Dawn of The Ice King: Tournament

It has been one week since Celestia made the announcement of the tournament and today we were all gathered in the Castle’s courtyard waiting for whatever announcement Celestia asked us to come here for.

I looked around the crowd to see that there was roughly 30 people here, most of them I knew, Except for 2 dragons, a minotaur, and a brown earth pony filly, and an orange stallion with curly brown hair. I saw Cami, huh didn’t think she’d be here considering how much she disliked fighting… but then again…

+Is that the Dog Father?+ Ixis asked as I looked directly at the small Diamond Dog.

Yeah It looks like it, he doesn’t look like a fighter but he is the Dog Father for a reason.

+That’s fair, who else is here?+

Centaurian is here, which would be strange if he wasn’t the most violent of the Centaurs.

+Even then that’s strange for there to be any violent Centaurs.+

“Ha.” Oh look there’s Celestia and Luna, guess she’s gonna make their announcements.

“Hello My little ponies, and guests from around the world. I would like to begin by thanking you in participating in this tournament. This idea was brought up to me by a good friend of mine to beat the boredom of this summer.” Celestia paused for a second, sharing a brief glance with me before continuing, “As you know this tournament will be held within another week’s time, you also know that if anyone of you can best my sister and I you will have complete rule over Equestria for one week as well as have Luna and I around to do whatever you say, though the commands have to be underage appropriate. Anyhow I have gathered you here to allow you to get to know your opponents. Converse and observe, any info you gain can give you an upper hand. You may even talk to my sister and I to see what you can learn to give you an upper hand.”

Celestia stepped back and Luna stepped forward, “Now, we have more announcements. For those who end in second and third place there will be a monetary prize, or an item of your choosing that is easily given up. Say gems, money, books, anything like that. It cannot be ancient artifacts within our possession however. You may now converse with the others, once we call for everyone to gather once more, we shall ask you who you feel will be victorious in this tournament.” And with that we were dismissed to talk to one another.

For a short while I was just standing there deciding who to talk to when I finally decided to walk over to Cami who just finished talking to the minotaur.
“Hey, it’s been awhile.” I said when I got up to her.

She responded with a hug, “It has, I knew you were going to be in this. It’s one of the reasons I joined.”

“Oh what’s the other?”

“I’m the head of the Lamia clan now, so I have to prove that i can handle myself in a fight.” She said solemnly.

“Wait Sikasso died?” I got a nod in response, “I’m sorry for your loss, I hope she went the way she wanted.”

Cami nodded once more, “She did, clawing, hissing, and biting in battle like a true Lamia would.” She finished with a small laugh.

“And the most peaceful one is now their leader, that must be rough.” I said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She sighed, “It is, but… I’ll manage. Anyway what about you, what’s been happening in your life?”

I laughed, “Not much, I married Fluttershy.” I gestured at her, “And I had a kid, who I didn’t meet until she was 5.” I pointed to goldy.

“I was wondering why she looked reptilian. So you and the element of Kindness huh?” Cami asked with a sly smile.

I rubbed the back of my head, “Yeah, It was a shock to come back to, how about you, you have a clutch yet?”

Cami blushed, which I didn’t even know she could do, “N-not yet, I met someone though, but I’m waiting for the right time.”

I smiled, happy for my friend, “That’s good I wish you the best of luck in that endeavor. But since we’re supposed to be talking battle, I guess, got any tips?”

“For fighting me or about who I’ve talked to so far?”

I shrugged, “Both, it doesn’t really matter.”

“Well I can tell you for me that it doesn’t really matter if we end up fighting because you will win.” She said matter-of-factly.

“Oh, why do you say that? Last time we fought…”

“I caught you off guard, if I didn’t I would’ve lost almost immediately. And Lamia are good at sensing one’s true power, actually our race is the most profound at it, only followed by dragons, with ponies being a close 3. And I can tell that no one here, save the princesses would be a match for you in a head to head fight.” Cami said.

I shrugged, “Well not everyone fights head to head so I could still very easily lose, and who knows what could happen. This is Equestria after all.”

She nodded knowingly at that, “That is a fair point, well how about some advice for me if I do have to go against you?”

“Hmmm advice on me? I guess just keep on your guard, you’ll never know what surprises I might pull.”

She rolled her eyes, “Of course, oh by the way where did your well, draconic parts go?”

“That is also a secret, can’t ruin everything if we do fight. Anyway it was good seeing you again, but I feel I should go talk to the others.”

“Of course, it was good to see you as well.” We hugged once more before parting to go converse with the other participants.

I talked to Iron Will, he was the minotaur and despite boasting muscle and a loud voice he wasn’t much else other than that, and I don’t think he would make it past the first round unless he went up against the younger ones. I did learn that him and Centaurian are close friends who arm wrestle often.

I learned that the brown earth pony filly was Babs Seed, AJ’s and Apple Bloom’s cousin, so that was interesting. And the orange stallion was a pony named Cheese Sandwich, he apparently had a party off with Pinkie to see who was the best party pony in Equestria.

I met garble, he was more arrogant than Rainbow was when she was younger and 5 times as annoying.

The other dragon, however, was interesting. Her name was ember and apparently she was the new Dragon Lord of the migrating dragons. She was calm and level headed, but had the fierceness of a ruler of dragons. I wonder how she would react to find out I have the last Queen residing in my head. I guess we’ll find out soon.

But after a while Celestia and Luna both walked back to the raised platform and called everyone together.

“It was wonderful seeing you all talk to one another and I enjoyed the conversations I had as well.” She said with a warm smile, “Now I believe my sister told you we would ask who you thought would win the tournament, and I’m sure you discussed it with each other. But we would like you all to say who you think out loud for the other participants, just incase someone hasn’t heard your thoughts. Let us start with Cait Sith.”

I tall, slender, ash gray Negojii bowed and spoke up with a loud deep voice, it contrasted his appearance greatly, “I believe I stand a good chance to win this tournament, as most here are young and inexperienced in true battle.”

“The Dog Father?”

The small diamond dog tilted his hat to see the princesses, “Me.” he said simply.

“Iron will?”

“IRON WILL BELIEVES THAT IRON WILL WILL WIN! OH YEAH!” He said that last part with a flex.

“Centaurian?”

Joining his friend in flex he just snorted and pointed a large thumb at himself.

“Dragon Lord, Ember?”

“I feel as the leader of the Migratory Dragons I would stand a fair chance.” She said taking a proud stance.

“Garble?”

He laughed, “Like I would lose to any of these weaklings.”

“Gilda?”

“As much as I would love to say me, I think Dash would win.” She said surprising everyone as she was the first to say something different.

“I see, and how about you Chief Cami?”

She looked at me, “My good friend, Chris.”

Celestia smiled at that, everyone else, except the ponies looked at her like her head came off. “How about you, my niece?”

Cadence smiled and shrugged, “I don’t know but I think it’ll be interesting to find out.”

“Shining Armor?”

“I would like to say Me, Twily, or Cadence, but I’ve trained with Chris and I have to say him.” He said seeming to be completely ok with that, confusing the others even more.

“Captain Spitfire?”

“Hmmm good question. I don’t know but I’m going to give it my all regardless.”

“Lieutenant Soarin?”

“Spitfire, she’s really fired up about this and when she gets like that there is no way she can lose.” He said with a proud smile.

“Nephew?”

Blueblood had his normal pompous grin on his face, “Why me of course, Aunty. Who else would be fitting to sit upon your throne?

“Cheese Sandwich?”
He tilted his head, “I’ll say Pinkie Pie!”

“Young ones?”

Babs was the first to speak up, having a very bostonian accent, “I’d say my cos Apple Jack will win.”

Apple Bloom spoke up next, “Ah agree with my cousin Babs.”

Rumble spoke up after her, “My cousin Soarin!”

Scootaloo, “Rainbow, no question.”

Spike was after her, “My Bro, Chris.”

Diamond Tiara was after him, “I want to say me, but there are a lot of older ponies here, but I’ll say Ms. Twilight, after all she did beat Tirek.”

Sweetie Belle was next, “Mr. Chris!” She said happily

Goldy was the last, “My daddy, no doubt about it.” That made everyone who didn’t know look at me even stranger.

“Big mac?”

“Mmmm AJ or Chris.” he said with his deep voice

“Girls?” Celestia asked the eight.

Twilight responded, “Chris.”

Apple Jack after her, “Chris.”

Sunset Shimmer follow, “Chris.”

Pinkie next, “Chrissy!”

Rarity, “Christopher.”

Starlight Glimmer, “The nuisance who thwarted my plans but became a dear friend, Chris.”

Rainbow Dash, “My man Chris of course.”

Fluttershy was last, “Chris, the man I love.”

At this point all eyes were on me as intensely as the burning sun.

“Well sir Christopher, you seem to have the odds in your favor, what do you have to say?” Luna asked with a small smirk.

“I don’t know? I’m glad that you all think I would win this, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you all to hold back.” I got nods in response from the ponies and Cami, everyone other than that just looked confused, “But I think… Golden Skies, My daughter will win.” That shocked everyone, “What? If anyone can beat me it's my daughter.”

“That is a fair point sir Christopher. Well it was interesting to hear all of your thoughts on who would win. Now-”

“Uh excuse me princesses but who do YOU think would win?” Cami asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.

“Us? Well my sister and I believe that, yes, Chris will be the one triumphant amongst you all, but as he said, that doesn’t mean you are not to put up a fight. Nothing is ever set in stone and the true outcome might just surprise us all.” Celestia said.

Luna cleared her throat, “Yes, well, like we were saying. The time for us to split is come, you all have one week to train your mind and body for the upcoming tournament. So in one week’s time we will meet at the Canterlot Coliseum and the matches will be told there. So until then, train hard, eat plenty, and sleep well.”

We all clapped and as it died down I made my way to the girls and Spike, “So who’s training with who? I’m taking Goldy and Spike.”

“I got Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash said

“I’m going to train with Rainbow and Scootaloo, if that’s alright with you honey?” Fluttershy said.

“That’s perfectly fine.”

“I’m going to train with sunset and Starlight.” Twilight said, missing the fact that their little group had all the end of day named ponies in it.

“I suppose I shall bring Sweetie Belle along with me and go train with Twilight and the girls.” Rarity said.

“Ahm gonna train with Big mac and Apple Bloom on the farm.” Apple Jack said.

“And I’m going with Cheesey to train, it’s going to be a blast! Heehee!” Pinkie said happily.

I laughed at what I just realized, “So basically the group of dragons are training together, the unicorns together, the pegasi together, the hard working earth ponies together, and the party ponies together? Well ain’t that something?”

Everybody else realized it too and started laughing with me, “Man this is gonna be a fun week.”