she said to no one in particular.

[Samurai Equine 51,369]

 @Starforce

Mayor Black and Starlight watch the magic show about to take place. But their curiosity turns to surprise with a little bit of blushing when they see the mural of flowers that depicts Mayor Black and Opia. "Oh my. Well, it certainly is artistic, and good for the environment." Starlight says, starting things off. Mayor Black rubs the back of his head, trying to process his feelings on this. "And you're sure this will bring in new arrivals to the town?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------

@Starforce, @ExplosionMare, @Kronos the Revenant, @Courageous Thunder Dash, @Dynamo Pad, @Ragland Tiger

In the stands,

Trilby listens as Sparkly explains her identity in more detail. "Well, I must say, you look and talk different enough from the real Princess of Friendship that you might as well be your own pony." Trilby explains.

He also looks over and sees someone he clearly missed. "Oh, hi there~! When did a diamond dog join our crew?" Trilby waves to Bingo before asking Chelsea about him.

"Thank you, otouto-san." Samurai tells Dynamo with a content smile. He takes a deep breath and lets it go. "I guess this is it. See you all again soon." Samurai takes his leave.
As Samurai heads down, readying for his match, he takes a moment to look around and really absorb things. The townsfolk seem happy that Cosmic was defeated and that everything is okay again. The sky is clear. Birds are chirping. Thundy seems more high-spirited than usual. Everything is surprisingly peaceful and happy. Samurai even takes a moment to look one of his upper hooves and contemplate something.

In the arena,

The tournament staff has once again been called out. Since the tournament is nearly over, they don't need two arenas anymore. They use their magic to combine them into 1 super big arena. Before getting into it, Samurai looks over at the judges and nods. He puts on his helmet but decides to leave the skull-mask off. They see it, and Elusive makes the announcement. "All right, everypony. The tournament is back on. For the pen-ultimate match, will Thundy and Samurai please report to the arena! I repeat, will Thundy and Samurai please report to the arena!" Elusive says. Samurai is the first to get on the ring. He could have a grand entrance, he has the resources for it, but he decides against it. Instead as he waits, he looks away, as if something is bothering him...

After this match, there will only be one last match remaining.

Edited November 14, 2021 by Firefighter Equine

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Firefighter Equine @Dynamo Pad @Starforce @ExplosionMare @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check

Thundy was in the back preparing. He was now dawned in his custom athletic wear. The lights dimmed and a sports theme began to play. Thundy strutted out pulling a few flips and dance moves. This music wasn’t any preset. It came straight from Thundy’s heart. 
 

Chelsea and Bingo stood up watching. “There he is!” Chelsea called out cheering. Thundy faced Samurai. “It is time…comrade.” Thundy proclaimed as he revealed a pokeball. Thundy eyed Sam. It looked as if something may have been bothering him. “Everything okay?” Thundy asked. 

[Samurai Equine]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Even the judges seem confused. Samurai looks up at the sky. It's about mid-afternoon. The sun is still shining. Samurai smiles. "Yeah. This is good."

He looks at Thundy and points. "I don't need a warm up! I'm going to finish this in one move." Samurai declares. "Did you hear that, everypony? It seems Samurai has declared that he is going to settle this entire match with just one move! Is he that confident?" Elusive commentates. Samurai draws his sword and holds it up, but he turns it so the blunt end is facing forward instead of the sharp end. "Are you ready, Thundy-niisan?! Because I'm not putting my hatred or determination into this attack. Instead, I'm putting all of my heart and soul into it, including our bond of brotherhood that we share. Show me you have what it takes to counter this." Samurai says before his horn starts to glow.

[Thundy]

@Firefighter Equine @ExplosionMare @Reality Check @Starforce @Ragland Tiger @Dynamo Pad

Thundy gathered some electricity and tossed the pokeball into the air. It opened and Thundy was sucked into the pokeball. The ball shook once, then twice...finally the ball shook again and popped open. Thundy was revealed...as Lucario, with some leftover dreadlock. Auras flared from his palms as he let out a roar. "Give it all you've got...I'm ready." Thundy declared. 

[Samurai Equine]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

Samurai closes his eyes. Red and yellow flames engulf his sword, but as Samurai groans and builds into a scream, the flames rise higher and shine brighter. The flames build up higher, two stories, three, four?! So bright that it leaves the awe-struck audience in the dark. Right now, the arena is illuminated. Samurai and Thundy are the only ones visible. They are the only ones that matter in this moment. Finally, Samurai opens his eyes, which are glowing white with magic, and he breaks his scream of intense concentration. "This is it, Thundy-niisan!! FLAMING... SLASH!!!" Samurai runs forward as fast as he can and swings his sword, which at this point means he is swings a massive inferno of flames. Trying to stop this would be like trying to stop a wide-spread blast from a flame thrower, but there's more! Samurai's signature attacks usually have an explosive finish. Whatever Thundy does next to counter it or push it back, he better choose his next move carefully.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Firefighter Equine @ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad @Reality Check @Ragland Tiger @Starforce

Thundy made Wonder Woman's gauntlets appear and crossed them in an X as the flames engulfed him. Fire melts steel so this was a super effective move. Thundy could feel the pain of the fire, and he grunted. He felt like he was going lose it. "No...I feel it...slipping..." He thought to himself. This was no time to back down. Thundy's eyes suddenly illuminated white, as he started to overcome the fire. Slowly yet surely, he pushed through. The crack was almost there. Thundy grunted and growled. Finally, Thundy let out a loud roar as Lucario, the flames taking on new colors: blue...then white. The ground began to shake and Thundy seemed to be powering up. A sort of shell encased Thundy as he powered up. Suddenly, the shell exploded and the fire spread and dissipated. There he was...Thundy...was now mega evolved...and wielding the power of Ultimate Gohan. 

"Now...it's my turn." Thundy declared as he prepared his attack, digging deep and taking a deep breath. Suddenly, a downward facing arrow appeared on Thundy's forehead as he moved his arms in an airbending fashion. A breeze started to brew around Samurai. Thundy was going for a full neutralization of Samurai's fire abilities and what better way to do it than try for a vortex trap. The rotating wind increased in speed as Thundy moved his arms faster. 

 

In the stands, Chelsea watched. "Thundy changed! Thundy not bird anymore!" Bingo exclaimed. "You're right Bingo, Thundy is now Lucario, the aura pokemon. It's amazing how he overcame Samurai's fire abilities considering Lucario is a steel type...but with Thundy getting closer to a pure heart...it happened." Chelsea stated. 

[Samurai Equine 51,369]

@Courageous Thunder Dash

"What is this?! It's so bright, yet we can hardly see!" Mayor White commentates.

True, when the flames make contact, they cannot be pleasant. They must be burning. Searing. A fate that you would NEVER wish upon your average pony or your average creature in general. But there's more then that... If flames and magic attacks could talk for the spell casters, if they could carry thoughts and emotions, then this attack would only have one message for Thundy...

Thank you, nii-san, for being my friend. The rest is up to you.

And yet, instead of striking  his opponent down or an explosive finish, Samurai feels something else. Despite such a powerful attack, Thundy was able to take the flames and turn them into his own. Immediately after, Samurai is surprised to find himself in a wind vortex of some kind. There is more he could do here. One attack is hardly his full arsenal of abilities. However, Samurai just smiles, closes his eyes, and opens his arms out wide in surrender. The vortex tosses him about, and finally Samurai crash lands outside the ring.

By now, the darkness has faded along with the intense light. The audience and the judges can see what has happened. "...Samurai has fallen out of the ring?" Straightaway commentates, confused. "That... That means Samurai is disqualified." Mayor White says. "And fighter Thundy advances to the final match." Elusive wraps it up. Needless to say, it's both an epic victory and a stunning upset.

Edited November 15, 2021 by Firefighter Equine

[Pencil Pouch]

@Courageous Thunder Dash@Firefighter Equine

Sparkly smiled at Trilby. She was glad he was so positive towards her transformation. He seemed to know exactly what it meant; Sparkly's appearance may not be completely her own but she was still herself. Once he and the others finished their own conversations, Sparkly and Pencil settled in to watch the battle between Thundy and Samurai.

"Both of these guys are pretty skilled fighters. I think Samurai has a better shot since he has fought in a lot more serious battles before." Pencil commented.

"You make a good point, Pencil Pouch. Thundy, however, has a wide set of shapeshifting abilities. If anything, it may be a close draw." Sparkly replied.

They watched as Samurai made attempts with his weapons, lighting them up with flames. Thundy, meanwhile, glowed in a variety of different colors as he transformed into a Pokemon. This battle felt more like a light show than a fight. Pencil smiled as she thought of how she could draw a scene like this in the future.

It seemed that Sparkly was right since Thundy turned out to be the winner. Pencil clapped respectively and Sparkly smiled at Samurai, letting him know that he did a good job despite his loss. Sparkly watched passively as Thundy moved on to the finals. Meanwhile, Pencil got up to talk to Chelsea.

"I bet you're glad Thundy won! I honestly was expecting Samurai to win since he's so skilled at fighting but I was proven wrong. Thundy is getting stronger. That's very good for him! I bet Samurai is proud of him even though he bested him in the fight, hehe!" she said, rambling a bit in her speech, trying to get out as many thoughts as possible.

[Chelsea]

@ExplosionMare

"Indeed Pencil. As I said before, Thundy's on his way to having a pure heart, and that means he might unlock quite a few more abilities...even stages...we'll have to find out what happens in the finals against Kronos. I have a feeling Kronos is gonna try to stop the process of Thundy getting his pure heart, which isn't a good thing. But I know deep inside that Thundy will overcome this and see right through." Chelsea answered. 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@Firefighter Equine @Courageous Thunder Dash

Kronos stared in shock and awe that Samurai lost to Thundy. He was in such shock that he let go of his heavy weapons and they made an audible sound as they reached the ground. He then looked to the ground, his eyes shadowed over. 
 

“I have to win this,” Kronos said to himself, “For Dynamo. For Samurai. FOR FRIENDSHIRE!!!!!” He then let out a ferocious shout with a brilliant golden aura surrounding him. “THUNDY!! I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF YOU, SO DON’T DISAPPOINT ME IN THE TITLE MATCH!!”

[Dynamo Pad 11,300]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @Firefighter Equine @Starforce @Reality Check @Kronos the Revenant @Courageous Thunder Dash

Dynamo looked over to Sparkly, who stood up alongside Pencil to greet both him and Bluebell. "It's good to see you and Pencil again, Sparkly. Also, you can say that again. I'm just glad that Bluebell is awake and is okay." He smiled, before learning more about Sparkly's truth. "Really? I honestly didn't know that you were using a powder to hide your true form. I think there are illusion spells or spells to change one's appearance, but I don't recall any kind of powder that does that sort of thing. That's still pretty interesting, but I guess it's still a mystery. I would ask how you got to Earth or how you became a clone of Princess Twilight, but I guess those are questions to be discussed and answered for later. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that Sparkly is Sparkly and that you're my friend." He nodded, knowing that everyone around him were his true friends. His ears suddenly perking at the random comment from Pencil. Turning towards the purple mare, he nodded in agreement. "Now that you mention it, I can see now that one on one fights are more fitting to go with. After that big free for all, I think it's better to go back to the standard for matches." He noted, hoping to avoid bringing up the fight with Cosmic. Deciding to move onto a new topic, the gaming unicorn turned towards Trilby, who asked about Bingo. "Oh, that's right. Bingo joined the group recently. He was in the tournament, but Thundy brought introduced him to us and he's now our friend." He explained briefly, but made sure that Chelsea could add more to answer any and all of Trilby's questions.

"You're welcome, Onii-san. Good luck to you both and both of you do your best. We'll see you both soon." Dynamo responded, waving to Sam, who started making his way down the steps towards the arena. At the same time, Frozen and Calhoun listened as Thundy gave a brief explanation. "I do get what empathy means, or the phrase to be in someone's horseshoes. I'm just asking how do you know what I've been through?" He asks, but knew that it wouldn't be that simple as Thundy's time to fight was now. "It's okay, Thundy. We'll talk about it later. Best of luck to you." Calhoun smiled, patting Frozen's shoulder to let him know to let up on the questioning. As the griffon went to prepare, the duo made their way around the arena to head over towards the spectator area. With the combined magic power of the tournament staff, the two arenas had combined into one giant super arena. It almost seemed unnecessary, but it made sense. With how many fights were left, it seemed as if these matches were going to be intense with nobody holding back. With Sam entering the arena first, it Dynamo's ears perked as music began to play. Dynamo couldn't help in smiling at Thundy's flips and dance moves as he entered the arena. "At least he knows how to make an entrance like Onii-san. It feels like this is going to be a good fight." He squinted his eyes as he thought he saw what appeared to be a pokeball being held in Thundy's talons. Hearing the judges comment on the asian pony's plans, Dynamo had a look of confusion, yet concern on his face.

"I know Sam is strong, but he doesn't seem to be the overconfident type. Unless he's hoping to end this in one move to not waste energy, or prolong the fight." He wondered if the shared pain he received had limited his fighting abilities. He recalled that he was planning to get healed up, but it seemed like Samurai didn't want to take a chance. As Thundy tossed the capsule, before being drawn into the pokeball, Dynamo remembered what was about to happen. As the ball shook and opened up, Thundy had taken on the appearance of a Lucario. "I see now. I remember Thundy doing this before during training practice. It's his power bonding ability. So, that means he has the appearance and some abilities of Lucario." He commented to the group, watching as aura flared around his palms. As Thundy gave off power, so too did Samurai. As flames engulfed the asian pony's blade, while the flamed built higher and higher until it engulfed both combatants. The only thing that could be seen or heard was Samurai's announced attack as a giant inferno was pushed forward towards Thundy's direction. "When Onii-san said he was going for a one move finish, then he really sticks to his word and is going all in."

With the bright and hot flames engulfing the ring, Dynamo had to squint his eyes as the bright light was making it difficult to see. That and he wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead from how hot it was. To him, it was like standing in the middle of a desert or a baking oven. "Do you best, you guys!" He call out to the both as he couldn't cheer for one over the other. Hearing a loud roar, Dynamo had noticed the flames growing brighter, before dimming slightly. As the flames were being sucked up into a vortex of wind, the unicorn was surprised as Samurai flew through the air, before being thrown out of the ring. With the flames and wind dying down, Dynamo had looked over to Thundy, who looked to have changed slightly. A mixture of his griffon self with a mega Lucario and what appeared to be arrow tattoos. "I-Is that Aang's tattoos?" He asks, almost unsure as the announcement was made that Thundy had won. "I can't believe Onii-san lost, but that was still a pretty cool display of abilities. I honestly thought it would end in a draw or that it'd go either way. I'm still proud of both fighters and that there's no hard feelings." He would say, before hearing the loud clattering of what appeared to be weaponry. Looking over, he saw Kronos was nearby, who looked to have been engulfed in a brilliant gold aura. His ears fell at the cyber pony's shouting, but his message was loud and clear. "It sounds like Kronos is eager to fight, as well. I guess this next fight will be as intense as the last or will be more intense." He hoped that the ring could handle these fights, before turning his attention towards Trilby. "Hey, Trilby? I was just wondering something. Are you able to repair clothing, or do you happen to know anyone that can repair clothes like jackets?"

[Reality Check 631]

@Firefighter Equine @Dynamo Pad @Courageous Thunder Dash @ExplosionMare @Starforce @Kronos the Revenant @Ragland Tiger

Before the match started, Reality half-expected Samurai to with this round, since he remembers that Final said he was a war veteran and looks a bit more experienced than Thundy. Though he also wouldn't be surprised if Thundy to have a counter for that, so he was half and half with this one. He saw Samurai's sword ignite in flames and Thundy transforming into a Lucario. As soon as the two clashed, Reality shielded his eyes from the bright light. When he began opening them slowly, he could see Samurai thrown out of the ring and Thundy as a hybrid of himself and a mega Lucario.

"Huh, well that's something you don't see everyday" he muttered to himself. After hearing the annoucement, he was already compelled to start drawing Thundy while he's still in his current form, so he got out his sketchbook and pencil and immediately got to work.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@Firefighter Equine @ExplosionMare @Reality Check @Ragland Tiger @Dynamo Pad

Chelsea suddenly turned her head. She saw a familiar pony. "Trilby! I didn't even see you there. I'm so sorry. I thought I heard someone ask about Bingo here and I guess it was you. Well, Bingo here, fought Thundy in a previous round, and now they're best buddies." Chelsea explained. Bingo turned around to face Trilby. "Thundy defeat Samurai. Bingo hope Thundy beat Kronos." Bingo said to Trilby and Chelsea. 

Back in the arena, Thundy was still Mega Ultimate Lucario with A'ang's tattoos. He took a deep breath and slowly walked towards Samurai who had been thrown out the ring by the vortex. He reached out an arm and slowly picked him up, reverting to his regular griffon form, the power of Lucario returning to the pokeball. Thundy then embraced Samurai in a warm hug. "No...thank you...my friend." He said holding the hug. 

[The Real Sparkly]

@Dynamo Pad @Firefighter Equine @Courageous Thunder Dash @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check

Sparkly beamed at Dynamo. She was ecstatic at how interested he was about her previous and current form. She had quite a lot to talk about, but she would keep it brief for the sake of time. With her head held high and a proud smile on her face, she told the unicorn,

“The powder was a concoction I mixed as soon as I realized I needed to hide my identity. I ran into the forest—well, more like crawled, since I was not used to hooves—and found a variety of plants that I could crush into a faint mint color. Not only did I like the color but it was a far cry from Twilight Sparkle’s color.

When we get the chance, I would be glad to share with you my origin story as well as a bit of knowledge from Earth. I believe it would benefit you well, especially in terms of technology advancement.”

Pencil nodded in agreement to Dynamo’s comment about the tournament then fixed her gaze back towards the stadium. Sparkly turned as well, still smiling proudly.

[Samurai Equine 51,369]

 @Starforce

"I appreciate results. If this works, I'll embrace it all the more. Speaking of, I should be heading back to the office. Are you okay with staying with Starlight for a while?" Mayor Black asks. Starlight admires the flowery mural dedicated to her. "I definitely appreciate all this. Do you need any help? I've raised a few plants as well. Turns out, after all the work I've put in with Phyllis, I'm actually not bad at growing plants. A stress reliever became a good hobby." Starlight says, offering to help.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

@Starforce, @ExplosionMare, @Kronos the Revenant, @Courageous Thunder Dash, @Dynamo Pad, @Ragland Tiger

In the stands,

Trilby nods, listening to Sparkly and Pencil. "Seems like you really have managed to found yourself. You know, there is a theory that every pony has a doppelganger somewhere. Right now, there may very well be a pony walking around that looks just like ol' Trilby here. He might be a recolor, he might not be a unicorn, he might even blend into the background as some unimportant extra. But I bet they aren't a successful haberdasher like me." Trilby says to Sparkly. He then turns to Pencil. "Honestly, I'm with you. I kind of thought Samurai would've had that in the bag. Wonder what the deal is..."

He turns to Bingo after hearing Dynamo's and Chelsea's explanation of Bingo. "Oh, cool! Nice to meet you, Bingo. Umm... I guess you can all me Hat Pony, if you want." Trilby says.

But then, Dynamo asks him a question, and his eyes light up. "You want me to fix a jacket?! YES!! I'm back in Friendshire, and all ready I have a customer. Come by my store, and I'll gladly hook you up." Trilby answers him.

In the arena,

Elusive starts to make her way towards the arena.

Samurai gets up with Thundy's help and hugs him back. "You did it, Thundy-niisan. I attacked with my best finish move, and you beat it. True, maybe there was more I could have done to make it even more powerful, but you beat it just the same. You deserve to advance." Samurai says. "Wait a second!! Are you saying that you threw the match on purpose, Samurai Equine?!" Elusive asks, talking into her mic for all to hear. "Well... Yes, I did. I threw the fight because my mission here is complete. I helped save some innocent lives, I helped organize this tournament, and I got to see this event bring others together. On this day, unbreakable bonds were made, and I think this town is better for it. Aside from getting a good fighting challenge, I got everything I could ask for. I don't need the glory of winning." Samurai explains, talking into the mic.

With that, Samurai hops out of the ring and walks off. As he does, he finds Kronos. He smiles and gives his shoulder a friendly tap, a faux punch with no strength. "Go get 'em, big guy. Sorry you won't be facing me. I owe you a rematch sometime. Perhaps in a big open space, no rules, no holds bar. Sound good?" Samurai asks him. Samurai then leaves to hang out with his friends.

"And there you have it, everypony. I for one feel moved. The fight ended with a show of respect and brotherly love. Thundy, you defeated Samurai and you're about to have the title match with Kronos. Any final thoughts before the big match? Do you need a moment to rest or prepare for the fight?" Elusive asks Thundy, holding up her mic.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad @Starforce @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check @Kronos the Revenant @Firefighter Equine

"This feels like the game before what is called the Super Bowl, the football game of all football games...two teams, the best of each conference go head to head for the trophy and a ring. Kronos...just know...I put my whole heart in this fight...let me take one moment to mediate and prepare." Thundy declared, then going to the back to get prepared and meditate. 

[Kronos the Revenant 1,971]

@Courageous Thunder Dash@ExplosionMare @Dynamo Pad @Starforce @Ragland Tiger @Reality Check@Firefighter Equine

As Kronos heard his opponent insist on letting him enter first, he marches on with his signature menacing aura, slowly trudging with an atmosphere of impending doom. Suddenly, he blasts music from his suit:

As the music played, he drew his gargantuan weapons and began to demonstrate his agile dexterity with them. He then lets out another ferocious roar with a red aura being clearly visible surrounding him, hyping himself up for the upcoming fight. As he waits for his opponent, he continues his swordplay almost like a dance. 

[The Real Sparkly]

@Kronos the Revenant @Courageous Thunder Dash @Firefighter Equine @Starforce

Sparkly put a chin to her hoof at Trilby’s speculation. It was not impossible for a clone of everyone to exist out there somewhere. She turned to Pencil briefly and chuckled in her head, imagining what it would be like to see two Pencils. Turning back to Trilby, she offered her thoughts.

“We may never to be able to find all of these clones but it is more than believable to me that they exist somewhere out there. It makes me wonder if there are clones on Earth as well. Seeing a duplicate of my human form would be intriguing to say the least.” she responded.

In the stadium, Samurai declared that his defeat was intentional, much to the shock of everyone in the stands. Sparkly shook her head and Pencil bore a look of concern, not sure how to take his statement. Alhimar then trotted towards the mic and offered his opinion, saying he was disappointed by the outcome. Sparkly listened intently, completely agreeing with everything he said. Pencil remained neutral but couldn’t help but wonder why Samurai fought to begin with if he was just going to lose.

Edited November 16, 2021 by ExplosionMare

[Dynamo Pad 11,300]

@Ragland Tiger @ExplosionMare @Firefighter Equine @Starforce @Reality Check @Kronos the Revenant @Courageous Thunder Dash

As Dynamo watched Thundy and Samurai hug each other, Dynamo smiled. "Even after how intense that match got. There's no hard feelings between the two. I guess that's how the tournament was able to strengthen the friendships in town." He says, recalling how his friendships and relationship was strengthened due to the tournament. Albeit, not in the way one would have expected. Turning away from the fight and towards Sparkly, Dynamo had taken notice of the alicorn beaming at the gaming unicorn. Smiling, he listened as Sparkly explained about the powder and her change in identity. "Since you mentioned that you were a human, I can imagine how awkward it must have been to try to run on hooves. I sometimes trip over my own hooves, so I can relate." He chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his front hoof. "Was it any specific forest, or was it the Everfree Forest? I've never been to Ponyville, but I heard that forest is particularly dangerous as the forest isn't natural. That the forest doesn't work the same as Equestria. Now that you mention it, the plants being crushed could give that mint color you had previously. If there's time after the tournament, then I'd be happy to learn about your origin and a bit more about Earth. I actually have a car that Thundy made that he said is from Earth. So, learning more about where you originally came from would be good for myself and others to learn."

Turning towards Trilby, Dynamo nodded at the mention of fixing his jacket. Upon learning that he could, Dynamo grinned happily. The grin was short lived as it turned lopsided with concern making it's way into his eyes. Opening up his saddlebag, the gaming unicorn had taken out his jacket, or what was left of it. The jacket, itself, was littered with holes, rips and was in tatters. Levitating it over to Trilby, Dynamo found himself with an uncertain expression. "It was damaged during the fight against Cosmic. What do you think Trilby? Do you think it's salvageable, or can possibly be fixed?" He asks, before turning towards the arena to listen to Elusive, who had announced that Samurai had not given it his wall. Dynamo's jaw dropped in shock as he didn't think his friend and brother would throw the match like that. Listening intently to the asian pony's speech, Dynamo raised his jaw as his lips curved into a smile. "I would have thought that Sam's injuries was a factor, but I can understand how he feels. This tournament isn't to win, but to strengthen the bonds between friends and competitors. Even to make new friends is a goal for everyone in the tournament to accomplish. While it's a shame that Onii-san didn't give it his all, I'm still happy that he did his best."

As Elusive asked if Thundy was ready, Dynamo watched as the griffon left momentarily to meditate and prepare for the battle ahead. With Kronos entering the arena, the gaming unicorn could see how the cyber pony trudged into the arena. For some reason, it felt like an atmosphere of impending doom was looming in the air. It didn't help that the menacing aura Kronos gave off gave the gaming unicorn a slight sense of dread. With music beginning to play, Kronos could be seen summoning a gigantic weapon, while demonstrating his agility and dexterity. "It looks like Kronos is set and raring to go. I do want both sides to win, but I guess that's something that can't be possible. So, I guess that means I'll have to do my best to cheer for both." He would say, his ears falling and wincing slightly from Kronos' ferocious roar. Dynamo could see a red aura being visible and surrounding the cyber pony. With one intense fight over, it was only a matter of time, before another intense fight would soon occur.