"Ladies and gentlecolts, before we begin round one, I must recite the official tournament rules to our competitors, so please be patient." The announcer stated as he cleared his throat. "Rule Number One: There will be no killing of any kind in the tournament- only incapacitating is allowed but nothing more than that. Rule Number Two: All black magic is banned from the tournament. Rule Number Three: Cheating of any kind is punishable by disqualification."

Coba and Spike sat on the sidelines in the competitor's box at the very edge of the arena and listened intently as the announcer bantered on about other rules that had less meaning.

"When did they add the rule on black magic?" Coba uttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Spike asked Coba; barely hearing what he had said.

"Nothing Spike. It's nothing." Coba retorted sharply.

"Thank you for your patience everyone. Now without further ado, we shall begin Round One!" The announcer eagerly shouted. "This first round shall focus on singular combat only, and it shall be an elimination round! Meaning if you get KO'd, you lose this round!"

"I thought it was pair-fighting," Spike said softly to Coba.

"That's Round Two." Coba quietly replied.

"I will draw the first two combatants now!" The announcer said as he reached into a glass bowl beside him; sifting through various pieces of paper carefully. "And... our first fight shall be between Viper of the Changeling Kingdom, and... Angreifer, of Ausrüstung."

"What's Ausrüstung?" Spike inquired.

"To the far west there is a nation of fire and steel. A nation that builds technological wonders and contraptions that no other kingdom has ever even thought of creating. The Ausrüstrians are builders on a grand scale." Coba explained. "Their technology is hundreds of years ahead of anyone else, but they are, however, a secretive folk. They do not share their technology with the world around them... especially the Equestrians."

Out from the competitors barracks came Angreifer. His body was clad in a strange steel armor with flashing lights and strange dials. The armor made various clanking noises as he moved to the center of the arena along with Viper, and jets of steam escaped his gauntlets as two long blades shot out of his arms.

"What marvelous technology!" Twilight said with wonder as she eyed the steel encased stallion.

"Those Austry's sure know how to accessorize, don't they?" Gin chuckled; leaning up against Draven's seat as she did so.

"The fight shall last five minutes! Remember, you must knock out or incapacitate your enemy to win. If both of you are still standing, it is a tie! Now, everypony count down with me!" The announcer yelled.

"Let's see what this 'Viper' is capable of," Coba stated with a serious tone of voice.

The two fighters positioned themselves on opposite sides of the arena, both readying their weapons. Viper drew his two hooked daggers, and Angreifer's armor made more mechanical noises as it assembled a helmet that shielded his face; letting out a burst of steam as it made an air-tight seal around his neck.

"Three! Two! One! Fight!" The audience screamed along with the announcer.

As the bell rang Angreifer stood at the ready and shot off like a rocket at Viper as a jet of flame escaped the back of his mechanical suit. Viper was caught off guard and strafed to the right as Angreifer took a slash at him; only inches away from his chest. As Viper dodged he tossed various throwing knives at his foe, but they bounced off Angreifer's thick armor like a small rock being tossed at a wall.

Viper began running towards the mechanized stallion but slid between his feet just as Angreifer had took a swing at him. Viper slashed at the gaps in his armor in his shin-plates, and this caused Angreifer to let out a robotic cry of anger. The metal stallion lashed out at the changeling and gave him a strong kick to the chest; sending him flying across the arena. Viper recovered by executing a backward roll, and jumping up to his feet once more.

"Alright, metal-head... let's see what you got!" Viper taunted as he stuck out his forked tongue.

Angreifer began slashing wildly as he dashed forward. Viper avoided his onslaught and snuck up behind him; jumping on top of the metal suit and stabbing at the gears and mechanisms in the back. He cut-out a large cable and tossed it aside, causing Angreifer's armor to flail its arms wildly; knocking off Viper. The suit malfunctioned for a moment; kicking and slashing all around.

"System reset!" A voice escaped the armor.

The suit stopped for a moment; standing with its head down. Then all of a sudden, it sprung to life; letting out loads of sparks as Angreifer began another assault. This time, however, he raised his hands. The blades on his gauntlets morphed into cylindrical barrels, and they began spinning at a dizzying speed.

"What the hell-." Viper was cut short as the guns on Angreifer's armor began making the same sound as a musket, only it was a lot more... rapid.

Viper ran around the arena as projectiles tore up the ground beneath him; strafing and dodging bullets as they whizzed past him. However, one struck him in the shin; causing him to collapse on the ground in mid-sprint. He rolled on one side facing away from Angreifer as he approached him, and when the mechanized pony let down his guard to check if Viper had been knocked out, the changeling hurled two knives that punctured the eye-holes in the helmet that covered Angreifer's head. The metal clad stallion stumbled back; trying to grasp his helmet in a panic. Eventually, he tore the metal helmet off; revealing his head, or... her head.

"You took out my arcane targeting system you slimy bastard!" The mare shouted in frustration as her guns morphed back into blades.

"Well... what do you know?" Viper snickered; entertained by the surprise. "Sorry doll-face, but I couldn't have you shooting me to shit!"

Angreifer rose into the air as a jet propelled her upwards. She sat suspended in the air for a moment before launching herself towards Viper. This time, though, Viper did not attempt to dodge. He instead lowered his hands, and began smiling as Angreifer charged towards him.

"What the hell is that conniving snake up to? Why isn't he moving?" Draven said to himself.

Angreifer slashed Viper across the chest; causing him to fall backward from the force of the attack. He laid there for a while, without any noise escaping his mouth. Thinking she had won Angreifer turned around and began walking back to the competitor's box, but halted when she heard Viper begin cackling maniacally.

The armored mare turned to face the changeling as she heard his laughter. "What's so fun-."

She trailed off as she saw him raise to his hooves again, a thick, green liquid pouring from the wound as he got to his feet unsteadily. He tore off his leather armor to reveal many tattoos of snakes covering his dark blue body. The "blood" that leaked from his open wound sizzled as it touched the ground; making an almost burning noise. He raised his head to Angreifer, who was watching in horror as the slime that coated her right gauntlet-blade began to eat it away.

"Heh heh heh... you want to know why ponies call me Viper?" The changeling smiled in sadistic delight. "Because there's only poison in these veins!"

"This fight isn't over..." Coba said, somewhat rattled by the disturbing display from Viper.

With that, the green substance leaking from Viper's wound started to morph and spasm. The liquid shot out of his back; writhing and slithering as they formed disgusting tendrils that waved in the air. His smile grew wider as the liquid wrapped around his hands and shaped itself into claws. Before Angreifer could react to the horror show before her, Viper let out a harrowing shriek as his tendrils flung him upwards toward her.

"What is that magic? I've never seen any spell that behaves that way." Twilight uttered in worry as she analyzed the strange substance.

"That isn't magic Twilight... it's alchemy. A vile blend of magic and science." Draven said as he gave Viper a disgusted glare.

Angreifer dodged the first attack, but the second assault came almost as quickly as the first. A tendril shot out from Viper's palm; striking Angreifer's flight-pack. She fell to the ground with a smash, and more sparks shot outwards randomly from her armor. Viper turned back around and slashed her again with another tendril, this time across her chest-plate. The metal hissed and sizzled as the residual liquid from the attack burned away at the armor, making it frail.

Angreifer then resorted to magic attacks and cast fire spells from her damaged gauntlets; fireballs shooting out in a barrage as they hurled towards Viper. He melded his tendrils into a protective wall, and the oncoming attack exploded in a crimson inferno as they made contact with his defense. Smoke was scattered across the arena and surrounded the metal clad mare. Her vision was clouded, but in the smoke she heard a gust of air moving towards her. An attack from Viper out from the smoke slashed her legs first. Angreifer then shot more spells into the smoke in a panic, but a second attack knocked her onto her stomach.

"Come out and fight me you son of a bitch!" Angreifer grunted as she got back on her hooves.

Only a cackle and another slash replied to her comment. The third attack struck her left arm; tearing off the protection from it.

Outside the cloud of smoke, the crowd watched intensely to see who would come out of the smoke; eager to see the victor of the fight. As the cloud lifted, the crowd roared in entertainment as they saw the metal-mare kneeling before the vile changeling. He attacked one last time and tore off her armor to reveal her broken and bloodied body underneath. Then he placed his hoof on her chest and pushed her to the ground with a thrusting kick. He stamped his hoof on her chest and raised his arms in triumph; laughing and whipping his forked tongue out with glee. The audience went wild with joy as Viper's tendrils morphed into snakes; hissing with pleasure.

"The winner of this fight is 'The Viper' Emmerich Daggerfang!" The announcer screamed.

"Viper! Viper! Viper! Viper!" The crowd cheered.

"I've got to talk with Spike..." Draven said with concern. "If he's going to beat Viper, we have to come up with a strategy."

"Let me do it," Winslow said as he approached Draven, who was sitting in his seat.

"We'll both go," Draven suggested quickly. "I have knowledge on that changeling's powers, and you know the strategy."

"Very well," Winslow said as he turned to exit the large sitting area.

"Wait! Can't I do anything to help him?" Twilight asked Draven with worried eyes.

"Don't worry Twilight, we'll take care of it. For now we need you to stay with the prince and the king." Draven replied.

Draven stormed off before she could protest further; leaving her alone with the prince and king. She lowered he head, feeling a little useless as she watched the changeling in the ring hiss and taunt his foes in the competitor's stands.

"Looks like your friend has a little competition here..." The King of Wantthai whispered to Twilight. "I fear he may face great challenges ahead in the days to come."

"Yes, but, I don't know if I can do anything to help him," Twilight said with woe. "I know so little about the land I'm walking on, it just-... It just makes me feel hopeless like I'm just a weight on everyone else's shoulders. Do you know what I am talking about?"

"Young mare, I have seen many tragedies in my time. Do you want to know what helped me through it? I had people to guide me, people, to walk me along my path that led me to where I am today, and I've had people who were my crutch when I thought I could not walk along the path I took... yet here I am... old and grey, and happy to know I will leave this earth with pride." The old king said with honesty. "I think you being here helps him more than anything else. I may not know the two of you, but that look in your eyes shows me you care about that dragon as if you were his flesh and blood. I respect your compassion young princess, may it carry you and your friend through the ages."

"Thank you, King." Twilight said; the weight slowly lifting off her shoulders as she looked at Spike with new eyes.

Author's Notes:

Been a while! I was a little busy this past week, but this week I hope to post more often. Like always, I hope you enjoyed, an I can't thank you guys enough for all of your support!