The crowd of guards in the stands applauded and cheered for Cancer and Dragon as they left the arena. Princess Celestia stood up and walked to the front of the royal box to announce the next match. "Give a hoof to Cancer and Dragon for demonstrating the skills and knowledge in fighting. But also dedication to put everything into their match. Seeing we don't need to do major repairs to the arena, let's get going to the third match today." Princess Celestia said. The crowd cheered loudly wanting the next match. "This first pony is a Unicorn that came from Manehattan. Don't be fooled by his charm as he can do the unexpected. Introducing Star Dust!"

Star Dust stood up in the participant box and waved to the crowd. They cheered for him.

Princess Celestia raised her hoof to calm the crowd down to introduce the next pony. "This next pony comes from Ponyville. He is a unicorn with a fun personality. But looks can be deceiving as I introduce, Colorful Sparks!"

Colorful Sparks stood up and joined Star Dust at the edge of the show box. He waved to the crowd as Star Dust started up again. "I look forward to our match. May the best stallion win." Colorful Sparks said.

"The same goes to you. Your illusion spells are going to be an interesting matchup against my cosmic spells." Star Dust said.

"Let's get you two down there so the match can begin." Shining Armor said. He activated his horn and teleported them to the center of the ring.

In the center of the arena, Star Dust and Colorful Sparks stood away from each other. The referee teleported in. "Alright. I know you heard this before. So blah blah blah, enjoy the fight." The ref said and teleported away.

"I take he does not like coming down here." Star Dust said.

"I agree. Why is there a ref anyway? I don't know how you can cheat when there is pretty much no rules. Only stay in the arena." Colorful Sparks said.

"Let's get going then before the crowd starts to boo at us."

"Fine by me."

They both went into a battle stance and charged up their horns. Star Dust formed a small meteorite at the tip of his and sent it flying towards Colorful Sparks. Colorful Sparks changed his spell he was going to use to his illusion one. Several copies of him appeared just in time for the rock to slam into the one where he was standing and an illusion now was. It disappeared as the meteorite went through.

"That was a close one. You are getting faster casting your spells." All the Colorful Sparks said at the same time.

"You too are getting faster at making your illusions. Now let's truly see who's magic is better." Star Dust said.

"BRING IT ON."

Star Dust charges his horn up again. The Colorful Sparks started to run in random directions to hide the real one. Star Dust took his time to try and detect which one was real. He launched another meteorite and it made contact with an illusion to make it disappear. The illusions were perfect copies. Could not spot a flaw in any of them.

Colorful Sparks decided to land some blows while he can. From different interval and directions, a Colorful Sparks would go by Star Dust and land a blow somewhere on his body. He swung his hoofs at them and kept hitting illusions. Colorful Sparks was creating more as they were being found.

Star Dust needed to get an upper hoof soon or he will lose to exhaustion. He wished it was night time as that is when he is more powerful with the stars aid. He decided to try and communicate with the stars to convince Princess Luna to bring the night early. He summoned several meteorites to circle him as a defense barrier as he concentrated. Colorful Sparks stayed away. Waiting to see what happened.

-In the Royal Box-

Princess Celestia was watching the match when Princess Luna teleported next to her.

"Luna. What is going on? You are normally still sleeping right now." Princess Celestia said.

"I know, but I was having a strange call from the stars asking to bring the night early." Princess Luna said.

"Why would they want that?"

"I think because they want to help that Unicorn, Star Dust. I have heard him several times communicate with them at night."

"I never realized he had that capability. Do you think we should honor the request?"

"It would allow us to truly see what he is capable of. He has only been training in the daylight while his abilities come from the stars."

"True, plus it will make a better match for the sudden change."

"You really like to watch the guards duke it out in the arena. Shall we, sister?"

"Lets."

Both Princesses lit their horns up as they began to move the sun and the moon. The crowd of guards were wondering what was happening. They then saw the Princesses with their horns glowing and calmed back down.

-Back in the arena-

Colorful Sparks was getting tired of waiting. He was about to charge when ne notice it was getting darker. "What is going on? Why is the sun setting now?" Colorful Sparks asked.

"I asked the stars to convince Princess Luna if we can have the night early. My spells are better at night." Star Dust said.

Soon the sun has set and the moon rose into the sky. Around the arena, torches began to ignite and emit light. Everypony could still see everything around them, only now the night sky was there.

"So what did you need the night for?" Colorful Sparks asked.

"This." Star Dust said.

His horn began to glow. It started to glow brighter and brighter, blind anypony who looked directly at it. Colorful Sparks closed his eyes. Once the shine was gone, he opened his eyes. All of his illusions were now gone. He looked towards Star Dust just in time as he slammed a hoof into Colorful Sparks face.

"Found you. Do you give up now?" Star Dust said.

"Nope. I just need to step up my game." Colorful Sparks said.

His horn lit up and then he disappeared. Star Dust backed away when he realized Colorful Sparks went invisible. With the star's aid he summoned several meteorites and had them orbit around him. He listened carefully to find Colorful Sparks.

Star Dust hears a noise from behind him. He quickly sends a meteorite in that direction and had is split into tiny pieces to spread out. The rocks only came into contact with the wall.

"Aw, you were hoping you had me there for a moment." Colorful Sparks said as it echo in the arena.

"Come on out and show yourself so we can finish this fight." Star Dust said while looking in every direction.

"Night time is not just for you." Colorful Sparks echo said. "I too prefer the night." Colorful Sparks said as he whispered into Star Dust's ear.

Star Dust jumped away as he felt a blade touch his front left hoof. The meteorites that were orbiting him, just fell to the ground. He realized how close he was to get a serious injury. He did his spell again and has even more rocks stay close to him. He needs a way to dispel that invisibility if he wants a chance to win the match.

"What's wrong? Did not like my blade that close to you? Just trying to show you should never trust your defenses." Colorful Sparks said.

"I agree. Just like how you go with that invisibility to sneak up on your opponents. That too will hurt you one of these days." Star Dust said.

"Fang has been the only one able to detect me while I have I have it active. I would like to see you dispel it."

"With pleasure."

Star Dust needed to do something to make it difficult for Colorful Sparks to maintain that spell. What did he have that would break the spectrum he was bending. Then an idea suddenly appeared in his head. He activated his horn and began to channel lots of magic. He then sent a beam into the starry sky.

"Was that suppose to do something?"

"I will soon see where you are Colorful Sparks."

The starry sky soon started to change color. The Aurora Borealis appeared and was showing all the colors of the spectrum in the arena. The crowd ooh and awe at the sight. Star Dust looked around the arena, He soon spotted Colorful Sparks 10 feet away as he was staring at the sky. He turns his gaze off him so he would not realize his invisibility was gone.

Colorful Sparks looked down from the sky and looked at Star Dust. He was looking around trying to see him. He started to sneak up behind Star Dust.

"Aw, did you think that the light show was going to dispel my invisibility? Sorry to say it did not work." Colorful Sparks said.

He ready his blade that was attached to the right fore hoof to slash off Star Dust's tail. Before he struck, Star Dust said, "I did think that spell would stop yours. And did you know what, it did."

Before Colorful Sparks could react, he was double bucked by Star Dust's rear hooves and sent flying. The hooves made contact with the front of Colorful Sparks's chest. He went flying back 30 feet and landed just before the arena wall and slid right next to it.

As Colorful Sparks was starting to get up, Star Dust was charging towards him. Just as he got onto his hooves, he started to take hoof blows from him. He did his best to block, but was still recovering from having the air knocked right out of him.

Star Dust was throwing every hoof combo and was making a hit. He knew not to give Colorful Spark any breathing room. He did not want to deal with more clones or his invisibility spell again. Or worse, both.

After several minutes, Star Dust was getting tired. His fore hooves were slowing down. This gave Colorful Sparks the time to get off the wall and get some breath room. Both ponies were now breathing hard. They were only a few feet from each other as they stared each other down.

"How are you able to stand after taking that beating?" Star Dust asked.

"I got beaten up by bullies as a colt. It toughened me up. Your hoof hits are the worst I have ever received though." Colorful Sparks said.

"I had to beat up thugs to protect my little sister. Shall we end this?"

"Go right ahead. I still plan to win."

"Keep on dreaming."

They both began to charge their horns. Colorful Sparks created a dozen illusions of himself as they surrounded Star Dust. They prepared their blades to strike.

Star Dust was still charging up his horn. His body soon was emitting a silver aura around him. Now, just above him, a very small moon formed. It shined brighter than Luna's moon. There were tiny sparkles floating around it. They glowed brighter as they started to get bigger.

"Final Move! STAR FALL!" Star Dust shouted.

As on command, the bright objects around the small moon began to fall. They targeted all the Colorful Sparks surrounding Star Dust. The Colorful Sparks ponies began to run around, trying to avoid being hit. It did not work as these were acting like heat seeking missiles. An illusion pony disappeared one after another when the stars exploded on contact. Soon, only the original Colorful Sparks was left. There were still lots of mini stars that were falling, and they were all heading for him. Try as he could avoid them, he still got hit by several of them.

When the smoke cleared from the explosions, both Star Dust and Colorful Sparks were laying on the ground in the arena. Neither of them were moving. The ref appeared between them.

"This match cannot end in a draw. The first pony to get onto all hooves will be declared winner." The ref pony said.

(Yes, I am doing that ending again.)

Both Colorful Sparks and Star Dust realized they still have a chance to win. Both started to pick themselves up off the ground. They placed their fore hooves on the ground in front of them. They then ready their back hooves in a similar position. With all their might, they began to try and stand up.

Star Dust was the first to get his belly barely off the ground. All of his legs were shaking badly as he continued to get up. His face had lines of sweat rolling off as he tried to pull all the remaining energy he had left.

Colorful Sparks was in a similar situation. It took him several times to get his belly off he ground. His body was pretty bruised up from Star Dust's hooves and magic blows. He did not give into the pain. He pushed himself harder than he ever has to reach the goal to stand first.

Both were now half way standing up. You would need a measuring stick to see who was in the lead. You can tell both were in pain and exhausted. The crowd was cheering them both on. Chanting their names and stomping their hooves. This raised Colorful Sparks's and Star Dust's spirits up. Wanting them to push even harder

Star Dust cried out in pain as he forced his body to move faster to stand up. He was almost there and was about to lock his knees, when the unexpected happened. His legs gave out and he fell back down to the arena floor.

Colorful Sparks saw this was his moment to take the win. He too cried out in pain as he struggled to stand. His body was shaking all over and lots of sweat was rolling down his body. He pushed harder and harder on the muscles in his legs to get him to stand. He was very close to standing on his hooves.

The ref was watching him carefully to see when Colorful Sparks as standing under his own hooves. He looked over to Star Dust and he was working on getting himself back up again. He was catching back up at a good pace. Neither of them has locked in their legs to get the win yet. Star Dust finally got back to the same level as Colorful Sparks. This is going to be very close.

"WE HAVE OUR WINNER!" The ref pony shouted out. He walked over to the winner and stood next to him. "THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS . . ."

". . . COLORFUL SPARKS!"

The crowd still continued to cheer for them both as this was a most excellent match. Both Star Dust and Colorful Sparks collapse back to the ground after the winner was announced. They both looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

"That was a good match, Colorful Sparks. Congratulations." Star Dust said.

"Thanks. I never realized how powerful you were. You have some amazing spells in your arsenal. I would never have thought those lights would dispel my invisibility. I think I should work on some defensive and offensive illusions spells. That way I will be better prepared what situation I get thrown into." Colorful Sparks said.

"That sounds like a good plan. There are some good books in the Canterlot Castle library. I am sure the Princesses would allow you to look through them to help you out. That is how I know the spells that I can do."

"I would like that. Now I just need to find out who I am going to face next."

"How about I take you to the medics so you can heal up before you face your next opponent." A pony said.

They turned their heads and saw Captain Shining Armor was standing there.

"Yea. I think that is a good plan. Of course we are going to need some help to get there as neither one of us can get up." Star Dust said.

"That is why I came down to help you. Let's get going."

Shining Armor activated his horn and began to levitate them up to take them to the nearby medics at the arena entrance.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood up to address the crowd. "I don't know about you all, but I was very impressed with the level of magic those two ponies pulled off. Don't you agree, Princess Luna?" Princess Celestia said.

"I agree sister. Is was also nice to see the Aurora Borealis being displayed against my beautiful night sky. Shall we get onto the last match for the day?" Princess Luna said.

"I agree. Seeing there are only two recruits left, let's have them come to the arena. The match between Lightning Trails and Swift Blaze will begin shortly."