Fighting is Magical

Within the Canterlot Royal Hall of Fame, the ruler of Equestria silently observed the stained glass portrayals of events long passed as well as contemporary. Her quiet contemplations were interrupted by hoofsteps, preceding the arrival of a lavender unicorn mare and a baby dragon by her side.

"Princess Celestia!" the pony greeted in excitement, while her draconic companion waved enthusiastically.

Smiling kindly, the regal alicorn turned to her approaching guests. "Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student. It warms this heart of mine to see you."

The small dragon pouted. "Hey, what about me?"

Celestia gave a small laugh, and encased the baby dragon is her golden magical energy as she levitated him to her. "I am always more than happy to see you as well, Spike," she said and nuzzled his cheek.

Spike blushed and whined with an unconvincing smile, "Aw, cmon~, quit it! I'm not a big baby anymore, and Twilight's watchiiiiing."

Twilight giggled before addressing her mentor once again. "You wanted to see us, Princess?"

Celestia nodded and gently placed Spike by her own side. "Indeed I do. Tell me, Twilight, Spike, have either of you heard of the King of the Iron Hoof tournament?"

"King of the Iron Hoof?" Twilight repeated curiously. "That's sounds like some kind of a cooking show. I'm sorry, Princess, but I don't think I've ever heard of such a thing."

Spike, on the other hand, was inordinately excited. "Twilight, how can you have never heard of the King of the Iron Hoof tournament!? It's only the biggest, most awesome martial arts tournament in all of everything! Wait, does this mean..." he trailed off, now looking to the princess with shimmering anticipation in his eyes.

"Yes, Spike," Celestia confirmed with a smile. "The upcoming tournament will be held in Equestria. Fighters from all over the lands will be attending, and not just restricted to ponies either. Many griffons and minotaurs are already on their way here, not to mention the zebras and even the wildebeests."

"Wow," Spike uttered in awe.

Celestia laughed slightly at the baby dragon's enthusiasm before she turned to Twilight. "The King of the Iron Hoof Tournament is held at least once every century, but has never adhered to a particular timing. Its origins are shrouded in mystery and lie in a time even before mine." She turned to a particular stained glass window, one that depicted an earth pony shattering the earth with a powerful hoofchop. "The most notable champion of the tournament was a stallion by the name of Ponryu, who hailed from the far east beyond even the borders of the Outlands. He demonstrated an unrivaled fighting spirit and tenacity, and was rightfully crowned the King of the Iron Hoof."

The princess allowed Twilight, who was listening with rapt attention, a moment to absorb. "Still, it is actually not surprising that you've never heard of the tournament, as it has not been held in Equestria for the last three hundred years, and its rather peculiar nature would have disinterested you quickly even if you had stumbled upon the information."

Twilight nodded, but then turned a curious look at her dragon friend. "Then where'd you hear about the tournament, Spike?"

"Rainbow Dash told me about it," Spike answered, "when she helped train me in kung-hoof! She said it was the most radical thing, right behind the Equestria Games! Oh gosh, she's gonna be so excited when she finds out it's going to take place right here in Equestria!"

Twilight shook her head with a smile. "Rainbow would be the one to know about it." She tilted her head in thought. "But, you said the tournament was always held on foreign grounds, why is it being transferred to Equestria now? What changed?"

"Many reasons can be attributed to this new development," Celestia answered, "but suffice to say, it's because I made a request to the Founders of the tournament."

Spike's eyes went wide. "You talked to the Founders? That's so cool! Who are they? Are they even ponies? Maybe they're dragons! What do they look like? Are they tough looking? I bet they're all sorts of powerful!"

Celestia shook her head gently. "I'm afraid I can't tell you anything regarding the identity of the founders, even if I could. I am honor bound to keep their secrets in exchange for the boon they have granted."

"Aw," Spike sighed in slight disappointment, but quickly perked back up. "Still, I can't believe they're going to be holding the King of the Iron Hoof tournament here in Equestria! This is going to be so cool!"

"Indeed," Celestia said with a smile. "And that brings us to the reason I summoned you two." The alicorn princess's visage steeled as she regarded the duo. "Twilight Sparkle, it is time for you to advance towards the next phase of your studies, and enter the King of the Iron Hoof Tournament."

After Spike helped pick her jaw off the ground, Twilight summarized her thoughts: "WHAT!?"

"This is a rare opportunity," Celestia continued, unaffected by her student's outburst, "for you to hone your skills, magical or otherwise, as well as a chance to foster Friendship in ways you've likely never imagined."

"Wait, wait, Princess!" Twilight cried. "I don't know the first thing about fighting or martial arts! Okay, maybe that's not entirely true since I trained with Zecora but we mostly trained in meditation and concentration exercises and...I mean, I haven't read up on the subject, and how does physical combat foster Friendship and...!"

"Breathe," Celestia reminded gently.

Twilight nodded and after a short pause managed to regain regulation over her respiration through the breathing exercises taught by Cadence. "It's just, I don't think I'm prepared for something so grand as this tournament. I'm not some kind of mare of action."

"Is that so?" Celestia said with that particular brand of cryptic smile. "But I have it on good authority that you once showed rather earnest enthusiasm in challenging the escaped Cerberus to a tussle."

Twilight blinked. "Oh, you mean that time when I, um..." She laughed nervously before deliberately coughing.

"Not only that," Celestia continued, still smiling kindly, "but did you forget about the day of the Changeling Invasion? I've received several accounts from civilians witnesses and guards that you and your friends displayed rather impressive proficiency in the combative arts. Defeating an entire platoon of changelings is no easy feat."

Twilight's eyes glistened at the recollection, a small fire sparking to life in an unlit part of her mind. But still, she was hesitant. "But that was because I was with the girls... If I didn't have them at my side, and without my magic, there's no possible way I can handle this!"

Celestia's smile never faltered. "Then I suppose it's a good thing that Spike will be accompanying you."

"What!?" Twilight screamed in place of Spike, who was busy reeling his tongue back.

"The rules and mechanics of the tournament have never been rigid," Celestia explained patiently. "Each of its incarnation so far have been rather unpredictable. Why, I believe two hundred years ago the fights resembled some sort of game of toss with a deceptively heavy volleyball. As for this one, it was decided that the contestants would fight in pairs."

Twilight perked up in achieving self-perceived epiphany. "So that we can absorb the essence of the meaning of a comrade in hooves? So that we may truly understand the heroic natures of our friends as we fight side by side, against incredibly odds, so that regardless of victory or loss, we can walk away with the pride of a battle well fought?"

Celestia stared at an arbitrary point. "Actually, I think it's to reduce time consumption by cutting down on the number of registrations."

"Oh."

"Aside from that, the tournament  is, how do you say, no holds barred. There are no restraints made on how the fighters compete, as long as lives do not perish. As such, you are free to meet your challenges with magic however you wish."

Twilight seemed to gain more confidence, but it could be seen that the flare had yet to fully rise.

Celestia smiled again. "Twilight, I've been watching you since the first day you came under my tutelage. You have an unparalleled talent and passion for magic and an almost unquenchable thirst for knowledge. But that is not all that you are. I saw that underneath all of that drive, buried even beneath the fountain of information you've compelled yourself to collect, was a spirit yearning for something beyond ink and paper; the spirit of a true fighter."

Twilight's stared in exaltation.

"What about me?" Spike suddenly asked meekly, twiddling the tips of his claws. "I mean, I'm totally psyched and everything, but...m-maybe I shouldn't go after all. I'm not that good at kunghoof yet, and I don't want to slow Twilight down..."

Celestia spoke before Twilight could refute the young dragon's doubts. "Spike, just as I did with Twilight, I have watched over you since the day you were hatched. The two of you have been nigh inseparable since day one. You are closer than family, and I guarantee that nopony understands Twilight better than you do. There is absolutely nopony else more qualified to accompany her on this journey."

Spike's stared, awestruck for a moment, before moving his sight to a clawed fist.

Celestia smiled gently. "Spike, there are few souls in this world kinder and gentler than yours, but be that as it may, I know that within you flares a similar fire to that of Twilight's. You yearn for the chance to test your own mettle, for even though you possess the soul of a pony, you have the strength of a dragon. I trust nopony more than you to help Twilight in the coming times. You are more than Twilight's number one assistant. You are her partner."

Spike stared with a shimmering gaze, and smiled widely when Twilight leaned down to nuzzle him.

Celestia beamed at the display. "Have you come to a decision?"

Twilight stood straight and proud. "I won't let you down, Princess."

The alicorn princess nodded. "Then go forth, Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon. The King of the Iron Hoof Tournament awaits you."

After an enthusiast exchange of nods between them, Twilight and Spike raced down the hall and out of the castle, to prepare for the fight ahead of them.

Celestia smiled, now alone within the royal hall. "They will be all right. And with any luck, they too will learn more than they ever thought possible."

She turned her gaze once more to the chromatic glass depiction of the pony warrior shattering the earth. "What did you always say, old friend? The Answer lies in the heart of battle."

Celestia blinked, because she realized that her right foreleg was quivering. She held her right hoof up to inspect, a look of intense contemplation crossing her features. A moment later, she smirked in an exasperated manner. "Oh, Celestia, you old fool. You always were easily riled."

She gave the stained glass image one more look before leaving. It was time to find Luna.

Twilight popped open the door to the library. She breathed in the fresh morning air deeply with a smile. Celestia's sun shone brightly, as if dispensing its blessings upon the day.

The lavender mare huffed fervidly and turned around. "Duffle bags?"

Spike slung said item over his shoulder and saluted. "Check."

"Enchanted canteens?"

"Check."

"The Arsenal?"

From behind him, Spike produced three different colored spell books and counted them off. "Rush Down, check. Zoning, check. Turtling, also check."

"Great," Twilight said and with a spark of her horn, a peculiar looking opaque globe appeared before her. She shook it. "And according to this device they gave us, the first stage is at..." The globe glowed and soon a scenery appeared within its content. "New Derpy, huh?"

With a thought, Twilight willed the globe away. She turned to her partner with a confident smile. "Ready?"

Spike returned the expression. "Do gemstones taste better than garnets?"

"Uh, I wouldn't know."

"Oh, um, they do. Gems are sweeter. So, yeah, I'm ready."

Twilight laughed. "All right! Let's go~!" She whinnied and galloped outside.

Mirroring her war cry with his own small roar, the young dragon followed suit.

Together, Twilight and Spike charged towards their first destination and first challenge, eager to meet the competition and revel in the thrill of the fight, as everything panned into an epic freeze frame.

Let the King of the Iron Hoof Tournament begin.

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