With Eyes of Blue

Rainbow Dash had a talent for storytelling. “Pow! Right in the kisser! You should have seen her face, Joe!” Yep. “She was all like, “Grr! You will pay for this with your life, insolent mortal!” The truth is, I definitely wanted to know more about how the girls managed to defeat Nightmare Moon without the aid of the Elements of Harmony, and I figured she would be the most inclined to tell me the story. “I made this “come here” motion with my hand and said, “Bring it on, you mule!” Even if she narrated in a way that made it seem she was fighting all by herself.

It was close to evening and the sun still shone brightly over Manehattan. I briefly wondered if Celestia and Luna also dictated the length of the days here in Equestria, with their influence over the sun and the moon respectively. Not that it bothered me, I hated those months in which the night arrived earlier. No offense, Princess Luna. I looked around the street. Interesting. There weren’t any cars, but horse drawn carriages instead. Most of them were taxis, with their unmistakable yellow color; others were larger, pulled by two or more horses. Finally, there were a few with a Victorian design. I smiled. All the bustle made me feel right at home.

Next to me, Rainbow Dash continued to narrate enthusiastically. “Then Nightmare Moon spread her huge black wings and shoot them forward like arrows! Shhwaff!” She crouched and made a couple of ducking motions that reminded me of a profesional boxer. “But I dodged her attack and held her like this!” She suddenly grabbed me in a bear-hug, lifting me above the ground like I weighed nothing. “Then I spread my wings and shoot upwards at full speed! Shmm!” Much to my surprise, she smelled really nice; like sea breeze.

Rainbow Dash released me. Damn, I wouldn’t had minded if she wanted to hold me like that for the remainder of the trip. She pointed a finger upwards. “I kept going up and up, above the clouds! Nightmare Moon said “Fool! Do you think the freezing air will be enough to stop me? Your body will succumb before mine!” She grinned confidently. I nodded fascinated. This girl had a smile that made you feel she could conquer any obstacle that stood in her way. “I told her “Who said I wanted to freeze you? I’m just gaining speed!” So I made a somersault and dive bombed!” She traced an arc with her right hand, followed by doing a circling motion downwards with her index finger. “PEGASUS ROLLING CRASH! FWOOSH!” I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that one somewhere else. “I jumped away at the last second and Nightmare Moon crashed on the ground! BOOM! The whole castle shook and there was this crater the size of a house—no, make it two houses!”

I glanced behind me and saw Applejack rolling her eyes while Twilight smiled sheepishly. Spike seemed to be enjoying the tale, though. I smiled and asked. “So did you take her down with that attack?” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Well, no.” She added confidently. “But I estimate I took about fifty percent of her health.” Applejack commented drily. “What would we do without you, Rainbow.” I smiled and asked. “Lose about eighty percent of our coolness?” Rainbow Dash grinned. She tilted her head at me. “See? Joe here gets it.” Applejack laughed and slapped me lightly on the back of the head. Ouch.

As we made our way through the city, there were plenty of reactions from the passersby; including giggles, looks of disapproval, amusement and, of course, whistles. No points for guessing who drew most of these. Not that I could blame them, honestly. Rainbow Dash casually asked Twilight. “Where did you say we were going?”

Twilight checked a small notebook she pulled from a pocket on her coat and replied. “The Ariadne Mill. That’s where Rarity is working and the closest to our current location.” She turned a page. “From there, we can get a taxi to take us to the Golden Fleece Farm, where Fluttershy volunteered.” Rainbow Dash nodded. “Got it.” Sure enough we arrived outisde an old, two-story building with a brick exterior, about two dozen of windows and a single chimney constantly spewing out smoke towards the sky.

Rainbow Dash looked at the textile mill building and frowned. “Are you telling me Rarity is working there?” She snorted. “Honestly, I can’t see her setting a single foot inside without anything less than a hazmat suit.” Spike lifted a hand and calmly interjected. “This is Rarity, remember? I bet she’s sitting comfortably on the management’s office and coming up with all sort of ideas to improve the uniforms designs.” He put both hands on his hips with a smile of pride across his face. Applejack chuckled. “Little Spike is right. Knowin’ Rarity, Ah’ bet she’s givin’ orders left and right as we speak.” Twilight adjusted her glasses. “Let’s go.”

Inside, we were greeted by a chorus of of machinery whirring and the sight of a crowd of men and women working on seaming, folding and packing uniforms similar to those Rainbow Dash wore, as well as hats, coats, gloves and other kinds of winter clothing. I looked around and asked. “So, where do we start?” Twilight immediately approached a young man pushing a cart filled to the brim with blankets and asked about Rarity. The man pointed a finger behind him and returned to his duties after a brief “thank you” from Twilight. And there was Rarity, wearing a baggy, grey uniform; her hair tangled and messy, and a look of exhaustion all over her face, as she worked on a small, sewing station. I cringed. So far, everybody seemed to have avoided their darker fates from The Cutie Re-Mark. I mean, Ponyville was pretty much the same and Rainbow Dash wasn’t missing a wing or part of her ear, but it seems it wasn’t the case with poor Rarity.

Spike called her name loudly. “Rarity!” She looked up and made eye contact with them. Rarity put both hands over her mouth with a gasp, her eyes swelling with tears and tackled Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Spike simultaneously. Then she cried. Loudly. I mean it. Pretty much every other worker around us turned to watch in bewilderment.

Twilight held Rarity in her arms. The tears and snot continued to stream down Rarity’s cheeks as she bawled, occasionally toning it down to a few hics, before starting again. It was heartbreaking. And slightly embarrassing. We just stood there, patiently waiting for her to let it all out. In the meantime, I managed to discern a couple of words between all her sobbing, including “Sweetie Belle”, “Opal” and, of course, “the worst possible thing”. The workers eventually stopped paying attention and returned to their jobs.

At last, Rarity calmed down. She whispered softly. “I missed you all so much.” Twilight nodded. “So we did.” Applejack assured. “And you don’t have to worry, sugarcube. Sweetie Belle and Opal are fine.” She looked at Rainbow Dash unamusedly. “So is Tank, thanks for askin’.” Rainbow Dash giggled sheepsihly. Rarity nodded. “Thank you, Applejack.” Spike added meekly. “I cleaned the dried leaves around your boutique.” Rarity patted him affectionately on the head. “Thank you, Spike-Wikey.” He blushed. She admitted. “I can’t believe you all came to visit me.” Twilight cheerfully clarified. “It’s more than that, Rarity. We’re reuniting the whole team to fight against King Sombra.” Rarity’s eyes widened in shock. She looked around her and was met with firm nods from Applejack, Spike and Rainbow Dash. Twilight asked. “Will you join us?” Rarity dried her tears and stood up. She flicked her hair and answered firmly. “Of course.”

Rainbow Dash clashed her fists together enthusiastically. “Alright! Time to go after Fluttershy!” Rarity’s eyes widened in shock. “Please tell me you did not walk all the way here dressed like that.” Rainbow Dash glanced down at her tight shorts and tank top and shrugged. “Uh, yeah? My uniform was kinda done for, so…” Rarity frowned disapprovingly. “I understand you are proud of your physique, Rainbow Dash, but would it kill you to behave in a more ladylike way?” Rainbow Dash crossed both arms over her chest and rolled her eyes. Oy vey. I cleared my throat, getting their attention. Twilight squeaked in embarrassment. “Ah! Rarity, this is Joe. He’s a human from the Earth who has been helping us all the way here.”

I greeted softly. “Hi, Rarity.” She looked me up and down, shrieked and hid behind her sewing station. I blinked. Okay. I’m well aware I’m not getting a place in the Hollywood’s most handsome actors list anytime soon, but I think that was a bit of an overreaction. Spike held his index finger in a “one minute please” gesture and asked Rarity. “What’s wrong?” She whispered hurriedly. “Why didn’t you tell me there was a human with you?” Applejack shrugged. “We just did.” Rarity groaned in exasperation. “Look at me, Applejack! I’m an unsightly mess! You can’t possibly expect me to introduce myself to a visitor from another world like this!” Rainbow Dash slapped her forehead. Twilight looked between her and me awkwardly. “I…don’t think Joe will mind, Rarity.” I smiled. I endured being tortured with a card game; I think I can do the same with unkempt hair.

Rarity whispered conspiratorially. “Maybe, but then he will return to his world and share his experiences. His family and friends will ask and he will gladly tell them about the wonders of Equestria and the good of its inhabitants.” Her expression turned darker. “Surely somebody will inquire about the negative aspects and he will casually mention this shabby girl he met on a textile mill. The word will spread, every time adding more and more unflattering descriptors until the entire population of the Earth knows me as the hideous abomination that lurks in the sewers and alleys of Manehattan!” Rarity finished her speech by lifting both arms dramatically. Twilight sighed in defeat. “How about we take a rest before continuing with our search?” Rarity pondered it for a moment. “Fair enough.” With an elegant wave of her hand, she levitated a large, violet trunk with golden handles and a diamond pattern from behind her sewing station; carefully placing it so as to block my sight of her. “Let’s make haste.” Applejack, Spike and Rainbow Dash performed a collective sigh. I smiled sympathetically. Man, I felt like the main character of a RPG, traveling all over the world while recruiting quirky allies.

Using her “special card”, Twilight booked us two rooms in the Golden Hind Hotel. A smaller suite with two beds and a single bathroom for Spike and I, and a larger suite with two double beds and two bathrooms for her and the girls. Hmm. So, instead of being a princess, this Twilight has access to the Royal Treasury? Not a bad trade, if you ask me.

The rooms were located next to each other. Twilight suggested we met here, on the hallway, in about one hour. Rarity whined. “One hour? Do you expect me to get ready in such a short time, Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight replied solemny. “I want to find Fluttershy as soon as posible.” Rarity curled her lower lip and nodded. “Very well.” She declared dramatically. “For the sake of Fluttershy, I shall make the best of the time I have.” With those words, she went into her room, her trunk floating behind her. Spike quickly said. “I call dibs on the bathroom, Joe!” He ran into our room. Applejack shrugged. “The last one is a rotten apple, ah’ guess.” Twilight removed her glasses and said. “One hour.” The two of them went inside their room. Rainbow Dash shrugged. “You heard them.” She suddenly stopped under the doorway, looked over her shoulder and said suggestively. “Hey, Joe. If you don’t feel like waiting for Spike to finish, we can always shower together.”

Oh, ho, ho, ho. Aren’t you witty, Rainbow Dash? But that won’t work on me this time. I smiled and said. “Sure!” She chuckled and, without turning to face me, removed her tank top. My eyes widened. Oh God. Not only she was well toned, her pale skin was incredibly smooth too and her back had a perfect curvature that made me want to trace a line with my tongue all the way from her waist to the back of her neck. What? I think at this point it’s quite clear that I’m not made of ice. “You coming in?” My legs wobbled. How was that saying? Humility in victory, dignity in defeat? I gulped as discreetely as I could and calmly replied. “I think I’ll wait until Spike is finished. Thank you.” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Suit yourself.” The sound of the door closing behind her echoed in the hallway. Damn it. I’m gonna need a cold shower.

Have you ever caught sight of something, or better yet, somebody and lost track of everything that was going on around you? Yeah. Let me tell you, Rarity wasn’t kidding when she said she would make the best use of her hour. Instead of oversized work shoes, she wore elegant, wide fit pointed black shoes. A pair of black jeans hugged her slender, shapely legs and ass nicely. She was more voluptuous than Twilight and Rainbow Dash, but not Applejack. I suspected this was the result of a nice balance between her natural physique and an exercise routine. Her white silk shirt was partially unbuttoned and slightly transparent, allowing me to make out the shape of the black bra holding her medium sized breasts. Her long, curly purple hair was fashioned into a ponytal resting over her left shoulder; a single strand between her sapphire blue eyes, their colors heightened by her milky white skin.

Spike said dreamily. “You look amazing, Rarity.” She smiled and thanked him. Damn. No wonder he developed a crush on her at first sight. It wasn’t just her looks. Her posture, eyes and expression; everything exuded confidence and charm.

Rarity looked at me with a pleasant smile and extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Joe.” She turned her nose slightly upwards. “I am Rarity, profesional designer and fashion entrepreneur.” I nodded dumbfounded and accepted her shake. “Uh-huh.” Her hand was so smooth and delicate that I unconciously held a soft grasp on her fingers and she took it back. Rarity smiled knowingly. Jesus. I felt like my cheeks were on fire.

Rainbow Dash asked. “Hey, what about me?” She kept the combat boots, but now wore blue jeans and a tight, sleeveless black shirt. Courtesy of Rarity, I imagine. Now, I’m not sure if she had unfolded her wings to look cooler, but I blurted absentmindedly. “You look like an angel.” Rainbow Dash tilted her head puzzled. “Thanks?” She whispered to Twilight. “What’s an angel?” Twilight explained. “In human beliefs, they are spiritual beings of superior power and wisdom.” She added with a mischievous smile. “They are often represented as winged, human-like creatures of extraordinary beauty.” Rainbow Dash blushed. “Oh…” Rarity giggled. “Oh my, I think I’m a bit jealous.” Applejack laughed. “Got you there, sugarcube.” Rainbow Dash looked away with a grumpy face. Now who would have thought she would look so cute when angry? I’m definitely keeping that one in mind for later.

After leaving Spike’s backpack and Rarity’s trunk at our rooms, we left the hotel and took a large taxi towards our next destination, the Augean Sheep Farm, where we would find Fluttershy. The sun was setting over Manehattan, bathing the city with its light and giving the buildings a nice orange hue that made them look like they were made of bronze instead of concrete and steel. I sat next to Twilight and Spike, with him in the middle, while Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash sat in front of us. We were all outfitted with Duel Disks.

Rarity asked casually. “Beautiful, isn’t?” I nodded and said. “It reminds me of my home.” She smiled in surprise. “Do you live in a big city?” I nodded again. Rarity declared. “Next to Canterlot, Manehattan is the height of sophistication, elegance and culture.” She looked away wistfully. “Hopefully I will be able to open a boutique of my own here.” So no “Rarity For You” here yet? I wonder if she opened her boutique in Canterlot. I asked. “Shouldn’t you be aiming for Canterlot first?” Rarity waved her hand with a haughty giggle. “Oh, I already did.” She added softly. “With a bit of help from Princess Celestia.” I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Help?” She smirked. “Let’s just say that saving the world from an eternal night has its benefits.” I blinked in surprise and looked at the others. Applejack grinned and said unprompted. “A new barn.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Tickets for the Wonderbolts.” What a twist. Spike pointed with his thumb at Twilight. He smirked. “Access to the Royal Treasury.” Twilight protested with embarrassment. “I did not ask for it, okay?”

I laughed. Stained glass windows are nice, but this was a proper reward, if you ask me. I commented. “Nice to see you all got what you deserved.” Applejack nodded. “Eeyup! Ah’ bet the Princess will reward you too when this is all over.” I scratched the back of my neck embarrassed. “Me? Oh, no, no—I’m not looking for a reward—I mean, I agreed to do this because Twilight asked.” Rainbow Dash grinned widely. “Something tells me that skirt of hers played a part in convincing you.” Twilight’s face turned beet red. Revenge is a dish best served cold, I guess. Spike looked at me puzzled. “What does Twilight skirt have to do with anything?” I felt the heat rising on my cheeks. “N-Nothing!” I shook my head rapidly. “I-It’s just a silly joke.”

Rarity declared dreamily. “A knight fighting for the sake of a lady! How romantic!” Twilight’s blush deepened. Applejack pushed her hat over her face, unsuccessfully trying to muffle her laughs; Rainbow Dash was far less subtle about it. Spike still found laughter contagious, by the way. Now, maybe it was because I had already reached the human limits of embarrassment and ultimately came to a full circle, but I found myself strangely calm. I confessed. “You know, when I arrived here, I was very confused and somewhat nervous.” I paused to make sure I had their attention. “But after my first duel, I became very excited.” I patted my Duel Disk. “At least until we arrived to Ponyville.” Applejack cringed and looked down. “It was then I realized how much there was a stake...and how much I want to protect this world and everybody here.” I took a deep breath and said firmly. “Not just because they deserve to be protected, but because of my pride…as a man.” I was met with looks of approval. Phew. For a moment, I was afraid of coming out as old fashioned.

Rarity crossed her legs and leaned forward, resting her chin over her hand. She looked at me intently and I could see myself reflected on those beautiful eyes of her. She asked softly. “Will you protect me too, Joe?” My heart jumped. I quickly put my hand over Spike’s shoulder and said. “Of course we will.” He puffed his chest out and declared. “Yeah!”

Twilight giggled, Rainbow Dash chuckled and Applejack mouthed a “nice save” to me. Rarity smiled warmly and said. “Thank you.”

Applejack, Rainbow Dash and I waited on the taxi while Rarity, Twilight and Spike went inside the Golden Fleece Farm looking for Fluttershy. I scratched my chin thoughtfully. “A sheep farm, huh?” Applejack nodded. “Eeyup!” She explained cheerfully. “Fluttershy has a talent for dealin’ with critters of all kinds and, bein’ the good gal she is, she wanted to do somethin’ to make the whole deal less stressful to them.” I smiled and nodded. To be honest, I was more curious about her job. Would she be shaving sheep like in the show or something else? Applejack added. “She’s a really kind girl; I bet you would like her, Joe.” Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously. “And not just for her personality!” I looked away flustered. They bumped their fists triumpanthly. I had a feeling they were not going to stop anytime soon.

Just then, Rarity, Twilight and Spike came back running to us. Spike exclaimed. “S-She’s gone!” Rainbow Dash frowned. “What do you mean “she’s gone?” Rarity took a second to regain her breath and explained. “The manager told us she hasn’t seen Fluttershy in three days.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack cried in unison. “What?!” I gritted my teeth. Again? What the hell is going on here? Twilight told everybody to calm down. She asked. “Rarity, when was the last time you saw Fluttershy?” Rarity’s eyes widened. “Three days ago…”

Rainbow Dash flared her wings. I swear it looked more impressive every time she did it. “That’s it! I’m going to look for her!” Applejack quickly placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hold yer horses, Rainbow! Splittin’ won’t do us any good!” Rainbow Dash slapped Applejack’s hand away. “I can circle this whole city in less than three minutes! So, unless you know where to look for, you better stay out of my way!” Both of them glared at each other. Rarity quickly interjected. “Wait! I know of a place!” She added. “It's the only place where Fluttershy could have gone.”

Rarity bit her thumb. She asked worried. “So you haven’t seen her, Coco?” Coco Pommel shook her head with aprehension. “I’m sorry, Miss Rarity.” She was a cute, petite girl; to the point you could have easily mistaken her for a teenager. Coco had short, cyan colored hair and the softest blue eyes. She wore brown shoes and knee high white socks; a light brown mini-skirt and a white shirt all buttoned up, with a lavender sailor collar and a red tie. Now, I’m aware it wasn’t the appropiate time, but seeing Coco with such a sad face made me want to hold her in my arms and assure her everything was going to be fine.

Rainbow Dash let out a growl of frustration. “Can we do it my way now?” Twilight shook her head. “We cannot risk splitting the group, Rainbow.” Rainbow Dash flared her nose. “So what? Do we just walk around asking? Did you bring a picture? Huh?” She snarled. “It’s been three days, Twilight! Three freaking days!” There was a moment of grim silence. Coco meekly suggested. “You could…try with the Dark Dueling Circuit.” I frowned. “What’s that?” Twilight whispered to me. “In Equestria, gambling is strictly forbidden when it comes to Duel Monsters, but that doesn’t stop some people.” I nodded. Rarity asked in shock. “There’s one of those in Manehattan?” Coco nodded. “From what I’ve heard, they not only deal with money and rare cards, but information too.” We looked at each other. Applejack declared. “Sounds like a plan to me.” Rainbow Dash added firmly. “Count me in.”

Coco pleaded. “Let me go with you.” Rarity shook her head. She held Coco’s hand between hers. “No, darling, you have already helped us enough and we need you to stay here at home in case Fluttershy comes back.” Coco nodded. Rarity smiled thankfully and looked at us. “Let’s go.”

At last, the night fell over Manehattan, the full moon standing proudly among the sea of stars at the height of the sky. However, even with their light and that of the lamps and adjacent buildings, the level of activity on the streets had diminished greatly, contrary to my expectations for such a big city. Was it because of the ongoing war?

Now on foot, we followed Rarity around for a while when Rainbow Dash asked. “Do you know where’s this place, Rares”? Rarity shook her head. “No, but I have done plenty of research on Manehattan, including places to avoid, and it’s simply a matter of finding the right person to ask.” She suddenly stopped and pointed with her index finger towards a small, darkened alley. “There.” I squinted. There was a tall, thuggish-looking man standing against the wall under a flickering lamp. He wore brown boots, grey jeans and a jacket of the same color, partially open to expose his prominent pectoral muscles. Spike asked hesitantly. “That guy?”

Rainbow Dash crackled her knuckles. “Great! Just give me five minutes and I’ll have him tell me even his mother’s shoe size.” Rarity placed a hand over Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. “Now, there’s no need to do that. You catch more flies with honey tan vinegar, remember? Stay here.”

We watched as Rarity headed towards the alley alone, her hips swaying seductively. Spike gulped. “Shouldn’t I go with her?” Applejack assured. “It’s okay, Rarity can take care of herself.” Rainbow Dash added. “That and we can get there in the blink of an eye if something happens.” Twilight nodded. Rarity approached the man, hands behind her back and leaning forward slightly as she tilted her head and asked as charmingly as posible. “Excuse me, Sir? Could you help me?”

The man looked at Rarity from bottom to top, lingering a bit too long over her chest. He grinned widely. “Good night to you, sweetheart.” The man stood up and adjusted his belt. “What can I do for you?” Rarity lowered her voice slightly, as if she was trying to share a secret. “I was told there was a…place around here where one could duel discreetely, and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to point me in the right direction.” She fluttered her eyelashes. The man chuckled in amusement and tilted his head towards the street. “Two blocks down there’s an alley with a small, rusted door.” He whispered. “Knock three times, show the guy a rare card and you will be let in.”

Rarity smiled sweetly. “Thank you very much for your help, Sir.” Just as she turned to leave, the man swiftly got a hold of her left wrist. “Now wait a minute, sweetheart.” He grinned lewdly. “I don’t know you, but where I come from that kind of information deserves a handsome reward.” He extended his index finger and poked Rarity on the left breast. It happened on the blink of an eye. With an speed that reminded me of a pouncing lioness, Rarity slapped the man’s hand away from her wrist. She said harshly. “Where I come from, we’re taught to do good without expecting anything in return.” The man scoffed. “Feisty, huh?” He attempted to grab her from the collar of her shirt, but Rarity stepped aside and her open hand struck the man on the ear like a whip. He yelled in pain and stumbled. The man shook his head, decided all bets were off and threw a fierce punch.

Spike gasped. I watched mesmerized as Rarity lifted her arm across her face, so the point of her elbow was on the course of the incoming fist. Crack! The sound of the man’s fingers breaking echoed across the alley. Without even giving him time to scream, Rarity delivered a swift kick to the man’s groin that made me wince and left him on the ground. I gulped. Those movements weren’t just the product of a couple of self-defense classes or even the experience of past catfights. No, that was some serious martial arts expertise. How can I tell? Let's just say I have some of that myself.

Rarity daintily jogged back to us. She patted her hair tentatively and let out a small sigh. Spike exclaimed astonished. “Rarity, that was…” She interrupted him. “Crude, darling, I know. But, sometimes, a lady has to get her hands dirty.” I chuckled. Man, I love the kind of woman who can kick ass.

Two blocks later, we ventured into a small, dark alley filled with empty boxes and thrashcans. It didn’t took us long to find the door, the only one on the stone wall filled with all kinds of crude drawings. Applejack asked. “Knock three times and show a rare card?” Rarity nodded. I stepped forward. “Leave it to me.” I knocked three times. A panel slid open in the door and I flashed whoever stood behind my Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The panel slammed shut and the door creaked slowly open.

Inside the small, grungy room sat a burly man dressed fully in black. He closed the door and motioned us towards a second door. Applejack kept a sharp eye on him as we crossed the doorway. Suddenly, Twilight’s eyes widened and she sharply turned around to glare at the doorkeeper. He grunted. “Rules.” She shook her head with a grumble of frustration. I asked. “What’s wrong?” She replied. “A mind magic seal.” She clarified. “My magic is being blocked.” Rarity added. “Mine too.” Applejack said. “We better stay on our toes.”

We walked down the hallway. Rarity let out a soft gasp and tightly held my left arm. I watched with mild amusement as she looked up and down, desperately trying to avoid stepping on one of the many puddles on the floor while simultaneously avoiding the drops leaking from the industrial pipes above us.

A third door awaited us at the end. Rainbow Dash pushed it open, letting the light and noise flood the hallway. The first thing we saw was the large steel cage on the middle of the huge, open squared room, surrounded by a dozen rows of fully occupied wooden benches on each side, where two men were dueling against each other. One of them ordered the direct attack of his Blood Vorse, lowering the life points of the other to zero and sending his body slamming against the metal bars. The people around the cage yelled and whistled furiously. We could not help but watch in awe.

Rainbow Dash approached a chubby man sitting near us and said. “Hey! I’m looking for a girl! She’s tall, well endowed and has long pink hair!” The man laughed loudly. “You and everybody else, my friend!” Rainbow Dash frowned. “I’m not your friend, buddy!” Now it was the guy’s turn to frown. “Well, I’m not your buddy, pal!” Before Rainbow Dash could reply, Applejack stood between the two of them. She pushed Rainbow Dash aside and apologized to the man. Applejack shook her head. “Dagnabbit, Rainbow, you ain’t gettin’ nowhere like that!” Rainbow Dash grumbled.

We watched as the loser of the previous duel was dragged out and a scrawny, sleazy looking guy with a mullet and a colorful suit took the center of the cage. He patted his microphone tentatively before announcing. “Welcome, my friends, to the third night of the “Duel Queen Challenge!” The crowd exploded in a chorus of cheers and whistles. “For those of you who are new, allow me to explain the rules!” He cleared his throat. “You have to defeat the Queen’s loyal protectors one by one in order to be granted an audience! And if you defeat her, you will get the prize of fifty thousand bits!” He winked exaggeratedly. “Plus, she will give you a very private dueling lesson, if you get my drift!” The room was filled with the whistles and cheers of the crowd. Twilight frowned and commented. “I don’t think I like the sound of that “private lesson.” Rarity added. “Neither do I.”

The announcer pointed a finger towards the ceiling. “And now, let’s give a warm welcome to our Duel Queen!” The whole room vibrated with the howls and cheers of the crowd as a young girl entered the cage flanked by two burly men wearing black clothes and a bespectacled man with curly pinkish hair wearing an expensive looking blue suit. I narrowed my eyes. Where do I have seen that guy before?

Spike pointed a finger. “Isn’t that Fluttershy?” I blinked in shock. Holy shit. She was as tall as Applejack, with pale skin and long pink hair that fell freely over back and shoulders while her light green eyes glanced around her timidly. Rainbow Dash’s growled. “You gotta be kidding me!” Fluttershy wore a white, shoulderless dress with a long skirt that went down her ankles and evening gloves of the same color. She took the microphone and said. “Um…I want to thank everybody for participating and encourage you to do your best.” The men in the crowd whistled and shouted all manner of things; from “I love you” and “marry me” to far more detailed descriptions of their most primal urges. I gritted my teeth. It wasn’t just the soft, attractive features of her face; Fluttershy’s bust could easily compete with that of Mrs. Cake and the dress was obviously tailored to emphasize that, resulting in a cleavage that made you feel that you could get lost there. I shook my head; now was not the time for that.

Rarity shivered. “This place makes me feel dirty merely by standing here.” The announcer took the microphone back and Fluttershy was escorted outside the cage. Rainbow Dash called her name. Fluttershy turned to look over her shoulder, but the bespectacled man quickly put a hand on her back and lead her into a separate room. Rainbow Dash was fuming. Twilight quickly stood in front of her. “Calm down, Rainbow Dash! We can’t just rush in!” Rainbow Dash protested. “Why not? I bet AJ, Rarity and I can take them on!” Twilight shook her head. “What if the crowd turns against us? What if there’s a riot?” She continued. “My magic is sealed and Spike is too young.” He pouted but said nothing. “And Joe is a human, remember? Equestrians, even those without magic, are far stronger than them on average.”

I curled my lower lip thoughtfully. Certain ants can lift fifty times their own body weight with their jaws alone. That’s about the same as a human lifting a truck with his teeth. Now, ponies on the show are capable of some amazing feats; breaking the sound barrier, pulling a train behind them, etc. If those capabilities were translated into a human form, it would be natural to end up with a race of “super” individuals. And, if this principle goes for the other sentient species too, that means the Cattle Rustlers were dudes with the equivalent strenght of a bull. In conclusion, I'm at a severe disadvantage here.

Applejack put a hand on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. “Let’s beat them at their own game.” Rainbow Dash nodded, took out her deck and inserted it on her Duel Disk. “Let’s kick some ass.”

The announcer declared. “Alright! Those of you who wish to take the challenge, please talk to our representative!” He pointed towards an old man sitting on a stool near the corner with a notepad in hand. “And for those who want to watch, make your bets!” Nearly every single one of the presents ran towards a nearby booth, administered by two young women backed by three burly men, firmly clenching bags filled with bits. Guess this is were the real business was. I told the girls I was going to inscribe us.

An underground duel. I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited. The old man greeted me cheerfully. “Are you here to take the challenge, Sonny?” I nodded. “Me and my five friends.” The old man adjusted his stool. “Very well, here’s the deal.” He lifted a bony finger. “The Queen has five bodyguards and you’ve got to beat them all to reach her, ‘kay? So, let’s say you go first. If you win, you keep dueling until you lose and then one of your friends takes your place. If five of you lose, then’s it’s the end of the road. Got it?” I nodded. “Great.” He licked the tip of his pencil and asked. “Your names?” I replied. “I’m Joe.” He quickly interrupted me. “Listen, Sonny, you’re new here, aren’t you?” I nodded puzzled. “You don’t need to give me your real name, but you need to come up with something catchy.” The old man tilted his head towards the cage. “We’re trying to put up a show here, you know.”

After racking my brain for a couple of minutes trying to come up with acceptable names, I returned to the group and explained the rules. Shortly after, we were led to the bench reserved for the challengers, located right next to the cage. The announcer declared. “Now that we’ve got our challengers, it’s time to greet our Noble Knights!” Five men dressed in flashy clothes came into the room, drawing plenty of cheers and claps from the crowd. They sat on the bench opposite to us; all of them looking very smug. Rarity commented with an expression of distaste. “Heavens! Look at those outfits! It’s like they came from robbing a garage sale!”

The announcer continued. “Let’s determine the first match!” The same old man from before approached the announcer with two small bags, one on each hand. The announcer picked a piece of paper from inside of each bag without looking. “Let’s see…” He unfolded the first and declared dramatically. “Oh! Our first knight is none other than Black Flare Smith! The invincible!” The crowd roared. One of the “noble knights” stood up. He was a young man with wild orange hair, dressed entirely in shades of red and black. He entered the cage and lifted his left arm, with his Duel Disk attached, as if it were a sword. The announcer looked at the other piece of paper. “Versus Angelface!” The girls, plus Spike, looked at me. I tilted my head towards Rainbow Dash. She chuckled softly and went inside the cage without a word. We cheered as she stood face to face with her opponent.

Black Flare Smith pointed a finger and declared. “You should know even Celestia would bow down to me if I opposed her!” Rainbow Dash scoffed. “I’ll make sure to pass the message next time I see her.” The announcer asked. “Are you ready?” Both players activated their Duel Disks, their life points briefly appearing above them at 4000 each. “It’s time to duel!” The crowd exploded with cheers, whistles and jeers.

Rainbow Dash went first. “Draw!” She took six cards from her deck and summoned Featherman in attack position. The hero announced his presence with a mighty battle cry. Rainbow Dash set two cards and ended her turn. “Come on!”

Black Flare Smith drew his six cards and examined his hand briefly. He shook his head. “You already lost.” He activated Dual Summon, followed by Angel's Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two, before summoning Witch of the Black Forest in attack position. The announcer asked. “Ohhh! Could it be?” Black Flare Smith lifted a finger. “Come! Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End!” He banished the discarded Killer Tomato and Shining Angel from his graveyard. My eyes widened in shock as the monstrous dragon appeared on the field with a roar that shook the whole room.

Twilight exclaimed “It’s the “Yata-Garasu Lockdown Combo!” Rarity asked. “What’s that?” Twilight explained. “He’s going to use the effect of the Emperor Dragon to wipe out both player’s field and hand then attack with Yata-Garasu to lock Rainbow Dash’s plays! It’s a very powerful combination made with some of the rarest cards!” Rarity gulped. Unbelievable. I never expected to see the combo that got those cards banned back on the Earth here. Sure enough, Black Flare Smith payed 1000 life points, his Emperor Dragon shone like a miniature sun and exploded, erasing every card on the field, forcing both players to discard their hand and taking Rainbow Dash’s life points down to a mere 700. Black Flare Smith used the effect of the Witch of the Black Forest, calmly taking Yata-Garasu from his deck and summoning it in attack position.

The announcer shouted. “Yes! It’s Black Flare Smith’s signature play, my friends! This duel is oficially over!” The crowd roared. But Rainbow Dash didn’t look concerned at all. Black Flare Smith asked. “Any last words?” She grinned confidently. “Bring it on!” He scoffed. “Fine! I’ll peck you to death! Go, Yata-Garasu!” The three legged crow flew like an arrow, but much to the shock of the presents, it crashed against an invisible wall that sent it stumbling backwards and cawing loudly in protest. The announcer stammered. “W-What happened?!” Rainbow Dash picked a card from her graveyard and showed it. “Necro Gardna!” She smirked. “By banishing this fella I can negate a single attack!” The announcer’s jaw fell. “Unbelievable…the invincible combination has been blocked!” Murmurs of disbelief filled the room. Black Flare Smith’s left eye twitched. He growled. “Fine.” Yata-Garasu returned to his hand as he finished his turn. “See if I care! You’re done for anyway!”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Did I rain on your parade?” She held the first card of her deck between her index and thumb, took a breath and pulled with such strenght she wiped up a gale. “Elemental HERO Bubbleman!” Incredible. Rainbow Dash used the effect of Bubbleman to draw two cards and normal summoned Burst Lady. “Combined attack! Bubble Burst Shot!” Black Flare Smith braced himself as he took the attack from the two heroes and his life points went down to 1000. He growled. “I’m still here!” Rainbow Dash said. “Not for long.” She activated Instantaneous Fusion, combining Bubbleman and Burst Lady into Steam Healer. Rainbow Dash ordered casually. “Steam Blast.” Steam Healer reared his large mechanical hand backwards and launched a stream that sent Black Flare Smith bouncing against the metal bars and his life points down to zero.

Applejack threw her hat in the air. “Yee-haw!” Twilight, Rarity and Spike cheered loudly. The announcer muttered in disbelief. “The winner is Angelface…” The crowd fell silent. Rainbow Dash looked around, spread her arms and said. “Come on! Are you not entertained?” I chuckled. Considering they probably bet against us, I doubt it.