Peachy Love and I stood on one side of the garden, with Gizmo Twister and Neon Flame on the other. We were prepared to win no matter what.

"Alright, maggots!" Gusto said from the sidelines. "The spears are enchanted with a spell that will notify us when a pony is 'wounded.' Now obviously, these weapons are fake, but when they touch somepony, a sound will ring out and the loser will be enveloped in a blue light."

I looked at the tip of my so-called spear. On the tip was a cylinder made from black rubber foam. Gusto was right in saying that no one would get hurt from this. It meant I didn't have to hold back.

"You must be in perfect sync with your partner. This is crucial for points, and if you fall out of coordination with each other, it's a deduction!"

Peachy went out of her way to tell me this. If she hadn't, I wouldn't be ready. I owe it to her to win. If I lost, then I'd be letting her down. I felt my right foreleg tighten around the spear.

"However, this doesn't mean you both have to do the same thing. You may use attacks that compliment each other. If one were to distract the enemy while the other attacks, that is fine, but if I see so much as a hint of you doing something your partner doesn't know about, that's a deduction!"

So we didn't have to do the exact same thing as each other? That meant I could use Peachy as a distraction while I attacked.

"If one of you falls, you both fail! You are responsible for protecting your partner! Don't buck this up! If you do, you'll be given an F and will have to make up for it later! Now, without further ado..."

Here we go.

"Three!"

I will win.

"Two!"

I have to.

"One!"

"For the night, and for Peachy!"

"Fight!"

Peachy and I marched forward, our spears pointing forward. Both Gizmo and Neon did the same. It wouldn't take too long 'til we met each other. I looked to Peachy and she looked back, and somehow she knew what I was going to say before I said it. We quickened our pace and rushed forward, catching the opposite team off guard. Their eyes widened and the forest green pony, Gizmo stumbled and moved to his right, breaking formation with his light blue companion, Neon.

A shrill whistle rang through the air, the source being Gusto. "I saw that stumbling, you maggots! Don't make me come over there and knock you senseless!"

That made Gizmo march back next to his partner. We had this in the bag. At least, that's what I thought. Neon appeared to whisper to his partner, and both of them rushed in our direction. Now we were all charging. It wasn't long before we both reached the statue.

I looked to Peachy, and once again, she appeared to understand. I broke formation and went to the side of the two colts, with Neon closest to me. Peachy thrust her spear forward in Neon's direction, making him stumble back, and I took the opportunity to swing my spear horizontally at him, hitting him in the--spear?!

Of course it was too easy! While Peachy had distracted Neon, Gizmo was on the lookout for other attacks! He had jumped over Neon and had parried my spear with his!

"Filthy thestral!" Gizmo said through teeth clenched around his weapon. He turned his head, swinging the spear and I jumped back, barely avoiding the spear tip. I ignored his insult and looked to Peachy for help. She rushed forward at Neon to try and hit him with her spear tip, but Neon swiftly brought up his spear to parry it.

I slid to Gizmo's side and attempted to jab the spear into his ribs. Another block by the swift enemy prevented me from doing so, almost knocking my weapon from my foreleg. How do I get him off guard?

Meanwhile, Peachy had been parrying attacks from Neon with her spear. We seemed to have met our match, and on the first trial, too. How was I supposed to protect Luna if I couldn't even take down a single pony?

I then remembered something my father once taught me. A technique only learned by thestrals: The Forbidden Walk. If I used it now, I could easily intimidate them and take them by surprise. The only problem was that it was exclusive to my kind only. I couldn't show it to anyone else.

I was about to decide against it when I heard a cry from my partner. Peachy had been blocking every single hit from Neon's repeated jabbing, just barely able to keep the spear tip from reaching her. It wouldn't be long before she screwed up. I know I'd have the same problem too. That was it. I had to help her. If I didn't, we'd lose.

I took my spear into my mouth and mustered up all the strength I had in my forelegs before pushing myself up onto my back legs, making me stand upright. This made Gizmo widen his eyes in shock. I then dropped the spear into my hooves and began to twirl it around like a cheerleader's baton, gracefully using gravity and motion to my advantage. I took a step forward using my back legs, and Gizmo moved back until he bumped into Neon's flank.

This made Neon turn to look at me. Surprised faces from him and all my classmates were looking at me. Even Gusto's beak was hanging open as I moved forward on my hind legs. It wasn't long before I closed the distance and whapped the scared Gizmo on the flank.

A loud ping rang out from the spear tip, and Gizmo was covered with a blue aura of light. "You're out!" Gusto shouted. "Peachy Love and Serene Night have passed the trial!"

All of the watching classmates cheered, and I blushed, flustered that I would get such praise. I looked at Peachy, who was dancing around in joy, shaking her flank in celebration. I had done it. I passed the trial, but I had also revealed The Forbidden Walk to regular ponies.

I had won, but at what cost?

Author's Note

Sorry this chapter wasn't 2000 words like I promised. I've just been a little busy and I wanted to make the deadline. Next time though. I PINKIE promise!