Chapters Once upon a time…Or at least last Tuesday...
There lived two great knights, Shield and Sword. These great warriors were friends once, but then something happened on that day of the Fall Harvesting festival. Don’t worry they went back to being friends again. But what could it have been that caused these two friends to fight? You might ask yourself. Well, it was a mare.
I guess I should start with the descriptions of the characters.
Shield was a muscular, white Earth Pony, with silver mane and tail. Shield is also known as SH. Whereas Sword was a very slim, silver Earth Pony, with a white tail and mane. Sword is also known as SW.
Anyways, on to the story…
Our heroes were stuck in the dungeon of a small town known as Hoovesbury, this place is especially known for it's fantastic supply of wheat crops.
SH was lying on the bed of the cell, staring at the ceiling with a blank stare. SW sat under the window, listening to the ponies going on about their business.
“How’s it coming along?” SH asked, not moving from the bed.
SW stood up and peeked through the window. It was a very nice, warm, blue day. A few clouds in the sky, the sun shined in such a way the crops seemed to glow in its very wake. He saw that the ponies were working very fast and furiously. You see, this week is the annual Fall Harvesting festival, so everypony must work very hard to prepare for this festival in honor of the crops they have grown.
"Still the same as it was before." SW sighed. His eyes panned through the scene, until something caught his eye.
It was a beautiful golden, yellow mare Unicorn. With a long, light green mane and tail. Her emerald eyes seem to sparkle in the sunlight. A cupid’s arrow struck SW right in the heart.
“Why would such a beautiful creature such as her be a harvester?” SW asked to apparently no pony at all. He slumped down below the window in a love-struck manor.
SH got up from the bed, “What in the blazes are you talking about?” SH looked outside through the window. He too saw the gorgeous mare outside working in the fields. “A damsel such as here doesn’t need to work for she could have others do it for her.” He slumped down beside SW in the same manor.
“Wait, you love her too?” SW asked in a surprised tone.
“Of course I do, who couldn’t resist a mare such as her?”
“But I love her.”
“Well I claim her.”
“You can’t claim her, for I saw her first.”
“But you got the last mare, so this one is mine.”
“That one didn’t count because--“
“Gentleponies, your time is done, let’s go.” A guard pony said to the two stallions that were pressed up against each other in rage. “Also, please wait to fight, until we get outside, cause I really don’t want to have to scrape up yet another cell today.”
***
The white pony guard led the two angry stallions out of the dungeon and to the front of the Town Square. As the two stallions came upon the entrance. SH saw that the beautiful mare was in the Town Square as well. SH thought of what to say to her, what to give her. Then, that’s when he spotted a stand that was selling bouquets of flowers. SH snuck away from SW while he wasn’t looking and bought a bouquet of flowers.
“Hello there my dear.” SH said to the unicorn and showed her the flowers. “You look rather ravishing today.”
The mare blushed when she took the flowers. “Why thank you, how thoughtful.”
“My name is Shield, but you can call me SH for short. What is your name?” SH asked.
“My name is Mary Maiden, but you can call me Maiden.” She replied.
SW rammed SH out of the way, he held a bigger bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates in his hooves. “And my name is Sword, but people call me SW. Pleasure to meet you my lady.” SW said, holding out the gifts.
Maiden gave a slight grin to herself, like she knew what was going on. She nodded her head and decided that she would play along. SW and Maiden walked off towards the square. SH became a little flustered by this. SH and Maiden chatted for a while, getting to know each other, before Maiden stopped in front of a puddle in the sidewalk.
“Oh my, I wish not to get dirty before the festival.” Maiden said.
SW looked around for anything he could use for Maiden to walk on, but all he had was his sword. And that certainly wasn’t going to cut it. Then SH came along. SH set his shield down on the puddle for Maiden to walk over.
“Allow me my dear.” SH said with gentlepony charm.
“Why thank you sir knight.” Maiden gave a small bow.
SH picked his shield up, giving SW a slight smirk as he did. “Better luck next time, mate.”
The couple trotted onwards to the market. They were about halfway there before maiden stopped to sit and rub her hooves.
“Are you alright my lady?” SH asked anxiously.
“I’m quite fine, thank you. I’m just tired from all that working in the fields.” She continued to message her hooves. “I wish we had a carriage.”
SH looked around for a carriage, but noticed that all the rentals were gone. Then suddenly, a carriage pulled up beside the two ‘lovers’ that was driven by SW.
“Hop on fair Maiden!” SW commanded from upon what seems to be the last rental carriage in a heroic tone.
"I would love to." And Maiden did so with a vibrant smile.
SW looked back at SH and gave a smirk. “Better luck next time mate.” SW said in a mocking voice. The carriage speed off, leaving SH in a cloud of dust.
"Alright then Sword." SH quietly said to himself. "This means war."
“Do you know why I needed one of you to kill the other?” Chrysalis asked.
SH and SW both shrugged simultaneously.
“Because both of you would be too busy fighting each other, you wouldn’t be able to feed me with your love. You see, I feed upon love, but without a food source, my power is useless. Therefore, only one of you can suffice.” She paused, “But luckily I have enough power to destroy this pitiful town.”
“Not if I can help it!” SW charged in to attack Chrysalis.
Chrysalis blasted him with a magic bolt that sent him flying into a flower stand. The stand collapsed over him, burying SW completely.
“Nooooo!” SH cried. He looked over to Chrysalis, who was laughing hysterically.
Chrysalis stopped laughing and casted a magic bolt at SH. SH held up his shield in anger to block the magic bolt. He then advanced while Chrysalis continuously fired the spell at SH. SH flung his shield like a discus, as he had done before, and it hit Chrysalis, causing her to stagger back. SH tackled and pinned Chrysalis to the ground.
“You hurt my best friend, the only friend I have, and then you’re going to hurt a bunch of innocent ponies! But I’m not going to let that happen.” SH lifted a hoof up, ready to beat Chrysalis down.
But before he could have a chance to swing at her, he was lifted up by a telekinesis spell and hurled through the side of an aroma shop. SH crashed through the wall, shelves of perfume fell down and glass shattered. Shards dug into SH’s skin, and the scent around him was completely nauseating. SH felt dizzy, a slither of blood ran down his head. He picked himself up, only to hear Chrysalis cackling an evil laugh.
“How pathetic! For somepony who’s supposed to protect other ponies, you sure let your guard down too easily.” Chrysalis smiled.
“For someone who’s the queen of the changelings, you sure have an ugly true form. No wonder you have to hide yourself under those disguises!” SH retorted, spitting out blood.
Chrysalis’ face turned from confidence to pissed off immediately. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.”
Chrysalis’ horn began to glow, she was charging up a magic bolt. SH braced himself, ready to die. Suddenly, Chrysalis turned around and blasted a sword that was hurled at her into pieces. SW ran through the cloud of smoke and rammed Chrysalis away. Both Chrysalis and SH had a shocked expression on their faces.
“Uggh, I thought I killed you!” Chrysalis yelled angrily.
“Not yet.” SW replied.
SW galloped towards Chrysalis, taking the shield with both hooves, he leaped into the air. Then brought the shield down upon Chrysalis’ head. She fell down to the ground, defeated.
“Let’s…never do this again.” SW said, looking at SH. They both shared a small laugh together.
I challenge you to a duel
The carriage entered the market and stopped in front of a bakery. Both SW and Maiden walked into the bakery and up to the clerk that was sitting at the counter.
“A loaf of bread, please.” Maiden asked the clerk.
“Ten bits.” The clerk replied in a gruff voice.
Maiden looked through her purse, noticing she didn’t have enough, “Oh dear.” She gave a sigh of disappointment.
“Don’t worry my dear! I’ll pay for it.” SW took out 10 bits and set them on the counter.
They walked out of the bakery.
“Thank you for the bread, but now I should be going.” She sounded somewhat sad.
“I hope to see you again tomorrow.”
And with that, Maiden walked away. SW watched as Maiden trotted away.
“Sword!” SH said to SH, angrily.
“Shield.” SW turned around to face the angry knight. “What is it?”
“I have come to declare something!” He replied.
“That you have lost and decided to give me what I have already won?” SW said jokingly.
“Yes, wait…no-ergh! I have come to challenge you to a duel in honor of Maiden.”
“Ahhh, I was thinking of the same thing.”
“Then we have an agreement. Meet me at the Town Square in the morning.” SH said.
“I’ll be there.” SW finished.
The two ponies went their opposite ways.
The next morning at the Town Square…
“Well, you showed up.” SW said.
“I was the one who declared the challenge, was I not?” SH replied.
“Then shall we begin?”
“Yes, let’s.”
Both starred at each other for a small while. SH drew his shield and SW drew his sword. The towns ponies began to encircle them. Their watchful eyes were filled with anticipation.
SH threw his shield at SW like a discus. SW ducked and charged at SH. The shield hit a building and bounced back, hitting SW in the back of the head and flying back into SH’s hoof. SW got back up and immediately lunged towards SH. SH quickly held up his shield to block the attack. The attack knocked the shield away, giving SW a good shot. SW then punched SH in the muzzle, causing SH to stagger back a little.
SW leaped forward to attack SH again. SH regained his composure and knocked the sword out of his opponent’s hoof. SH then proceed to bash SW to the ground. SH took the sword up and held the tip of it to SW neck. SH had a look of victory and pride on his face. SH threw the sword down and held out a hoof to help SW up. SW looked up at SH, both gave each other a smile and a nod.
SW accepted the help and the towns ponies stomped and clapped their hooves as the former friends gave each other a bro hug.
“So, have you come up with a winner?” Maiden asked.
The two stallions looked at each other again and both replied, “Nah, it’s a draw.”
“Oh, but I think you should finish the fight.” Her voice became a little angry.
“Why, listen, maybe you didn’t hear. It’s a draw, so we’re done.” SH said, his smile broke.
“I have spent a long time searching for a good food source and I will not allow this to happen.” Maiden said, her voice change a little bit. “SH, finish this fight. NOW!”
“What, no!” SH refused and stood his ground.
A beam of green energy shot from Maiden’s horn to SH’s forehead. SH held his head in pain, screaming in agony. As if something was inside it, afflicting this pain.
“What are you doing?” He pushed Maiden away.
SH stopped screaming, the pain had left his head. SW gave a sigh of relief that his friend was okay.
Maiden gave an evil laugh, picking herself up. “Do you know who I am?”
Maiden morphed into what her true form was. A black alicorn-like pony with craters and crevasses. She grew fangs, her eyes
turned green, and she grew a pair of transparent, bug-like wings.
“I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings!” The queen changeling said.
Not long after the defeat of Chrysalis, the guards apprehended her. SW walked across the rubble and laid down beside SH.
“So…we were dating a queen.” SH said. “Interesting.”
“An ugly one at that.” SW retorted.
“Agreed. Still, it made quite an interesting day.” SH said. Lying on his back and stared at the ceiling. He gave a sigh of relief. Thinking all the way back to yesterday.
“What was her name again? Chry- Chrysa--…” SW struggled to get the name out. “Ahh, I don’t give a buck.” SW laid down on the particles of shining glass, beside his best friend. Staring up at the ceiling with him.
SH looked over to SW, “So, what do you want to do?”
SW turned his head and looked back at SH, “Wanna go to the beach?”
“Hmmm.” SH thought about it for a while. “Sure, why not.”
Both ponies got up and began to walk out of the destroyed aroma shop before being stopped by the same white pony guard from the dungeon.
“Hey wait!” The guard shouted. “For causing collateral damage to the square, you have been given a pretty hefty fine.” The two stallions huffed. “But, since you defeated a queen that was going to annihilate the entire town, we’re overlooking that fine.”
“So we are free to go?” SH asked the guard.
“Yeah, I guess so.” He replied lazily.
SH and SW gave each other a bro hoof and ran off into the sunset together.
And they lived happily ever after…
THE END