Twilight went to where the ring was set up the next day to see several wrestlers warming up in their own ways around it. However, her attention was mostly fixed on fellow wrestler Chris Benoit who was chatting with the skullcap sharlatan, Gregory Helms.

“Hey, Chris,” Twilight greeted as she approached the two and interrupted a rather wavering conversation.

Chris gave off his usual smile. “Hey there, Twilight. So it looks like we got a bit of a problem.”

An eyebrow raised on Twilight’s face. “A problem?”

Chris bit his lip a bit and clapped his hands nervously. “Yeah, nothing real serious, but it’s about the training. You see, I gotta go with some guys to do something for the upcoming video game. They’d just like to get some video and take some pictures is all. So in the meantime, this week you’re going to be training with Greg here,” He then patted the equally light heavyweight on the back.

“I mean, I got nothin wrong with that,” Gregory said and took a more firm stance. “Heck, maybe you’ll learn something more than how to get beat up by Mark Henry.”

“Whoa! Alright buddy, them’s fightin’ words!” Chris held up his dukes in a playful fashion and gave a few fake jabs at his fellow wrestler.”

Gregory faked a knockout and rested up against the ring apron while laughing. “Ha ha, but seriously. The fact that you survived and still in action a year later really says a lot. You, man, you’re just going to be one of those guys that lives forever like Hulk Hogan or Randy Savage.”

“Well thanks Greg,” Chris then turned to Twilight. “Anyways, you’ll be sparring with him for this week. While I’m gone, try not to kill each other, alright?”

“Don’t worry, Chris. I mean, it’s just training. What can go wrong?”

Every single wrestler backstage stopped struggle. Holds were not broken out of and jaws fell to the floor. Even the janitor who was up in the stands cleaning off the seats of gunk and unmistakable ichor halted in his tracks.

“Um, Twilight.” Gregory got off the ropes and started rubbing his hands nervously. “We don’t ever say that. The last time somebody said that during training, a guy ended up breaking his neck.”

“Oh,” Twilight paused for a while before going on. “Sorry. Well, I guess we’ll get to it. Seeya later Chris!”

“Same to you, Twilight.” And with the farewells out of the way, Chris got out of the arena.

Once Chris was out of sight, Twilight turned her head to see Gregory was already in the ring. She didn’t waste much time either, and quickly joined him.

The moment she did, a weird thing happened. The stands starting filling out with people who were rushing in and all the other wrestlers filed out of the arena. It was almost as though it were a real match.

Because of this, Twilight’s attention was mostly focused on the crowds causing her to marvel at this anomaly and go “What the hay? Um, is this a prank?” She then looked at Matt and she became super nervous. He had the dead look of all her previous opponents, the same look she saw on him the first time she beat him in a match.

But of course, this is only training, right? After all, even if he is a pod-person or an alien or a robot, he’d still just be training with her, right? WRONG!

Gregory Helms demonstrated unseen speed before and quickly ran at her, locked her in a front-facing headlock, and flew off his feet ending up with him slamming her face into the mat.

This wasn’t just a match. This was something different, something realer than usual. She got up and managed to dodge another grapple maneuver as Gregory bent down to grab at her. This gave her amble opportunity to use the very brief distance between him and her to do a running tackle, giving him the brunt of her thick neck lest she impale him.
This strike was enough and knocked him clear off his feet and on his back. It didn’t take him long, though, to roll off the floor and get back on his feet.

“Greg!” Twilight called out. “Snap out of it! We’re just training!”

It was all to no avail. he came running at her again with one arm extended. This attempt at a clothesline, however, and went right over her head as she ran to the other point of the ring. It still wasn’t enough, and so she hit him with another tackle to similar results.

“Stop acting stupid! You’re not yourself!”

He got back up. Twilight didn’t want to end up with him getting hurt so she simply flattened him again with yet another running tackle. However, as she landed the blow a loud ringing from near the abandoned announcer’s table came and all of a sudden everyone started filing out of the grand stadium yet again. Twilight was rather bothered by this, but not so much that she didn’t notice Gregory who happened to groan in pain and start grasping at his chest.

“Oh man, what the hell hit me?”

Twilight cautiously walked over to Gregory who appeared to be relatively unscathed but clearly in pain. “Are you okay?”

Gregory got to his feet slowly and wiped off any dust on him. “Yeah, I think so. Did you just knock me out or something?”

“No. Greg, you mean to tell me that you don’t realize what just happened?”

“Not at all. Then again, I’ve been blacking out a lot lately. Shoot, it’s probably why I lost the match last week.”

“Alright,” Twilight contemplated whether or not to let Greg in on what’s been happening lately, but decided against it given that he doesn’t even realize she’s a horse yet. “Well, thanks for sparring with me I guess.”

“Not a problem, kid. I’ll be back tomorrow, same time same place!”

“Wait, no!” Twilight called out. But her voice fell on evidently deaf ears as Gregory leapt over the ropes and ran outside the ring. She knew this was going to be a real rough week.

Author's Note

What if Greg knows Twilight is a pretty purple pony but doesn't mention it because this is his one chance to rassle a unicorn into submission? I know I'd take that chance!