“Attention, combatants! The rules are as follows: whoever knocks their opponent to the ground receives a point. The first one to receive three points will be crowned the winner, and will receive the title of Crystal Champion. During the fight, you will both be protected by a spell that will prevent any injuries. Now, both of you go to the opposite ends of the field, and we will start the countdown!” The announcers booming voice called from the speakers around the arena. I looked over at my father, confused.

“Dad, what the hell are you doing here?!” I asked worriedly as he walked past me on his way to the edge of the arena.
“What does it look like? I’m participating in the competition,” he said with a lighthearted laugh.
I rolled my eyes. “And why, exactly are you in this competition? In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a fighter’s contest,” I explained.
My father laughed again. “Don’t worry about me, Allen; there’s no way I can get hurt, remember? And on top of that, your old man could surprise you. Now, you had better get over there!” he called as he gestured to the opposite end of the arena.

I quickly jogged to the edge of the arena and faced my father as I pulled out my sword and held it at the ready as the announcer spoke up again.

“ARE BOTH COMBATANTS READY?!” the loud voice called.

“Yes!” my father and I said in unison. I saw he now held his rapier at his side with a casual yet firm grip on the handle, and there was a serious look in his eyes, like he was studying everything about his opponent.

“THREE!”

I let out a shaky breath as I tightened my grip on my weapon.

“TWO!”

My father and I took a simultaneous step forward.

“ONE!”

We both grinned slightly at one another.

“BEGIN!”

We charged at each other, weapons held out at our sides as we approached the center of the arena, and swung our blades in perfect concert so they collided with a clang that could be quite easily heard over the roaring crowd. I quickly pulled back and swung towards my father’s legs, but my strike was easily blocked when he pressed the tip of his rapier into the ground, causing my sword to bounce away harmlessly. I widened my eyes, which made my father smile.

“Surprised, huh?” he said as he twirled his sword with one hand and held it sideways in a defensive position, “I was on the fencing team back in my college days you know, and I was unrivaled!” he cried as he took a wide slash at my legs, hitting me in the back of the knee and causing me to fall flat on my face.

“One point goes to Robert Greathouse!” the announcer cried excitedly as I slowly got to my feet.

It looks like I’ll have to be a little more careful, I thought as I went on the defensive and my father let out a flurry of swings, each of which I blocked with a simple turn of my wrist on each strike.

“You’ve got to remember one thing, Dad: we aren’t back in your college days!” I cried just before I saw my opening. I swung at his leg, which threw off-balance and made him catch himself by using his sword as a crutch. I followed this with a powerful strike at the blade, knocking the rapier to the side and my father to the ground.

“One point goes to Allen Greathouse!” the announcer called as my father got to his feet and retrieved his rapier, and the crowd let out wild cheers.

“It seems we have ourselves some fans,” my father said as he held his blade at the ready, “what do you say we give them a show?” he asked with a smile.

I nodded, grinning as I twirled my sword between my fingers and tossed it in the air. “If it’s a show they want, it’s a show they’ll get!” I cried as I snatched my sword out of the air and laughed as we charged at each other once more.

~-~-~-~-~

Up in the royal spectator’s box, Cadence turned to Luna and smiled smugly. “See? I told you I could make them get along,” she said with a giggle as Allen and Robert battled in the arena below them.
Luna nodded, impressed. “I must admit, I half expected them to end up at each others throats. Well, I guess they are, but at least they don’t want to kill each other.”

Shining Armor approached and smiled at his wife. “Looks like you were right, Cadey,” he said with a laugh, “they’re finally getting along. On top of that, the crowd is loving them! We’ll have to see if they would be interested in participating in next year’s event,” he said thoughtfully.

Cadence nodded. “Yes, but don’t get too excited about it; we don’t know what Robert plans for the future. He may want to return to Earth when his project is finished.”

Shining scoffed. “Are you kidding? Look at those two! They’re having the time of their lives down there. I doubt Robert will want to leave his son, especially since he wants to be a good father to Allen.”

Luna nodded. “I’m not sure if Robert will stay or not, but I do know there is a good chance that wherever Allen goes, he will follow,” she said, and turned her attention back to the arena where the contest was getting quite intense.

~-~-~-~-~

“Alright, are you ready, dad?” I called to my father as the final round began. We were tied 2-2, so this match would decide it all.
“I’m ready if you are, kiddo!” he called from the other end of the arena. He started the fight by whirling his rapier around his finger and throwing it at me like a dart, and I quickly ducked back as the slender blade passed over my nose and buried itself in the wooden doorway behind me. Then, I charged at my father, sword held forward, as he ran and leapt over my head, his shoes sliding across the ground as he landed, and he yanked the blade out of the wall and turned back to me. We ran at each other once again, this time locking our blades when we reached the center and using all our strength to overpower the other. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite think that part through properly, since my father’s twenty-five year age advantage also gave him a good strength advantage as well.

Fortunately, however, I had been in a similar situation one year earlier outside Fluttershy’s cottage, and I knew how to avoid a mistake I had made back then.

I pressed my hoof on the flat of my blade and shoved my father’s sword to the right, causing him to lose his grip on his weapon and toss it aside. He shot a distressed look at his weapon, and turned back to see me holding my sword right at his chest as I smiled teasingly.

My father smiled and bowed his head. “Looks like you take after your old man more than you think, huh?” he said as the crowd went wild. I saw a few ponies toss their wager slips on the ground and stomp on them, while other jumped joyously in the air and waved their winning papers around excitedly.

“AND THE WINNER IS ALLEN GREATHOUSE!” the announcer screamed excitedly as my father wrapped an arm around my shoulder and raised his fist in the air proudly, and I smiled as I raised my hoof in a similar fashion.

~-~-~-~-~

“So, my son is Crystal Champion of the Crystal Fair. I may have only known what that was for about a day, but I’m proud of you, Allen,” my father said as we clinked together a pair of celebratory glasses of cider at a Applejack’s snack bar later that evening.
“You didn’t make it too easy, Dad,” I said modestly, and took a sip of the apple-flavored drink.

How does Applejack make that stuff so good?

“Hey, Dad, can I ask for some advice?” I asked nervously.
My father nodded. “Of course! Isn’t giving their sons advice one of the things fathers are supposed to do?” he said rhetorically.
I nodded, smiling. “Well, this one may seem a little… out there,” I said slowly.
He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, 'out there'?” he asked humorously. “Did you want some tips on asking a girl out?”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s a little bigger than that…” I said quietly.

My father nodded understandingly. “I know what you’re talking about, son; I saw the way that blue pony acted before you were healed the other day,” he said comfortingly. “You don’t need to worry, Allen. Just ignore all your courage and ask her. Hell, that’s how I proposed to your mother!” he said with a laugh, and suddenly looked serious. “I wonder if she would take me back,” he added sadly.

I patted the man’s shoulder comfortingly. “I’m sure she would if you explained what had happened. If you can get me to forgive you, I’m sure convincing mom will be a piece of cake.”
My father smiled. “I’m sure she would,” he said quietly, “but I don’t think I’ll be finding that out any time soon.”
I gave him a confused look. “What do you mean? I thought you wanted to get back to mom and start living a normal life.”

He nodded sadly. “I did, but I expected you to be a part of that life. Seeing the friends you’ve made and hearing the things you’ve done, I’m sure you’re planning on staying here. And if that’s the case,” he said as he rested his glass on the counter and looked me in the eye, “then so am I.”

I widened my eyes. “Really?” I said disbelievingly.

He nodded. “I want to make up for the twelve years I’ve missed watching you become the strong young man you are today. I’m going to stay here in Equestria, and help you out as best as I can in your adventures,” he said happily.

I smiled gratefully. “That really means a lot to me, Dad,” I said honestly, “but I’ve got an adventure I need to go on right now that I need to face alone,” I said as I pulled the golden ring out of my pocket.

My father smiled proudly and nodded. “Go get her, son,” he said, and I rushed off without another word.

~-~-~-~-~

I sat on the balcony of the Crystal Palace, nervously cracking my knuckles. A few minutes earlier, I had left a note on Luna’s bedroom door asking her to meet me at this spot, knocked at the door, and ran off almost as fast as Rainbow Dash. I flinched at every passing guard, thinking that their approaching hoofsteps belonged to my princess.

Just when I had given up hope that she would arrive, I heard a soft voice behind me.
“Allen?” I turned around to see Luna standing in the doorway, eyeing me expectantly.
I sighed. “Hey, Luna,” I said nervously, “how are you tonight?”

She stepped out onto the balcony and looked at the glimmering cityscape below. “I’m fine,” she said quietly, “but you seem a little high-strung. Is something wrong?” she asked in a concerned tone.

I smiled and waved a dismissive hand. “What? No, nothing’s wrong. How could anything be wrong with you around?” I said, which made the lunar princess blush slightly.
“Well, why did you need me to come out here? You know if you needed to talk, I would have been more than happy to invite you in my room,” she said, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

Now is the time! I thought as I took the ring out of my pocket and held it behind my back, and kneeled in front of Luna.

“Princess Luna,” I said clearly as I stared at the floor beneath me, “ever since I met you, I have been happier than ever before. There is no being, human or pony, that I feel that I should be with more than I do with you. And now, I’m asking you tonight, if you would make me the happiest human in the world.”

I looked up at Luna, who was staring at me with huge eyes. She looked like she was going to start crying.

“Princess Luna, will you-”

My voice was cut off by a monstrous roar coming from the Empire’s gates, followed by frantic cries from the guards throughout the city. One guard saw us on the balcony from the hallway and ran to tell us what was going on.
“The Empire is under attack!” he shouted, motioning for me to look behind me. I looked out across the streets to see an unthinkable sight just beyond the Empire’s magical barrier.

There was a massive army almost completely surrounding the Empire, made of all sorts of undead humans and ponies. I could also see they were flanked by a massive number of changelings, and a black shadow cloaked the side of the shield were the gates lay.

“I think this can wait until later," I said quickly, and Luna nodded as I sprinted for my room to get suited up for the coming battle.