Jousting Tournament [closed]

[dragonofruin]

It was with deep breaths, and idly digging a hoof into the earth beneath him to distract him from the pounding fire in his chest, that Sombra gradually calmed to the point that he no longer felt so.. murderous. That he could think clearly and know, for certain, he wasn't going to do anything rash with so many eyes around. It hadn't escaped his notice that the other ponies had seen his blunder, though the mistake of another pony running into their own target seemed to distract from that, and for that he was glad.. to an extent.

 

The glow of his green sclera had faded to the usual pale white-green, and he turned his unusual eyes upon Chesster when the stallion finally dared to approach him, after sending his lackey off to pick up the pieces. The latter pony earned a brief scowl towards his retreating backside before Sombra focused on Chesster again, his short black tail flicking slowly back and forth like a cat, looking as if he was waiting for the right moment to pounce. Though when the crystal pony was in reach, Sombra did nothing, he merely eyed the other stallion's blank, helmeted head. He was grateful that Chesster didn't dare sit too close.

 

"Another question? It almost sounds as if you want to soothe my damaged ego out of pity, or perhaps pacify me." Sombra cocked his head, fixing Chesster with a look. "I don't appreciate being laughed at or mocked," he added, some of his annoyance over it showing through in his tone. "I don't have to take long to consider the next question I wish to ask you. And it is this: why is your armor different? It is clearly of crystal pony design, yet the color is wrong and you wear a full helmet." The umbrum wanted to add why is that? but that was already another question in itself. He'd just have to wait and see if Chesster's answer had anything in it that would tell him.

 

Brushing off his hoof in the grass, he lifted it to his armor again and idly felt around on the chest again, now that he could focus again. There felt like a small dent after his crash into the weighted quintain, but he wasn't sure if it was worth changing that part of his armor out for. Possibly, yes. It was just a small detail that he let himself get distracted with while he tried to put what'd just happened behind him.

[starsteemer]

Chesster merely shook his head at Sombra's accusations of him attempting to soothe his ego. Chesster firmly believed there wasn't a creature alive who could anyways, even if they wanted to. As for pacification, well... that was certainly a dramatic term. And of course, nopony appreciated being laughed at. Keeping his voice measured, Chesster replied to that first. 
"Soothe your ego? I don't possess the capacity to care about your ego, and correct me if i'm wrong, but i assume the feeling is mutual. And if our roles were reversed, it would be you who were laughing at me were i to make such a spectacle. Feel angry about it if you wish but do not take it personally." Chesster hoped he had chosen his words correctly, but he would not lie to the dark stallion. Dealing with Sombra felt like walking barehoof in a room full of glass. It was familiar, at least. 

"I offer the second question because you need a break. Attacking the quintain when you're worked up will lead to another surefire failure." Chesster was grateful for his blank helm, as he closed his eyes and exhaled with a hint of exhaustion. He opened them once more, his gaze staring out into the field at nothing in particular, as he contemplated the second question he'd been asked. Now that was a surprisingly easy one to answer. 
"Well, that's easily answered. I don't like the shiny armor's color. Too bright, too flashy. The darker tones suit me better. The helmet is not aesthetic, however. Ponies are more intimidated by an opponent whose face is concealed." 

There was of course, a different reason why Chesster wore the dark colored armor, but it might be giving away too much at this juncture in time. The dark armor allowed him better cover under dark, when patrolling the black crystallized streets for citizens out past curfew. He could blend right against the black crystal trademark of Sombra's reign. The helmet, while it did truthfully intimidate opponents, was also for anonymity. Chesster's answers were the truth, but he ommitted these small details for the time being. Chesster stood up, his armor like darkened crystal clattering as he did so. 
"I have quite a few questions myself, but i am patient enough to wait until i defeat you in this jousting tournament to ask them. Unfortunately for you, you must resign to do the same. Now, if you're done sitting about, we can get back to the task at hoof, preparing you to be a worthy opponent." 

Though Chesster wished to ask his questions as much as Sombra did, Chesster's questions would be of a much more personal nature, such as how Sombra lived, why he was in a jousting tournament, if he had plans to retake the empire, yada yada yada. Those would be best asked after the tournament. 

[dragonofruin]

King Sombra tried not to allow the crystal pony's response ruffle him further. It wasn't as if he'd been entirely serious, after all. But Chesster was correct- he didn't care about the pony, his ego, or anything else. So, too, would he have laughed at the crystal pony's blunder. Didn't he have the right to mock the crystal ponies for everything? Sombra had lived in fear of other ponies throughout most of his life, mocked, bullied, betrayed.. lied to. The princess was responsible for the latter two, most of all, after she'd let him suffer for so long through each Crystal Faire and never bothered to tell him why. So, Sombra felt he had the right to mock the crystal folk- but they, he felt, had no right at all to mock or laugh at him.

 

The umbrum snorted softly and rolled his eyes, shrugging Chesster off. He very well will feel angry about it. He had a right to anger too.

 

"Is that all?" Sombra finally queried, once his question had been answered. Chesster's reasoning for the armor seemed too.. simple, the closed helmet aside. That he could understand. If an opponent couldn't read one's facial expressions, then they'd never be able to pick up on anything one intended to do. The unknown was scary to ponies. A soft grunt left the grey stallion and he straightened up from his slight slouch, pushing himself back to his hooves to tower over Chesster. "Very well then. If I must be patient, so shall you. I look forward to seeing what questions you wish to ask me, however."

 

With a flick of his tail, Sombra stepped away and back over to the practice lances, plucking out another one with his magic and attaching it to the side of his armor. He felt he'd calmed down enough to try the practice field again, as well as the weighted quintain that'd defeated him in his first attempt against it. There was still enough anger left over in him to use, to channel it into knocking his target over.. or whatever damage he'd manage to do against it. After a last glance Chesster's way, to see if the stallion had anything else to say, Sombra went back out onto the field to spend the time he had practicing. He'd need it for the actual tournament.

[starsteemer]

Indeed, Chesster had nothing left to say to the dark stallion, and allowed him to resume practice with no more snide remarks on his behalf. For the rest of the time they had for practicing, Chesster would observe Sombra's approach and technique, and at times offer tips or corrections, though as the training went on Chesster had less corrective advice to offer, as he noted that Sombra was indeed doing quite well, picking up on the techniques of jousting well enough. He could hardly wait for their match to commence, and whether Chesster won or lost, he'd still be getting what he wanted. That was how he planned almost everything he did. After observing Sombra doing quite well with his practice, Chesster made a brisk announcement. 
"You're doing just fine, so i'll be getting my own practice in." 

It was the closest to a compliment the cold crystal pony could come to, and so like Sombra he spent the remainder of the time they had before the tournament started getting some practice runs in, not saying much to Sombra in the meantime as he honed his own technique. Chesster's strategy relied entirely on his wit, and knowing his opponent. From his time spent with the deposed tyrant, Chesster had a pretty good idea of how to outmatch the egotistical stallion. Sombra had a weight advantage over Chesster, and probably an anger advantage, since anger lent power to strength. Chesster could use that against him, and if Sombra threw his weight into his charge, Chesster could use his lance to shove the dark unicorn off balance. The rules of jousting meant that Chesster could not avoid a hit, so his solution for this was to distract Sombra so he couldn't focus on a hit. There was a chance it could backfire of course, but strategy was always about risk. Chesster was confident that odds were in his favor, and if by some stroke of fate he lost, then it was simply not meant to be. Luck played as much a part in jousting as skill and strategy sometimes, it was unavoidable. 

After a good long while of practicing with the quintains, Chesster's head perked as he heard the announcer's voice on loudspeaker reverberate throughout the field. "Attention all competitors, make your way to the tilt-yard, the first matches are about to begin."
Chesster put his practice lance away, glancing back at Sombra. Finally, the time had arrived. There would be lots of elimination matches to be sure, but Chesster hoped he and Sombra would be the ones to make it to the final round. It'd be so much more dramatic that way, but he'd take what he could get. 

"If i may ask, what name did you enlist yourself as in the signup?" Chesster inquired, since he did not recieve a name from the stallion, and wondered what title he would go by for the competition. 

[dragonofruin]

The grey stallion eventually cut short his practice on the field when it was made clear that he'd had enough. It felt like he had, and he didn't want to tire himself out before the tournament actually began. Besides, he felt as if he'd improved remarkably. There'd been no more embarrassing blunders, and he was actually getting a proper feeling for jousting. Sombra returned to where Chesster and his lackey had been spectating, and spent the time Chesster used to practice to remove his practice lance and allow himself to rest.

 

Sombra couldn't help watching Chesster practice, to see how good the stallion was and to see what it was that he could use against the pony. What mistakes he might be lead to make, anything that would allow him an advantage against Chesster, provided that they both made it to the end and were required to face off against each other. He watched Chesster closely, curious, hoping a detail, any detail, would stand out to him. If he was going to defeat this crystal pony, he was going to need it.

 

The amplified voice of an announcer caught Sombra's attention and he looked towards the direction it came from, his ears perked and attentive. It was about to begin. A mixture of excitement and anxiety swept through him and he rose to his hooves, giving himself a brief, fullbody shake to try to shake the feeling off. Huffing, he straightened, those intense red eyes of his fixing upon Chesster when the crystal pony came his way. Soon. He'd find a way to get back at Chesster, and -- simply defeat the pony at a sport he was good at. If he could. Sombra still wasn't entirely confident in himself when it came to jousting, but there wasn't any chance he'd end up backing out now.. or ever. He would see this through to the end.

 

The question Chesster asked him caught him a little off guard, and he had to seriously consider it. The name he'd put down for himself was a fake name, a pony name, but it wasn't exactly.. creative. At the time, Sombra thought he was being a smartass by doing it- writing down a name close to his own, and never being suspected for who he was. Yet with Chesster, who seemed to be sharp-witted and observant for a pony, even a crystal pony, it would make it painfully obvious who he really was when it was paired with his appearance. Black mane, grey fur, red eyes, tall stature- it wouldn't be difficult for anypony to put it together. Well.. he had nothing to lose. The tournament was about to begin, and that was when Sombra intended on making it clear who he was.

 

"Somber."

[starsteemer]

Chesster's blank helm stared at Sombra for a silent moment, his empty gaze so intense you could almost sense him blinking in disbelief behind the placid metal. Somber? Is that really what he was going with? Chesster thought, fighting the urge to mock the oh so creative title. Chesster almost felt cheated by how little of a challenge Sombra presented regarding his identity. Sure, crystal ponies were dumb and had PTSD, and equestrians didn't know what Sombra looked like up close and personal, but come on.  He succesfully squashed his urges, not for the first time grateful his helm hid his expressions, because even with years of practice maintaining a perfect poker face, Sombra really was challenging Chesster's ability to keep it up. Chesster reminded himself he'd need to mind himself much more carefully once the helmet was off, and coughed to clear his thoughts of what he wanted to say. "Very well then, Somber. Make sure you memorize those rules, your form is good but it means little if you don't mind the ways you can be penalized. Watching the first few matches will help as well." 

Chesster gestured with his hoof for Sombra to follow, making his way back to the tilt-yard, where scores of spectators had gathered, and the smell of fair food and the excited buzz of chatter filled the air. The hype was certainly building, and in the tilt-yard a few of the combatants were doing circles, waving to the crowds and making themselves known. It was a warmup and publicity gain at once, but Chesster never liked to prance about and show off. He'd prove his ability through skill, rather than popularity or the flashiness of decorative, ceremonial banners.
Chesster ducked into his own tent for a hot second, to get himself a lance affixed to his armor. He preferred to use his own lances, to ensure quality, though naturally such equipment had to be checked by the tournament organizers to make sure they were legal. In the place where the competitors waited for their turn was a convenient multitude of lances, standardized for competition use, for those who did not bring their own lances. It was in this area Chesster trotted to, though it was notable how he preferred to stay at the edge of the crowd. Soon enough, the tilt-yard cleared up and two remained, still circling the tilt going down the middle of the yard. The announcer spoke up, and the entire event seemed to buzz with a palpable energy, a tension as the first match was about to begin. 

"Welcome welcome mares and gentlecolts, to the first Equestrian Jousting Tournament!" A cheer followed, ponies in the stands and packed into any available viewing space whistling and clapping in celebration, prompting a chuckle from the announcer. "Settle down now, first up is Deadlift, an Equestrian stallion with a talent for weight training, versus Silverlining, another equestrian stallion here to test his mettle! Both are new to this sport so give them a round of applause!" 
As the announcer commanded, a roar of clapping came from the stands, some ponies calling out the name of their favorite competitor. The announcer continued once it had lessened in volume, his voice booming across the field. "Four rounds, one winner, aaaaaaaaand BEGIN!" 

Chesster scoffed, turning to Sombra and speaking his thoughts on these competitors. "These equestrians will be short work. It's the crystal ponies that should have you worried. But not by much, myself being an exception. Watch their mistakes. You can learn a lot from sloppy performances. " 
His piece being said, Chesster returned his attention to the field. The two ponies took their places at each end of the tilt-yard, their lances lowered. They began to gallop at eachother at a high speed, and soon a resounding CLANG was heard as Deadlift's lance connected with Silverlining's armor, his lance breaking off, whilst Silverlining's simply skimmed off the larger stallion's armor. The ground crew swept in to clean up the broken lance piece, while the competitors recieved new lances, and prepared for another tilt. 
"A solid beginning for Deadlift! Three more tilts to go!" The announcer voiced, as the thundering of hooves met once again, This time both of their lances splintering against eachother, Silverlining staggering under Deadlift's blow but keeping a straight path. The third tilt resulted in no hits, both ponies missing. The fourth tilt was upon them at last, and this time Deadlift crashed his lance so hard into Silverlining, his lance splintered and fell from it's fixture in the armor, and sent Silverlining sprawling across the field, armor dented considerably. The crowd gasped and cheered in surprise and delight from the powerful blow, the buzz of energy and excitement increasing in intensity from the first showing. 

The competitors were escorted off the field to check for potential injuries, and lances taken care of while the Court of Honor convened on the winner, to be announced after the first round. "Prepare yourselves ponyfolk, this is what the armors for!" The announcer said laughingly, as the next two were called up onto the field. Chesster spoke once more, giving his own commentary on the performance. "Silverlining lost, you don't need the Court to tell you that. Bad aim, off balance. But Deadlift is no winner either, not in the later rounds. He is also off balanced, control is sloppy, though his weight seemes to counteract that against lighter opponents. Analyze your enemies, exploit their failures." 
The names mattered little in the grand scheme of the tournament, and indeed after the first few rounds they already were blending together. But the elation in the air, the clanging of metal on metal, the airborne adrenaline, all made it impossible to not be swept up in the excitement. 

[dragonofruin]

The silence seemed to stretch after he'd offered up his fake name, his painfully obvious fake name. Chesster seemed to be staring at him, judging by how quiet the stallion had gone, and something of a shit-eating grin wanted to cross Sombra's face then. It felt, to him, that this sharp crystal pony might have either figured it out at last and was stunned (or frightened) into silence, or Chesster already knew and was absolutely baffled by the name he'd chosen to write down. Either way, it made Sombra want to smile and bare his monstrous teeth. Some of it managed to show through.

 

The shadow king responded to Chesster's advice about memorizing the rules, and he stepped after the other stallion, heading back to the tilt-yard. It was no longer so quiet as it had been before. More spectators had shown up with their fair food, excitedly clamoring to see the jousting begin. There looked to already be a few competitors out on the field, and Sombra eyed them while they circled, glancing away every so often so that he could safely navigate without running into anypony while Chesster lead them to the lances. Sombra picked a spot near them to sit down, where he'd be able to wait and watch the action.

 

His ears flicked back from the announcer's amplified voice, and the event began. The two first competitors faced off, and the heavier pony won the first. Sombra leaned a little ways towards Chesster, an ear turning towards the sound of the crystal pony's voice as he offered up advice, and soon pointed out how Silverlining lost, and Deadlift's flaws. The umbrum grunted softly and straightened back up, considering it. He really would have to keep those rules in mind, and size up the competition that survived before either he or Chesster went out to the tilt-yard, and pick out the competitors' flaws. Keeping that in Mind, Sombra settled in to watch, ignoring the jokes made by the enthusiastic announcer. They were.. poor.

 

Sombra heaved a sigh, and scanned the tilt-yard.

[starsteemer]

Every so often, Chesster would comment on the successes or failures of the competitors, which was actually... an odd thing for him to do. He wasn't the talkative sort, and usually at this point in a competition, he'd be watching closely and keeping his thoughts to himself. But he figured Sombra would need all the help he could get. Round after round was fought, and though most were standard as far as jousting went, there were some interesting ones. During two of the more amature equestrian's joust, both ponies had managed to miss eachother all four times. It was announced that they had jousted poorly, and so neither won. Some ponies, upon seeing how brutal the jousting tournament was, dropped out of the competition before there was a chance for their names to be called. Others dropped out after experiencing the joust for themselves. Though it meant less soft pony obstacles, Chesster still felt annoyed by their weakness. 
"Cowards." He spat, his lip curled in contempt beneath his helm. 

Eventually, he himself was called up. Without sparing a second glance, he met his opponent on the field, and to his delight it was another crystal pony. That meant he could take out the stronger competition early on. After three tilts, it seemed at first that they were evenly matched. No flaws in their jousting could be picked out, and both had broken their lances the same amount of times. Their weight was the same as well, so neither seemed to even consider knocking down the other. But Chesster noticed his opponent's armor was just a bit too big, most likely borrowed. On the fourth pass, while Chesster's opponent's lance splintered on Chesster's armor, Chesster suddenly tilted himself to the side, shouldering his lance to raise it higher. His lance's coronel connected with his opponent's open-face helmet, the lance's end snapping off in the same moment that Chesster removed the helmet from his opponent in one deft heartbeat. As he slowed down his gallop, the crystal pony's helmet swinging from the end of his halved lance, the Court of Honor's mouths agape while the crowds cheered for his display of skill and precision. 

As Chesster returned triumphant to the place where Sombra had been viewing the joust, he didn't need to say a word. Chesster believed his risky display spoke for itself. If Chesster had missed, the other stallion would have won. He did it to avoid a tie, for if Chesster had simply broken his lance on the crystal pony's armor as well, they both would have been admitted into the final round, and Chesster needed there to be a very clear, very concise winner. Himself. the announcer commented on this performance with a bit of awe, and anticipation for the final rounds. Next, Somber was called up, his opponent being another of the crystal ponies who knew more about jousting than the Equestrians. Chesster observed Sombra's opponent with mild worry. Sombra was decent at the basics of jousting, and his opponent was no expert, but it would be cutting it close in Chesster's mind. Of course, if Chesster was in Sombra's position, he'd already have the perfect plan to win this round. But did Sombra himself realize?

Chesster was not going to spoon-feed Sombra everything, so he sat back to see how Sombra handled this match. The obvious solution, at least to Chesster, was to intimidate the crystal pony in the final round. Give a triggering flash of green and red eyes, just the right hint of purple smoke, it'd be sure to disorient the crystal pony enough to miss, or even better, fall over from Sombra's lance. But how Sombra handled it was up to him and him alone. 

[dragonofruin]

It was Sombra who was the silent one, a single ear cocked Chesster's way and taking in all of the crystal pony's comments and observations while he watched the jousting competitors face off. Their numbers thinned as jousters failed their matches and walked away defeated. Soon it came time for Chesster himself to go on, and Sombra was surprised for a split second before he remembered that they were both competitors too- sitting on the sidelines had made him forget.

 

His interest piqued, and the king straightened up from his slight slouch. Practice was one thing, getting to see Chesster in an actual match was entirely another, and it excited him. A little. He'd get to see Chesster in serious action, and judge whether he'd be able to exploit anything should he make it far enough for the crystal pony to become his opponent. Sombra quieted his thoughts and concentrated on the pair, making notes of how equally matched they were until Chesster pulled off something daring to win. It'd been a risky move, but he'd managed it and claimed victory rather than making a mistake and failing. Sombra was going to remember that. What bothered him was that he wasn't quite sure how to deal with Chesster himself.

 

Those dark eyebrows of his rose at Chesster as the stallion made his way back over, wordlessly expressing how he felt about the win: impressed. It was rare for him to show anything of the sort, but he'd allow it this one time.

 

Soon, much to his surprise, the fake name he was given was called out by the announcer. Something like dread coiled in his stomach and Sombra pushed himself to his hooves, stepping past the lances the tournament left for its competitors and plucked one out, locking it onto his armor as he made his way around the edge of the tilt yard to his side. He could see the pony he was to face off against doing the same on the opposite side. Upon noticing that they were a crystal pony, he knew exactly what he would need to do in order to gain an upper hoof in this tournament, something that he had been planning from the start. It was time.

 

King Sombra took the little time he had to finally reveal himself. Dark magic flickered up his horn as he removed the illusion around it. No longer did it look like a spiral unicorn's horn, but his own- wickedly curved and red. He knew it would cause a stir among them- Sombra could only hope they didn't try to interfere, panic, or cancel the tournament entirely all because of his very presence. Surely the crystal ponies had some spine. Perhaps they'd even get angry and wish to defeat him, and that anger would make them reckless. A smirk crossed his muzzle, baring one of his sharp fangs to both his opponent, and those near enough to see it; among other aspects of his appearance that would make it well known who it was.

 

Sombra tossed his head and aggressively pawed at the hardpack earth with a hoof before he started forward, intent on the start of the match. If he let himself think, his thoughts and his anxiety would get in the way. He only needed to act and do what he'd been practicing.

 

[starsteemer]

It was Chesster's turn to be surprised, as the illusion that he'd seen through hours ago finally came down, revealing it to be exactly who Chesster knew it was. Well, thats a strange tactic... Chesster thought, tapping his hoof against the chin of his helmet. Chesster himself wouldve taken a more subtle approach, with just the eyes. It'd be something nopony could prove, and triggering enough to win any match against a crystal pony. But revealing himself entirely? Either the stallion had gone mad since his destruction or was just that bold. Or cocky.
Chesster pushed his way to the best viewing place ahead of the crowd of competitors, his amber eyes narrowed as he observed from behind the safety of his apathetic mask. The situation could of course be salvaged... Chesster had only just found his king, and he wasnt going to let an attention stunt bring down the princess's wrath on him. Chesster slipped back into the crowd, the rattle of his authentic, worn armor being completely muffled by the chorus of shocked gasps. 

And shocked gasps there were indeed. Bags of popcorn and cups of cider were heard being dropped and spilled, Some ponies cried out in anger or surprise, while others were shell-shocked into silence. Whispers of the dark deposed king from the crystal empire wove through the stands like mist from the everfree, coiling around every spectator until they were drenched in their rumors and gossip. The crystal ponies seemed to back away without realizing it, far too afraid to do anything else. But nopony ran. Rather, they held their breath and waited, hoping it would be some horrible, poor-taste prank. An impersonator here to use Sombra's influence to win the tournament, rather than the evil king himself. 

Sombra's competitor had no time to gawk however, as Sombra was headed towards him and to stand still in a joust was poor jousting. The pony lurched forward, lance at the ready, his nerves steeled, but the crystal pony hadn't prepared for Sombra. His legs trembled as he charged, his lance managing to strike Sombra, but it glanced off the armor without the force behind it to break the lance.  The crystal pony shook his head to clear his mind, he hadn't even begun to grasp what was happening. But the joust had to go on. 

The announcer seemed to finally get a hold of himself, though from the lack of pure terror in his voice, it could be assumed he was not in fact, a crystal pony himself. "Don't worry folks! I've just recieved news that what you're seeing is a result of an illusion spell gone awry. We have somepony working on the problem, and we apologize for any disturbing illusions you may be seeing. But given theres no rules about that sort of thing, the joust will go on." 
The crowd murmured to themselves, and even though the crystal ponies looked unconvinced, it was a good enough excuse for most of the spectators to buy it. They went right back to their cheering and clamoring, the competition made more intense by the prospect of defeating a pony who looked like King Sombra. Whoever could claim that victory, even if it was an illusion, would have a hell of a story to tell. 

[dragonofruin]

The fear that rippled through the crowd after his reveal was palpable, and he breathed deep of it. It was a feast for an umbrum, made better by the crystal ponies present. King Sombra took a black and vicious pleasure in it, and knowing that they would never be able to escape from him, that they would know he would never die. That he could never be killed, no matter their efforts.

 

His decision to reveal himself, while risky, meant that he would have some control over the situation. With him, it would always be about control, so long as he never found a reason to change. Nothing so far had ever given him that reason to change; he was comfortable where he was at, unchallenged.

 

Sombra worked himself up from a trot to a gallop once he was on the tilt-yard proper, charging down his side of the fence with his familiar aggressiveness and solely focused on the opponent that he'd successfully unsettled. They were afraid, he could see it in the lines of their body and on their face as they attempted to recover and face him in this match. He bared his monstrous teeth and aimed his lance, intent on trying to knock the crystal pony over as they met. Sombra felt their own lance hit and glance off of his armor harmlessly. The crowd was working its way back up to its usual cheers and stomping, and Sombra soon became aware why as he reached the other end of the tilt yard, the end of the fence.

 

The announcer was attempting to pass off his reveal as a miscast illusion spell, a mere mistake that they would have somepony fix. Sombra gritted his teeth, snout wrinkling in annoyance. They couldn't possibly take this away from him.. and judging by the way many of the crystal ponies were looking, some of the control still remained with him. They still had their memories, their reminders, and they could see him clearly. The stallion snorted and trotted back around to the side of the fence his opponent had been previously occupying, ready to run down the tilt-yard again for another pass. No matter.

[starsteemer]

Sombra's crystal pony opponent was knocked off balance by Sombra's first strike, though miraculously didn't fall. This was probably due to pure luck, and as he rounded the tilt-yard for the next tilt, the look on his face was so expressive, it was almost funny. The range of emotions went from shock, to fear, to doubt, to confusion, and finally rested at determination, though it was clear from his stance that he held the same deep-seated fear that all crystal ponies had experience'd under Sombra's sabaton-clad hooves.
"It's not real it's not real it's not real it's not real-" He muttered this mantra as quietly as he could, his trembling legs bringing him closer to the very same pony who tortured, tormented, and enslaved his kind. His focus, balance, and all knowledge of how to even joust fled him. His lance's tip was way off, and it didn't take much at all to knock him over. 

Some of the crystal ponies, despite their fear, began to cheer for Sombra's opponent. Though they looked at Sombra and knew their tyrant king when they saw him, if there was even a chance a crystal pony could beat him, they supported it. The crystal ponies found a metaphor in beating king Sombra in a jousting match, and it was a metaphor for defeating their own fears and traumas. Even if it was a small victory, they hoped for this victory nontheless. 

Chesster soon returned from whence he'd gone, and out of all the crystal ponies, he was the sole stallion willing to walk right up to the border of the tilt-yard, the only one who dared to be so close to the crystal pony's dreaded ruler. He didn't say a word, and merely observed Sombra with his silent, impassive gaze. This round would be childs play for him. Their face off against eachother however, would not be won so easily...

[dragonofruin]

At first, it came as a disappointment when he didn't manage to knock his crystal opponent off of their hooves, but as long as he struck them, it didn't matter. What did matter, however, was breaking his lance against his opponent. It didn't happen, this time. It wasn't a strong enough hit, but he certainly noticed how he'd affected the pony. Even from opposite ends of the tilt-yard, Sombra could see the pony practically shaking in his sabatons. It was amusing, too, to see how the pony attempted to remain determined.

 

A smug smirk crossed his muzzle, although it didn't reach his eyes. They were blazing, full of hate for the crystal ponies he was surrounded by again and the cheers from the crowd he knew only to be for his opponent. Sombra knew why, of course- why cheer for the very tyrant that hurt them? Dismissing them, he focused on the task at hoof and started forward again once he saw the pony do the same. Moving back up to a gallop again, Sombra charged down the tilt-yard for the other competitor, his lance aimed again.. and this time he managed to knock the crystal pony clean over. It was an accomplishment, but not one the king would allow to go to his head. He had a tournament to win, and his ego could wait.

 

Sombra came back around to the side he'd originally started on, taking the time required for the crystal pony to get to his hooves to check his armor and his lance, making sure everything was still as it should be.. and whether he'd have to replace the lance at all. It didn't appear that he'd have to. Grunting to himself, Sombra readied himself again, impatiently pawing the ground with a hoof. His eyes briefly flitted up to the stands where the ponies still cheered, and around to the edge of the tilt-yard where he spotted Chesster, standing. Sombra averted his gaze, focusing ahead again and ready for the third tilt.

[starsteemer]

The crystal pony, afraid though he was, didn't give up hope. After the ground crew cleaned up the lance pieces, He readied himself for the next tilt. Rearing up on his hind legs, the crystal pony dashed forwards, galloping down the yard. It took all his focus to aim his lance, but the terrified pony managed it, the coronel connected with Sombra and snapping. But while he was focused on aiming, he was not focused on anything else. Sombra's own lance blow struck him soundly, splintering and causing the crystal pony to mis-step. He yelled and fell forward, landing with his face in the dirt, and dents in the once-shiny armor. Shame-faced, He got to his hooves and took his position for the final tilt. Even if he knocked sombra over, the crystal pony would not win. He raised his lance skyward, in a signal of surrender. 

The crowd was buzzing now, though most of the comments were about the pity they felt for the jouster who surrendered. There were still matches left to go, however. Sombra's appearance had shaken up the crowd, so the announcer spoke to appease their chatter. 
"A strange tournament to be sure folks, but quiet down now, So the Court of Honor can announce the winners heading to the final round! " A list of names was then read, though it was very short. It seemed only four had actually made it into the final rounds, after most had been defeated or dropped out. For some crystal ponies, the mere sight of Sombra was enough for them to lose their appetite for jousting. 

Course, this pleased Chesster. The faster he could win, the faster he could drop his mysterious pretenses. It was beginning to get exhausting to keep up. As the last 2 jousters besides Sombra and Chesster were called up, Chesster waited patiently for Sombra, giving no indication as to if his appearance was startling in any way. The rest of the crystal pony competitors who were just watching now moved out of Sombra's way, none daring to get more than 5 feet of him. 

[dragonofruin]

His lance had been replaced as it was needed, and King Sombra faced the tilt yard, waiting until the crystal pony was ready. Seeing them dash forward, he threw himself towards the tilt-yard, charging down his side of the fence again as he'd done before, his lance at the ready. The crystal pony's lance finally landed a blow and shattered on his armor, and it took effort from Sombra to keep on his hooves and not allow the blow to unsettle his footing. His own lance struck the pony's armor, and splintered. Victory.

 

A vicious smirk crossed the stallion's face, seeing the pony crash into the ground out of the corner of his eye as he continued down the tilt yard and circled around once more. Sombra paused at the edge to watch the crystal pony pick themselves up before he bothered to replace his broken lance with another. It was always a pleasure to see one of the crystal ponies fail, and in this case, face-plant the dirt.

 

The way the crystal pony lifted his lance skyward intrigued Sombra and the king inclined his head, his dark brows furrowing. Was his opponent surrendering? Good. It pleased him to see the pony admit defeat before his king. The umbrum straightened, lifting his head high even in the face of the shaken murmurs from the crowd and the crystal ponies among them. Removing his lance and replacing it on the rack, Sombra strolled back to where he and Chesster had been sitting on the edge of the tilt yard with his familiar, confident stride. Crystal ponies backed away from him, leaving him a clear path to saunter right back to his seat where he could sit himself and rest to watch the next match.

 

Chesster's blank, faceless helm earned a curious glance from Sombra as he wondered if the other stallion had anything to say about his match. He was terribly curious. Not that he needed any praise or compliments, but they were always nice to hear. The king also noticed that Chesster didn't seem at all rattled. Either he really had suspected it all along, or he simply had a stronger spine than most.

[starsteemer]

Once Sombra had regained his spot for spectating beside Chesster, he finally deigned to comment. He hadn't wanted to speak until he was sure Sombra would return to the same spot, some part of him wondering if Sombra would prefer to be by his self after revealing himself to the tournament. Chesster was glad, though. He also appreciated the looks of fearful confusion on the face's of other crystal ponies, as they wondered how Chesster could withstand sitting beside an 'illusion' of King Sombra. 
"A bit of a dramatic risk, but you pulled it off nicely. Fear is a very good weapon to wield, and it may be the one weapon you wield better than me. Though i can dream." Chesster's voice came steady and methodical, as if commenting on King Sombra being back from the dead and participating in a jousting tournament was as casual as the weather. Chesster paused, then continued in the same manner. 
"Course, they would have shut down the tournament if the real King Sombra were here. I made up the illusion excuse so the tournament, and your freedom, would still go on. I'm sorry it detracted from your fear factor, but it's a necessary sacrifice. It'd be a real shame if the princesses got here before we had a chance to face off. " 

Behind Chesster's helm, he was grinning. By tartarus, it felt so good to admit he knew about Sombra, even if he did so indirectly. Sombra was a relatively fast learner, Chesster was certain he wouldn't need to spell it out for him. As the jousting match went on, both competitors crystal ponies, it was clear they were getting distracted. Sombra had really shaken up the crowd. Idly, Chesster wondered if this would have an effect on future jousting competitions. He hoped not, because it was the one interesting thing he'd found to do in Equestria. 

[dragonofruin]

An ear twitched Chesster's way, and his earlier smug smirk made a reappearance across his muzzle, baring a sharp fang. The casual way in which Chesster spoke amused him, although he didn't laugh. "I always did like to make an entrance. I enjoy seeing how my enemies quake." Sombra spoke just loud enough so that if there were any crystal ponies within earshot, they would hear him. It was only to rattle them a little more, and for his own amusement. It always would be when it came to the ponies he hated so much.

 

"Fear is mine to wield, and it always will be. An umbrum who cannot use fear, and inspire fear in his enemies.." Sombra trailed off, dropping his deep voice to a volume only Chesster could hear, "would make a very poor one." The sentence was finished differently than he'd intended to say it, reminding himself that although he was on somewhat-friendly terms with this particular crystal pony, all in good sport of course, he didn't want to make any weaknesses apparent for his kind. Umbrum who could not sow fear, would likely starve in time. It wouldn't do him any good if he failed at what he was meant to be best at, outside of his skill in dark magic and strategy.

 

A low chuckle rolled out of the king and he gave Chesster a sidelong glance, an eyebrow arching. "So that was you, was it? As much as it did annoy me.. I suppose I can appreciate that you would prevent such a possibility.. and despite your interference in this, I still hold some power over the other competitors. I'm sure you see how they look at me, and shrink back from my presence." He was pleased, and it showed in the tone of his voice.

 

Sombra quieted when the other two competitors stepped out onto the tilt yard. His reveal and the challenge of the jousting tournament had successfully weeded out their weaker opponents, and it left them with not as many ponies to get through before they could finally face each other. All that would be left, would be the victor of this particular match. The competitors that were in it, Sombra noted, were just as affected as the remaining crystal ponies in the crowd. It was good. It meant they would be easy to overthrow, for either of them.

[starsteemer]

The crystal ponies, upon hearing their former ruler's voice, seemed to move even further away, though reluctant to leave the tournament entirely. Though they were very scared, they wanted to see how the tournament would end. Each and every crystal pony, excepting Chesster, were watching Sombra with a wary curiosity. It could also be noted that some of their manes and coat colors had diminished as a result of their fear. 

Chesster listened attentively to Sombra, and nodded solemnly as he recognized the truth in Sombra's words. Truth be told, Chesster didn't know much about Umbrum. They were a mythical creature, a foal's tale to tell naughty children. Dont stay outside too late or the Umbrum will get you!  Perhaps they'd been real long ago, but with the Crystal Heart protecting the kingdom, nopony had seen one in years. Lifetimes, even. Chesster didn't know what exactly happened to them, other than the vague story given to youngsters, claiming that the princess banished them away forever. Did Sombra ever tell anypony he was an Umbrum? Frustratingly enough, thinking back on it Chesster could not remember. Being wiped off the map for 1000 years left a few holes in his memory, and he'd heard similar from other crystal ponies. This Umbrum line of questioning had never occurred to him before, but now Chesster wanted to ask. When he and Sombra were alone, of course. Or at least at a less public function... But if there was something to be learned about King Sombra, Chesster wanted to learn it. 

"Their memories are relatively recent, i'm certain the crystal ponies will fear you for as long as they live. " Chesster commented casually, though his tone held a hint of amusement as well, as if Chesster was almost as pleased as Sombra. Glancing back at his own race, who were cowering behind eachother, he sneered behind his helm. While they didn't know who Chesster really was, they did know that anypony to willingly endure Sombra's company must be wrong in the head. And so they sheepishly turned away, until Chesster returned his gaze to the joust before them. The crystal ponies were right back to staring. It was a bit annoying, but Chesster wasn't going to say anything about it. 

In the tilt-yard, the joust had been finally finished. However, both competitors had been so distracted that they had jousted poorly, and Chesster wondered if it was on purpose. After all, if either of the crystal ponies were to win, there was the chance of facing King Sombra. It was declared that both competitors had jousted poorly, and thus soon the final round would begin shortly, between Chesster and King Sombra. About time. Chesster though with satisfaction. He hated so many obstacles being in his way, but it seemed that now all the meaningless opponents had been weeded out. And if folks came to see a show, he and Sombra would give the most spectacular jousting match these ponies had ever seen. The announcer spoke up to announce their joust, and from the worry in his voice it seemed like he was concerned Chesster would drop out as well. He'd do no such thing, of course.

"May the best jouster win." Chesster said with a smug tint to his voice. The outcome of this joust would only make one of them happy, and though it was tempting to lose on purpose to preserve the peace between them, Chesster knew it'd be more of an insult to Sombra if he didn't win on his own merits, as well as an insult to his own abilities. If either of them lost, it would need to be a loss that they earned. With that, Chesster made his way to the tilt-yard, fixing his lanced to his armor once in the yard, double-checking his armor for any faults, and then raising his head tall and proud, showing the spectators that he was not going to back down, and instead anticipated this joust. The crystal ponies had no idea who to root for in this case, but they tentatively cheered for Chesster. He wasn't Sombra, at least. 

[dragonofruin]

The movement in his peripheral vision drew his attention back to the crystal ponies, and he saw how their colors were duller than before. It pleased him, bringing back the smug smirk that sat so comfortably upon his face. His gaze shifted back to the tilt-yard to watch the two other competitors joust, and he could see how poorly they were doing. Their fear was affecting them, and Sombra had to wonder how much of it was done so neither of them would win and have to face him.

 

A low chuckle rolled up his throat. "I hope they do," Sombra murmured at last, responding to what he'd heard Chesster say. If he hadn't taken the empire down with him, they might have existed for a thousand years, and all memory of him would've been lost to the generations. It would have been disappointing, in a way, yet he would've had the advantage to retake the empire again. It didn't matter any more though. The Crystal Empire was a place of misery and after the way the Crystal Heart had quite literally shattered him, the pain of it, it was enough to convince him to forget it entirely. Although it meant losing the only purpose he'd been given in life, it was better than that place. All he was left with was the comfort that they still feared him.

 

This jousting tournament was practically a feast. There were enough of them frightened of him, and the very mention of him, that he could feed and he didn't have to do a thing to do so. Closing his eyes, he took what he could until it'd been announced that both the competitors out in the tilt yard had jousted poorly, had failed. Sombra reopened his eyes and rose to his hooves, his smirk making another brief reappearance.

 

"I look forward to it," he answered and strode off towards his end of the tilt-yard, grabbing one of the lances on the racks and fixing it to his armor just as he'd done before. Once he'd finished, King Sombra faced the tilt yard, lining himself up with his side of the fence and stretching out his legs. It hadn't escaped his notice that the cheers of the crowd weren't as enthusiastic as they were before, and that they were rallying for Chesster. It didn't matter to him that they were because of who he was.

 

Giving himself a shake, Sombra pawed the ground with a hoof. He was ready and intent upon defeating Chesster; he had to get back at the stallion somehow for laughing at him.

[starsteemer]

Once both Chesster and Sombra were ready, the crowd seemed to perk up. Sombra's reveal had put a dampener on the atmosphere, and it was clear they wouldn't get a show from the crystal ponies due to their fear. But now here was Chesster, the last competitor, Head raised and closed helm not revealing even a shred of fear. Indeed, if Sombra were to try and sense any fear, the closest he would find would be adrenaline, the tenseness of muscles ready to spring, and anticipation. The crowd sensed the confidence and seemed more invested than before, some spectators even playing devil's advocate and cheering for Sombra, just because they wanted a good show. Still, the crystal ponies were the quiet group. 

"Seems we're down to our final two competitors. May the jousting begin!" The announcer declared jovially 

Chesster wasted no time in focusing his steady amber eyes on Sombra, galloping down the tilt-yard with a very detailed plan in mind. He believed he knew how to beat Sombra, and looked forward to his victory. Chesster might've been a little distracted by these thoughts, as he tried to gauge Sombra's strength as the opposing stallion drew closer. Or maybe Chesster was distracted on purpose. His coronel met the chestplate of Sombra's armor, the lance snapping cleanly in half. However, Chesster overestimated Sombra's weight, and was leaning too far forward when the lance snapped, and when Sombra's lance connected with Chesster, it was enough to trip him up. Chesster stumbled and fell forward, mitigating his fall by doing a clean roll and leaping back to his hooves, though it still counted as a fall, and counted as points for Sombra. Though Chesster hadn't meant to trip up, now he knew Sombra's strength behind that lance, and could plan accordingly. 

None the worse for wear besides some scuffs on his armor from the fall, Chesster trotted easily to the other end of the tilt yard, the ground crew quickly fixing another lance to his armor, and providing the same service for Sombra. 
"Nice hit." Chesster commented, lifting a foreleg and raising his head higher. "I'd like to see you do it again. Unfortunately, beginner's luck might be running out for you~"
Maybe for the first time in 1000 years, Chesster was finally having fun again. 

[dragonofruin]

The air felt tense. It was down to the final two competitors: himself, and Chesster. The crystal pony didn't seem to show any sign of fear, nor gave off any either, and Sombra had to commend him for his strength. The kind of spine that most other crystal ponies lacked, and it made Sombra much more curious about his masked opponent. Who was he, really, beneath that helm? There was a possibility Sombra might not recognize him, and Chesster could easily be somepony who was determined to destroy him.. Who knew, really?

 

King Sombra inhaled slowly, centering himself and setting aside thoughts that'd attempted to wander again. He was ready, and nothing would distract him.

 

As Chesster started his charge, Sombra thrust himself forward and galloped down his side of the fence, channeling his anger towards the crystal pony as he aimed his lance, trying to put as much force behind it as he could as they met. Chesster's lance struck him, and although the impact rattled him, Sombra kept on his hooves, unlike the other stallion. It was satisfaction that he took out of seeing the crystal pony fall out of the corner of his eye. The umbrum continued onward toward the other end of the tilt yard that Chesster previously occupied, his pace slowing and lifting his head high for whatever ponies dared to cheer for him.

 

Sombra faced the tilt yard again, standing still while the staff ponies changed out his lance for him. It allowed him a moment to think, and to consider what he'd learned about Chesster too. He now personally knew how hard Chesster could hit and what he could do.

 

"Maybe, maybe not. We'll just have to see, won't we?" The king replied with a soft scoff. Beginner's luck. Maybe it was, but he wouldn't allow what Chesster said undermine what confidence he'd gained. He wouldn't bear losing power to a crystal pony of all creatures. Once the ground crew had finished fixing his lance into place, Sombra spared a moment to check it to make sure it was properly secured; he wasn't going to allow any attempts to sabotage him if he could avoid it. After he was certain all was well, the king squared his shoulders and started forward, once it was time for the second round.

[starsteemer]

Chesster smirked beneath his helm, and pawed the dusty, packed earth with a hoof as the ground crew cleaned up any lance pieces, before scurrying out of the way. Chesster's assumptions had been right, Sombra was indeed heavier and stronger. Though Chesster's loss was an embarassing one, it was a sacrifice he would allow, especially since he now had a strategy to defeat Sombra. But in order for it to work, he needed to stay focused. He couldn't risk another loss like that, but had to gauge Sombra's aim. This next round, he decided he wouldn't try anything crazy. 

The crowds cheered louder, sensing the tension between the two stallions, the fire and drive. When Chesster began to gallop down the yard to meet Sombra's lance, he could even hear the crystal ponies take heart, and speak out in tentative cheers. Chesster had to shut them out, as their encouragement was merely annoying and distracting. 
This time, Chesster remained balanced and did not throw all his weight forward, his lance forcefully connecting with Sombra's armor, hard enough to shatter the lance. When he felt a similar force on himself, the crystal pony steeled himself for the weight behind it, keeping his center of gravity, taking the blow and hearing Sombra's lance shatter at the contact same as his own lance. Splinters flew through the air, and both of them had landed such a good hit, that Chesster wondered if his armor was dented. 

The lances thoroughly destroyed, Chesster slowed up to take his original position at the end of the yard, panting slightly as the strike had winded him, delighted him. Sombra was a fast learner, a fierce opponent. The ground grew swept in to do their job, and the crowds whooped and hollered in their excitement. Lances shattering, splintering like that was the most exciting part of the ordeal (besides throwing ponies across the yard). The sharp CRACK of the splintering wood, the high pitched ping or clank as the metal coronel struck the armor, the rattle of metal overlapping plates, dust kicked up by armored hooves, the heady scent of fairfood, warm weather and barrel aged hard cider in the air made the event that much more intoxicating. 

In fact, Chesster considered indulging once the competition had been decided. Sombra had earned his respect with such precise, intuitive jousting, and Chesster was feeling like a good sport despite the first round's result. Though his voice was notably winded, Chesster called out jovially "After i win, allow me to buy you a drink!" 
The yard had been cleared, new lances affixed. Chesster was about to teach Sombra a real lesson in jousting. 

[dragonofruin]

This time King Sombra was solely focused upon Chesster, no more idle, curious thoughts drifting through his mind. There was only the pounding of his heart, and the pounding of his hooves on the dirt. When they met on the tilt-yard for a second time, the sound of their lances breaking was loud in his ears. He'd felt the impact of Chesster's lance beforehoof, and he'd managed to keep his footing. So, too, did Chesster. This crystal pony was resilient.

 

From the cheers of the crowd, it sounded as if the other crystal ponies were hesitantly regaining their confidence because of Chesster. It annoyed him slightly, but he kept it at a distance as he cantered around to face the tilt yard again, back at where he'd started. He slowed to a halt, breathing hard and keeping himself still while the ground crew changed out their lances again and cleaned off the field once more. He idly watched them while he considered his third approach. Chesster hadn't merely been boasting when he said he had experience in jousting. It showed, not just in the advice he'd given and what Sombra saw, but in this joust. The shadow king wasn't entirely sure if there were any weaknesses or mistakes he could take advantage of, if Chesster did this well the third time.

 

Softly, the umbrum grunted and inclined his head towards Chesster's offer. "Very well, if you win. You might as well still buy me a drink regardless!" Sombra replied, his powerful voice carrying well enough despite the excited crowd. The scents, the noise, it was starting to grate on his nerves; he was used to his solitude, quiet places and very few ponies if any at all. This was starting to push his limits, but he would endure for the sake of victory.

 

Rolling his shoulders and giving himself a shake, resettling his armor back on his body, Sombra started forward again once he felt he was prepared, focusing himself on Chesster again as he started galloping down the field once more.

[starsteemer]

This next round, Chesster was certainly about to teach the former king just how good he was at this particular game. As Chesster started forward on their 3rd tilt, his quick-witted mind began to analyze every possible variable. Sombra's weight, his lance's angle, the number of hoofsteps he took. Chesster was going to get in a perfect hit, and he didn't need strength on his side to do it. 
As his lance neared his opponent, Chesster counted his own hoofsteps, counted Sombra's, his calculations perfect, movement precise. He waited for the exact moment when all four of sombra's hooves were in the air. When his lance came at Sombra like a snake, jabbing out suddenly as Chesster put on a burst of speed, no amount of focus or balance could've prevented Chesster from striking so precisely. Without hooves on the ground to keep balanced, the lance's blow dented Sombra's armor and sent him into the dirt, the lance itself shattering utterly as if in explosive triumph. Chesster reached the end of the yard, his helm a mask of calm as always, though beneath it he smirked. It was a solid win all around for Chesster. 

The crystal ponies dared to cheer louder in the wake of Chesster's win, so he turned to them and decided to shut them down. "SILENCE, I don't need nor want your praise. It is distracting." He snarled, his voice echoing through the helmet. The crystal ponies fell silent at his sharp, commanding tone. In fact, the way he projected his voice with the tone of someone used to giving orders seemed a tad familiar to the crystal ponies, so they shrunk back and allowed Chesster to win this joust in peace. Chesster turned to face the yard again, as it was cleared and new lances supplied for the last time. One last joust, and he could claim victory. Chesster knew he was leading, but if Sombra managed to knock him flat, Sombra would win. Chesster rolled his shoulders and steeled himself for the final round, adrenaline and anticipation coursing through the stallion. 

[dragonofruin]

Sombra couldn't allow himself to get predictable, but he didn't consider his plan of action with as much detail as Chesster was. It was something he wasn't entirely aware of, although he could acknowledge the other stallion as being intelligent enough to. His only intent was a forward one: to hit Chesster as hard as he could. It'd worked well enough for him thus far.

 

His hooves pounded heavily against the dirt, drawing ever closer to his opponent, his lance aimed.. and they met. All Sombra was aware of after that was a sharp pain where Chesster's lance struck him, the world tilting.. and landing heavily. Stunned, Sombra waited until his senses came back to him before he tried to move, distantly aware of the sound of cheering and Chesster's snarling voice aimed at who he could only assume was the crystal ponies. The pain in his chest throbbed. It worsened when he moved, but Sombra didn't allow it to get to him and pushed himself to his hooves, his lips peeled back from his teeth.

 

He had a higher pain threshold from what he'd been through in the Crystal Empire, but he couldn't deny it still hurt. Chesster had hit him hard, and he had to admit to himself that he was impressed- enough so that he couldn't be upset about this particular loss. There was still the last round.. if he could manage it. A glance showed him the dent in his armor the crystal pony's lance had made and he grimaced.

 

Giving himself a careful shake, the king moved towards the end of the field Chesster previously occupied and moved to face the tilt-yard again. This pain was going to slow him down a little, and he was starting to consider there was that chance he wouldn't be able to win this. Chesster was skilled, experienced, not something he could top when he didn't have the same to consider the right angles to take his opponent down. Exhaling heavily, Sombra adjusted his weight and changed his lance out for a new one in the meantime. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to give this tournament one last go and see who would come out on top. At least, this would be a great learning experience.