Arizona closed her eyes and felt something fuzzy cover her ears with a strap on her muzzle.

“Ta-da!” Paprika held a mirror in her mouth as Arizona’s eyes opened. She was wearing Paprika-yellow earmuffs.

“I dunno, Pap.” She blushed. “Aren’t they a little… cutesy?”

“But you are cute!” Paprika only made the blush worse as Velvet peeked in and immediately snorted with her hoof holding back a laugh.

“She’s right, zey are rather girly for you.” She forced herself to keep a straight face as she turned to Paprika. “Can you make them for boys, also?”

Arizona stared daggers at Velvet, who couldn’t help but snicker at the contrast.

Paprika joined her laughter, innocently oblivious. “But she’s a girl, silly!”

“Ah.” Velvet smirked. “I almost forgot.”

Arizona put on a fake smile. “Ah am really lookin’ forward to meetin’ ya in the tournament.”

“Likewise.” Velvet mirrored the expression as they both leaned in. “Well, I’ll leave you to it! Stay warm until I cool you down.”

“Stay cool until I— Ah, whatever.” Arizona sighed and tempered her voice as Velvet left the room.

“At least they’re practical.” She grumbled. “Thanks, Pap. I love them.”

“Anything for my friend!”

Arizona resigned herself to wearing it for Paprika. And it was cold outside.

“So, ready to start trainin’?”

“I want to check on our friends first.”

“Oh, right!” Arizona felt a pang of guilt as she remembered the basement and followed Paprika. “Hope they're able to compete.”

“Get up, stupid!”

Dancer shook her brother until his eyes opened.

“Let me sleep in more, the sprites said— Ow!”

Dancer interrupted him with a poke to the neck floof.

“Sounds healed enough to me, and you have some training to do.”

Dasher yawned and got up.

“Okay, okay! Another hour wouldn't have hurt.”

“What was that about impressing the others yesterday?”

“Fine.” He grumbled as she opened the door with a smirk. “You win this one.”

Most of the Elite 7 had left to train, but their tallest member was still there to greet Dasher at the table.

“Good morning!” Donner smiled. “Do you feel fit to fight?”

Dasher felt his floof. “Ready to go.”

“Not until you've had these.” Donner tapped the table and a sprite entered, leaving a bowl of golden oatmeal with berries. “And not until you've trained. I would be happy to help, if you'd like.”

Dancer tapped the table and called for milk before turning to her brother.

“I just finished a round of drills with him, if you want a turn.”

Dasher swallowed, and his dull horns began to glow teal to match her purple and Donner’s blue.

“I'd appreciate it. Thanks for looking out for us.”

“Always happy to help! Have to make sure the Elite 7 put on a good show, after all.”

“We'll do our best,” Dasher said before taking another bite.

“I'm sure you will.”

The conversation had turned to their exploits in the undercity when a sprite knocked.

“An ‘Arizona’ and ‘Paprika’ would like to see you. Should we send them away?”

The other deer chuckled as Dasher stood up a little too quickly.

“No, tell them I'll be right there!” He turned to Donner. “Um, I might have a new training partner. You can go on without me.”

Dancer got up to follow him.

“I should say hi, but I’d like to run more drills if you’re up to help.”

“Anytime.” Donner nodded and turned to Dasher. “And good luck! It’s not every day you get to train with a champion.”

In a tavern on the fringes of Reine, a small goat stirred, stretching as she got up.

Di beds an food are good enough, but dem prices are di real robbery. Specially when dem so mean with di drinks!

She looked over the salt she'd kept from her last steal with a scowl.

At dis rate, mi haffi pull off a heist in di city to keep tailin’ dat lazy champion. How she think she's a go find de key without leavin’ town?

After tying her bandana, Shanty made her way downstairs to get whatever they were having for breakfast: some kind of oatmeal, it looked like.

Dat looks tasty, neva seen oats like dat before.

But to her dismay, the innkeeper passed her a plate of bread, figs, and cheese instead.

“What gives?” Shanty stood on her back legs to be eye level. “Why dem get di oatmeal?”

“That's good gjetost.” The innkeeper grumbled. “But the golden oats are for reindeer only.”

“What yuh mean?” Shanty's eyes narrowed. “Goats not good enough fi yuh?”

The innkeeper looked like he was biting his tongue as he explained. “Golden oats are special, and we don't have enough to just give them to everyone.”

“So yuh got magical special oats and yuh not sharin’?”

“I didn't say ‘magical’.” The innkeeper’s eyes narrowed. “But yes. I prefer the gjetost anyway—they're not that special.”

To-do list: steal golden oats, follow deer, get di key.

“Whatever den, keep yuh oats.”

Shanty bit down on the toast and cheese and smiled.

“Oo, dis good!”

“Glad you like it.” The innkeeper deadpanned as he moved to other things.

As she ate, Shanty overheard the word ‘champion’ from one of the tables. She balanced her plate on her head and moved to a chair with her back facing them.

“They say they found predators in the sewers, right under our noses!”

“Makes me glad to have three champions in Reine, for sure. Glad Stronghoof gave them a place to stay; he still makes some good calls.”

There’s no goat champion, but he nuh need to know that. I could spy on dem in plain sight!

“Can't wait for the tournament. Ten thousand salt for the winner! Almost makes me want to join.”

“If you want to be target practice for Velvet, be my guest.”

Ten thousand salt?!

Shanty choked on her breakfast, briefly interrupting their conversation before they continued.

An all I haffi do is fight? Dis too easy!

Shanty was about to make her way to Stronghoof's lodge, but paused as she spotted an unfinished bowl of golden oatmeal.

After a glance to see the coast was clear, she gobbled up what was left and had it back in a second.

Yeah, just oats. I don't get it.

“I'm so glad you're okay!”

Paprika started things with her inevitable hug, somehow grabbing both twins at once.

Dancer's voice was muffled by the tight grip. “Good to see you too, Paprika.”

They both took a moment to breathe when she finally let go, but Dasher’s whole body tensed as Arizona gave him a hug.

“Uh, sorry.” She looked away. “Guess Pap is rubbin’ off on me. Good to see you up.”

“It's, uh, gre - no problem! I'm—”

Dancer stepped in front of her stuttering brother.

“He's just excited to train, if you're still up for it. But we get it if you want to focus on your own training for the tournament.”

“Sure, I'd be happy to train ya!” Arizona looked from him to Dancer. “Are you comin’ too?”

“I have my own things to practice.” Dancer raised a hoof. “I'll see you at the tournament!”

“See ya there, then.” Arizona accepted a hug from Dancer. “And good luck!”

“You too,” she called back as she skated away. “Have fun!”

Arizona waved her goodbye before turning to Dasher.

“Ah think we should practice outside the walls, where no one will fuss if we break some ground. Sound good?”

“Uh, sure! That's perfect!”

He followed her in a daze as Paprika trailed behind, until he worked up his courage to catch up beside her.

“I like your earmuffs, they're cute.” He hastily corrected herself as she looked away. “I-I mean cool! They're cool.”

“Thank ya, but they are a bit cutesy for me.”

Well, I like them.

Stronghoof sat behind a desk with Vetr, going over some last arrangements for the tournament when he heard a set of rapid knocks on the door.

“Come in.” He looked up.

“Dem told me fi go here fi di tourney.”

Shanty stood as tall as she could on four legs with Stronghoof towering over her.

“I'm Shanty, di Champion a di Isles, and I'm here for dat prize!”

“You'll have to win the tournament first.” He chuckled, but stopped and glanced to the side as Vetr spoke.

“The Goatani haven't chosen a champion, and I saw that goat robbing the fortress.”

“I know,” Stronghoof replied in the sprite language.

“What dem say?” Shanty pointed at Vetr.

“He wishes you luck in our tournament. We are truly blessed to have four champions to witness! Listen for the bell an hour before meetup at one, and the tourney will begin at three. You're all signed up.”

“I won't disappoint!” Shanty left with a smug grin, but as soon as she was out of earshot, Vetr spoke up.

“She's a criminal, why not arrest her? Deer and Sprites are still talking about you pardoning your wife.”

“I'm very aware.” He frowned. “But that thief struck at the same time as Bravura; I'll bet they're connected, and she might lead us to her. Besides, we know where she'll be. Just tell the sprites to keep a discreet eye on her; outsiders always seem to ignore them.”

“Clever.” Vetr stroked his chin. “Consider it done.”

“Besides”—Stronghoof smiled—“it will be amusing. Let's see this ‘Champion of the Isles’ test herself against the best of Reine.”

As Dasher, Arizona, and Paprika approached the gates, they heard the guards arguing.

“Like I told you yesterday, there has never been an Alpake ambassador! Begone!”

“Alpake?” Paprika’s neck stretched up, and she disappeared without her companions noticing.

“Oh, these guys.” Arizona groaned.

“Did they give you trouble?” Dashed walked next to her.

“Told me ta ‘take my lyin’ backside back to the frozen wastes’ when ah told them ah was champeen. But ah showed them!”

“That's awful!” Dasher scowled. “I had no idea they were so rude to travelers!”

“Also made me promise not to eat anyone, like they've never seen a cow before.” Arizona stared up at them. “Ironic since they drink milk.”

“You should tell Stronghoof, or I will.” Dasher shared her anger. “Some folks have no manners, but he's a better judge of character.”

With that he walked ahead and yelled up at the guards.

“By order of the Elite 7, open the gate!”

The guards flinched and spun around.

“But, Dasher! This outsider may be dangerous.”

They both winced as they saw Arizona staring back at them as Dasher answered.

“Then I'll be the judge of that!”

The other guard swallowed and answered. “Of course, young sir. Open the gaaA—”

Both of them stumbled back as they heard a gasp from Paprika: somehow perched on the edge of the wall behind them.

“Sofrito!”

“Paprika?!”

Before he could process it, the young grey Alpaca was trapped in a tight hug, nearly losing his sun-patterned back blanket as it slipped from under his saddlebags.

“Ohmygosh you've grown so much! What are you doing here? Are you warm enough? I can make a sweater to match your hat!”

“One question at a time.” He took a breath as the suffocating grip loosened, but didn't release. “I'm here to meet with the Jarl… and I could use a sweater. But why are you here?”

“Ooo, so much has happened!”

Dasher and Arizona were baffled to see them as they walked through the gate, and Arizona’s eyes bulged as Paprika suddenly let go of Sofrito to grab her.

“This is Arizona, she's my friend, and the ‘Champeen’ of the Prairie! Ari, this is Sofrito, he's Adobo’s son!”

“Pleasure to meet ya.”

Their hoofshake was interrupted by Paprika pulling them both into a hug.

“I met her by the temple, then we fought some baddies and found a clue together, then Adobo let me back in the tribe! Oo, and I'm Champion of the High Plains now! It's so exciting!”

“Great to have you back.” Sofrito resigned himself to the hug. “But why are you in Reine?”

The awkwardness of the situation showed more from Arizona, but she tried to answer normally. “Pap copied down some of tha scribbles in that temple, and we need ‘em translated. They say it's gonna be awhile.”

“But why are you here?” Paprika asked. “I wasn't sure where you were, but I didn't think you'd leave the High Plains!”

Sofrito tried and failed to pull out of the grip before explaining. “Because I think we all need to leave the High Plains.”

Paprika gasped. “Why leave? We've been there for, like, ever!”

“Seems kinda dreary to me.” Arizona commented before Sofrito cleared his throat.

“More importantly, it's getting dangerous. The clouds are usually thick enough for predators to roam in the daytime, and there are caves for them everywhere. We should shelter elsewhere until the danger has passed.”

Paprika finally let them go to scratch her head. “I bet Adobo didn't like that. He's always talking about ‘tradition’ this, ‘ancestors’ that.”

“He didn't.” Sofrito shook his head. “I chose to be a scout for the tribe while you were away, but he refused to hear my suggestions of places to leave to.”

“So why come here?” Arizona asked.

“I'm looking for safer places where we'd be allowed to live, so I have something to pitch to the tribe.”

“I never thought I'd see you disagree like that!” Paprika said. “You're both always so serious, like you're all grown up already.”

“You make up for that.”

“Oh, you just need to loosen up.” Paprika blew a raspberry. “But you look tired! You should rest first.”

“I have had a long journey.” Adobo yawned. “And I would like to sleep in the city.”

“Oh my gosh, I forgot, predators!” Paprika exclaimed. “It's not safe for you to be out!”

“I'm fine.” He stepped away. “I'm a scout; I'm good at avoiding them. And I've defended myself against a few.”

“Are you hurt?!” Paprika started searching him for injuries, to his annoyance.

“I said I'm fine.” Sofrito waited for her to finish.

Once she was satisfied, he turned to walk to the gate and saw Dasher standing, awkwardly.

“Who are you?”

“Oh!” Paprika grabbed the deer before he could flinch. “This is Dasher! He's also my friend, and he's in the Elite 7! They're super cool deer with awesome wintery magic!”

“Welcome to Reine!” He smiled before whispering. “Is she always like this?”

Paprika giggled as Sofrito gave a solemn nod.

Arizona raised a hoof to speak.

“We're actually stayin’ at the Jarl’s lodge, he wanted to help us as champions. We could ask him for a meetin’ if you'd like.”

Sofrito had opened his mouth to thank her when Paprika gasped again. “Oo, better idea! You can fight in the tournament!”

“What tournament?” Sofrito looked up at her. “And why would I want to fight?”

“They're doing a huge tournament today, and Stronghoof is a huge fan of fighting! If you show that you're brave enough to sign up, it'll get you on his good side for ambassador talk!”

“‘Brave enough’?” Sofrito’s eyes widened.

“Well, we'll be in it,” Arizona said. “And the best fighters here. But he did promise a meal with all the contestants, so maybe you could talk there.”

“He does respect fighters.” Dasher cut in. “Just showing up could help, especially with a champion vouching for you. Don't know what he'd say, though.”

“Hmm…” Sofrito looked down in thought. “Your plan makes some sense, for once. If it helps my tribe, then I will fight.”

“Then I need to train you.” Paprika put a hoof on his shoulder.

“You? Train?” He looked more worried about that than the tournament.

“I'm a champion, remember? I’ve fought plenty of predators! And you need to know how if you’re going out on your own.”

“...Very well.”

“But first, let’s get you something to eat!” Paprika led him to the gate. “We’ve got our own training to do, see you at the tournament!”

“See ya!” Arizona waved as they left.

“So… I guess it’s just us.” Dasher scratched behind his neck. “Could you show me how to lasso?”

He stumbled forward as her rope snagged his hoof.

“Sure thing! But ah think we should start with the basics: pushin’, buckin’, stompin’, and kickin’!”

Time passed quickly until the bell rang and the fighters gathered.

Dancer broke off from the Elite 7 when her brother entered.

“So how was your training?”

“She pushed me around like a snowplow.” His ears lowered as she giggled. “I picked up a few things, but so much for impressing her.”

Dancer patted his back with a smirk.

“She likes you, she just doesn’t realize it yet.”

Dancer stopped immediately as she saw the others watching and approaching.

“So, a cow?” A red-antlered doe with brown floof and a tan coat leaned in. “Hoping for some fresh milk?”

Dasher lowered his head in embarrassment as a blue-horned buck with reddish-brown fur and a dark stripe on his forehead shoved her.

“That’s too far, Comet!” Prancer scolded.

Dancer stepped in front of her brother and squinted up at her.

“Weren’t you dating a moose once?”

“I was just teasing, sorry!” Comet held up a hoof. “I think it’s cute.”

Her smile dropped as Blitzen approached her, and Dasher and Dancer tensed up.

“Then tone it down.” Blitzen leaned in. “I’ve talked to you about this before.”

Comet took a step back before trying to hold her ground. “You’re not my boss.”

“But on zis, ve agree.” Vixen exchanged a glance with Blitzen. “And if ve’re all equals, then ve do not need ze hazing.”

“Sorry, Dash.” Comet’s ears fell. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you like that.”

“Just… tone it down.” He made himself meet her gaze, but felt encouraged by his other teammates looking back at him.

An awkward silence reigned until Donner changed the subject.

“Now, with that behind us, we’re facing some stiff competition! I hope everyone practiced.”

Murmurs of affirmation went around as he looked to Dasher and Dancer specifically.

“You both made us proud yesterday, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much you’ve grown! Anything you can tell us about the champions?”

“Don’t get grabbed by Paprika.” Dancer shuddered. “She doesn’t look like it, but she’s strong and fast when she wants to be.”

“And tricky.” Blitzen frowned, side-eyeing a snort from Vixen.

“Yes, zhey told me.”

“Arizona is strong,” Dasher added. “Like, really strong.”

“Indeed.” Blitzen puffed himself up. “But I’ve defeated her once, and I can do it again.”

Vixen rolled her eyes. “It sounds like you got lucky with the lake.”

Blitzen stared at her smirking back as Prancer weighed in.

“I’m more worried about the Hoofstrongs. Velvet’s been practicing hard, and Stronghoof’s as powerful as ever.”

“She has, and he is.” Vixen nodded. “But ve at least know vat they are capable of.

“Where is Velvet, anyway?” Prancer turned to Vixen.

“How should I know?” She shrugged as his eyes narrowed. “Vell, she might be in front of a mirror fussing over her looks. But who knows?”

Elsewhere in the room, with the earmuffs and sweater finally off to fight, Arizona and Paprika approached Shanty.

“Howdy!” Arizona offered a hoof. “Heard ya were the Champeen of the Isles; figured we should stop by.”

“So yuh di cow everyone was talkin’ about.” Shanty smirked. “Thought you’d be bigger.”

“Hey, I’m bigger than you!”

“Size ain’t everything.” Shanty stood on her hind legs to stretch and make herself taller.

“Oo, I love your bandana!” Paprika stretched her neck too close.

“What she say?” Shanty looked to Arizona.

“She likes your bandana.”

“Ah! Smart gal, den.” Shanty grinned.

“So are ya also here waitin’ on them to translate the clue?” Arizona asked, and Shanty’s eyes flashed and narrowed.

“Aye, an fi get that tourney salt while I’m here. Hope yuh ready fi mi!”

“I ain’t afraid of goats!” Arizona locked eyes with Shanty.

“Ha! That’ll be your last mistake!”

In a different corner, Sofrito leaned against a wall with his eyes closed as a purplish-grey buck with faded red antlers paced.

“Are you nervous?” The pacing stopped at Sofrito’s words.

“Well, yeah. It’s the Elite 7 and four champions. If you’re competing, how are you not nervous?” Cupid replied.

“Because it wouldn’t help.” Sofrito closed his eyes again. “And I’m tired. Sit with me, breathe slowly, and try to relax.”

Cupid looked down on the young Alpaca before shrugging and laying down.

“...Thank you, this is better.”

“Good. Now rest.”

“Reindeer, Sprites, and all visitors to our fair city, witness the first Reine Tournament of Champions!” Stronghoof wore a dark blue robe for the event, and his booming voice was answered by a louder crowd.

“Fourteen warriors have taken the challenge: four Champions, our beloved Elite 7, two braving the contest without any title to their name, and your Jarl, Stronghoof Hoofstrong!”

He struck a pose as he said his name, getting another round of cheers and an eye roll from his daughter.

“To complete the bracket, two fighters must wait until tomorrow to fight. As our Champion of the Tundra, Velvet Hoofstrong has proven herself in Reine, and Arizona, Champion of the Prairie, bested her in their splendid last match, so they will wait in the wings.”

Arizona and Velvet shared a look of dismay before he continued.

“And to keep things interesting, no champions will fight each other on the first day. Beyond those rules, the bracket has been picked randomly. Now, behold!”

Vetr threw a sheet aside, revealing an ornate bracket board listing the competitors as cheers turned to oohs and murmurs debating its implications.

Dancer
(M1) Vs.
Prancer

Arizona

Comet
(M4) Vs.
Dasher

Velvet

Paprika
(M2) Vs.
Cupid

Sofrito
(M5) Vs.
Blitzen

Donner
(M3) Vs.
Stronghoof

Shanty
(M6) Vs.
Vixen

“So to begin our Contest of Champions, I call Dancer and Prancer of the Elite 7!”

The crowd cheered as Dancer’s breathing quickened.

“Good luck, sis!”

“Ah believe in ya!”

“Just don’t overthink it!”

She smiled a bit at Dasher, Arizona, and Paprika trying to encourage her before heading down the stairs and skating off to the field by Prancer.

Donner walked up between them. “Thanks for cheering her on. I’ll be cheering for Prancer, but it’s good to give her support.”

The rest of the contestants watched from their private booth near the action. Velvet had ordered some kind of drink, apparently.

“So how does he fight?” Arizona asked without looking away as Prancer formed a sword of ice and flourished it, egging on the crowd. “Oh, wow!”

“Ze smart salt is on Prancer.” Velvet took a sip from a mug of ice. “But she has improved. Maybe she has a chance if she can keep her distance.”

“She likes rushing in too much for my taste.” Vixen laid down next to her.

On the field, the contestants were allowed a few words before beginning.

Prancer stabbed his sword into the ground beside him, where it vanished, as Dancer dismissed her skates into mist with a wave of a hoof.

Prancer bowed. “Donner says you’ve improved.”

Dancer bowed. “Just hope it pays off.”

They then turned and took three regimented steps before facing each other as Stronghoof counted down.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

BOOM! Vetr beat a massive drum, and the fight began.

Prancer leapt forward with a swing, but Dancer managed to push away and skate backwards on her hind hooves, nailing him with a pair of thrown ice blades that shattered against him.

He recovered quickly to throw up his guard, but Dancer was already a safe distance away.

“I see you’ve been working on that style.”

Dancer slowly skated around him, watching for sudden movements and maintaining distance as she looked for an opening.

“Needed that for a rink routine. One skill helps the other.”

Seeing a chance, she threw an ice blade with a spinning curve to his feet: but it was cut into mist in a flash.

“It won’t be that easy.” He spun the sword again. “I’ve practiced to ward off Vixen and Velvet.”

In the stands, Arizona muttered, “Sure is a lotta talkin’ for a fight.”

“Zhey are sizing each other up.” Velvet rolled her eyes. “Not everyone just rushes into things.”

Arizona shot her a look, but just as quickly turned back to the match.

In the ring, Dancer narrowed her eyes and accelerated her skating, leaving a ring of ice as she circled around him.

Prancer was light on his hooves turning to face her, but suddenly pointed his sword into the air with a raised hoof. It doubled in size before slamming into the ground. A rumble filled the air as a trail of jagged ice erupted from the impact in a line directly in Dancer’s path.

She gasped as she jumped into a corkscrew, rotating her back to the ground. She barely sailed over the spikes and wobbled as she landed on her skates, but managed to stay upright.

Dancer swerved to the side from Prancer’s charge and spun, stopping his advance with another flying ice blade that he raised his sword to block.

Desperate to keep up the pressure, she pirouetted, flinging a hail of ice from her hooves as she spun.

He was forced to step away. His sword flashed through the air as he devoted his full attention into defense, cutting every blade apart until her horns dimmed.

With her magic briefly exhausted, he charged in. She managed to reform her forehoof ice blades and parry a strike from the heavier sword, but a feinting overhead following it broke through her defenses. Twisting it in the opposite direction, the sword caught her from below, carrying her over him and into a powerful buck that sent her lighter frame flying.

As Dancer hit the ground on her side, she summoned what magic she could manage to freeze it beneath her, and barely slid out of his sword’s reach as it slammed down.

She scrambled to her hooves as he recovered from the momentum of his finisher attack, hurting but still in the fight as her horns regained some color and she reformed her skates.

I can’t take another hit, how am I going to get past his defense?!

“You can do it!” Dasher yelled from the stands.

Prancer kept his eyes locked on her and his sword ready, but he seemed content to fight defensively rather than take a risk to end it.

Dancer forced herself to conserve energy as she maintained distance skating around him.

“Think outside the box!” Paprika called. “Remember the bridge!”

Dancer blinked at her words, and started to form a plan.

She began to speed around Prancer again, flinging an occasional ice blade to occupy him which he easily swatted out of the air.

“Out of ideas?” He pointed his sword at her. “Don’t let this end on time. Attack or admit defeat gracefully.”

He’d intercepted another throw without changing his cadence, and smiled as she made a sharp turn towards him.

“A brave way to go out!” He held his sword in front of him horizontally to counter whatever attack she’d choose, but it never came. Instead, she pushed off his sword with a parry from her front hooves and backwards skating from the others as he took a swing late.

Prancer assumed she’d backed out in fear of his counter, choosing to stick with her failed ranged attacks rather than take the risk, but he failed to notice the large edge between the ice she’d created and the ground.

She made one more rotation around him, corkscrewing over the spikes cleanly on her second attempt and throwing two blades that she knew would not land, before leaping at him for a spinning kick from the opposite side of her previous charge.

“Predictable.” Prancer took a step back and raised his sword for a wide swing to swat her out of the air, but stumbled as his hoof got caught on the ice ridge she’d created.

Her kick landed in the same moment he dropped the sword, turning his stumble into a fall with the side of his head hitting the ground.

Dancer was on top of him before he could recover from the dizziness, freezing him to the ground with her breath as a submission move.

After struggling to break free, he rested his limbs to smile.

“Well fought, I concede!”

Dancer blinked as she processed the words, with her horns dim, limbs aching, and floof ruffled.

“And our first winner is… Dancer!”

A cheering crowd answered Stronghoof’s announcements as a swarm of sprites came to help the contestants off the field, though Dancer’s sprite was too overcome with celebration and worry to be of any help—rambling on as they made their way back to the booth.

“There’ll be time for that later, Sparky.” Dancer winced. “Could you get an extra cushion? I need to lay down.”

After a quick check, both contestants were allowed to lay in the challenger’s booth with the others as the sprites fussed over them.

Prancer let them pile blankets on him as Donner laid beside him.

“Great defense! You almost had that.”

“I let myself get distracted,” Prancer replied. “But she earned it.”

“What an upset!” Comet forced her way to Dancer, getting an unseen glare from Velvet as she nearly stepped on her. “I thought skate-fighting was silly, but you do great things with ice!”

“Thanks.” She rubbed the side of her head as Dasher sat next to her. “You were incredible! Anything I can do to help?”

“Leave that to the sprites.” She laid her head down and closed her eyes. “You’ll look like me soon enough.”

Comet smirked as Dasher’s eyes darted to her.

“Want an apple?” Dancer’s face scrunched as Paprika forced one to her face.

“Where did you—” Dancer started. “...Nevermind, sure.”

With the crowd settled, Stronghoof called again.

“Now for our second match: I call Cupid, Brave Citizen of Reine, and Paprika, Champion of the High Plains!”

“Good luck!” Arizona gave her a hug which she ended quickly for once.

“Thanks, it’ll be fun!”

Murmurs mixed with cheers as they entered.

“Who is he again?”

“Who is she?”

“Brave is right if he’s taking on the Elite.”

Paprika spun her head around as she walked, gleeful at all of the attention and waving to the crowd, while Cupid fought to keep his head from lowering.

Paprika bobbed her head. “Hi, Cupid!”

Cupid bowed. “Uh, hello.”

They took their steps back, listened to the countdown, and the drum boomed. Cupid braced himself for an attack that did not come.

Instead, Paprika stretched her neck and walked up to him.

“Are you okay?”

He jumped back, but she maintained the distance.

“Uh, fine? We're supposed to be fighting now.”

“Oh, right!” Paprika crouched and coiled. “I can talk and fight!”

She sprung towards him with a frontflip, but he surprised her by backflipping away.

“Wow, you’re good at that!”

“Well, I am a performer.” Cupid sent a glowing snowball at her with a tilt of his head, hoping to catch her talking.

Paprika dodged it with her neck, but gasped and ran to the other end of the field.

“That’s a good idea!” She began to rapidly form snowballs of her own, causing him to pause in bewilderment.

“Really? You want to challenge a reindeer to a snowball fight, here?”

“Why not?” Paprika balanced one on her head. “It’ll be fun!”

With that, she chucked it at him as he hopped to the side and returned fire with snow that vanished into a thick white mist on impact, content to use the advantage she’d bizarrely given him.

Velvet was as confused as he was.

“Vat is she doing?!”

“Throw somethin’ harder!” Arizona called out.

Cupid formed his glowing snowballs with magic as he kept distance while Paprika molded them as she tumbled to evade. Both struggled to hit from across the stadium.

Realizing this, Cupid took extra time to line up a shot, flinching as a snowball slammed into his head after launching, but finally landing one on Paprika.

She shook off the snowball immediately, but the cold mist made her teeth chatter.

“Th-that’s a cool t-trick!”

“Sorry if it’s cheating, but we are in a tournament,” he answered as another formed near his horns and flew at her as he closed in for easier shots and she slowed down.

“All’s fair!” She giggled, dodging two more snowballs with a duck and a sidestep to the left only to be hit by a third as she tried to step right.

With that, Cupid charged in with his antlers, but Paprika locked her hooves on them and sent him stumbling back with a shove.

He lowered his head and took two steps forward into his next charge before barely stopping to step out of the way of a slowed body slam as she tried to catch his momentum.

As she scrambled up, he breathed a cone of frost, chilling her more and slowing her to a crawl.

“Ha!” Shanty folded her forelegs over the booth wall. “Some champ!”

Arizona shot Shanty a glare before shouting, “Focus, Pap!”

But before she could react, Cupid pulled her up into a grapple with white mist surrounding them as his horns glowed brighter than before.

“Sorry about this. We can have a snowball fight later.”

Paprika slowed down as ice covered her fur, but she was smiling: leaning in and returning the hug.

"Y-you win! That was fun!"

“And the winner is… Cupid!” Stronghoof announced from above as Paprika walked back alongside Cupid.

Sprites arrived to pull her into the booth on a sled.

"I-I'd love t-to see you perform! C-can we be friends?" Paprika still smiled up at him, to his confusion.

“Sure.” He blushed, volunteering to help pull the sled. Unseen by him, Winter Sprites swarmed around in a discussion in their stands.

Stronghoof was stretching for his match when Vetr tapped him on the antlers and whispered.

His eyes widened, and he cleared his throat to address the crowd.

“Attention! The sprites have asked me to make a special announcement! Cupid, approach!”

Talk in the crowd quieted as Cupid stood straight in shock before slowly approaching, not sure what to expect.

Reindeer gasped as Vetr and Cupid’s sprite flew down with a cape and set it on his shoulders.

“Citizens of Reine, it is my honor to present the newest member of the Elite Eight!”

Cheers erupted as the rest of the Elite ran out to meet him.

“Welcome to ze team!” Vixen was the first to offer a hoofshake.

“You've made quite an impression, besting a champion!” Blitzen went next. “Even I have struggled against her.”

“Lost,” Comet coughed, getting a scowl from Blitzen that was quickly cut off.

“Impressive work using pure chill!” Dancer offered a hoof. “Guess we’re still the youngest of the bunch.”

“Thank you, I- I don’t know what to say!” Cupid’s eyes watered, getting chuckles throughout the group.

“Trust me, we know the feeling.” Prancer walked up alongside Dancer to shake his hoof as he looked between them.

“You were both incredible! I don’t know if I can keep up, but I’ll do my best!”

Donner answered him. “We’ll be there to help you learn. Reine and Fœnum need more warriors like you.”

Dasher shook his hoof last. “Come sit with us. Let’s get to know each other!”

With that, they filed off of the field, with Cupid surrounded by his smiling teammates.

But Vixen broke off from the chatter to lay by Velvet as she noticed her scowl.

“Still not me. I could have done better than zat!” Velvet ranted in a whisper.

“You’re ze greatest fighter in Reine.” Vixen nuzzled her ear. “Everyone knows zat. Zhey need you for something more.”

She tilted her muzzle to Arizona calling for more blankets for Paprika as the sprites started a fire.

“Some day, zhey might be your team.”

Velvet watched them with a scowl before taking a breath and resting her head on Vixen’s shoulders.

“Vell, at least one of zhem has floof.”

“Ha!”

Stronghoof gave the crowd time to gossip and settle down before the next announcement.

“What an eventful tournament! Now it is time for our third match. I call Donner of the Elite Eight to face me, your Jarl, Stronghoof Hoofstrong!”

Donner pulled away to stride into the arena as Stronghoof threw off his cape and jumped down with a heavy landing, with Vetr holding onto an antler.

Donner bowed. “My thanks for hosting this.”

Stronghoof bowed. “Repay me with a worthy battle.”

A replacement announcer took his spot and motioned to three sprites taking Vetr’s place at the drum.

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

BOOM

Donner charged the larger deer, antlers pointed directly at him. Stronghoof formed and swung a hammer of ice to stop him, but Donner raised his forehoof, summoning a spiky gauntlet to shatter it.

Before Stronghoof could lower his head to stop the approach, Donner’s antlers were under his floof, pushing him up.

Thick plates of ice armor formed around Donner, enhancing his strength as he threw Stronghoof over his back.

He turned to follow up, but noticed Vetr charging behind him too late. He only had time to brace himself as his horns glowed and a punch cracked his armor.

Donner looked up to see Stronghoof throwing a spear. Without time to dodge, he punched it, shattering the weapon and his gauntlet.

“Excellent! You’ve grown stronger!”

“Never count the Elite Se- Eight out!” Donner locked eyes with him as he reformed his gauntlet and his armor’s cracks faded as he spoke.

“Nor your Jarl!” With that, Stronghoof stepped forward and called a sword to sweep up in an arc, but Donner sidestepped and charged again. This time, Stronghoof anticipated his charge, lowering his head in time to lock antlers as each tried to shove the other back.

At first, Stronghoof’s natural strength prevailed, but as Donner’s horns glowed and his armor strengthened further, the balance shifted in his favor.

But ice extended Stronghoof’s horns forward as a ramp of ice rose and tilted under Donner’s hooves, causing him to lose his balance as Stronghoof flung him through the air.

“Your stance is weak!”

Vetr slammed him back to the ground with a double hammer fist and a battle-cry as his armor cracked.

As Donner tried to stand, Stronghoof had a smaller axe already swinging down on him. Still, Donner managed to reform the gauntlet on his foreleg just in time to shatter the axe before punching Stronghoof in the chin with his bare hoof, comboing with a single blow from his gauntlet, connecting straight into Stronghoof’s muzzle.

Stronghoof stayed on his feet as he skidded back, but quickly charged back in.

Donner began to repair his armor and lowered his horns, but he failed to see a heavy shield sweeping up to catch him before it was too late.
He was sent tumbling back into the wall.

Stronghoof summoned a great axe into the air with a flourish; Donner scrambled up and summoned a second gauntlet to block the incoming smash…

Only for Stronghoof to stop short, embed the axe into the ground before him, and charged in with an ice hoof punch.

Donner stopped it with his own punch as ice shattered between them. “Too easy.”

“Too easy for what?” Stronghoof summoned axes to sweep underneath him, hoping to catch him off-guard.

But Donner was faster with a heavy gauntlet punch, eliciting a grunt of pain from the Jarl. He followed up twice, thrice, before Stronghoof dodged with a step back and the axes reformed and threw him behind the Jarl as Donner’s strike missed, in front of where the great axe was still embedded in the ground, forgotten by Donner.

Donner turned back to Stronghoof, who was clearly winded from the assault.
Donner started repairs on his gauntlets and armor and as he spoke. “Has this battle been a worthy one, Jarl?”

Stronghoof took his hoof from where Donner had struck and smiled. “Never better. Vetr!”

Before Donner could fully notice, the sprite smashed the discarded axe into Donner’s armor, leaving deep cracks within it. Stronghoof followed up with slashes from a sword and an axe, shattering Donner’s armor.

Donner blocked the next strikes with only his gauntlets, shattering the weapons before pushing Stronghoof back with a blocked gauntlet punch as his horns glowed and his armor started to reform.

Stronghoof pushed back with his hooves in response, staggering him as Vetr grabbed his antlers from the back. Donner was forced on his hindlegs and exposed for a crucial moment as the winded warrior shouted one final command.

“Hail! Storm!”

A cross chop from two axes struck Donner’s exposed belly and he slumped to the ground.

He tried to stand, but fell back down to the ground and tapped the ground to signal a forfeit. Stronghoof flourished a spear and stabbed it into the ground to play to the crowd.

“What a tremendous display of power! Such a shame it wasn’t enough.”

Vetr helped Donner to his feet, and Stronghoof offered to let him lean against him on the way back to the stands.

“You fought well! We must train together more often.”

“As soon as the bruises heal.” Donner smiled tiredly and took his place beside Prancer with his sprite looking over him. “Don’t suppose you’ll train to beat Vetr?”

His sprite glanced from Vetr to him like he’d lost his mind, shook his head at the absurdity, and went back to checking his back.

“Vell done.” Velvet waved up to her father. “Hope your floof isn’t too ruffled to do ze announcements.”

He smiled as he glanced back.

“I will remember that in the final match, snoovish.”

The crowd had a brief intermission as Stronghoof made his way back up the stairs.

“Apologies for the wait, but it is time for our fourth match! I call Comet and Dasher of the Elite Eight!”

Dasher took a breath and followed the more composed Comet to the field.

Comet bowed. “Try to impress your girlfriend.”

Dasher flinched mid-bow. “Hey!”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

BOOM

Dasher was slow to act as the starting drum sounded, preoccupied by thinking of some retort.

Exactly as Comet had intended.

A blinding veil of snow blew around her, vanishing as quickly as it formed, but Comet was nowhere to be seen.

Panic seized Dasher as he looked for her, and by the time he looked up, Comet was already winding up a kick from her back leg.

His wind magic barely pushed him out of the way in time, but she used her own wind magic for a flying double kick as soon as she landed.

“Agh!”

Dasher brought up his hooves in time to block, but cried out at the force of the impact as he skidded back.

“Keep your head in the game; that was almost too easy.”

Comet’s taunt worked again as he rushed her with wind speeding his charge, and she leapt into the air, lining up an icicle that shattered on his back as his momentum carried him across the stage.

He faceplanted from the impact as Comet slowed her fall and alighted on the other side.

Arizona yelled from the stands. “Take it slower! Don’t let her get in yer head!”

Comet strutted towards him slowly, ready to dodge and counter in an instant. “That’s sweet, she’s cheering for you. Maybe I’ll let you get one hit in to save face.”

But instead of charging, Dasher took a breath and stared her down as they both paced, minding their positioning.

Comet’s smirk narrowed as she dropped the facade.

“Looks like you finally le—”

She cut herself off with another snow blind, hoping to startle Dasher as she flew forward.

But he held his ground and summoned a howling wind against her as his horns glowed.

Comet’s ground level spinning kick barely fell short with it pushing her back, and before she could spin around to recover, Dasher sent her tumbling with a kick to the rear.

“Learned!”

Dasher ran to follow up, but Comet managed to jump into the air before he could close, flying on a cold, howling wind as he stepped back.

“Planned on saving this, but I’ll practice on you!”

She pointed a hoof, and a massive hailstone plummeted to the ground, shattering as Dasher jumped away.

At first, Dasher looked for an opening to jump into the sky as he dodged, but he remembered Arizona’s advice and opted to evade using as little magic as possible.

She might have deeper reserves, but there’s no way she can keep that up forever.

Comet took the opposite approach: throwing more and larger hailstones as she zoomed over her opponent to overwhelm him.

“What, too scared to attack? You can’t run forever!”

After several close calls of ice bursting beside him and one that he had to deflect with his antlers, Dasher noticed her start to slow down.

Comet swooped lower than she had before as her hoof readied another hailstone.

“Dodge this!”

But a powerful downburst pushed her to the ground and threw off her aim as she stabbed her hoof towards him.

Dasher swung his horns wide and high, stretching his neck like Arizona had taught him in training. They caught Comet’s back legs as she tried to fly over and sent her flailing to the ground.

She started to push herself up, but a stomp from both of his hooves knocked the wind out of her chest.

He locked eyes and readied a second stomp.

“I concede. I concede!” she repeated as her breathing normalized.

Dasher stood down and offered a hoof to help her up, which she accepted with a whisper.

“Where did that come from?”

“A cow that heard you talking about her.” He grinned as her jaw dropped.

“And the winner is Dasher!” Stronghoof shouted over them. “But what a display from Comet! I have not seen techniques like that since a Longma graced Reine!”

Arizona was the first to greet Dasher as he returned.

“That headbuck was perfect! Yer stompin’ form could use a little work, but ah’m proud of ye!”

“Couldn’t have done it without you.” Dasher accepted a hoof bump from her before laying down beside his sister.

“Congratulations!” Dancer smirked. “Now you get to fight Velvet.”

Dasher shot a nervous glance at Velvet and shuddered as she winked.

“But really, great patience out there. You were amazing!” Dancer patted him on the back.

“Couldn’t you have led with that?” He grumbled.

“Hey, I’ll have to fight Arizona.”

If Sofrito was nervous, he didn’t show it as he walked out with the larger deer.

Blitzen bowed. “You’ve traveled far for this; I commend your bravery.”

Sofrito bowed. “I travel for something more important.”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

BOOM

Blitzen rushed forward as Sofrito stepped back, but before ice could form over Blitzen’s horns, Sofrito grabbed them, flipped up, and vaulted over Blitzen as the confused reindeer raised his neck to shake him off.

A spinning kick struck Blitzen in the face as he turned, but Sofrito’s stance faltered as he lost balance.

By the time Sofrito had regained his footing, Blitzen had already recovered.

“Surprising agility, but I should have expected it from seeing your champion.”

Sofrito stayed quiet as Blitzen rushed in again and spun on a foreleg to kick again, but it was a feint; Blitzen backed off and halted outside its range before rushing in with a gust of wind.

Sofrito slammed into the wall, thrown by Blitzen’s horns. The deer breathed a cone of frost as Sofrito raised a hoof to block, but Blitzen was reduced to an uncontrollable coughing fit as a bag of spices burst open on him, thrown from the other hoof.

Seizing the opening, Sofrito latched onto one of his forelegs, attempting a submission hold, but the chill from the frost slowed him down, and Blitzen shoved him away before he could complete it.

Cornered again, Sofrito tried and failed to dodge an ice-covered punch that struck the side of his face and knocked him flat on the ground.

Blitzen raised a hoof for a follow-up, but stopped as Sofrito held his hooves out.

“I yield. I can see when I am beaten.”

Blitzen offered a hoof to help him up instead, smiling at the crowd’s cheers.

“You are skilled for a beginner. Maybe someday yo— ACHOO!” A sneeze from lingering spices interrupted his words. “What did you put in that, anyway?!”

“Nothing that water won’t rinse out.” Sofrito’s eyes returned to their half-lid state.

“And the winner is Blitzen!” Stronghoof announced. “But that was a fine effort from our visitor! Let’s hear a cheer for them!”

A genuine smile spread over Sofrito’s face as Paprika greeted him.

“See, I told you!”

“And now it is time for the final match of the day! I call Shanty, Champion of the Isles, and Vixen of the Elite Eight!”

In the stands, Velvet got up again to wave Vixen off.

“Try not to slip on your own ice!”

“Just watch and learn.” Vixen glanced back as she walked.

Stronghoof and Vetr both eyed Shanty as she showed off walking on her hindlegs.

“If she is not what she claims to be, she’s in for a rude awakening.” Stronghoof whispered to Vetr.

“We shall see.” Vetr nodded.

Shanty made an exaggerated bow, dropping to all fours. “Di show good so far, but I’m here for di salt!”

Vixen bowed. “The show must go on.”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

BOOM

Vixen dashed back and launched a flurry of four spinning snowflakes one after the other.

Shanty surprised her by doing nothing at the drum, but soon after sprung into action, dodging them in something that looked like a dance: stepping to the side on two legs, spinning and crouching low, tumbling back, then jumping to land with a one-foreleg hoofstand.

“Dat magic nah do yuh no good. Yuh deer forget how fi fight proper.”

Stronghoof leaned in as Vixen shrugged, feigning a lack of concern but ready to spring away immediately.

“Fancy moves, but ve shall see.” Vixen’s horns started to glow, unnoticed by her opponent.

Shanty hopped off her hoofstand in a fluid motion, but instead of landing, she swept the ground with a wide kick, plowing up a cloud of snow and dirt at Vixen.

Vixen instinctively jumped back with closed eyes, boosting herself with wind.

Shanty had started to run after her, but saw her jump to the side instead of making more distance and heard a howling wind from behind: Shanty barely tumbled to the side as the “missed” projectiles slammed into the wall.

Clever girl!

By the time Shanty looked up, Vixen was already on the other end of the stadium.

"You're a good dancer!" Vixen called in a raised voice. "Let's see how long zhat holds up."

She sent a flurry of spinning snowflakes spinning towards Shanty, one by one in a dance as the wind picked up.

Uh oh.

Shanty sidestepped the first, but was forced to run away from the others as they turned to chase her.

Vixen threw another to cut her off, but Shanty jumped it to run on the wall, with the projectiles bursting behind her as she finally closed with Vixen: rocketing off the wall into a run.

"Try zis on for size!" Velvet spun and summoned a massive snowflake, wider than she was, and sent spinning towards her.

"Aah!"

Shanty barely slid under it and got an idea, dodging smaller snowflakes that flew unguided as Vixen focused

With a glance back to check its angle, Shanty dashed between the giant snowflake and Vixen and jumped on it, putting her weight into her forehooves to tilt it forward.

Vixen's eyes widened as she launched herself into a headbuck in a blur.

Caught off guard with depleted magic, Vixen had no chance to dodge as the impact sent her tumbline back to the wall.

“Agh!”

When she finally stopped tumbling, she tried to throw two snowflakes from the ground, but Shanty cartwheeled over the first and slid under the second.

In a last effort to escape, Vixen tried to jump back, but Shanty tumbled past her and launched her into the air with a powerful backflip kick.

“Behind ya!”

Before Vixen could start to fall, Shanty jumped to the wall behind her, knocking her higher with a headbuck on the way up.

“Cannon!”

She shoved off the wall to headbuck Vixen into the ground.

“Ball!”

The crowd gasped as Stronghoof called the match, with only Vixen’s back half sticking out of the ground.

“And the winner is Shanty! Truly a mighty champion!”

Quietly to Vetr, he added, “Those techniques… Did she learn them from her?”

“She’s young for a fighter.” Vetr stared down at her. “Does she have a daughter?”

With that, Vetr flew off to help Vixen’s sprite pull her deer out of the ground as Shanty did another flip into a hoofstand for the crowd.

“That’s one more for Shanty!”

Velvet didn’t hide her concern as Vixen stumbled back in.

“Are you okay? If you need somezhing, anything, just ask!”

“A nap.” Vixen lowered herself down. “And more training, apparently.”

Arizona was quick to greet Shanty as she returned.

“That was mighty impressive; got out without a scratch!”

“I learned from di best! Nehva underestimate goats.”

With the brackets done, Stronghoof pushed his speculation aside for the last announcement.

“And with that, today’s matches are complete! I welcome all contestants to meet in my lodge for a celebratory dinner in two hours after you’ve cleaned yourselves up. Listen for the bell a half hour before. You have all made me proud!”

With that, the crowd and contestants began to disperse, though the Elite Eight were swarmed by reindeer hoping to meet their newest member.

The others surrounded Cupid to keep them away, leading him to their HQ.

He let Vixen lean on her as she limped slightly.

“Don’t worry about zhem,” she reassured him. “Zhere vill be better times for autograph signing.”

“So, what happens now?” Cupid glanced around, clearly still overwhelmed.

“Now you have a talk with the sprites about your room.” Blitzen looked behind him from his place by Donner. “And when it’s ready tomorrow, we’ll have a proper celebration.”

“Never thought I’d get to live with all of you.” Cupid spaced out and blinked. “Kind of forgot that was part of it.”

“We’re like a family.” Dasher smiled up at him.

“A big, strange family,” Comet added.

Stronghoof had left for a back room to gather his thoughts, and shortly after, Velvet arrived with Vetr.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, about this ‘Champion of the Isles’. I need you to keep an eye on her.”

“Why?”

“Because she is a pirate. Vetr spotted her in the act.”

“Vat?!”

“And we think she may be working with Bravura, Reine’s most wanted criminal.”

“Couldn't you just…” Velvet raised a hoof. “Arrest her?”

“We haven't had a lead on Bravura for months. She may be able to lead us to her.”

Velvet narrowed her eyes.

“And how do you plan to do that?”

Stronghoof tapped the table, and Vetr set an ornate jade sphere set in gold on it.

“If she steals something valuable enough, she may return with the bounty. We let her escape, but tail her. We have eyes on the islands. And she’s still young, so I would like to give her a chance to reform.”

Velvet looked up from examining the orb to stare at him in disbelief.

“I suppose you've done it before, and I can't complain, but that seems like a long shot. And what is this?”

“A Longma Ball. Legends say that they are important in some ritual. We will announce it at the museum when the time comes. But she might also be after the Key, so she might follow you hoping for some lead on it, though I doubt she'll make a move until she knows she can get it.”

“You are making my job harder.” Velvet rubbed her head. “What about the other champions?”

Stronghoof paused to organize his thoughts.

“Brave and noble as they are, they may not have the… discretion for this.”

“Fair enough.” She sighed.

After a formal invitation to the lodge from Vetr, Arizona, Paprika, and Sofrito led Shanty to it.

Arizona explained everything they knew about the Monolith clue.

“Warms mah heart to see another champeen lookin’ to help, especially after that performance. They say we'll have to fight over who gets tha Key, but we're all on the same side, right?”

Sure we are, Bravura jus haffi get paid for it when I give her di Key.

“Of course!” Shanty answered. “Just haffi find dat key first. Mek sure to tell me if yuh hear anything else.”

“You got it.” Arizona nodded. “No use keepin’ secrets.”

Dis too easy! Why'd dem send a gullible little calf as champion?

“Have you heard any clues on it?” Sofrito stepped up to ask. “I have heard that the goatani are famous for sailing and exploration.”

“Dat we are!” Shanty answered.

Among other things.

“But no word on di key. Rest assured that di best of di best are looking fi it, though.”

The tournament meal was somehow fancier than what Arizona and Paprika had seen before, and everyone was in a good mood as they ate, though Velvet kept a subtle watch on Shanty.

Inviting a pirate into our house? You have some strange ideas, dad.

The goat looked like she was loving the attention as everyone discussed the tournament, and she ate more food than Velvet thought possible with her lean body.

“So tell me”—Stronghoof looked down on Shanty—“how did the goatani select their champion? Doubtlessly from trial by combat, by your technique.”

“Somethin’ like dat.” Shanty swallowed and answered without hesitation. “We’re not that official, but mi dare any goat fi challenge mi!”

“Well, you’ve certainly proved yourself here.” He smiled. “You are welcome to stay as a champion for as long as you require.”

“Tank yuh, but I'll only be here until we get word of di key.” She shot Velvet a glance as they briefly locked eyes. “No sense wasting time.”

“I admire the urgency.” Stronghoof nodded.

As the meal concluded, Sofrito took advantage of a quiet moment to address Stronghoof directly.

“Jarl Hoofstrong, could I discuss something with you privately after the meal?”

Stronghoof raised an eyebrow, noting Paprika’s and Arizona’s poorly hidden interest.

“Certainly. Vetr will show you to my office.”

“So, what did you want to see me about?”

Vetr closed the door behind them as Stronghoof motioned for Sofrito to take a seat on the cushions.

The alpaca did his best to compose himself.

“I came to Reine as an ambassador for my tribe, and perhaps for all Alpake. So I wish to speak with you as Jarl.”

“Go on.” Stronghoof nodded.

“Our ancestral home, the High Plains, has always been unforgiving, but the predators have made it more dangerous than ever. Clouds choke the sky so often that they can move in the day, and there are caves and tunnels everywhere for them to hide. We are hardy, but we are not warriors, and we only want to live in peace.”

He paused for a moment to try to read Stronghoof’s expression, though it only seemed thoughtful.

“So I am seeking some place where our people may be allowed to migrate until this danger has passed. I was hoping that the tundra could be that place.”

“Hmm…” Stronghoof broke eye contact to stand and survey a map on the wall.

“Your request is reasonable, and I have sympathy for your tribe’s plight. But the wilds of the tundra are too barren to support such a tribe, though I do not doubt that you could weather the cold. And the cities are already too crowded with reindeer seeking the security of the walls, and I think that life would fit your tribe poorly. ”

Sofrito hid his worry as he tried to think of an argument, but Stronghoof continued.

“However! The influence of Reine extends beyond the tundra.” He motioned Sofrito to stand with him by the map. “There are many empty islands known to us, some of which may provide an ideal place to shelter. Nowhere is truly safe from the predators, but you would at least only have the predators of that island to combat.”

Sofrito’s eyes widened at that.

“That might work! Do you have a particular one in mind? How could transport be arranged?”

“We are getting ahead of ourselves.” Stronghoof turned back to him. “Give me time to discuss the matter, and I will call for you again when I have more information. In the meantime, you are welcome to stay at Hoofstrong Lodge as an ambassador. I did not see your people amongst the Council of Elders, so it is fitting that I host you now.”

Sofrito bowed in respect. “You are generous, and I thank you.”

“I am honor bound to protect as a warrior. My duties to Reine as Jarl come first, but I will do what I can for your tribe.”

Author's Note

Look up cow earmuffs: they are used to protect calves in the winter and they are adorable.

Sofrito is a fanon name for Adobo's son that comes from Mostly Harmless, seen only briefly in Paprika's Book of Lore chapter.

Dogman15 commissioned art of him from TheScornfulReptillian also known as Redahfuhrerking, and it led to a talk on his personality as an ambassador of sorts with Scorn outlining some base personality ideas.

So he's basically an OC, but not technically an OC.

Writing a tourney arc and choosing to bring Shanty and Sofrito into it complicated things, but I hope to set up plot threads for the future of the story.