"It will always in my eyes, be a barbaric and unnecessary escalation to a matter we had under control." Rarity announced with her frown.

"But looking back at it" Shining Armor continued, "it was where everything would change."

"Single file line!" the donkey yelled as he made his way inside, flanked by two Royal Guards. "How many times do I have to say it before it sticks? You'll get your seat in the bleachers just wait your turn! If you followed the fee instructions and have your tickets, all you need to do is wait-- and you three", the pseudo officer snapped, jabbing a hoof in the direction of where his head had turned to find three unicorns arguing with a Solar Guard. "Get back in line or I'll move you to the back of the line myself!" he shouted, "I don't care if you are part of the Noble Court Council! Senior Manager Sandwhich hoofed over the arrangements last night and I've been working since dawn getting everything ready. I will not sit through his complaints if the seating arrangements aren't followed!" the old jack shouted, his lips curling to reveal his teeth in his growing rage. "Now I'll say this one last time, because the last thing we want before this bloodbath starts is more unnecessary fighting. Get. Back. In. Line, now!" each word punctuated by a step forward, with two Royal Guards moving beside him.

The three mares took one look at the donkey's bodyguards then with frustration the mares turned with a crack of their tail and re-entered their lines. Watching the mares carefully, the jack blew a strand of his mane up into the air as he reset his tuppe.

"Permission to speak sir?"

"What is it specialist?"

"Your blood pressure. The misses did say to watch your anger."

Still eyeing those mares with the stink-eye, the old sour jack took some delight in seeing them finally break eye contact before he turned his attention to the slightly taller griffon.

"And I've told my wife to stop worrying about that! Gallus--"

"Specialist Gallus, Cranky Doodle, sir."

"Bah- you and that promotion. Look, I'm fine, bit of yelling is good for the lungs anyway."

Cranky chose to ignore the raised eyebrow from his bodyguards. Still didn't get why he needed bodyguards, but since Pinkie wouldn't take no for an answer after that whole demon incident...eh, she meant well...good young mare, if she'd learn to just pipe down a little more.

"Sandbar!" the donkey barked to his assistant.

"Sir?" the voice called from somewhere else the donkey couldn't see. Probably seeing to it the citizens that lined up early got arranged in the right way.

"Make sure Colonel Luke" he nodded to the yeti in a separate line, "and his fellows get a seat among the crowd! Front row! They aren't working guard duty. Knight-Lord Overcast said that as the ones that helped them defeat their commander they should have a right to see this duel through!"

"Got it sir! Oh, hey Gallus!"

Crest raising the griffon winced. Waving Gallus waved with a talon back.

The hard jab in the side along with old jack's snicker didn't help things much. "You should really loosen up some more fledgeling."

"Loosening up gets you killed sir."

"Yeah yeah, cmon you." Crankey Doodle trotted off, his guards in tow. "Hey Trouble Shoes, lets go see what kind of trouble we can scare off today eh?"

"Just lead the way boss, we go where you go."

"Now..." Cranky's ears perked as he came to a stop near one of the training room's exits, "let's see how Trixie and the others are doing with those projector installments..."

The bleachers were filled, the installments arranged, the training room had been turned into at best what one might equate with a jousting event. Those old events of a forgotten time, of which the branches between Night and Day would host tournaments between their guard for the viewing of the public eons ago when there had been a Diarchy.

Bleachers sat along two sides in almost a banquet like fashion along the walls, filled with ponies, griffons, minotaurs, hippogriffs, and individuals across Equestria's borders, all the way to Southern Equestria, Minos, Germania, and even Prance had gathered by the day to see this historical event unfold. Word had spread like fire on dry leaves carried by dangerous wind through a forest that morning, three days ago on the storm king's trial and for an event like this, rumor had it that diplomats were curious to see how things would turn out in this unprecedented event.

Especially if things turned out for the worst if the Knight-Lord lost.

The room buzzed among the masses. Whispere and murmuring, mutters and gossip. The court had not been pleased with the renown Knight-Lord's flippant disregard of the heirs of Equestria's authority although at the same time, relatives of said nobles assured that some among the court had found it rather endearing. There was so much to discuss and so much to hear that for one brief instant the echoing sound of steps was almost drowned out.

Almost but not quite.

All of a sudden the chattering and whispering went silent. And soon enough the many perking ears found out why as hoofsteps and many more, sounded in the distance.

"From our own homeland, Her Royal Highness very own faithful, our heroes and princes, put your hooves together for The Ladies of Equestria and our Princes of Canterlot!"

The crowd went stomping mad with applause. Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer and Moondancer marched out with four guards in their respective armors amidst the applause and with a barking command they split a narrow path as Princess Twilight and young Prince Spike emerged amongst the Ladies of Equestria alongside Prince Blueblood and his consort, a unicorn mare of sandy complexion with a terribly gnarled horn. Four other guards, each of them wearing black armor, emerged behind the Prince and his tall, spindly consort, all bearing similar shades of coat color as her. The group marched forward a few steps then stopped as one in front of the very first column of seats before moving to a space reserved for them on the side where they waited.

"Announcing the rulers of the Crystal Empire, Lord Shining Armor and Empress Cadenza!" boomed the same voice from the surrounding speakers.

The two trotted out with their respective guards, led by a unicorn mare that shimmered in the light followed by a mainland pegasus stallion and the rest of their unit. They followed the same path as the Equestrian royals and then moved to the side where the same space had been left open waiting for them.

Several more announcements went by in similar fashion turning this surprising event forced by the Knight-Lord into a formal event the powers of Equestria had come to at least acknowledge. Diplomats of different species emerged as the voice announced each nation and the ones representing them. By the end of it all the group of diplomats were led up a separate staircase with their guards towards a box-station, separate from the crowd where they would see everything above the others. Equestrian royalty sat with Crystal royalty, below them sat Prince Rutherford the High Prince and his advisor Chief Trevor with his eldest daughter Yona and their respective guards; of the Dragon regions sat the Dragon Lord's daughter Ember with her chief officer Garble and his fellow officers; representing Queen Rashida of Minos sat Count Levi Heartstone of House Love and the bull of steel himself, Commander Iron Will; below them sat Prime Minister Crépe of Prance and her officers. Next to them, Lord Gunter of Griffonstone, with his noble guardsgriffs.

The room had fallen into a silence at their appearance and remained silent as everyone waited.

"Would Major Trixie please activate the visionary channels for all our subjects across the nation!"

With a nod the unicorn mare and her positioned allies signalled with a hoof gesture, their horne glowing the same instruments that had once been used by the storm king to communicate long distance were activated as the unicorns directed the spell matrix's focus onto the stage where the duel would be set. The drums hummed with thaumatic power and released waves of mana-vapor into the air, forming massive bubbles of semi-solid mana energy that reflected the crowd as the unicorn casters worked the angles then zeroed in on the stage where everything would be set.

"Excellent!" the announcer announced ardorly at the vision. "Everything is looking good here, now then, let's get this event started alright everyone? Knight-Lord Overcast, c'mon out!"

There was a flash of magic and in an instant, the stallion emerged from the aether. He trotted around, showing off his surprising lack of injuries, his healed injured hind leg as he hopped and flashed a smile to the crowd which got him cheers and then he took a bow to the nobles, royals, and delegates as he rose once more.

"Thank you Cheese Sandwich, I knew I could count on you."

"No problemo Mr. Overcast!" said the announcer, "Setting up public events is what I do! Now, let's bring out our harbringer of terror, our doom, the Storm King!"

The cheering died almost instantly, and the jingle-jangle of chains filled the air shortly.

"Quite a crowd you've gathered to watch you lose, a fan of humiliating yourself aren't you?" mouthed Amadeus flanked by two guards.

"You may leave, thank you."

The two guards nodded and then stepped off the platform as the fallen king and the knight were left to their own devices.

For a room packed with over 500 viewers, the training room was oddly quiet.

"I hear the whole country is watching. Smart move there engineer, taking my broadcaster and converting it into a projector for an audience. Too bad this song won't end on a happy note. Per our agreement" the storm king shouted, "he loses, he dies, and I walk out free. You as well as any other sapient out there knows the stories of what happens when you break an oath bound by magic or when you try to intervene", at these words he looked directly into the seat of diplomats. "So, Knight-Lord, here we are." He raised his arms and presented them to the unicorn, "Now take these off" he ordered, "I've got an empire to maintain."

"We haven't completed the agreement", Overcast replied simply. Cooly, calm even.

"We will after these come off."

The unicorn scowled, "And if I refuse."

The storm king raised a brow...and smiled. "You hear that? Your champion is stalling! take off my shackles so we can begin the preparations of the duel and what does he do? He gives me lip!"

"Your lucky--"

But whoever spoke up was drowned out. "Are you not a nation that values fairness. That strives towards a utopia among all species, all sapients, all races that truly wish for a better future for the next generation? I did not call this duel to a start", he pointed "he did. And so by right, I am not the challenger, but am the one who is challenged for his freedom."

There was not a word, and not one moment where the Knight-Lord stepped in to say a word either. He seemed almost surprised at the back talk, but allowed it to continue.

"Did you give Sombra a trial?" came the question.

And then came the shouting, the booing, the yelling, the stomping, the angry tails lashing and thrashing, the feathers bristling and the horns sparking, the minotaurs snarling and the dragons growling--

ENOUGH!

Overcast eyed the Storm King as his voice flattened ears, smoothed away the ripples of anger, and stopped the crowd from forcing the guards to prevent a coup en masse.

"You speak of a time before you or I ever stepped foot on this soil, and as the defendant you have a right to speak." Overcast responded once the crowd had grown calm. "But pick your words wisely Amadeus. The scars the dark prince of the Crystal empire left behind are not forgotten and are still remembered. His return brought back the revival of illegal magic. What purpose do you hope to achieve by bringing the name of a cretin who turned loved ones against one another in a time of war to further his conquest? Not even you resorted to such measures, had you done so certainly, you may have won, but--"

"But, what? You slaughtered him in cold blood with the Crystal Heart. The only evidence he ever existed was the fracture of his horn. I've read the publishing, the papers about those events. Yet you gave me the opportunity to a trial, one who took your capital, slaughtered your beloved royal marques, and enslaved your subjects...yet a trial I have been allowed. So when I desire to be treated with fairness, you will not waste my time with games like you did at the courtroom."

He paused.

"You won't waste their time" his chains jingled as he pointed out to the diplomats seated and watching, "with your banter. You'll remove my shackles as promised on the day and I'll listen to the rules we agree upon because I didn't start this duel. Who started it?" he asked to silence.

He waited a moment, waited another, looked to the crowd and then all around before he repeated much louder:

"Who. Started. It?!"

"Overcast!" some yelled, others pointed.

"Good" the storm king said immediately and then slogging his way towards the unicorn he presented his shackles.

"Remove them."

And with a twinkle in his grey eyes, the unicorn stallion did.

Clang, clang, clang and then they were all off. A guard was summoned, the unicorn picked the shackles up and trotted off the stage at a brisk pace. She was gone and back with the rest in seconds.

"Now we can begin our arrangements." The storm king said with a satisfactory smile as he rubbed his wrists.

"Good then. If you're done?"

Amadeus waved his hand to continue.

"Sunburst?"

The unicorn in question stepped away from the guards and moved towards the stadium. "Please, bind the match for us so there can be no foul play."

"Of course." Horn glowing, he said, "shake, if you please."

One hoof went into one hand, the two limbs were surrounded in a glow; one by the wrist, the other by the pastern.

"By this duel neither of you shall have your magic. Overcast, as the Storm King already has his scepter locked away, you shall only be able to use your telekinesis. No spells, no casting of any kind. Do you agree?"

"I do."

"By this duel, your opponent shall be your only target. And" lifting a hoof a adjusting his glasses Sunburst sighed, "because this is a duel to the death you only win when your opponent dies. Do you..." he glanced at his cousin, waiting, stalling.

Overcast merely nodded, to which Sunburst closed his eyes as his ears splayed, "do you both agree that the duel ends on your opponent's death? And swear to harm nopony, or creature outside of the opponent in front of you alone? No hostages, no attempts at trickery using any lives, agree to these terms...a-and the duel is set."

"I agree" both the Storm King and Overcast said together.

"Then as the Grand Arcanist, the magical advisor to the council and throne, the reseacher of all magical situations and Keeper to the Royal Library, I hereby declare this duel official."

They shook, waited for Sunburst to step off the stage, watched as the terrain around them magically shifted to reveal weapons on overturning walls that clicked back into place and floors that sank into a pit that separated them from the crowd, an endless blackness, a void of no return, then looked at each other with a nod.

"See you in Tartarus."

Overcast, silent, merely smiled.

Though the nation watched metal against metal, cut against flesh, blood seep from wound, there came a understanding from the diplomats of the various nations as they watched two renown figures, a general of an empire and a engineer made knight, duel.

Sombra had changed them. Revolutionised them. Made them tougher, thicker, more flexible than the changeling invasion before that had shocked the land prior to it.

Often at times, when one heard of the return of Sombra and his war against all of Equestria, one looked at casualties because the casualties were where the detriments were at. And while the casualties had been low, it always seemed to be the mistaken thought that low casualties, meant stroke of luck or skill.

One did not fight Sombra however and go without some form of harm after the end of a battle.

His return had surprised and worried many, which was why the minotaurs been sent out to aid Celestia in her battles against the evil dictator when a unready Equestria sorely lacked a military strength that hadn't degraded to simple fame and a shadow of itself.

Because it wasn't about the death Sombra could cause if he marched up into your city and demanded you surrender, just to sneer at you when you refused.

It was the army he could create from that city of resistors, in not one week or moon, but a single day or night.

It was about the minds he could bend. The personalities he could warp, twist, break, corrupt and manipulate to do his bidding. To become his army. To share the knowledge of his skills or the skills of other talented ponies through his wisdom with mental magic. To create an army out of the harmless and turn them deadly through the power of his wisdom, his dark magic, and wit. By ripping memories out of synapses, cramming them into your head and chiseling-- shaping your muscle memory into acting the way he desired simply by pumping the body with enough magic till it finally gave in from exhaustion and the defences couldn't hold anymore.

He could craft an army of ruthless warriors from a group of innocent foals. And all he'd need is one soldier to do it.

Sombra had revolutionised Equestria in a way Chrysalis never had.

Which was why the whole nation watched with bated breath as a Knight-Lord and a Storm King traded blows.

Strike after strike, sparks flying as metal clanged against the other and was parried or blocked, stabs and jabs knocked narrowly away to become knicks and cuts.

They danced like two gladiators. A term that only three living beings, and the only two free ones, knew the meaning of in the whole world.

Amadeus carried a dagger in his tail and gripped a spear with both hands. He advanced, slashing and swinging, jabbing, and stabbing. Searching for weakpoints.

While Overcast blocked with his own spear, swung with a gladius and jabbed where he could. Where he had telekinesis, greater distance meant less control and so he took the dangerous option and moved with his weapon, instead of bringing every weapon out on the stacks and skewering his opponent he marched with him and took his blows, trading in his own.

Both of them had their advantages. Amadeus had speed coupled with strength, Overcast had control, timing, and a high pain tolerance to trade strike for strike.

Had they both been allowed their magic like at the war where the capture had happened, things might have gotten way more messy.

Time flew by, seconds, minutes, maybe it was hours, no pony knew or no one cared because in the heat of battle time itself was measured by the seconds your heart was still beating, you could still breathe, still fight, and your life juice wasn't ebbing away with every pump-and-thump as the seconds ticked on by.

They were covered in cuts. Some just superficial, others worse. The crowd and Equestria as a whole were silent, eyes wide as others watched through the mounted drum vapor screens that had been placed in areas across Equestria across the cities of the nation--

And were broadcasting the same fight to the very same generals in the Storm King's conquered territories.

"You ready to die yet?"

The unicorn merely laughed, a strange cackle that did nothing to settle the Storm king's nerves. A cackle that reminded him of Discord who he knew was watching this somewhere and yet did nothing to intervene, just like the war.

"I'll take that as a no..."

And so the battle continued. A never-ending struggle of trading blows. Till finally--

"No!"cried Dash, echoed by the nation.

Amadeus was successful. He rasied his dagger with one shaking, bloody hand, breath heavy, one or two teeth missing, chest heaving as he aimed to spear his fallen opponent underneath him.

"Yes!" cried his generals, unknown to him that they too were watching. Rooting for his success, rooting for their lord to rise to the gold. "End it! Do it!"

But he didn't.

Amadeus looked down.

The storm king's wide eyes looked at the blade imbedded in his chest.

He looked at the unicorn underneath him, one eye bruised shut, the other squinted closed through spit and blood, and through that narrow window he saw something in that face he had beaten into a mess.

Saw something in that grey eye that made him back up, made him pale in the face as he tried to breathe and started to struggle as his lungs filled with blood.

"H- how?! I knocked your weapons away!" he choked, gasped, clutched his wound.

"Yes, but you had one more dagger in your belt. I took it." The stallion rose, and wheezed with a wet sound in his breathe and a whistle through his nostrils.

"Y-you c-chea- hurk--"

"I...win."

Black and grey aura, slit of the throat, the duel came to an end. Blood soaked the ground and with a staggering stumble forward the stallion stopped beside his fallen enemy.

"I," Overcast managed through his bruised muzzle, "have..." he breathed, exhausted, "done it."

And slowly. One by one. The crowd stomped. Others clapped.

The nation cheered.

While the Storm King's allies watched in disbelief and silence, as the transmission came to an end.

And Overcast stood triumphant in his bloody beaten state.

"This day..." he said, "marks a change" he looked to his cousin as he said this as the crowd chanted his name.

"This day..." he breathed as his vision swam and the world darkened as the room shifted, "...marks...a...b-beginning."

Author's Note

This was going to come out earlier but I was terribly sick with the cold. Also this came out longer than I thought so I took a different approach and showed you what actually happened.

We're getting closer to the end.