Ponyville Mud-Wrestle Madness (Open)

[Zeig]

 

 

A low budget fair has been set up in Ponyville for the next couple of days. With simplistic attractions like hayrides, bonfires, and apple bobbing, the fair is really more of an excuse to bring families out to spend the day together and enjoy each other's company. It's been set up next to a small pond, allowing ponies the option of washing up at any point if they so choose. Some food and snacks stalls are also scattered around the area, though nearby the area where the bonfire will be lit, there is a very large and varied buffet spread out. Ponies can purchase a ticket to eat all they want at the buffet.

 

In the middle of the grounds, however, lies the largest attraction - an expansive mud pit that's filled to the brim with the stuff. A pink and purple Pegasus is standing on a nearby podium and speaking into a microphone, beckoning the crowd closer.

 

"Step right up, ladies and gentle colts!" she cries out. "Do you have what it takes to win against the energy sapping, strength draining mud pit? Ten ticket are hidden deep in this pit, safely and clean in spherical containers. Ten fabulous prizes are waiting to be claimed! Feel like pigging out on the buffet but don't want to shell out the bits? Want a kiss from one of your other mud-diving competitors? Need to visit family outside of Ponyville, but don't have the bits? A simple splash and scurry through the mud can solve your problems! Don't wait and let somepony else snatch victory from your hooves!"

 

The mud pit is a mixture between slippery, wet mud, and extremely firm and sticky, making it progressively harder and harder to traverse through the more you're inside it. Sinking in deep enough can cause some ponies to become stuck in the mud, while continuously attempting to pull against the sucking force of the mud saps strength and energy the longer you stay inside. A few Pegasi are standing nearby, ready to pull out any pony that appears in distress.

[Zeig]

 

Now this was his kind of party.

 

Except…no, not really.

 

But still. Even if it was a far cry from the raving lights and pounding music Inkbrand was much more used to, frequent club hitter that he was in Manehatten, the simplistic and downright down and dirty feel of the fairgrounds appealed to the grey stallion, on a baser level. There was no question that the ponies here - most of them, he amended as he caught sight of a mare running furiously over to the pond to clean off her hooves - appreciated a little dirt in their lives. At least they knew how to let loose for a short while, and Inkbrand could definitely relate.

 

Why, just look at that attraction!

 

Inkbrand pulled right up next to a yellow mare and a reddish stallion, head tilting to one side as he listened to the pink Pegasus instructing the crowd, all while a grin slowly grew on his lips. Oh hay yeah, mud pit for prizes! Case in point, the seemingly main attraction of the fair was a mud pit. The grey stallion supposed, really, that said main attraction was simply an indicator of the fair's budget. Maybe it wasn't even an actual fair, just something the neighborhood threw together?

 

Whatever the case, Inkbrand felt himself perk up at the mention of a free ticket to the buffet he'd passed earlier. Kisses, train tickets - pfft, buck that. An all you can eat meal, however, was something else entirely, and if he'd had any qualms about getting down and dirt before, they were all erased in that instant.

 

"Move aside, move aside, ladies," the tattoo-clad Earth Pony drawled out, shouldering past a couple of mares to stand at the edge of the pit, "first winner coming through." He threw a wink up to the approving announcer pony, before he set down his messenger bag and began divesting himself of his jewelry and accessories. His headband would be fine, but Inkbrand wasn't about to take a chance that his jewelry and chains wouldn't slip off and get forever lost in the mud.

 

[moonshineTheleocat]

Java had heard that there was a fair happening over in Ponyville. And with near perfect timing too! His own month long vacation from hard days of work had finally started, and the golden opportunity of relaxation lied ahead of him! Just as fast as he had heard of the rumor, he sped off, flinging himself down the mountain that Canterlot sat on at high speeds! Leaving behind both his goggles and waistcoat. After all, can't be dressed professionally if you plan on having fun!

And when he arrived... he was expecting something utterly different. Something a little... more. He had known Ponyville for throwing quite the large celebrations that hundreds across equestria would come to enjoy. But he couldn't help but to feel that this was lack luster. It wasn't terrible to Java, however. But it wasn't the greatest thing he had seen.

But then he had came to the Mudpit. Which... humorously enough looked like it was set up as some sort of gladiator pit. Sort of like Java used to rough house with family during a reunion in Dodge Junction as an old Gear family tradition. Only... it wasn't muddy.... nor was it outside for that matter. Usually in some sort of rented out bar that had to be constantly rebuilt after it's use. But then came the announcer's voice.

"Step right up, ladies and gentle colts!" she cries out. "Do you have what it takes to win against the energy sapping, strength draining mud pit? Ten ticket are hidden deep in this pit, safely and clean in spherical containers. Ten fabulous prizes are waiting to be claimed! Feel like pigging out on the buffet but don't want to shell out the bits? Want a kiss from one of your other mud-diving competitors? Need to visit family outside of Ponyville, but don't have the bits? A simple splash and scurry through the mud can solve your problems! Don't wait and let somepony else snatch victory from your hooves!"

The mention of prizes had Java curious. But so far only three were actually mentioned. The kiss was probably the last thing that Java could actually care for. The buffet did sound interesting... as Java tends to keep a very tight budget. And the train ticket? Well... he has a pass for that. But... there were about seven other prizes yet to be mentioned!

Just as competitors were called up, he saw an acquaintance step forward into the mud pit.

"Move aside, move aside, ladies," the tattoo-clad Earth Pony drawled out, shouldering past a couple of mares to stand at the edge of the pit, "first winner coming through." He threw a wink up to the approving announcer pony, before he set down his messenger bag and began divesting himself of his jewelry and accessories. His headband would be fine, but Inkbrand wasn't about to take a chance that his jewelry and chains wouldn't slip off and get forever lost in the mud.

Java smiled after watching Inkbrand step up to the edge of the mud pool. With a light chuckle, Java stepped forward, flicking his wrapped disheveled tail through the air. “Oh really, Ink,” Java laughed with a competitive note behind his tone. Giving a wave to the announcer to signal he was taking the challenge. Java was quite sure that this would be an easy challenge. After all, he had ran through a storm nexus race against earth ponies, Pegasus, griffons in the Everfree Forest. How could it be any different? Aside from the mud of course.

He came to a stop after reaching the pit, and looked over to the challenger.

“Don't tip with that ego of yours, because I stand where you fall,” the pony sneered after dropping his own bag down to the ground. He didn't have much to take off, but he did take a moment to sit down and remove his horse shoes. They were usually well secured in place. But they weren't really meant for gripping down on mud.

[Blueblood]

*Just what is it about this town? How do I keep ending up at it?*

The question hung about perpetually in the back-brain of a lean and hungry-looking mare, wandering the Ponyville fairgrounds. She was frankly not impressed; it didn't even warrant a traveling troupe, not even of two-bit showpony shysters. That last was the biggest disappointment for Flying Brick, because just for a moment, when she had seen the fairground being set up, she had thought that just maybe, there would be a small circus troupe for her to join.

She sighed, hoping to drown out the noise of her stomach. Things had not worked out for the Stalliongrad native; she had left her home city to seek fortune as an athlete and street acrobat, but her talents were hard to sell as a solo act. Eventually, she ended up drifting from one place to another, scraping up what bits she could, but somehow, she always ended up back in Ponyville.

*It is like a storm gutter. You wash up here if you don't make an effort to get somewhere else.*

Right now, all she wanted to do was go home, but she had barely enough to pay for lunch, never mind a ticket back north. There had to be something...

... Ten fabulous prizes are waiting to be claimed! Feel like pigging out on the buffet but don't want to shell out the bits? Want a kiss from one of your other mud-diving competitors? Need to visit family outside of Ponyville, but don't have the bits? A simple splash and scurry through the mud can solve your problems!...

That caught her attention. Perking right up, the brick-colored Earth Pony trotted right up to the small crowd gathering around the mudpit, and without slowing one pace, vaulted right over the back row of ponies, went into a forward flip off the head of a stallion in the front row, and stuck the landing with a grin and a shout of confidence in a clipped northen accent. "I'll be taking one of those, I think!"

[SunsetSombra]

Ponyville was a place Vinyl had found herself visiting many a time, for many a reason - be it casual visits, odd shows, generally hanging with friends or taking part in some of the crazy events that took place around here....like for example, this whole mud wrestling thing...the result of a rather unexpected event that had transpired a short time ago in canterlot in a small unassuming place where many ponies casually shared time and drinks.

She was definitely looking forward to seeing how this little event wound up though - so many ponies were here gettin' involved and having such a good time already that Vinyl couldn't help but give a small smile of amusement...it was always cool how ponies of the world found even the silliest things to entertain themselves with, and nothing was quite so potentially as amusing to watch as a group of mud wrestling ponies in full flow...the action, excitement and general level of cheering that took place was a sight to behold!

She knew there was one pony here particularly she wanted to best, but she wan't going to go searching for him actively - if he was around, then she would see him sooner or later. There wasn't much point in getting TOO eager in poking at him just now since she knew that she was gonna take his flank down into the mud so darn hard later that he'd want to live in the stuff - but patience, of course, was going to have to be a thing here since he wasn't immediately in her line of sight.

The smell of carnival food and other temptations, however, get the better of the DJ mare and she trots off towards the direction of the refreshjments tent to pick up a few small edibles and to settle down before throwing herself into the heat of things. - all good things came to those who waited their turn, afterall!

[Zeig]

 

Oh, this bucking punk, huh?

 

Inkbrand responded to JavaSun's vocal jabs with a violent stab upwards with one hoof, a fitting enough gesture and all he was willing to give the other stallion. After that downright creepy and strange invitation to the brown Earth Pony's home in Canterlot some days ago, Inkbrand had cemented his view of the other deep in his mind, and wasn't about to let it go. For all his talk about nobles and their superior attitude, he was just as, and outright crazy to boot. Seriously, who bucking laughed as they got the stuffing beat out of them? That mental dominance trip the other stallion had tried to pull on him still simmered like a low burn in the back of Inkbrand's mind, but it wasn't significant enough for any other gesture or word from the pony, instead focusing on the challenge ahead of him.

 

Though, he had to quickly avert his eyes at the sudden light splash of mud that almost hit his face, courtesy of a reddish-brown colored mare.

And one that was obviously unafraid to get down and dirty. With a grin, Inkbrand finished packing up his belongings and stopped to pull off the black bandana wrapped around his right hind leg. "Not today, sweetheart!" he declared confidently, before vaulting himself over the mare and into the mud pit, as if they were playing a bizarre rendition of leap frog.

 

Immediately upon landing, the grey stallion sank a bit into the sticky substance, causing him to wobble as his fore legs took the brunt of the impact. With some effort, Inkbrand pulled his legs free to get on top of the sludge, even as he started casting his golden gaze around the area. There were no signs of tickets or boxes or plastic balls, or anything of the sort - how far down would they have to dig? Well, no point waiting around for one to slough its way to the surface.

 

Without anymore preamble, Inkbrand started pawing at the mud and shifting around his stance, a startled curse slipping through his lips as his legs kept repeatedly sliding into the mud or slipping on the surface. "Buck, it's like trying to walk on jello," he groaned to nopony in particular. It wasn't like he hadn't anticipated getting dirty - by, you know, climbing into a mud pit and all - but he really hadn't expected it to be this difficult. He'd figured it would be more like splashing in a muddy puddle after a rainy day, not sinking into a quagmire. Inkbrand was quickly finding out that strength was all but useless here, and force only seemed to get him stuck faster.

 

Still, there was a free buffet on the line. Ten tickets, only three competing ponies so far. Now was the time, if any, and the grey stallion continued the arduous task of sifting through the mud, eventually coming upon the reddish brown colored Earth Pony who'd been the first to enter the pit. "So," he huffed, a a cocky grin somehow finding its way to his face even as he sunk one foreleg deeper into the mud, trying to get a feel of anything. "Come here often?"

 

[moonshineTheleocat]

Java, the least he could say seemed utterly confused when he received that expression from Inkbrand. It’s not that he didn’t know what it meant. The violent force of it being driven upward into the air, along with what ever facial expression went along with it was enough to sort of detail it’s meaning. It was the reason why. The same reason that Java didn’t even know. He would have expected any other gesture, like the occasional “slit throat,” or “drop and sac-em,” even the “Can’t see me.” But, for Java, it was quite easy for him to conclude that Inkbrand doesn’t really like him. And that this same gesture did manage to draw a trickle of rage that the pony thought he sealed away long ago.

The pony tried to be nice. The pony even offered him to go partying with him after that akward meet up. He easily shrugged off what was said after the fact. And now he was treated like this? Publicly? With no competitive respect? No general Respect?! This was absolutely unacceptable to the competitive earth pony. The pony’s eyebrows even flattened. His smile turned for something flat with a small lift towards the edge of his lips. Almost a snarl actually.

Well tough beans! If that pony got the time to hate, then Java will show him the wrath of all nerds and dorks! The anger and proud power behind the generations of work horses before Java, the runt of the litter! And that not even nobles are afraid to get down and dirty! Java will soon put em in his place. Six feet under in a pile of bucking mud!

After watching the others touch down in the mud, the pony narrowed his eyes and slowly pushed out a hoof to jab at the pit testingly. The first one was a few quick slow jabs with the point, then with his entire hoof, then lastly he’d push down. Each one, he watched how the properties of the mud worked before finally raising up to all fours with a plan of action. This stuff felt exactly like the starchy junk they filled an entire pool with as part of a lab back in the academy. Stuff was solid when struck, but slimy and sticky when you fight against it.

He reared back, inhaling deeply and sprung forward. His hooves truck the dirt flatly. Hard enough to cause the material to feel quite hard under his hoofs, and let him spring back up into almost a skipping motion. After two or three heaps, he was almost atop Inkbrand. Who was searching in the mud, and had his hooves perfectly busy trying to fight the tar like substance. Java did not even announce his presence when made the charge. The last lounge was made, diving head first in an attempt to tackle into the gray stallion’s side and send him rolling. Silly Inkbrand. Don’t you know? THIS. IS. MUDWRESTLING!

Regardless if the first impact was made. The pony went on with his fearsome berserker assault, and continued to give the crowd the show that they had came for! He’d make the attempt to scoop him up out of the mud with his forehooves, easily ripping him free if the pony didn’t escape his clutches. Just to bound up into the air, and pile drive him hard into the muck. Head. First. He could no longer care if this made his image to the other stallion any worse. The die had already been cast. And for the pony's battle cry?

"I'M FIXIN TA PUT THE HURTIN ON SOME PONY," was boomed out through an angry snarl.

[Blueblood]

Flying Brick had let out one sharp bark of a laugh as the cocky gray stallion had planted all his hooves in the mud, quickly discovering its treacherous nature. That laughter did not last long, as the mare herself was also in the midst of the muck, and her first attempted step sent her sprawling on her stomach. "Yech," She muttered, pulling herself free with effort, "It feels like more like grandmother's borscht. Looks like it too." Suppressing a momentary urge to see if it actually tasted the same, she set to work fording the pit in search of her ticket home.

While Brick was agile under normal circumstances, her normal circumstances were urban. She had no intrinsic love of the countryside, and the goopy mess under her hooves only made her nostalgic for the cobblestones of her native Stalliongrad. The other competitors seemed more at ease with the situation. One was even trying to flirt with her! Perhaps in another time and place, Inkbrand would have found her more receptive. As it was, she was hungry and sharply competitive. "Here? I am, more than I like; I am trying to get home, but I have no money." With that curt answer, she broke off the conversation, setting to the search eagerly.

Or would have, if the wave of mud from Java's sudden assault had not sent her sprawling once again. This time, she was able to assess that the mud did indeed taste like her grandma's borscht, only with a grittier texture. She sprang up again, literally spitting mad. "By the red pants of Karnov, I'll fix you for that!" And she leapt in on top of Java, making the first bout a three-way brawl.

[Dunder]

"Awwww, yeah! Thank you, ice cream vendor!" Dunder exclaimed as he happily trotted down the Ponyville carnival road. A small fair to enjoy the simpler things in life for a day before going back to Cloudsdale to work in the small and hot kitchen he usually found himself in these days. But that was a worry to be saved for later, now he had the food of the Princesses clasped firmly in his wing's grip.

He knew the main attraction was the mud-wrestling. He thought of joining, but the thought was quickly struck away when he found the ice cream vendor. This was his first cone and he planned to get many more, too many to wrestle right afterwards. By the crowd starting to gather around the mud pit ropes he could safely bet that the first few competitors had decided to test their skills and find some of the prizes. Now only if the pegasus stallion could work himself to get closer and get a good view. Soon he found himself getting bumped left and right as the ponies started to crowd around to get a view of the fighting. He held his icecream over his head as he tried to wiggle and push his way to the front. Only if he could use his wings! Oh, but the joy of being able to watch others struggle for some prizes while enjoying some cold icecream will be worth it. And no sneaking licks, he was going to save this for when he had a comfy spot in the front.

There was plenty of space around the perimeter of the pit, but the sheer mass of ponies trying to save a spot to view was enough to bump and push the pegasus stallion around who was concerned with defending his icecream. After some bumps and some pushes he was finally against the ropes. Ah! At least the front of the crowd. And now to finally enjoy the sweet strawberry icecream clasped by his wing. Now just to lean forward, bring the wing close and get a lick of the pink strawberry icecream held by the crunchy wafflecone.

"I'M FIXIN TA PUT THE HURTIN ON SOME PONY," Was what Dunder heard before time slowed down. The beating of his heart echoed in his ears as he help;ess;y watched. He stopped the movement of his neck forward to get a lick of the icecream, to watch lone splash of mud flew from the pit and slammed against the side of the scoop. It was almost magnificent to see his treat get ruined so easily in such detail. To add insult to injury, the impact of the mud knocked the pink scoop off the cone.

He stood there a moment to observe the pink scoop rest in the grass and turn shiny and glossy as it melted under Celestia's sun. While watching the icecream melt his stomach filled with a shirt for vengeance. He looked at the pit to see the competitors and size them up. As long as he retained his knowledge of combat he was sure he would succeed.

Dunder quickly pushed his saddlebags and sword off his side to relieve himself of everything except what he was born with. His face was stone cold as he flexed his wings, crouched low, and checked his surroundings. After he was clear, he jumped up with the help of a mighty single flap of his wings. In the air he assessed the situation: Three ponies all clumped together and struggling in the mud. He kept in the back of his mind that this was a match to wrestle, which meant grappling.

From the sky Dunder smashed into the mud. He looked at the three struggling ponies with a snarl. The pegasus stallion got on his hindlegs and smacked his chest with his forehooves, "I HAVE COME TO ENACT MY VENGEANCE IN THE NAME OF MY STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM AND WAFFLECONE COMBO!" He bawled before getting back on all fours and charging at the group of ponies.

[SunsetSombra]

Vinyl had been watching the mudfight with keen interest - the gathering number of ponies had indeed started to make the proverbial mess of things, and the mare found herself chuckling from the antics....it certainly seemed that a free buffet was worth risking a clean coat and mane for, and that suited the white DJ just fine. She had, afterall, been in many situations where mud was something she'd woken up covered in before...this kinda thing wasn't even a challenge!

She watches for a few more minutes, sizing up her opponents - Earth ponies more than other types for the moment it seemed...Despite the Earth pony natural advantages, this situation just made things all the sweeter, since she figured that in such a small event like this, there wouldn't be much in the way of magic restrictions that would really limit how she could handle herself. She wasn't likely just going to go overboard, at any rate...but a few magically devised moments were on the cards if she could think of anything creatively to make of it.

" Guess I oughta get my flank in there before I wind up late....wouldn't wanna disappoint certain pon's! " she says to herself, chuckling slightly before making her way towards where the muddy enclosure was located - there was no doubt in her mind that the battle would be pretty hard to win if a pony was left unprepared, but there was no way the mare was about to simply back out of the challenge now. there was a reputation to uphold an' ponies to beat...especially one particular tatooed Stallion who was absolutely ripe to be given a little taste of humility, served all in the name of good fun of course. Still, the mare didn't really wanna think she was underestimating anypony here - he had a slight height and weight advantage, as well as a natural sturdiness brought on from his Earth Pony'ness...and considering that most of her other opponents in there were of a similar stature, she was probably in for a l'il bit of an interestingly tough time.

She flicks her shades to a safe place nearby and shakes down her mane as she trots over towards the big ol' mud slop....jumping in with a yell of " CHAAAAAAARGE! "

For the Unicorn DJ, it was officially game time - she knew roughly what to expect, but there wasn't any way this was going to be a walk in the park, not this muddy battle!

[Zeig]

 

Who-kay then.

 

Either the mare really wasn't all that thrilled to be slugging around in the mud and wanted to get out as quick as possible, was extremely desperate to get one of those train tickets and head back to her home, or - maybe - was so hungry that in her mind, there was no time for anything at the moment except finding a buffet ticket.

 

Or maybe she just didn't appreciate being hit on. It was probably one of the other reasons.

 

Inkbrand snidely thought of making some sort of joke, but checked himself just in time, scowling down onto his mud-caked hooves instead. He liked to ruffle pony's feathers, sure, but even he wasn't stupid enough to make a comment about getting in between a mare and her food. That sort of jab tended to kick mares right in the emotion, regressing them to memories of being a few pounds overweight or being unable to fit into their older dresses, and also had the sound frequency to reach halfway across Equestria. All of which usually resulted in a mob of angry and emotionally damaged mares baring down on him in defense of own of their home, screaming in his face about how insensitive he was and they were beautiful just they way they were and they didn't need to conform to society's standards and -

 

The grey stallion gave a full body shudder, standing directly where he was. No thanks, just…no thanks. Wasn't worth it.

 

And that was all Inkbrand really had time to contemplate before he felt hooves grab onto his sides. Strong ones.

 

The tattoo-clad stallion was rearing forward without really thinking about it, driven by instinct and reaction as a startled "The buck is - " slipped through his lips. He narrowly avoided crashing into the mare in front of him as he slid around, already locked into a defensive position as he caught sight of none other than JavaSun, baring down on him and screaming out an inane war cry. "'Ya know, this little crush of yours is really getting old," Inkbrand snarled, even if he was highly confused at how riled up the other Earth Pony had apparently gotten from his gesture - especially considering how cooly and calmly he'd acted that night at his home.

 

Whatever the case, the little piece of bull rot was clearly intending to start something, which suited Inkbrand just fine - maybe another beating would settle the matter - but before he could, the mare had suddenly sprung onto JavaSun's back, causing all three of them to topple over into the mud. In little time, Inkbrand found himself attempting to grab JavaSun in a chokehold while also trying to keep the mare off of him with one hind leg, confusion over the impromptu struggle only fueling his instinctual drive. Hay yeah, if that's how they wanted to play it? Bucking fine by him.

 

Until, that was, yet another impact had them all pausing, the miniature tidal wave of mud crashing all the way up to Inkbrand's neck. The grey stallion paused in his struggles, looking around to see the new threat that was -

 

'HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF - '

 

Inkbrand may have glimpsed flashes from his foalhood as the force of the very large, very muscular Pegasus knocked all of them over, the grey stallion himself skidding on top of the mud a little ways away. This had gotten way crazy, way fast. And as incredulous as Inkbrand was at the sudden turn of events, a grin was forming its way on his face, causing him to get back onto his hooves and charge the tussling ponies. "Oh you little fillies want to play, huh?!" he jeered as he ended up half on top of the large Pegasus, attempting to climb his way over using the base of his right wing. He didn't even care why the Pegasus had joined in - something about strawberries? - but this was turning out to be exactly the sort of physical exertion he needed to unwind with.

 

Yet another large splash of mud caught Inkbrand's attention, though he was vaguely surprised to see that he recognized this unicorn. "Vinyl, baby!" the tattoo-clad stallion called out with a hoof raised in the air, though that was all he had time to say before he was rolled further into the fray, attempting to once again lock the nearest pony in a chokehold.

 

[Zeig]

On June 9, 2014 at 8:26 AM, moonshineTheleocat said:

 

 

One of your hooves hits something as you're tussling through the mud. It feels spherical in shape. If pulled out, you'll see that it is a round compartment that can be twist open to reveal a ticket.

[moonshineTheleocat]

"'Ya know, this little crush of yours is really getting old," Inkbrand snarled,

Java could barely even contain himself now. He had already been riled up from the same pony's lack of respect and sportsmanship for a competitive game. And now this little piece of crud was making assumptions about his tastes in stallions? Java just might have thought he was only taunting him... if he actually sounded anything LIKE he did back in that friendly spar they had. Perhaps Java may have accidentally sent the wrong message all those nights ago? Either way, such a thought escaping this little stallion made him want to put his hoofs on him and rip him in half! And if the pony's hooves weren't LITERALLY stuck in the mud, he just might have tried! Sure, objectively Java could admit that Inkbrand was hot, but he still didn't feel anything for him under the surface. Not even the ole phrase of tap-it and quit-it crossed his mind about him.

Just before the pony could actually do anything else, he was in a choke-hold by the pony underneath him. Though... it may not have been the most... effective choke hold... maybe just sort of... wrapping of the fore hooves around the back of some pony's neck. Judging by the position of things, the on lookers may easily suspect something utterly different. “Still on that,” Java growled as he tried to pull his head free. Though with his hooves deep in the mud, he couldn't exactly gain the leverage to break away. “I don't even have a thing for you. But fine! HOW ABOUT A KISS,” The brown earth pony snarled as he opened his jaws wide and brought his head down to bite down on Inkbrand's snout. Luckily for him, the sudden weight on his back suddenly caused him to completely overshoot his attack, and eat that dirt instead. Literally.

Apparently things easily went from just a peaceful search in the mud, to some crazy demented wrestling match from tautarus. He should have actually expected this from Ponyville. Because right after Java pulled his jaws away from the mud, after getting a great helping of mud in his stomach he noticed something odd. Right after making a mental note about how oddly delicious the muck tastes, he caught Inkbrand's attention being diverted from the corner of his eyes. One glance down onto Inkbrand's expression told him to now look up. And so he di-

“WHAT THE BU-” was the pony managed to cry out before, BOOOOOOOOOOOOM. The sudden cannon balling of a musclar stallion was enough to rip Java out of the mud and sent him cartwheeling through the air with a tidal wave of mud chasing after him. He slammed down hard into the muck, with the wave now splashing on top of him. Looks like his little thought about Dunder back in Canterlot's Donut Joe's had just now been confirmed. The handsome vigilantly of the culinary arts was very real! And just like at Donut Joes before this battlefield, his mind began to wonder.

Armed with just his bare-hooves, the paladin of the skillet lusts revenge for his long lost beloved strawberry icecream. And just as his hooves had always skillfully cracked the eggs of tatarus hens, they flail through the air with such blinding speed to crack the skulls of all those who had stepped between him and his prize. A story so compelling, it could easily be placed a comic. Even in the midst of Java's rage, he still could fantasize some crazy stories, and support a small chuckle at the idea.

When Java rose to his hooves, his coat was bristling and standing on end. Oh... how close this pony was to completely flipping his rot. Only his forehoof kicking against something managed to calm him down quite a bit. His gaze dipped downwards to spot a plastic sphere just waiting for him.

“That's right,” he thought to himself. The searing heat on his skull dying down just slightly after remembering the point of the competition. He slowly bent over and plucked the ball out of the mud with his teeth. His head swivled around for a moment to check on the situation, before slowly trotting off to the edge with his new prize. He figured that it'd be better if he just secured the ball first, and used the time to cool off his head. And so he began to long and tiring sludge through the muck back to his saddle bag at the edge of the mud pool.

“If... one more pony... jumps on my back.... I swear I will bucking do some sort of acrobatic pirouette off the handle bars, and into the deep end,” he grumbled to himself as he waded through the muck back to his saddle bag.

[Blueblood]

In full truth, when it came to picking up subtle hints, Flying Brick could be as dense as, well, your average stallion; she was that much of a tomcolt. Also, she was hungry, and nopony is quite themselves in that condition. Your average pony is peaceful, non-belligerent, and expert at non-violent dispute resolutions. Catch them half an hour before lunch, however, and they will scrap in the dirtiest of circumstances literally for trifles.

The cheering from the sidelines served to energize the Earth Pony mare. In truth, she was a performer; what bits she made were generally from street exhibitions of acrobatic prowess, not that this was any good venue to show off that particular skillset. Aside from the initial grab at Java, her game was entirely reactive, avoiding kicks from Inkbrand, and impacts from Vinyl and Dunder. Wriggling out from an attempted chokehold, she gasped for air, spitting out a glob of mud (which, naturally, did taste like her grandmother's borscht, only with a grittier texture.)

"Alright! Little filly playtime is over! We fight like grown stallion's now!" Ironically, her first move after that was to sweep her legs at the only other mare in the pit, attempting to entangle and flip over the unicorn, hopefully disturbing the mud enough to make another one of the prize balls emerge.

[SunsetSombra]

WOAH, this was already pretty intense - with a full on pileup happening here, Vinyl already found herself gettin' poked, prodded and jabbed unexpectedly as hooves and tails made unceremonious slaps against her side and muzzle, leaving small streaks. There was no mistake about this, Mud fighting wasn't something anypony could just leap into and master, there was all manner of slippery and shenanigans at play that would make things tricky, if not impossible, for those who weren't expecting them.

Vinyl, however, was a showmare...she'd been around clubs and enough rough'n'tumble stallions and mares to know that you didn't quit at a little mud...heck, some ponies played out in muddy festivals and had a seriously good time doing it. Vinyl was such a mare, and as a result, was finding her hooves decently enough as she held her own during the battle of the muddy slop.

her focus wasn't really a prize as such, she simply intended on making sure that she came out on top...at least she knew that earth ponies were hardy and could take a few playful blows here and there. unicorns weren't necessarily known for being 'tough' in comparison to an earth ponies general stature, but the Unicorn DJ liked to think she could hold her own in a fair fight - the teasing smirk on her muzzle as she deliberately swatted some mud at a few of the nearest ponies whilst keeping out of an immediate confrontation once she removed herself slightly from the tangled heap that had greeted her upon her entry into this fun little mess. Sure, she expected to get a little roughed up in return eventually, but she wasn't one to not take what she gave, and thus was prepared to receive whatever was coming her way....be it a mud pie to the muzzle, or the delicious buffet prize that, perhaps, she might win a ticket to during this slippy, slidy affair.

" Now THIS is what I call a dancefloor! " she says out loud, giggling as she watches the nearest couple of ponies gettin' down and dirty. " Messy - Just how I like it! "

[Dunder]

"Oh you little fillies want to play, huh?!"

Dunder could feel excessive weight on his wing. For a moment he was ready to topple, but a quick adjustment of his legs and his other wing sticking out helped prevent this. The pony on his back felt strong and heavy enough to break a pegasus wing. Dunder sprawled all four of his legs out to stabilize his stance. "Leave the horseplay...To the big colts!" Dunder replied as he tried to grab Ink around the hindlegs, but Ink let go of the wing and escaped to greet another pony.

Dunder swung his head around to catch sight of this new competator and size them up, but his eyes locked on a Java who was attempting an escape. "Where do you think you're going?!" Dunder called out as he charged at the retreating Java. The mud was tiring out his legs quicker than he anticipated, especially in this charge. When he got close, he slowed his momentum but still slammed into Java on the side. Nothing that a full-grown stallion couldn't handle.

[Zeig]

 

Well, alright.

 

Sudden promises of death in the form of muscular Pegasi bearing down on him and an apparently obsessed stallion way too into him for his comfort aside, this was fun.

 

Even more fun when whatever pony that was holding him down let up, and Inkbrand was able to poke his head out of the pile and bucking breathe. He was sure he looked a grand mess, covered head to toe in mud and grime and whatever else was floating around in the pit, and he was vaguely glad he'd had the foresight to store aware his precious accessories. The fighting had escalated quickly, and there would have undoubtedly been some lost gems snapped from their chains and strings, forever lost in the muck.

 

But buck yeah, this was fun as Tartarus! This kind of roughhousing was what the tattoo-clad stallion had grown up with, tussling and mock-brawling with the ponies back home, most of them eager to show off and call the rest to hoof. Ponyville was nice and relaxing, most of the time, but Inkbrand didn't keep in shape by lounging about all day, and fights were few and far in between in the quiet town. Having an excuse to roll around, tussle with some ponies, and maybe even get a free meal out of the whole deal was just too much to pass up.

 

Not to mention the tussling that included pretty mares crawling through the mud. The sudden discharge of the tan colored Pegasus, propelling towards JavaSun with enough force to almost make Inkbrand feel sorry for the other Earth Pony - almost - finally allowed the grey stallion the leverage he needed to push himself away from the dwindling crowd in the mud, finding a precarious hoofing on the slipper surface. He ended up performing a sort of bizarre, ice-skating sprawl across the mud as he attempted to cross it, but it got the job done well enough as he slid down to his rump to sit almost directly in front of the familiar white unicorn, cheeky grin getting right up into her face.

 

"You've always liked it messy, you dirty little mare!" the grey Earth Pony jeered cheerfully, attempting to get onto four hooves once again. The action only made him slide forward more, and Inkbrand ended up throwing his forelegs around Vinyl's waist as he careened into her, sending the both of them back down into the mud with him almost fully on top. The physical exertion from the fight already had him breathing heavily, but the sheer fun of slipping and sliding and being a general fool in the mud threatened more as he struggled to both contain breathless laughter, and to not crush the smaller mare underneath him.

 

"Pinned," Inkbrand crowed, making himself entirely comfortable with his forelegs still wrapped around the white unicorn. "Try dancing your way out of this one!"

 

[Zeig]

On June 9, 2014 at 8:26 AM, moonshineTheleocat said:

 

 

Once the spherical container is opened, your prize reveals itself to be a two-way train ticket, from any stop on the Express to any other stop, and back again.

 

On June 13, 2014 at 0:18 PM, Rackenhammer said:

 

 

One of your hooves hits something as you're tussling through the mud. It feels spherical in shape. If pulled out, you'll see that it is a round compartment that can be twist open to reveal a ticket.

[moonshineTheleocat]

Java was quite near the edge of the pool, his breathing a bit labored as his own heavy stature made it quite difficult to pull his hooves from the deep mud pit to take a step. He only had a few hoof steps to go. Well that was till a hulking muscular stallion's voice boomed over the rough housing ponies once more.

Curiously Java looked up and glanced to the side with a raised brow, he didn't have any time to react when the same very pony came smashing into his side and rolling him over into the mud, hitting the poor pony as hard as a buffalo. Instead of a yelp, the impact forced out a loud high pitched squeek. Sort of like a dog's chew toy. He rolled in the mud after having his hooves ripped out once more, and landed on his side.

“Well... it's not on my back,” the pony thought to himself as he slowly rolled back up to his hooves. He spat the ball out, and let it roll off towards his bag before turning around to face Dunder. He took a moment to size him up. Muscular, and angry for some reason. Guy like that would be the last pony that Java would seriously want to buck with. But, in the sport of mud-wrestling, the pony would allow it. After all, when he rough houses with family, they are all bigger than he. This would be no different.

“Alright Big boy..” Java growled as he now dipped his head low, and lowered his stature. He then charged forward, “you might be the chef here, but I am the crooked cook cookin somethin with a side of collateral in this kitchen!” He then acted as if he was about to jump up into the air, only to quickly dip down to try and slide under Dunder. If he did manage it, he'd spring upwards this time aiming to bashing his head hard into his stomach and flip him over. “AND THAT SOMETIN IS YOU!”

[Blueblood]

Rough and tumble as she was, Flying Brick was a city mare, through and through. Thus, while she'd always be in the middle of any alleyway tussle she found herself smack dab in the middle of, in this mud-wrestling contest, she was all business. Her horseplay had been directed towards one purpose, and one purpose only: to get a prize capsule.

Besides her initial dive, and her sweeping the puddle with Vinyl Scratch, therefore, she'd found herself at the edge of the fray. This was fortunate for her, as the churned globs of earth had revealed one of the prize capsules, which she immediately seized upon. "Aha! Great Success for Flying Brick! Proof positive of Stalliongrad superiority!" Caught up in the exhilaration as she was, the earth pony mare neglected to consider that this was only half the battle. She still needed to get out of the mud pit with the capsule, and now she had just alerted everypony that she had found one...

[SunsetSombra]

Ah snap, Vinyl found herself in a predicament that meant she was already at the mercy of what seemed to be all the cockiest ponies she'd ever known rolled up into one and used as an artists sketchpad...seriously, she couldn't help but roll her eyes a little as the stallion gave a return smirk - Looked like this was gonna be some kinda battle afterall, and not just one fought with mud!

" Oh, I bet you say that to all the mares you meet! " she replies with a devious smirk, just taking a momnet to survey her surroundings....she couldn't exactly get up and move or do anything, she was pinned down pretty good. there really weren't many ways she could just get away, so she'd just have to play a little more craftily with what was available to her. She winks and looks up at her tattoed captor with the look of a mare who wasn't entirely uncomfortable with what was going on. " Still, you've never danced with me, have ya? "

All at once, Vnyls horn lights up and small mudballs would pelt at Inkbrand from behind - and a big glob of mud attacks him from the front as the mare then uses this as an opening to struggle free from her rather ugly 'prison' underneath the cocky rogue. She wasn't gonna just give up on gettin' even with him, but right now she just needed to get her breath back, regroup and make sure that his cheeky l'il smirk was given more than enough mud to chew on to reconsider makin' such a poor attempt of a quip whilst being unprepared for a serving of literal mud pie!

" Ha, that all you got, Inkbutt? " she says with a small chuckle, keeping her eyes on the other combatants for a moment. " or are ya ready for seconds? "

The DJ Unicorn shakes her mane and tail free of mud with a flick, wiping each eye free of clinging earth particles as she regained a more confident posture. - It was about this point that she heard a rather bold proclamation of success from nearby:

"Aha! Great Success for Flying Brick! Proof positive of Stalliongrad superiority!"

The choice had to be made....which was the better target, she pondered - Inkbrands pride, or the golden ticket for somethin' delicious?

Ah, Decisions, Decisions!

[Dunder]

Dunder landed a successful hit from the charge. The impact sent Java sprawling on the ground, but the charge through the mud left Dunder's legs tired from running in the muck. Dunder was panting and his brow kept sweat from dripping in his eyes. Still, he was not out of the fight and not prepared to give up. When Java did a quick counter attack, Dunder was too tired to move out of the way. He would have lept to the side, but the charging Java got him in the stomach.

The pegasus fell onto his back with a thud and a few coughs. "Ow..." He said and heaved as he got back to a standing position. "You talk too much..." Dunder grunted under his breath while locking eyes with Java. The pegasus reared up on his hindlegs and stomped his forehooves in the mud. He huffed hot breath out of his nostrils and began to trot towards his target.

Dunder began charging at Java, hooves stomping on the ground as he ran at the earth stallion. He aimed another tackle at the earth stallion, hoping it would tie them both up.

[Zeig]

 

Inkbrand wasn't entirely sure if he had signed up to eat mud. Literally. He also wasn't exactly sure if he could entirely care at the moment, too focused on avoiding choking to death, courtesy of a mudpie straight to the face.

 

Bucking unicorns and their magic, levitating rot all over the place!

 

The tattoo-clad stallion keeled over to one side off of Vinyl, hacking and coughing and probably snorting up some mud from the sudden assault both his back and front got. It didn't seem to slow him down however - on the contrary, Inkbrand felt his grin split even wider and become more feral, glaring sharply at the white unicorn from under his dirty fringe. "Baby, you couldn't handle all I've got," he crooned, hoping that he sounded at least half as intimating and promising as he wanted while trying to hack up a lung.

 

Before he could attempt to enact revenge however, a loud shout drew his attention back towards the center of the mud pit, where the Earth Pony from earlier - Flying Brick, really? Inkbrand had to pause and snicker at the mental image of a brick sailing gracefully through the air - had just announced her great success, sphere held triumphantly in her hooves. The grey stallion's first inclination was to ignore her and go back to tussling with Vinyl - what stallion would pass up rolling in the mud with a mare like her, seriously? - when his eyes fell past the white unicorn and towards the pond, where the buffet tables had been set up.

 

On cue, his stomach gave a piteous rumble, causing Inkbrand to glance downwards for a moment, before his golden gaze swept back up towards Vinyl, mouth tilting sideways in a lopsided grin as he realized that the white unicorn's gaze was also resting on Brick. Inkbrand considered his options for a whole entire second, before he abruptly turned around, sliding on the mud a bit. "Why take seconds when I can have the first bite, eh?" he laughed over his shoulder, before focusing his efforts on reaching the other mare before Vinyl and her sneaky unicorn magic did.

 

It didn't take too long for the tattoo-clad stallion to slide nearby Flying Brick, almost flattening her in the process. "Don't mind if I do," Inkbrand said, rather courteously in his mind, one hoof balancing himself next to Flying Brick as he stretched out his head in an attempt to sweep the sphere into his mouth, near climbing over the other Earth Pony in his efforts to reach the prize. Buck, he could almost taste those strawberry and cucumber sandwiches!

 

[moonshineTheleocat]

Java smirked after watching the larger stallion suddenly flip over and hit the mud on his back with mud splattering everywhere. He then began to trot back a few paces as he rose back up to his feet again. “Talk to much,” Java cooed in a questioning tone as a wicked grin now took over his expression. He actually began to chuckle a bit. For some reason the pony’s anger just left him, and soon he was brought back to just good ole times. Though his own muscles where on fire after having to slodge through that mud, a new feeling just invigorated the pony’s morale. Not much work done for his fatigue however.

“Oh please, you were all spark just mere moments ago,” he continued on, wondering if he could actually provoke the Pegasus further. Java continued pacing back a few more, lengthening the distance between the two. Even as Dunder rose up to and stomped into the mud. Once he began his charge though, so did Java.

“You want revenge for your beloved strawberry ice cream! THEN. COME. AT. ME. BRO” the engineering pony bellowed out in mid charge. His head was tilted down, and his neck running parallel with his own body. Java’s teeth was gritted to keep himself from biting his tongue on what he was about to do. What was he going to do? Oh nothing to risky. Something that might cause head trauma in the future, for the weaker ponies who were cheering for those brawling in the pit of “delicious” muck. Fore Java knew that this clash of hooves between him and the Pegasus was no mere normal bout anymore. Dunder had chosen to make this personal, and an effort of revenge. Even to deny Java himself of a prize that had sated his original rage. No this wasn’t about who was a bigger pony.

This was about the story of an ice-cream cone. Revenge. And two hungry strapping young stallions.

Java continued to build up speed. Even when the two were just a hair shy away from collision. Instead of stopping, the pony continued moving. As if he was going to just charge right on through dunder, and leave him trampled and covered with hoof marks in the muck. He dipped his head down, and quickly lounged forward. He wasn’t going for any special tricks now. It was just brute force.

He aimed to connect headfirst with the other stallion as hard as he could. Though Java was pretty sure that Dunder could handle it, given the pegasus’ background in the past. If the two’s heads collided, a thundering skull clunking sound would tear through the air. And if the collision did make, Java’s head would be swimming from such a violent move. But he’d keep moving. He’d just try to drive Dunder back while he was dazed with his rear hooves taking more short choppy steps to keep a grip against the muck. His fore hooves on the other hand would have quickly moved up to try and catch the stallion under his hooves, and lift him up into the air just so Java could push him over and pin him down.

[Blueblood]

It is a wise and venerable saying that 'Pride goes before a Fall.' There was, of course, the universal balance and harmony of things, in which circumstances could conspire to humble the haughty. Usually, though, its truth was due to the fact that anypony displaying arrogance elicited desires in all within hearing range to take them down a peg or two. Flying Brick would not be the first mare to learn that lesson in Ponyville.

It didn't take her long to realize that her outburst had attracted attention from the pit. Two ponies, in fact, directed their gazes her way. One was the unicorn mare from earlier, the other the tattooed Earth Stallion. It was the latter she had to deal with first, as he made a power slide into her, very nearly knocking her off her hooves. In fact, it was only the fact that Inkbrand had plowed so close into her that she was able to keep her balance by bracing against him, bringing them eye-to-eye.

But was she about to give up to this forward stallion? Not a chance! She grinned at him. "First bite of me? You should buy mare dinner first!" Flying Brick called out, dropping the sphere into her own mouth just as Inkbrand was getting his own teeth around it. With a wink, she suddenly drew her rear hooves together, sliding down onto her back by plunging between the stallion's hooves. With a grunt, she planted her front hooves behind her head and whipped her body in an attempt at a backwards hoof-stand, thinking to lever Ink up and over, planting him face-first into the mud.

Unfortunately, what would have been a simple maneuver for the acrobat on brick and cobblestone turned into an utter mess in the sticky, slippery medium in which the melee was held. She levered him only an inch or two before they both splashed down in a heap, catching Vinyl in the blast radius. It was all Brick could do to hold on to her prize-sphere, attempting to literally wrest victory from the jaws of defeat!