You stalked the palace corridors. Slipping through the still night as silently as a shadow.
In the eery darkness common objects took on an unnaturally spooky appearance and time slowed to a crawl as the seconds seemed to tick by as slowly as hours. But you knew it was just your mind playing tricks on you.

Suddenly up ahead you could sense something waiting for you in the darkness, the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.

"Good I was hoping you would find me first" Said a mysterious voice from the shadows.
A match is struck a few feet away and you see the source of the voice, a handsome unicorn stallion Reclining in a chair tipped up on it's back legs, His back hooves resting comfotably on the table, A position you previously thought impossible for equestrian anatomy. Running a hoof through his long black wavy mane he askes, "Do you know who I am?"

"Anponio banderas?" You ask inquisitivly.

"No, but he would love my shirt" The unicorn said gesturing at the bilowy white shirt with laces dangling loosly from his chest, As he lit a few candles.
"My name is Inigo Montoya and you killed my father prepare to die."

"What? No I didn't" You say.

"Ha ha i jest, my father is quite well."
"My name is Silver Flourish" He said bowing low. "I am the greatest Swordspony that Equestria has ever seen. I have trained with the Grandmasters in Prance, and since then I have traveled all of the land honing my skills."

"I've heard of you before, They say you are the best that has ever been" You say.

"Thank you I am pleased that you know of my reputation.
I feel like you are a good po...um I mean person, and I am an excellent judge of character. But sadly I must kill you now."
He said tossing you a rapier.

"What is this for?" You ask?

"It makes things more fun for me" he said smiling.
"Come with me there's isn't enough room in here for the next part."

he leads you through an archway and into the center of a spacious foyer that sprawls out in picturesque elegance, with chandeliers hanging from it's high ceiling and a grand staircase at it's far end.

"This will do" he said, Drawing his own rapier that hung from a belt around his middle, The silvery glow of his magical aura glimmering as he gave it a flourish

Drawing your rapier you gave it an experimental flourish of your own. The razor sharp blade slicing effortlessly though a nearby candle.
"You have excellent tast in blades my friend" You compliment him.

"Thank you. I can see you are no stranger to swordplay yourself."

"It's true you tell him, I am a familiar face on the piste."

Silver Flourish's eyes sparkled with mirth as he said, "let us begin Allez!"

You both take the en guarde position befor lunging, thrustin, parrying, and beating each others blades back and forth sending sparks showering from your blades as you circle each other in the dimly lit room.

Silver Flourish, Fletche's toward you in an explosive burst of speed as you guard against his attack, Blades locked together in a deadly contest of strength, He laughs at you and says, "I'm beginning to have fun. But you know what would be more fun?" He askes jumping into the air and planting his hind hooves into your chest knocking you back a few steps.

"What would that be?" You ask him.

"If you weren't holding back!" He shouted, unleashing a flurry of thrusts that you could barely parry, the clashing of your blades ringing loudly as the furiousity of his attacks forced you back against a wall.

"Ok you got me" You said smiling as you tossed your rapier from your left hand catching it in your right and pulling a main gouche from a decorative weapon display on the wall with your free hand.
It was your turn to go on the offensive, constantly knocking his blade aside with your main gouche leaving him open to attacks from your rapier that he had to continuously dodge, backpedaling until his back was against the wall.

"You want to know a secret?" He asked you, "I also have been holding back this whole time" He said using his magic to draw several more rapiers from the wall. The silver glow of his magic shimmered as he spun the swords around his body in a deadly orbit.

This was no longer a friendly fencing match, But two masters of the blade struggling for dominance.

Silver Flourish danced about the room on his hind hooves laughing as he pursued you, Somehow snapping castanets the whole time.

Sliding under tables and leaping over furniture. You ran for your life in a desperate attempt to prevent his spinning blades of death from cutting you to ribbons.

"No one has ever lasted this long against me before. Who are you?" He askes.

"No one of consequence" You reply ripping a picture frame from the wall and throwing it in his direction.

"I must know" He insisted using his whirling swords to turn the picture frame into confetti.

Looking about to make sure no one else could overhear, you quietly tell him your name.

"You are joking no? That is a silly name.
If you take your first two initials and then say your last name it so-"oof!

As Silver pondered your name he let his guard down for the briefest moment. And during that moment you slid under his swords and swept his hooves out from under him as he fell flat on his back knocking the wind from his lungs and dropping all of his swords with a loud clatter.

"You have defeated me in fair combat, kill me quickly" He said with his eyes clenched shut. A solitary tear roling down his furry cheek.

"I would sooner destroy a stained glass window than an artist such as your self" You tell him holding out a hand to help him to his hooves. "Besides you were the better swordspony anyway, I only won because of a dirty trick. I know you are an honorable member of the lunar gaurd, But I must ask you where can I find Princess Ceslestia?"

"I am not a member of the lunar gaurd. I snuck into the palace to be with my marefriend she is a prench maid that works here. But I would never betray the princess so I cannot tell you where she is."

"I swear I would never hurt the Princess, but I must tell her how I feel."

"Wait...He looks you in the eyes. Do you mean?"

You silently nod.

Author's Note

This chapter ~~ripped off~~ was Heavily inspired by the movie the princess bride