Martial Arts of Friendship

Equestria, a world full of magic that resides in all beings. But this magic was a special kind for all the residents. In centuries, before the many kingdoms and tribes fought for supremacy and dominion over all the land. Until one day, one family discovered a method to release the great power that lay dormant within and brought the fighting to an end. This family was honored and revered by all and became the leaders of all Equestria. In time, others discovered their own power and darkness filled their hearts. To keep the threat of war at bay, a tournament was held promising grand prizes to those who bested all others. In time many gathered to watch as each battle shook the very earth itself. Now on this day, centuries later, the tournament is being held once more, and fighters from all across the land eagerly travel to prove their mettle and claim the prizes that await them.

Currently we find ourselves on a train heading away from an extravagant city on the side of a mountain and focus on one individual, well technically two as a smaller figure sat beside the taller one.

“I'm so nervous. What if the master is wrong and I can't even make it past the preliminaries?”

This was coming from a girl with light purple skin and had blue hair going down her back with a magenta stripe. She was wearing a purple blouse with a blue skirt and long socks that matched her skin, but was darker and wore a pair of normal purple shoes.

“Relax Twilight, you trained your but off and studied none stop.” Spoke the one beside her. It was a young boy younger than her with a similar skin tone, but slightly darker with green hair that spiked up and had a green shirt with a purple sweatshirt over it. He was also clad in purple shorts with green shoes. “As long as you give it your all and do your best, the master won’t care if you won or lose and don’t forget your family will be cheering you on.”

“Spike, you know it’s OUR family. You’re my little brother, and that’s not gonna change, even if you were adopted.” The girl hugged the younger boy.

Spike smiled and hugged her back while looking out the window and over the landscape.

“We’ll be arriving soon.” Twilight sighed. “Ponyville, home of the Grand Tournament.”

“Said to be the birthplace of today’s style for earth ponies.” Spoke up Spike.

“As well as the home to some lower ranking families of unicorn and pegasi.” Twilight finished.

“Just try not saying that outloud. I heard they can really hold a grudge.”

The train pulled into the station and screeched to a halt. Twilight and Spike stood up before getting off the train and took a moment to look at the nearby town.

“Looks pretty homey.” Spike grinned now wearing a large backpack.

“Let’s see if we can find the home the master set up for us.” Spoke Twilight making sure she had her bag over her shoulder.

“Right.” the boy reached into his bag and rummaged through it. “Where is that map?” he dove in kicking his feet in the air as he searched.

Many who passed by found this either weird or comical. Which left Twilight feeling embarrassed.

He popped back out with the paper. “Found it!” he enrolled it and looked it over. “Ah, it's the Golden Oaks Library.”

“Alright, lead the way Spike.”

As they went through the town, Twilight was like a fish out of water. If it weren't for Spike, she’d be feeling alone and scared.

“How much farther?” She asked her little brother.

“Not much further, the place has a big sign with a tree on it so it should be easy to spot.” Spike replied

Twilight sighed before noticing someone walking towards them.

“Hello there!” Twilight waved with a smile. She tried smiling widely while taking a moment to take in the appearance of the girl who seemed around her age.

She had rainbow colored hair and light blue skin wearing a white shirt with a lightning bolt shaped rainbow, a pair of black shorts that stopped at her thighs, but the most unusual thing was that she walked barefoot with tape around her ankles.

‘Hmm, looks like she’s a strong trainer. Either she’s been training for years, or she’s someone who’s just trying to seem tough.’ Twilight broke down and analysed. “I'm twilight, I'm here for the tournament.”

“Oh really?” The girl looked her over. “Eh, the name’s Rainbow Dash, and I’ll be the one taking home the big prize.”

“You seem confident of that.” Twilight spoke adding ‘possibly egotistical’ to her analysis.

“Heh, around here, I could beat anybody with one leg.” She boasted with a grin.

“Hey what am I, chop liver?” Spike crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

“And who are you?” She asked in curiosity.

“This is my little brother.” Twilight ruffled his hair. “We're going to be staying at the Golden Oaks Library during our stay.”

“Well if you’re staying there, just go down this road and take a left.” Rainbow pointed a thumb behind her.

“Thanks.” Twilight waved as she and Spike walked away.

The Rainbow haired girl smirked and let out a chuckle. “How gullible can big city snobs be?”

“Hmm.” Spike looked over the map as they walked down the road. “I’m not sure if that girl was telling the truth.”

“Oh come on Spike, have a little faith in local hospitality.”

Spike sighed and saw the road they went down was going AWAY from the library. They reached their destination, but it wasn’t what they were looking for.

“Carousel boutique?” Twilight let her shoulders slump.

“I’m not even going to say I told ya so.”

Twilight frowned and walked up to the door. “Might as well see if anyone inside knows the way.”

They went inside and saw another girl working on sewing a dress. She had purple hair with curls in it and wore a long white sundress with matching high-heels for her hair and didn’t seem to notice them.

“Um… Excuse us.” Twilight spoke up.

“Hmm?” The girl turned and jumped. “Oh! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“It's no problem right Spike?” Twilight looked at her brother and saw his mouth slightly open and didn’t respond. “Spike… you okay?

“Wow…” he spoke to himself without responding to Twilight.

“Well what brings you to my shop this fine day?”  The girl asked facing Twilight with a smile.

“Well it's partly because this Rainbow girl gave us bad directions.” Twilight answered shaking her brother's shoulder.

“Oh! Rainbow Dash?”

“Yeah.” replied Spike with goofy grin. ‘So beautiful.’

“Don’t take it personally, she does that all the time with visitors from the city. She doesn’t do it to be mean, she’s just protective of the town.”

“Well we’re trying to get to the Golden Oaks Library, and we might need a little help getting the right directions.”

“I can help with that darling, but first you must let me work my magic on your wardrobe. A little tweak here and a snip there.” Offered the girl.

“Thanks, but I’m good.” Replied Twilight.

“Oh darn, well I'm Rarity by the way.”

“I’m Twilight, and this is my little brother Spike.”

“You’re pretty.” the boy laughed as he swayed left and right.

“Well aren’t you sweet.” Rarity reached for a box and pulled out a green gemstone. “Here,, a gift from me to you.” she then gently tossed it to her new admirer.

Twilight flinched while her brothers eyes slitted upon seeing the stone.

“Mine!” he jumped high in the air and snatched it. He made a low growl while hugging it while Twilight glanced at the shocked Rarity.

“You know what, we’ll find it ourselves. Come on Spike.” Twilight grabbed him and rushed out the door.

“My word!” Blinked Rarity.

“Spike, put that gem away and stay focused.” Spoke Twilight in a firm tone.

“Sorry Twilight, but you know how I get around Gems, I can’t help it.” He apologized reluctantly putting it away.

“I know, it's in your nature, like the rest of your kind.” she looked at him. “Let’s try and find the library before it gets dark, alright?”

“Yeah and according to the map it should be straight ahead.” He spoke after taking the map out and checking it. “Yep, just ahead and after we get settled in, we can head to the fairgrounds.”

“Hopefully we don’t get sidetracked again.” She sighed before they resumed walking.

They Finally arrived at their new home away from home and went inside. Inside they saw shelves and shelves of various books as well as a thin layer of dust on everything and even cobwebs.

“Looks like no one's been home for awhile.” Spike walked in and dragged his finger over the nearby table. “A long while.”

“Well at least this is just temporary. After this, we’ll be back in our nice clean home in Canterlot.” Grinned Twilight.

“Um, hello?” A soft voice made them turn back to the door.

“Yes?” Spoke Spike walking over and opening it. “Can we help you?”

The person on the other side was a girl with long pink hair and butter yellow skin. She wore a green sweater over her top with a brown skirt. “Oh, um, well my name is Fluttershy and, um, I saw you and the other one go in and figured you must be the new owners, so I wanted to return the book I checked out before the last librarian passed away.”

“Oh. Well hold on.” Spike looked inside. “Twilight! Someone’s here to return a book!”

“Uh, Okay?” Twilight walked to the door.

“Here.” the girl held out the book. “I’d also like to say it’s nice having you in Ponyville.”

“I'm just here for the Tournament. I'm one of the representatives from Canterlot.” Twilight informed taking the book and setting it on the place it belonged on the shelves.

“Then that mean you must see grandmaster Celestia from time to time, right?” Fluttershy asked.

Spike and Twilight stiffened hearing that name. “Uh yeah, but only occasionally and it's not like a brief glimpse.”

“She has such a kind and gentle spirit despite being a one of the greatest martial artist.” Smiled Fluttershy. “Are both of you going to participate?”

“Just me, Spike here is going as my guest during the preliminaries.”

“But I could probably kick butt if I went in.” he boasted with a grin.

“Do you know what happened to it the last librarian?” ask twilight

“She apparently saw someone doing something… inappropriate and it gave her a heart attack.”

‘Wow. Must have been something bad.’ Thought Spike who was close to coming up with an idea, but shook his head.

“Hard to believe she lived to be 76. I held onto that book for the past three years until you all came.”

“Well we’re just here temporarily, so don’t get too attached.” Spoke Twilight.

“Well you may want to get ready, the preliminaries are in an hour and you don’t want to be late for registration, bye now.” Fluttershy walked away.

“Oh no! We need to go!” Twilight panicked running back and grabbing Spike as she bolted out the door.

“Twilight wait, your Gi!”

Twilight stopped and looked down at herself “Oh, right, can’t fight dressed like a schoolgirl.” she went back to the library and slammed the door.

At the registration table, a few girls were just signing up the last fighters for the preliminaries.

Twilight made a mad dash for the table now dressed in a magenta Gi. While dragging her little brother “Am I on time!”

“Just barely. You got one minute.” Spoke the girl holding the clipboard. “Name?”

“Twilight...Sparkle.” she breathed heavily.

She jotted the name down. “And who are you representing?”

“Canterlot.” Twilight replied.

She jotted it down. “Alright, based on the time you registered, you’ll be going in the last round.”

“At least I'm in it at all.”

“And your opponent is Bulking Biceps. Thats him over there.” the girl pointed with her pen.

Spike and Twilight turned and saw a large male with a grey gi and white skin with blonde hair in the style of a buzzcut and his ear pierced, with muscles so large his gi looked ready to tear.

“YEEEEAAAAAH!” he flexed his muscles.

Twilight stared with wide eyes as her jaw hung low at the sight of her opponent.

“It was nice knowing ya.” the girl with a clipboard walked away.

“Wow. Think they might check him for enhancements?” Spike asked his sister.

The fighters and their guests entered a large room with four arenas. “Okay Spike, since I'm last, it will give us a chance to learn about the other opponents in the Tournament.”

“Want me to do some recon?”

“Yes look around and record everything you see about the fighters in the two left arenas. I’ll do the same on the right.”

“You got it.” Spoke Spike before he walked off.

Twilight went over to the bleachers and sat at the top. They were mostly unoccupied as most occupants gathered around the arenas. “Okay, now let's see who we got.”

“Applejack of Ponyville vs Little Strongheart of the Buffalo Tribe!” the referee in the first arena called.

Two figures slowly walked out and onto the main stage.

Little Strong had blonde curly hair with orange amber skin. She wore a white Gi with her tribes markings on the shoulders.

Applejack had blonde hair in a ponytail with a stetson hat on and had orange skin with a red gi that had three apples on the left side.

“So a member of the Buffalo Tribe. That one's easy enough to guess, but Applejack, if she’s from Ponyville it can be one out of the three pony styles. Once she channels her energy, I’ll know which one.” Twilight rested her head in her palm.

Little Strongheart tightened her muscles and was cloaked in a veil of energy. On her head the energy shaped into horns, but it was more concentrated around her legs.

“Buffalo style, avoid the kicks from the legs and charge attacks.” Twilight analysed. “Now for Applejack.”

Said girl smirked and in the blink of an eye her energy blazed.

“Woah!” Twilight blinked. “She obviously has a good deal of control to bring her energy out like that. She knows her own body that's for sure. And the way it concentrates mostly around her legs means she must be an earth pony style fighter.”

“Fighters, BEGIN!” Called the referee.

The two dashed towards each other and threw one kick after another with each kick being blocked.

“They seem basic enough. Now what about the others fighters?” Twilight looked over to the other arena and saw a girl with pink skin and poofy hair bouncing up and down dressed in a light blue gi with balloons on it.”

“This is gonna be fun!” She cheered facing down her opponent.

The other fighter was a middle aged muscular man with dark grey skin and black hair dressed in a brown Gi. His energy concentrated mostly at his upper body with horns formed at his head.

“A minotaur style fighter, powerful punches, but weak at the legs.” Twilight took in every variable.

The Pink girl spun around like a giggling top as her energy surrounded her. When she stopped her energy was conditioned like Applejacks.

“Another earth pony style.” Twilight glanced back to the previous fighters just as Little Strongheart dodged a kick and jumped back. “She’s going for charge, Applejack better move.”

Little Strongheart huffed with steam glaring from her nostril before she started running at Applejack who took a defencive stance.

“What! She’s gonna try to block it?” Twilight thought the girl was crazy as Little Strongheart got closer.

Applejack grinned and concentrated more energy from around her body to her hands and feet before grabbing her opponent by the horns making the arena crack beneath her feet.

“No way!” Twilight stared with wide eyes.

Little Strongheart gasped in shock before Applejack’s energy cloaked knee struck her stomach. She gasped from the strike and stumbled back before Applejack ran over and sent a roundhouse kick to her cheek with enough force to send her flying out of the arena.

“Winner: Applejack!” the referee declared.

The crowd applauded while the girl threw her hat in the air in happiness.

“That was an effective if not risky move.” Twilight rubbed her chin. “A fighter's energy is both weapon and armor, taking any away from your body leaves you vulnerable.”

She turned to the pink girl again and saw her bouncing out of the male’s charges and punches with a smile like it was a game.

“You makin’ a fool out of Iron Will? Iron Will is gonna send you flying into the wall!” the man shouted.

“You have to catch me first!” She ran around at a speed that made it hard for even Twilight to keep up.

“When a person tries to mock, you block!” Called Iron Wall trying to get a pattern and grinned before stepping in a spot with the girl running right at him.

“Boing!” The girl flipped in the air throwing a kick into his cheek knocking him to the floor.

“So this one has a bit of speed on her, as well as the personality of a child. She might be a threat if I can’t intimidate her.”

Iron Will rubbed his cheek while the girl kept jumping up and down.

“Say goodnight Sally!” She flipped again and brought her feet down on the back of his head. The force sent Iron Will down and slam face first on the ground and remained still.

“Winner: Pinkie Pie!”

“Yippee!” She cheered bouncing around and doing cartwheels.

“So her name is Pinkie Pie.” Twilight leaned back. “Note to self, aim high.”

One by one the fighters either lost or moved on until finally it was almost Twilight's turn.

“Twilight!” Spike ran up to her with a scroll in his hand. “I got all the others fighting styles recorded, but you won't believe who's here. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, even Fluttershy.”

“Good work.” Spoke Twilight tapping her chin.

“Rainbow and Fluttershy are both pegasi style fighters, but Rarity fights with unicorn style.”

“Perfect. This should make it all the more easier. Anything else I should know?”

“Well Rarity specialises in making her energy into thin threads to ensnare her opponents.”

“I never thought she’d be a fighter.”

“There's also a Griffin style fighter named Gilda.” He smiled with a dreamy sigh. “But boy, Rarity was amazing in her fight.”

“Spike, focus.” Twilight snapped her fingers in front of his face.

“Oh right! Well Fluttershy used her wings to defend herself until her opponent gets tired then bats them out of the arena.”

“What about that Rainbow girl?”

“She likes taking the high ground, Flies around, and strikes like a bullet.”

“So if I catch her off guard and strike hard, she’ll be too shaken up.”

“Hey you're the fighter here, not me.”

“Well I’ll deal with her when I get that far. Right wow I have to deal with that big guy.”

“Next up, Twilight Sparkle against Bulking Biceps!”

“Wish me luck Spike.” She headed down to the arena.

“Hey guy’s look.” Rainbow pointed to Twilight. “This should be a real laugh.” the technicolor haired girl had a white gi with Rainbow trim.

“Oh, I hope she’ll be alright.” Spoke Fluttershy dressed in a green gi.

“Bulk better not hurt her to bad,” Applejack spoke. “We don’t need city folks thinkin’ we’re brutes.”

“This is gonna be good.” Spoke Pinkie munching on some popcorn. “Want some Rarity?”

“No thank you darling. I can’t stand those greasy snacks.” Grimaced Rarity wearing a white gi with purple rhinestones.

“YEEEAAAH, LET’S DO THIS!” Shouted Biceps flexing his muscles on his spot.

Twilight sighed and stepped into the arena.

The larger boy covered his body with his energy with two small wings forming in his back.

‘Pegasus style, but the wings are smaller than average.’ Thought the girl. ‘He obviously focused on bulking his body and goes with brute strength. I may  have overestimated him.’ the girl smiled.

“Begin!”

“YEEEAAAH!” Cried Biceps before he started running at Twilight.

The girl stood in place as the boy reeled back his fist to strike her down. He threw his fist and Twilight turned her head and let it pass by her.

She gave him a glance before vanishing from where she stood.

“What the…!” Rainbow stared in shock.

“Up there!” Applejack pointed towards the ceiling.

They looked and saw Twilight reappeared and looked down at the confused Biceps.

She let out a yell before her body was enveloped in a mass of energy most had never seen in their entire lives before she came down to the ground landing on her feet.

“Holy smoke!” Pinkie dropped her bag of popcorn.

“My goodness.” Fluttershy covered her mouth.

“Wow. That girl’s different.” Spoke Applejack.

Twilight held out a hand and made a taunting gesture to the boy.

He growled and flexed before using his small wings to try and pick him off the ground.

“Pfft.” Twilight tried not to laugh. “I don’t think that’s working.”

The boy roared and ran at her with his fist ready to slam her into the ground, only to be blocked in her palms. His eyes and the girls in the stands gasped while Twilight grinned. She concentrated her aura to hands and pushes him back.

“AAAAHHHH!” He screamed flying through the air and ended up crashing near the edge of the arena.

Twilight grinned, actually feeling confident.

“Finish it Twi!” Spike called.

She reached down grabbing Bicep’s feet and spun him around. She slowly gained momentum with said male getting dizzy and unable to break free.

“And out you go!”Twilight let go of his leg and watched him go flying through the air into the furthest wall off the room.

“W-Winner: Twilight Sparkle!” The referee got out in shock.

“Yeah! That's my sister!” Spike laughed.

“No… way…” Rainbow and the others stood frozen.

“Well done Twilight!” Called a voice that made Twilight flinch.

All eyes turned to the entrance where a woman in elegant white robes a brightly colored shimmering rainbow hair walked in.

“Grand Master Celestia!” Rarity gasped.

All bowed In respect as she moved to the arena. “I’m most impressed.” Smiled the woman to Twilight.

“You taught me well, Master.” Twilight bowed.

“MASTER?!” Cried the girls in surprise and shock.