Sombasi, brother of Sombra

In ancient Equus times, when a stallion horse challenges the rule/orders of the lead bull or when a lead bull tries to take another bulls herd they can invoke the right of Mequus Kombat. This is a one on one challenge, no other horses are allowed to interfere thus the spirits of old horses long since pass shall punish the interlopers. There are only two ways to decide a winner: Death or Submission.

The option of death was very straightforward however it’s also the option most horse stallions and bulls chose, horses are very prideful and would sooner die rather then submit. Sadly, this is also one of the reasons why the species began to slowly but surely die off not to mention as the number of stallion horses began to drop due to these conflicts mare horses began to form bonds with stallion ponies which lead to crossbreeding. Ironically, this further lowered the numbers of pureblooded horses in general simply because pony DNA seemed to be more dominant in such cases, the foal would always resemble or take after the pony parent in question while losing the height and mass of the horse parent regardless. For instance, if a pegasus pony mare bred with a horse stallion the foal will always be a pegasus pony even though they are by all rights half horse as well.

The option of submission on the other hoof might’ve saved the lives of many horse stallions should they have chosen it but it was sadly the lesser option, if only they realized their prideful nature would be their downfall. Essentially, when a horse stallion submits they revoke their right to a herd for life and it will show via an immovable brand in the shape of a glowing red horseshoe that the victorious bull will bestow upon them on their flank, it would look similar to a ponies cutie mark however it doesn’t represent a “promising destiny”, no, it represents their disgrace. In addition, the submissive stallion must also follow one last command from the victorious bull, this command cannot be to self harm the stallion in question such as making them end their own life but it can be absolutely anything else the bull sees fit.

“No!, please don’t do this Olstrom!.”, a teary eyed Valerica cries out loud while her wings begin to flap. Luna and Celestia were absolutely shocked, they’ve heard of the Mequus Kombat tradition among horses but to see it for themselves?. Valerica continues her pleading. “Please reconsider my love, there must be another way?!.”

“I am sorry sweet Valerica, but this is something only we horses can understand.”, Olstrom replies before he looks to his father. “Isn’t that right, father?.”, Leonidus was much like the royal sisters in terms of their reactions. He could never fathom that his own son would challenge him to their most sacred tradition, all for a pony mare nonetheless. Leonidus soon regains his composer while also having a very annoyed expression.

“You dare challenge me my son?, do you not realize what will happen to you?.”

“Of course I know father, it’s yet another lesson you yourself taught me.”, Olstrom replied without hesitation.

“Very well my son, I accept your challenge.”, Leonidus proclaims as he rears up and stomps back down. Upon hearing those words the other horses behind Leonidus begin to stomp their hooves in unison almost sounding like war drums. Valerica begins to shake as tears begin to flow down her cheeks as she tries one final plead for Olstrom to reconsider.

“No please, I... I can’t take this Olstrom I can’t lose you especially not now!.”, Valerica’s words begin to stutter accompanied with some sobs even her wings extend to full length as she makes a very interesting announcement: “Because I am with child!”, every pony and horse were shocked upon hearing this, the horses in particular were so shocked they even stopped their stomping war drums. Luna and Celestia stared with disbelief however a clopping of hooves could be heard nearing them all as the audience of ponies depart for a milky red unicorn mare.

“I’m so happy for you Valerica, this is most wonderful news!.”, Starfire Raindrop yells out as she reaches Valerica, the two hugging into an embrace. Celestia breaks out of her dumbfounded state as she walks over to Valerica Luna following as well.

“Congratulations my dear friend!”, Celestia says as she drapes her right wing over Valerica even taking her right hoof to rub Valerica’s stomach region.

“Indeed, tis would call for a grand celebration were it not for our current predicament.” Luna says in her canterlot voice along with her right hoof raised. Olstrom’s eyes were wide open, his face in a shocked expression as he looked upon his lover and her friends before it slowly turns into an expression of happiness. Olstrom then turns back to his father.

“Father, our battle will still commence however I ask you for one final request not just as a member of this herd, but as your son.”, Olstrom couldn’t help but to look at his father with pleading eyes as he said those words. Leonidus simply stared at his son for a few moments as if he was in thought, pondering on the words his son had just told him before he sighs deeply and replies:

“Go tend to her, I will wait for you outside of Canterlot on the open fields just beyond the walls.”, Leonidus says as he turns back to the herd and motions for them to move out. Olstrom ran to his lover and held her into an embrace, he lowered his body so she could be on eye level with him. Celestia, Luna and Starfire took a few steps back to give the couple some space.

“Please Olstrom, please don’t leave me alone to raise this foal as a single mother.”, Valerica says with tears still dropping like a river. “I want us both to be there when it takes its first steps, I want us both to be there when our child spreads their wings and flies into the skies, I want us both-”, Valerica was silenced as Olstrom kissed her on her lips before parting.

“All the more reason for me to win this fight my beloved.”, Olstrom stands back up to his full height while his wife looks up still watching him, Olstrom turns to Celestia, Luna and Starfire. “Your majesties, Starfire, if I fail to return please...”, Olstrom pauses for a moment before taking in a breath with a side of worry. “Please help my Valerica with raising this child, please be good aunts and role models for my unborn foal and teach them well. Teach the foal not the ways of a horse, I honestly don’t want that for my child. “, Olstrom looks down to his wife who was cuddling the side of his right front leg with a smile before looking back to the trio of mares. " Teach them the ways of a loving pony, just like all of you, just like the foals beautiful mother.”, Olstrom says as he bows before the three mares before him. Starfire is the first to react as she runs into him and hugs him while rising onto her hind legs.

“I promise you Olstrom, I will be there for Valerica should the worst happen. Your child will have my full support. My orphanage in The Crystal Empire will always be open for them both and I don’t care if Vale already has a whole castle!”, Olstrom smiles upon hearing these words and puts his left hoof around Starfire Raindrop to embrace the hug, Valerica also joins in thus the trio become one. Celestia and Luna approach the group with smiles of their own.

“My sister and I will also help in teaching the foal with how to handle royal duties, and how to deal with nobles.”, Celestia says with a nervous chuckle on that last part before she and Luna begin to laugh. Luna regains herself and lifts her right hoof into the air while also raising her head.

”And I shall teach thy child the great Canterlot voice!”, Luna declared using the very same tone in question. Everyone starts to laugh although some of them have to regain their composer from Luna’s proclamation, the Canterlot voice is quite deafening from being close to its user. After a few moments in a final embrace Olstrom and Valerica part from eachother.

“Please come back to me, to us.”, Valerica pleads looking up to her now proud to be a father horse stallion as she rubs her stomach region with her left front hoof. Olstrom leans in to give her one final pec on the lips.

“I will do everything in my power to ensure that happens.”, Olstrom says confidently as he lifts his head and turns around to take his leave. As he begins to trot away he stops and turns to Valerica. There was something he needed to do before he left to confront his father, he calls out to his lover. “Valerica!, should the foal be born a young stallion you are free to name our legacy anything you please. I will accept it wholeheartedly. But, should the foal be a mare I wish for you to name her: Shiori Shattershield Mi Amore.”, Olstrom declared before he ran off at a full sprint out of Canterlot and out onto the open fields where his father and the herd waited for him.

The winds began to kiss two stallion horses as well as a beaming sun to enlighten both of their manes on a large open field filled entirely with blades of grass, the grass itself came in a mixture of two colors: Green and Brown. The green live grass overpowered the deceased brown ferns yet they blended together to make a most wonderful picture. Leonidus and Olstrom stared each other down from a distance neither saying a word, no words were needed anyway, the father and son duo understood each other perfectly. They could read the other like an open book. The rest of the herd remained in the distance serving as an audience for the battle that was about to commence. Ponies in the distance could be seen watching on the walls of Canterlot, just over the entrance. Celestia, Luna, Starfire and Valerica watched from here as well, the perfect vantage point.

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Olstrom and Leonidus began to walk closer from their respective sides of the large field. Both pause momentarily before Leonidus calls out to his son. “Last chance Olstrom, stand down!.” Olstrom responded with a simple:

“No!”, this response enraged Leonidus who rears back.

“So be it!”, Leonidus yells as he starts to run at full sprint.

Olstrom built himself up from a trot to a full on sprint to match his fathers, as he ran towards Leonidus memories began to flash in his mind before him as if time went slow just for a moment, he saw when he was a younger colt walking alongside his father both with smiles on their faces, he saw when he first met Valerica and the two fell over heels for each other, he saw when he and Valerica revealed themselves to Starfire Raindrop who then promised to keep their love a secret. Finally, he remembered the loving embrace with his lover who was carrying their unborn foal. His eyes opened again moments before he collided with his father a smile beginning to form on his face.

[BOOM]

A large shockwave engulfed the two stallion horses and the area as particles of grass flew up into the air as the sound of neighs echoed across the land, these began to sound less like a neigh of a horse and more of an enraged dragon how these two stallions managed that was a mystery to every pony and horse in attendance. Olstrom and Leonidus reared up onto their hind legs and thrusted themselves forward slamming their chest into each other while, at the same time, their heads collided. Both snarling their teeth with narrowed eyes and they repeated this process multiple times, they’d rear back then slam into each other.

[BOOM]

Every time the two titans clashed a shockwave was sent out the force strong enough to shake the nearby trees causing leaves and branches to fall off. The bystanders inside of Canterlot weren’t spared either for every time the duo would clash they’d hear what to them sounded like the forces of nature were at war. The other horses watched on as they waited for the victor, they’ve seen fights like this before so it wasn’t anything new to them. The ponies on the other hoof who were watching on the wall had their eyes wide open and mouths agape as they watched the spectacle, two horses fighting was not something they’d see often. It was about as rare as watching two Alicorns duke it out. Some ponies were beginning to feel frightened hoping the two titans would keep their battle far away from Canterlot or at the very least not get any closer. Celestia could only watch with a neutral stare with a mix of worry while also ordering her guards to be at the ready. Luna was almost as flabbergasted as the ponies around her all the while Starfire Raindrop and Valerica were holding each other, Valerica whispering quiet prayers.

[BOOM] [BOOM] [BOOM] [BOOM]

Neither father or son would relent they kept pushing against each other rearing up on their hind legs then slamming their chest into each other however just as Leonidus was about to slam himself back into Olstrom with another chest slam Olstrom side stepped much to Leonidus’s surprise, Olstrom then kicked his father with his right hind leg hitting Leonidus into the side of his stomach region with enough force to send his father flying back a few feet however Leonidus was able to catch himself. Digging into the earth with all of his legs Leonidus began to form a crater as he was pushed back before coming to a full stop. Leonidus couldn’t help but feel proud of his sons handiwork letting out a prideful:

“Not bad!”, before charging towards his son again. “But you’ll need more then that boy!”, Leonidus yelled as he sprints to Olstrom. Moments before he reached Olstrom the former assumed Leonidus would do another chest ram. “Two can play that game!”, tricking his son Leonidus turns around and bucks Olstrom away.

“Guagh!”, Olstrom painfully yelled as he was sent flying backwards. Sadly, unlike his father he couldn’t catch himself and toppled down to the floor his body skiing across the field leaving a trail of dirt behind. Leonidus began to walk towards his downed son stepping in the dirt trail his sons body left behind.

“You were a fool to challenge me my son.”, Leonidus confidently said as he treaded towards his son each step leaving small craters like he did back in Canterlot. “And all of this for what?!, some pony mare?!”, Leonidus said in disgust as he now stood over his son but just before Leonidus could do anything further Olstrom roared:

“Yes!”, suddenly, Olstrom grabbed dirt with his right hoof and flew it right into Leonidus’s face and as a result his eyes became blinded as specs of dirt forced them shut.

“Raaaaaaaaa!”, Leonidus roared with sounds of enraged neighing.

“Some mare?!”, Olstrom shouted as he got back up, reared onto his hind legs and slammed into his father with his chest sending the former back.

”SOME MARE?!”, Olstrom roared as he walked up to his father who was still dazed and blinded.

”SHE’S EVERYTHING TO ME!”, Olstrom lifted his right hoof and smacked it across his fathers face just to the side of his lower jaw causing Leonidus to let out spit combined with blood. ”SHE OFFERED YOU PEACE!”, another swipe was lashed out onto Leonidus’s face only this time it was with Olstrom’s left hoof. ”AND. YOU. HURT. HER!”, Olstrom turned around and put all of his strength into his buck hitting Leonidus right into his chest.

[QUABOOM]

Leonidus was sent skyward and towards the other horses, his body finally reached fell to the earth only for the ground to give way and create a large crater about two horses deep. Olstrom entered the crater and stood over his father who laid motionless. Olstrom kept his focus in case his father tried anything like he did, Olstrom believed his father would never submit and it pained him more then anything else. Tears began to flow down his cheeks as he reared up ready to finish the battle. “F-forgive me father, I love you.”

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“S...subm...ission.”, Leonidus weakly said almost as if it took all of his strength to do so, his body badly bruised and scratches present which still had blood flowing out with a face that was swollen from the hoof beating his son gave him. What stood out most was the large purple horseshoe shaped bruise that laid on Leonidus’s chest. Olstrom stopped immediately while he was reared up on his hind legs, got back onto all fours and took on a face of absolute surprise and shock.

“W-what?, you... Submit?.”, Olstrom said wearily as he couldn’t fathom what he just heard. He has never seen or heard of a horse, at least in his lifetime, who ever took the submission option. Yet, there his father was.

“I... Submit, my son.”, Leonidus was still struggling but not as hard as he did the last sentence. “Mequus Kombat... Has been concluded.” Olstrom was now looking upon his father with a look of absolute sympathy. Leonidus gritted his teeth as he lifted his head in pain. “What... Is your final...order?.”, Olstroms tears nearly resurfaced before he managed to hold them back in time. The other horses joined the duo to hear Olstrom’s decision.

**Back in the Canterlot Marketplace, moments before Olstroms turning point**

Celestia and Luna had moved all pony bystanders off of the Canterlot walls and back into the marketplace for everyponies safety during the climax of the battle moments before Olstrom threw the hooffull of dirt into Leonidus’s eyes so nopony present knows of the fights end result. Various ponies began to express their concerns as Celestia and Luna stood among them trying to provide comfort. Starfire and Valerica were nearby sitting on a flight of stairs that lead up to a guard tower, both holding onto each other in comfort Valerica noticeably having tears coming down her face. The concerns of various ponies echoed throughout the marketplace.

“What’s going on out there, are they still fighting?”

“Mommy I’m scared.”

“That’s how horses fight?!, it’s barbaric!.”

“Please protect us princess Celestia and Luna!”

Celestia and Luna devised a plan to split up, one sister taking one side of the crowd as the other sister comforted the other half. Celestia had a young earth pony foal run up to her begging Celestia to lift the foal into her forelegs. “P-princess Celestia, will the monsters get us?.”, the foal asks with tears running down their face.

“Fret not my little pony, I will not allow any harm to come to any of you.”, Celestia says as she hugs the foal into an embrace. The earth pony foals mother came soon after and retrieved her child thanking Celestia for comforting her.

Some time has passed and the crowd was beginning to calm down as the sonic boom like forces clashing against each other seemed to have stopped. Celestia took this time to send out a scout to see what has happened. Celestia prayed the worst hasn’t happened to Olstrom, the last thing she wanted was to tell her friend she’d be a lone mother. Celestia looked around for any pegasus royal guards and turned to a pegasus mare guardspony who was tending to the needs of some of the ponies. “Pegasus Guardspony, atteeeeention!.”, Celestia might not have looked it but she could be quite assertive when the situation called for it. The mare pegasus guard instantly stopped what she was doing and ran up to Celestia with her ears perked up and eyes forward, wings folded.

“Yes your majesty?!.”

“What’s your name pegasus?.”, Celestia asked while spreading her wings confidently.

“Lyra ma’am, Lyra Hothoof reporting for duty.”, Lyra says as she salutes with her right hoof while also spreading her wings momentarily before folding them up again. Lyra Hothoof has a white furred body along with white wings much like celestia however Lyra’s greatest features were a rainbow colored mane and tail along with orange pupils in her eyes. The rainbow colored mane and tail was genetic in her family and it has successfully been passed down from generation to generation. All of this wrapped in royal guard armor.

“I want you and two of the best pegasi you know to scout the battlegrounds out on the fields, report to me or my sister immediately should you find anything. Do not engage should the fighting still be present.”, Celestia declared a small bit of her canterlot voice leaking out.

“Yes your majesty, it shall be done!”, Lyra replied with a salute using her right hoof before she spreads her wings and takes flight. Lyra flew a short distance away before spotting two more armored pegasi who were stationed on the wall overlooking the market using armor identical to Lyra's. “Look alive ladies you’re both coming with me, orders straight from Celestia.”, the two pegasi mares instantly come to attention and face Lyra. “I’ll give you both the short version my fellow birdies: Three birds, two horses, one scope. Got it?!”

“Affirmative!.”, both pegasi salute using their left hooves. The three pegasi take flight in the direction of the field, Celestia smiles as she sees this before she takes on a saddened expression.

“Please be alive Olstrom.”, Celestia whispered with a hopeful tone.

(To be continued in Chapter 7 - End of one tale, start of another)