The Arena: moonshine VS. zoebel

[moonshineTheleocat]

Captain StarBreezer slowly sauntered down a hall under the stands of the arena with a prideful gate. The air was a bit stagnant with sweat from other contestants; but, this only seemed to improve the mare's mood even further. She was grinning with delight as the crowd's thundering roars above her grew louder and wilder the further she went into the tunnel. The light at the end had practically bloomed into a bath of yellow sunlight the moment it gave through to the arena she'd find her opponent in.

She had stepped out into the open with her Halberd floating lazily beside her on the right. Her helmet was off and floating to her left. Covering her torso was her REA Captain's standard issue armor, ready to receive more nicks and badges of honor in today's thrashing.

Oh, she saw skill in her opponent. And she wanted to challenge it with one heck of a good fight.

“Well sweety! 'Ere we be, with the crowds screamin with glee! Try to giv a goud show, ya,” The mare cooed with a grin. Her hooves moved her closer to the center of the arena while her magic spirited her helmet away to sit on the side lines.

Once it was settled in place, she reached out to snatch up her halberd with a hoof, and spike it hard down into the ground. The hard dirt floor crumbled and split from the spear point's impact.

“Cuz ye not gonna disappoint jus them. Ah didn't dress up all sparkly ta not get dirty,” The seasoned captain cackled. Her head gave a quick jerk to fling her hair out of her one good eye, and to flip it over her eye patch. Her grin broadened with her excitement.

[Pretzelparty]

Saar, the city of blows, tales, and battle. Given Sigrun's Nature she was more than at home here in some ways and appalled by this place by others. Today The Jarl of askr was here solely because of the promise of the thrill of battle. Her reputation had already proceeded her even before she entered the city as it seemed some of the citizens of Saarvagerg admired the reported ferocity and skill of the cow had been uniting clans under her and her sister's banner. Word that one of the Silver eyed sister's had spread quickly as the spectators watching today were crowded with members of not only Sigrun's own clan but many of the other species that the jarl had worked with in order to strengthen her clan.

Walking slowly out on to the arena's floor, The jarl tossed her heavy cloak aside. It seemed today she had chosen to go with lightweight armor, if a blade came at her it would be more likely she should try to dodge it rather than. Her chest and neck a the very least had some armored covering, in addition to a helmet. At one side of her was one normal sword and at her other was a sheathed dagger. She already had a shield on one of her forelegs and on her lips she bore a delighted smile which only grew once she saw her opponent.

​

“Well sweety! 'Ere we be, with the crowds screamin with glee! Try to giv a goud show, ya,” The mare cooed with a grin. Her hooves moved her closer to the center of the arena while her magic spirited her helmet away to sit on the side lines.

Once it was settled in place, she reached out to snatch up her halberd with a hoof, and spike it hard down into the ground. The hard dirt floor crumbled and split from the spear point's impact.

“Cuz ye not gonna disappoint jus them. Ah didn't dress up all sparkly ta not get dirty,” The seasoned captain cackled. Her head gave a quick jerk to fling her hair out of her one good eye, and to flip it over her eye patch. Her grin broadened with her excitement.

"Ah... I remember you. I met you during the crystal empire's restoration..." she chuckled,"I hope your boy has been well." Taking off her own helmet a moment, Sigrun grinned brighter as she heard Starbreezer's hopes for a good show. Her equine opponent had gone with a halberd... a good choice for somepony dealing with a statuesque cow like The Frejasdottir. Her heavier armor might limit her movement a bit, given the state of her armor, Sigrun would have to assume she wasn't the type to dodge. What was going to make this battle truly interesting was the levitating halberd; use of a weapon through telekinesis was not something to be underestimated. "OH don't worry, Captain... I promise you and I shall get plenty dirty before this match is over." said with Askr Caribou with a playful smirk, "For now... I shall offer you the chance to strike first."

​

[moonshineTheleocat]

The mare's grin expanded further when she was politely given the first chance to attack. The mare's hoof gripped down on the shaft of her halberd, and wrenched it free from the dirt with a twist and heave. The mare reared onto her back hooves, and spun the weapon in front of her. The longer end of the shaft now planting it's self firmly in the grip of the other hoof.

She studied her opponent for a few more seconds. Her eye danced over the features of the cow, taking note of every bit of anatomy that she could easily exploit when the time came. Then the weapons of choice. A sword, dagger, and bracer.

This cow was going for a speedy approach. The bracer wouldn't be a problem if the mare latches or reangles her strikes. But if Sigurn gets close onto her, could mean the end of the match. So, the mighty Captain concluded to keep the cow on her toes, and wait for a mistake.

“Me boy's fine! Healed up and trottin along,” The mare hummed as she now lowered her body down into a more balanced stance for her current choice of footing. “And...” The mare began, with a very thoughtful tone.

What's this cow's game? Riposte?

“Thas polite of ye to offer first strike. Odd balled, yea, but I won't resist!~”

The mare's body lowered quickly so her legs now behaved like a spring. She allowed her balance to falter, and force her to lean forward in the motion. But instead of falling over, she used it to her advantage as a controlled way to lounge forward with her weapon cocked back ready to strike, but never far away from her own body in the case that she needs a hasty deflection.

Her one good eye remained locked on Sigurn's eyes. Her mane flapped with the wind as her body propelled forward. It wasn't until she was nearly back on the ground when she pulled her rear hooves closer to her body ready to catch her self.

The mighty halberd on the other hoof, continued with the momentum of her body. Her forelegs pushed forward like springs, striking out with the halberd into a quick and controlled thrust. The spear point's aim wasn't as deadly as the motion had seemed. In fact, it twirled off to the side to attempt make a slash at her opponents cheek. The spinning motion it took was to allow for the axe to slip past the cows body for the follow up.

Regardless if the initial contact was made the mare's twirling halberd came to a sudden stop and was promptly pulled back in a swinging motion to latch against Sigurn's antlers, and force her to the ground.

[Pretzelparty]

 

The mare's body lowered quickly so her legs now behaved like a spring. She allowed her balance to falter, and force her to lean forward in the motion. But instead of falling over, she used it to her advantage as a controlled way to lounge forward with her weapon cocked back ready to strike, but never far away from her own body in the case that she needs a hasty deflection.

Her one good eye remained locked on Sigurn's eyes. Her mane flapped with the wind as her body propelled forward. It wasn't until she was nearly back on the ground when she pulled her rear hooves closer to her body ready to catch her self.

The mighty halberd on the other hoof, continued with the momentum of her body. Her forelegs pushed forward like springs, striking out with the halberd into a quick and controlled thrust. The spear point's aim wasn't as deadly as the motion had seemed. In fact, it twirled off to the side to attempt make a slash at her opponents cheek. The spinning motion it took was to allow for the axe to slip past the cows body for the follow up.

Regardless if the initial contact was made the mare's twirling halberd came to a sudden stop and was promptly pulled back in a swinging motion to latch against Sigurn's antlers, and force her to the ground.

The time for words was over it seemed, Sigrun would have to wait to continue getting familiar with this pony later. It was a shame she wasn't making use of that fancy telekinesis that unicorn's did... but that only meant she was smart; A cow as strong as the Jarl of askr could easily knock the weapon out of her magical grasp and send it flying. Instead, Her opponent stuck to the true blue method of using one's hoofs. "This one is going to be fun..." she thought to herself. "My usual style won't work until she gets closer in... I'll have to either lure her closer, or get rid of her weapon." 

 

As Starbreezer assumed her position, The jarl exhaled and began to idly rock on her hooves. Her body not taking a particular stance until she saw her opponent surging forward, until the captain did it seemed more like the Jarl was jumping around in place. It seemed she was going for a powerful thrust, it had a good amount of power behind it but Sigrun could tell by the angle it wasn't aimed to finish this as soon as it started. A sudden twirl in the middle of the thrust confirmed her suspicions as the blade only managed to graze her cheek, a small trail over blood oozing down and off the side of her chin.

 

There was feeling of pressure coming from her antler for a second, something the cow reflexively took notice of and stepped inwards to hold herself upwards. Channeling a great deal of her strength into her neck and upper body, Sigrun quickly flung her head back and pulled herself upwards and reared back. If the holder of the Halberd was still attached then she would find herself hoisted into the air and then tossed a few feet away. It seemed this one was fond of finding anatomical weaknesses in an opponent; The Jarl would need to watch herself, particularly her antlers considering their size. If her attempt to toss her opponent had worked, the cow would instead of charging straight at the mare... would circle around her and attack from the side of her body with a potential blindspot; the side with her eyepatch. A shield was coming forth rapidly to make acquaintances with the pony's snout, hoping to leave her dazed. If the cow's attempt to daze her opponent had succeeded or not, the army mare would have to dodge or counter a very strong and fast slice from a low angle from sigrun's blade. Sigrun was making sure to save a portion of her strength for the final round so she made sure to not use enough power in the shield bash to effectively flatten the mare's face.

​ 

[moonshineTheleocat]

“Oh... that's no good...” The mare though to her self when she felt the Cow tug on her Halberd's shaft. Normally... letting go would typically seem like a brilliant idea! In fact it almost seemed to be the sanest of ideas. But to the mare, she knew well in advanced that surrendering a weapon like this would probably spell death in most circumstances. Especially against a Caribou, well known as war mongering vikings in the history books.

Well, the text books were certainly not off about the amount of power that just one of them held. Which, from what Starbreezer was witnessing as she was hoisted into the air dangling from her weapons shaft, that they could potentially rival the average Earth Pony in just sheer might.

 

A moment later she found the world upside down with her mane beating against her face. The mighty cow still had her hooves planted quite firmly on the dirt.. which was still where the sky should be. Another second and her ears entered a thundering concauphony as her body made contact with the grit, then sprang up to tumble further.

 

 

She gritted her teeth when she lost her grip on her weapon. The halberd went sailing away from her and sunk it's axe into the ground with a loud thunk. A bit of dust had been unsettled in it's wake. The mare herself had managed a recovery as graceful as one could in hefty armor. Her body rolled off of her back, where her legs had kicked her back into the air. The momentum that had carried her body had spun her back down to her hooves, where she landed in a slide.

The mare's one eye looked around the arena while her lungs beat the air into a pulp. Her mane and armor now covered in dirt.

“Where had she gone...” the mare thought to herself... till she realized. After so many years of living with that handy cap, she had grown quite accustomed to it. And had forgotten she had lost an eye at all. True it was possibly the most abused weakness. But she had always been smart enough to cover for it. Till now at least.

 

It was a realization that proved to be a bit late. The moment she whipped her head around, she caught sight of a shield for only a split second. It disappeared... but it's location was revealed just as quickly as it was gone. How? Well a hard heifer slap to the cheek of course. The blow had disoriented her, causing her to stumble. But after seeing something metallic and shiny coming down from the corner of her vision, she wizened up quickly.

 

Her hoof raised up quickly into the air, exposing the gauntlet at such an angel ready to deflect the blade. When the blade made contact, her arm twisted in a manner to allow the sword to slide along the surface, and shift the force away from her body. The contact had made the mighty captain wince, as the initial impact... had probably left a bruise. Which had been broadcaster by another hoof rising to brace her arm in place.

 

The sound of metal scraping metal filled the air with an earsplitting shriek. Thin sliver of the armor's paint job had been shaved away by the blade. But the mare wasn't quite done.

While she had braced her arm, her hooves drew her self closer inwards, and lowered her body closer to the ground to gain some leverage. The blocking hoof soon turned with the wrist facing the sky, just as the gauntlet was now supporting the arm. When the cow's motion drew the rest of her arm into the wrist, She quickly shot her arm up, and over the other.


Once it was locked in place, The mare's other hoof grabbed hold of Sigurn's massive horns, and pulled hard, her body spinning to bring the cow off balanced.

“Sorry sweety! Ye almost had me, ya did, but now toy time's over darlin~” The Captain cackled madly. Her hoof left the Cows Antlers and reared back in time to catch a short sword, pulled from her side with her magic.

 

The blade was soon spun around so the point was now held upside down before the mare whirled her body around to draw it forward in one hard motion. Her aim was simple, to slam the pummel into the Cow's collar bone for a stunning blow.

Once it landed, Star Breeze let go of Sigurn's arm, and spun the blade back around. She couldn't care if the Cow had stumbled forward in a daze, or fell over in a heap. Her next intent was for the audience's entertainment. And possibly for her own delight. Even in the heat of battle, the ole perverted Captain can still stare at her opponents flanks if they're nice enough to catch her eye.

“Ye boys made quite the mess of the city, and sadly mommy's still gotta punish somethin for it. So! Do me, a favor and be a good girl for once and sit still,” She laughed as she reared the blade back with both hooves holding the handle. Her eyes set down on the creature's flank. A cruel and venomous smile had creased it's way on her lips. Her horn was a glow, creating a magic field around the Jarl's tail and pulling it into the air.


Her grip tightened around the blade's handle... and she swung it forward. Her wrists naturally twisting the weapon's sharp edge away to trade it off for the flat sides of the blade, effectively turning it into one of the most humorous displays this arena had probably seen. 

“Let me be honest sweety, THIS IS GONNA HURT YE MORE THAN ME!”

The impromptu paddle made a loud thunderous clap once it made contact with the caribou's rear. It was swung hard enough that the blade had actually bent and wavered in the air when it was pulled back for the next round. The mare's body would follow the other's, not allowing her to have a chance to escape to far to allow the next one to land, then the next, and next.

[Pretzelparty]

 

Once it was locked in place, The mare's other hoof grabbed hold of Sigurn's massive horns, and pulled hard, her body spinning to bring the cow off balanced.“Sorry sweety! Ye almost had me, ya did, but now toy time's over darlin~ Ye boys made quite the mess of the city, and sadly mommy's still gotta punish somethin for it. So! Do me, a favor and be a good girl for once and sit still,”

 

“Let me be honest sweety, THIS IS GONNA HURT YE MORE THAN ME!”

 

Sigrun grinned as she witnessed her first blow land and leave her opponent temporarily dazed. The impressive power of her swing wasn't able to penetrate the captain's armor however,  but merely graze a bit of it's paintjob. Once her opponent was off balance however it didn't look like she was done just yet, quite the contrary actually. The unicorn managed to seize the Jarl's foreleg and yank her forward. 

 

Still being carried by the momentum of her swing, Sigrun could only stumble forward and try to rec-- or not. Soon her horns were once again taken advantage of as she was pulled forward and caught even further off guard as she received a pommel strike to her collar bone. She grit her teeth in pain and a knee buckled. She didn't take long to recover, but Starbreezer didn't take long to make her next move. Suddenly, the silver eyed caribou blushed as she felt her tail suddenly being yanked up high in the air. Now, Sigrun was fully aware of how ... enticing her backside could be considered. Years of training the muscles in one's lower body (and a bit of natural caribou beauty) would give a nice shape to a cow's backside. She knew some of her subjects would snatch looks at her backside when they thought she wasn't looking... Strangely some ponies even seems drawn to the Jarl pretty posterior. The captain however...

 

*SLAP!*

 

... Was the first of -any- individual who had ever delivered a blow to her plot in this way. The Jarl grit her teeth and stifled the urge to let out a yelp as each resounding slap hit her flanks. She had to admit, this was one of the more embarassing moments of her life. She could already tell the audience was enraptured by the amusing sight. In between the strikes to her flanks, The jarl had put together a risky plan, She slowly inched herself closer to the captain. She noticed the look in her eyes, a perverted look focused on the 'prize' before her. Too keep the unicorn focused on the 'task' at hoof, Sigrun tried not to smirk as she swayed her backside side to side almost hypnotically.

 

Once (and if) she got close enough, The cow would summon all her strength and Jump backwards. Momentarily breaking the captain's concentration and then delivering one of the strongest bucks of her life and trying to send the captain soaring to the other end of the ring... and hopefully wrecking her armor. Regardless of the success of the buck, The Jarl would spin around and catch the sword in her teeth before Lowering her head and antlers. The Caribou would take her blade in her hoof a moment to allow herself a chance to speak, "I'm glad you found my backside so enticing... Too bad you, like so many, got too distracted by it!" With that The Jarl took the sword in her teeth and charging at an incredible speed towards the captain!

​

[moonshineTheleocat]

Of course, the Captain had been expecting the Caribou to pull away. Though... she didn't quite expect to be bucked. She's admitably not a very smart pony sometimes. The buck from the Jarl had landed square on Star Breezer's chest invoking a wheezing grunt as air immediately vacated her lungs. In fact, she sort of disappeared from where she was standing. The only thing left behind was her shoes spiralling in the air a few hooves from the ground. And comically they fell silently to the dirt. As for the Captain? The poor mare was now soaring through the arena. Her body remained stiff, fixed in the position she had entered from the kick. Hooves outstretched in front of her and the majority of her body leaned back.

 

 

Eventually, the captain struck the ground flank first, and hard. She tumbled back into the air with her legs sprawling about for a mere moment, before quickly balling up just a hair away from striking the ground once more. She continued her tumble with bits of her armor flying off one by one. First it was a crumpled up pauldron. Nest it was a few buckles, a few plates. And then finally the mare came to a sliding halt on her hooves standing straight up, before falling over onto her side.

 

 

After another few grunts she pushed herself back up to all fours, though a bit unsteadily. Just as her legs locked straight, the rest of her armor had melted away from her body in separate pieces. And each piece fell to the ground with a clattering thud. Now with her lean body exposed and roughed up, there was dirt and blood from scrapes clinging to her fur. The places where she once wore armor had been matted down messily.

 

“Ugh... that's gonna bruise. Or... well.. crack something. Worth it. But oh well! Sa'pose toy time's over, ya,” The mare laughed as she saw the Caribou. Her eye swiveled quickly to the side to spot her halberd standing tall some distance away. By the time her eye returned to Jarl she was almost upon her. Without any further hesitation, the mare bounded off to the side, and dipped her body downwards so she'd land shoulder first. Her body continued in a roll to gain some distance till she returned back to her hooves.

 

 

 

Her hooves thrashed at the ground violently, carrying her body in a mad dash back to her weapon her horn glowing. Though instead of picking it up with a telekinetic field... the mare ran straight into it. The shaft connected with her shoulder knocking it out of the dirt and into the air. And instead of falling... it began to drift slowly at first. Circling around the mare in an awkward fashion. Dust and rocks soon joined it as it's speed began to pick up, and it's path took a more elliptical shape.

 

The Captain continued streaking around the field, where bits of her armor and rocks soon flipped into the air to orbit around the mare. And by the time the last bits of her equipment had been picked up, everything was moving in a blur. A colorful ring of dust circled Star Breezer, and metal fragments of her armor were golden blurs that spun around her at a mix of wider and sharper arcs. As she stood in place, her body was sliding in place in a wobbling fashion in the direction of the closest satellite. And soon, ice and chunks of her ring began to condense on them, turning them into large slabs of stone and metal.

 

Eventually, each one of her orbiting items began to grow a burning trail of fire by the time they became blurs that were only there for a split second. Her body lifted into the air and is tugged a little more violently in here and there, giving her the appearance of lazily strafing to and fro. And then finally, her hold over them gave out. All in a single volley, each one of her magic made comets came raining out of the sky after completing their final arc. One after the other, they came bringing tartarus with them onto the Jarls position with a high pitched “WHIZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz” tearing into the air.

 

 

 

“Lets see this fight come to an end shall we! This is gone on long enough! So! Well come at me! Come at me with ye head full ov eyeballs! COME AT ME I SAY!” The captain cackled madly. Her mane whipping through the air to the tailwind of her comets. "BECAUSE I'M KNOCK YE RIGHT THROUGH THE WALLS, I WILL!"

 

Each one of them homed in on the Jarls general position, not slowing down untill it impacted either directly against Sigurn, or the ground with a loud explosive crack and a plume of shrapnel and thick clouds of dust.

 

Sure, bringing down the skies onto one opponent might be over kill. But Star Breezer believed that it would take much more than a swing of the blade to take this Jarl out. Especially after the events of the Crystal Empire. And more so after taking a direct kick to the chest and sent hurtling across the field. She was done taking chances, finished with her games, and she just wanted to see this fight’s agur.

[Pretzelparty]

 

Sigrun continued her full charge at her opponent, only stopping when she saw her opponent's swift movement and dodging out of her path before she could pin the pony to the wall.  The Caribou slowly, but warrily stepped across to the center of the arena. Her silver eyes stayed locked on to the purple mare as she gathered up the bits and pieces of her armor and even her weapon. Strangely enough she didn't seem to be planning to use the the Halberd as expected, instead it levitated high into the air along with bits and pieces of her armor that mixed into eachother to form imposing stones of ore that soon were shrouded in flames like comets... and yet all that was going through the cow's mind was, "By Tuktu... what a waste of good metalwork."

 

Then they came for her, the hunks of metal and stone speeding toward her with incredible speed. Sigrun stayed calm and centered, a sly smirk still upon her lips as she dashed towards her opponent in the midst of this sudden storm of meteors. The cow made sure to not to move in a straight line, leaping and dodging from side to side as the projectiles continued to come closer and closer to hitting her. With each sharp cracking sound of the comets soaring jujst past her, the Jarl felt a surge of adrenaline that intensified with each powerful hoofbeats on the earth below her as she barreled towards her target. To the audience it looked almost like the mighty caribou herself had fallen victim to Starbreezer's spell as her body became a blooded brown blur!

 

With all that power pumping through her body, Sigrun coudl swear it seemed like things around her were slowing down. The hoofbeats that pounded on the ground should have sounded like rapid booms of thunder but instead it was almost like a slow heartbeat. The cow paid it no mind until she noticed the largest slab that circled above Starbreezer was preparing to slam down upon her, With how close the cow was to her opponent, dodgin it again would be difficult ... but most definitely fun. The Caribou channeled her strength to her legs and leapt over the flaming ball, her fetlocks just barely grazing the tongues of flame. The height of her jump didn't give her the necessary range to grab her airborne enemy... at least with her hooves. Starbreezer would find to large things rushing at her that looked vaguely familiar-oh right, they were antlers! As if Sigrun was getting revenge for the earlier targetting of her antlers, those horns would soon prove to be the mare's downfall as they collided to the sides of the mare and with a powerful pull, Sigrun yanked the captain out of the air and send her crashing back to earth. 

 

Sigrun panted in excitement as her hooves met the ground, She was far from finished. Not willing to let her opponent get back to her hooves after being slammed into the dirt the Jarl scooped up the unicorn in her horns again and threw her against the arena wall before letting the pony slide to the ground in a slump. The caribou closed in, her silver irises practically glowing in her shadow as she loomed over her fallen adversary and then she raised her sword, seemingly for the killing blow... Just as it came down, Starbreezer would see she angled it so the pommel would meet her face and then K.O. the mare, but before the final attack was dealt, Sigrun mouthed out the words 'good fight' before putting the captain's lights out for now... 

 

Sigrun was tired, this creature proved to be more ferocious than she had thought. Her energy now more or less spent, The Jarl trotted slightly weakly out to the center of the Ring and then Reared back let out a loud powerful shout that echoed across the stadium. The word that was laced into her long bellowing shout was an old caribou term in their native tongue, which meant; "A sign of (my) Victory!"

 

When The jarl finished her cry she sheathed her blade and took up her shield before heading back to the Arena's door to hang them up and catch her breath. Hoping to see her opponent again soon and thank her for one amazing fight.

[SteelEagle]

Thank you for your efforts! The fight is over. The judges will discuss and vote on a winner soon.

[SteelEagle]

After a close fight and even closer vote, Star Breezer has been declared the winner! Thank you fr your efforts, champions, and I hope to see you compete again.