"This way! We can cut through here to get to the competitor-pit!" Draven stated as he began running through the crowd of fans in front of him.

Draven ran swiftly past the swarm of ponies lining the massive outer-marketplace with ease; shuffling side to side with Winslow, who was not far behind.

"Damn, how the hell do the troops not get lost in a place like this?" Draven asked himself; seeing the seemingly endless expanse of vendors and merchants that lined the city-like streets of the marketplace.

As the two cut through the thicket of carriages and ponies, something caught Winslow's attention. It was a faint noise emanating from one of the back alleyways; pleading for him to approach. At first he tried to ignore it, but soon the pleas began to take hold of Winslow. He was not under anypony else's influence, however, and he knew this because of the sharp pain in the left side of his head. His left eye pulsated, sending a jolt down his spine.

"Draven I... I have something to attend to." Winslow said as he grabbed Draven by the shoulder.

Draven was speechless for a moment but regained his composure as his mind became flooded with unorganized thoughts that struggled to arrange themselves into words. "But Winslow I-."

"Don't worry, just go by yourself," Winslow replied sternly. "It's only Sigrid he's fighting after all, not Viper."

"Fine. Don't be doing anything stupid though!" Draven said; putting his hand on Winslow's shoulder.

"Understood Captain." Winslow said; reassuring Draven.

Winslow began to cut across the steady stream of ponies lining the street along the marketplace towards the source of the noise. He stopped as he came close to the alleyway entrance; turning his head to make sure Draven had pushed onward, and after scanning the area behind him, he pressed on into the shadows of the dark alley.

Darkness reined in this narrow alleyway; rats scurrying across the crude cobblestone that paved the ground, a foul odor escaping the gutters and pipes that lined the sides of the small urban-hallway, and barely any sign of another pony... until Winslow heard the call again. This time, though, the plea had grown louder, heightening his curiosity. Further he traveled down the winding alley, further into a thick growing cloud of foul smelling smog; the voice growing louder and more tantalizing as he proceeded. This was... until he had met a sudden dead-end.

He heard the sound of footsteps drawing near; growing rapid in their pace. Eventually the footsteps were only a few feet from him, and when he realized this he removed his eye-patch and unsheathed his blade; putting it out in front of him, facing his body towards the shadows that cloaked the unseen pony in the long alleyway.

"Show yourself now, or I will be forced to drag you out of the darkness myself!" Winslow shouted into the blackness ahead.

Slowly but surely, a hooded figure emerged from the shade and approached Winslow. It was clearly a mare, and the pony was wearing a black robe along with a shroud that covered most of her body.

"I apologize if I've startled you, but I mean no harm." The hooded figure said; reaching to pull up the hood on her head.

The suspicious mare pulled off her hood and revealed her features; leaving Winslow without words. Her mane shone like a night sky full of twinkling stars, and her eyes glowed like the moon on a cloudless midnight.

"Princess Luna..." Winslow said in disbelief; bowing in respect as soon as he came to his senses. "I'm... I'm sorry your highness, truly I thought you were an assassin."

"You need not apologize friend. What you did in the situation was understandable." Luna insisted.

"Luna, my friend, why are you this far from home?" Winslow said; giving her a brief, yet warm hug.

Luna sighed for a moment, then lifted her eyes to meet with Winslow's. "Such a question is not so easily tackled, but regardless I shall explain as best as I can."

****

Spike made it halfway up the steps into the arena before being stopped by a scaled hand grabbing his shoulder, forcefully turning him back.

"Spike! Boy, I'm glad I made it here in time. I came as soon as I heard the announcer." Draven panted in exhaustion. "Listen, it may not be Viper you're fighting, but I ran over here to give you some last minute pointers on Sigrid."

"Where's Winslow, doesn't he usually travel with you?" Spike asked; noticing his obvious absence from Draven's side.

"Before I got here he told me that he had something to take care of, and ran off into the market section of the outer arena. I didn't have the time to ask, so I let him go." Draven explained quickly. "Anyways, listen up, boyo... come closer."

Draven leaned in slowly towards Spike so he could hear him better.

"Watch out for that ax of hers. Winslow thinks it's tipped with dragon 's bane." Draven said with the utmost seriousness in his voice. "I'm a little iffy about that concealed arm too. Your friend Twilight says it's radiating some strange magic. She' s a Valkyrie as well, a highly skilled warrior from Falkfell in the Equestrian Northlands. "

"Uh, thanks..." Spike said doubtfully. "Hey... Draven?"

"What is it, lad?" Draven answered.

"Why do you have so much confidence in me? I mean, why put me of all dragons in this tournament?" Spike inquired, a gripping, yet unexplainable curiosity aching to have his question answered.

"Because I have faith in your abilities, boy." Draven insisted. "You may not see it, but I sure as hell do, and if there is one dragon on this earth that can win this tournament... it's you. Now get out there Spike, you've got work to do!"

"Again, thanks." Spike said with a sigh; still uneasy about the situation, but his worry dulled nonetheless. "Hey! Wait! Draven!"

"What is it?" Draven shouted.

"Perhaps this isn't the best time to tell you that...uh." Spike trailed off as the door to the stands closed behind him.

"Tell me what?" Draven questioned.

"That I may, or may not have... serious stage-fright." Spike said; a prominent blush line extending across his face.

"Oh bloody hell, Spike! It's too late for that now, isn't it?!" Draven yelled in frustration.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, it is my great honor to present to you... Spike Drafir from Ponyville!" The announcer stated as he pointed towards the scared purple dragon bellow.

Draven's outrage was then drowned out by the roar of the screaming fans. "Spike! Spike! Spike! Spike!"

Spike's feet became numb, and his breathing raced. He could feel his hands shaking in an anxious manner, and his balance became skewed as he walked to the center of the arena; standing stupidly and gawking at the booming crowd. His fear heightened to greater levels when Sigrid approached him menacingly; ax in her right hand, awaiting the taste of dragon's blood.

"And from the Equestrian Northlands... Sigrid Bjornheart!" The announcer said as the bloodthirsty mare smiled in anticipation.

"I apologize in advance if any permanent damage befalls you in this battle dragon." Sigrid snickered.

"Um, thank you." Spike said; quivering in fear.

"Three! Two! One! Fight!" The crowd cried out along with the announcer.

In a flash, Sigrid raised her wings and dashed at Spike, who was still dazed by the crowd around him. She raised her ax to strike, but before she could, Spike came to and raised his arms to block in a panic. Spike learned from watching Draven fight how to block using his arm-scales. While it wasn't like any sword or weapon, it was a dragon's natural defense that made them more resilient than most other creatures.

Although the scales blocked the downward slash, the force from the head-on charge knocked Spike backward with great speed. Luckily his scales absorbed most of the shock as he flew back, and he got back on his feet quickly.

"Damn! I can't focus with all these ponies watching me... I can't think!" Spike thought to himself. "I've got to find some way to focus!"

Spike had no idea what to do, his thoughts were disorganized, and he couldn't predict what Sigrid would do next. He was playing a game of cat and mouse, with him playing the role of a cornered mouse.

Sigrid charged again, this time she performed dizzying aerial acrobatics that dazed and confused Spike; causing him to lower his guard. She slashed at him precisely; cutting his inner arm where there was no protective layer of scales. The slash didn't hurt at first until he felt the dragon 's bane sizzle when it made contact with his blood. A searing pain shot up his arm as the dragon 's bane weakened him; making him fall to one knee in agony.

"Damn, that hurts! I can't get hit again... this dragon 's bane is draining my strength!" Spike thought.

Just as he recovered, Sigrid began another attack, but this time Spike was ready. He strafed to the side and gave her a quick smack from his tail, sending her flying back in the opposite direction. As he heard the roar of the crowd follow, he felt his heart shiver a little, staggering him again. Sigrid took this opportunity the moment it had arisen and struck Spike with a thrusting kick to the gut; toppling him over. He laid on the ground; desperately trying to breathe after the impact knocked the air out of him.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, it appears Spike isn't getting up!" The announcer said; shocked by what was before him.

"Damn it, Spike! C'mon!" Draven shouted.

"Spike! Get on your feet, Spike!" Coba yelled out across the arena.

"Don't give up Spike!" Twilight passionately bellowed.

"They're right..." Spike slowly wheezed.

"Fans, I think this fight is ov-." The announcer stopped to see Spike rise to his feet.

Sigrid turned to see a burning green glow shine in Spike's eyes, his back and head-fins were set ablaze, turning them into emerald jets of fire. He felt his strength return in an instant. In fact, he felt more powerful than he did before. The crowd's cheers no longer seemed to affect him, and he took several deep breaths before opening his eyes. When they opened, all Spike could see was his friends in the stands and his foe before him. A burning feeling spreading through his heart made his face light up with joy... it felt good to let the flames within his body do as they pleased.

"Alright, Sigrid! You want a fight, you got one!" Spike said with determination.

And like that, Spike shot off like a rocket straight for Sigrid.

****

"Why are you here Luna?" Winslow asked with a look of urgency on his face.

"To warn you and your comrades of an impending threat," Luna replied softly.

"But why you? Couldn't one of your spies have sent the message?" Winslow inquired; confused by the whole situation.

Never had he seen Luna so worried before. She was distant and closed-off from him. She almost looked afraid; taking Winslow by surprise.

"No, because there is no way for a spy to sneak into the Blacklands anymore," Luna said with a sharpness in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Winslow asked, moving in closer to Luna.

"Constantine has become a greater threat than any of us could have anticipated. He is growing stronger every day. He is no longer some famous general." Luna explained. "Recently he has been elected by his citizens to be Chairman of the Changeling High Council after the untimely death of the previous Chairman, and under his rule, he has declared war against the ponies of both the Blacklands and Equestria. He has set up a perimeter across the great sea that divides the two continents, no one gets in or out. No one except a Princess with dominion over the night."

"Sweet Celestia... and the people of New Canterlot on the southern islands? What of them?" Winslow asked with reluctance, dreading to hear the answer.

"Dead. All of them." Luna whimpered; tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "His army did not spare a single one. I saw the city burn, and I could do nothing but watch! His army is unlike most. They are... undead- puppets "

"Do you know of their current position?" Winslow asked; trying to say it as politely as possible, to not worsen the princess' mental state. "I must know Luna. We cannot defend the Blacklands without knowing where they are marching to."

"I don't know where they are now, but I know where they wish to go," Luna stated as she wiped tears from her eyes. "The Zhophziis Nation. There, Constantine will attempt to form an alliance with them. If this happens... he will summon Leere."

"I see," Winslow said, trying to process all that he heard from her. "However we cannot cause a ruckus in Wantthai now, not when the tournament is on. It will take many days before an army of that size can reach us if they even do march our way, and we are so very close to uncovering the Stone of Right."

"I know. For now, the Equestrian army will try to stall them as best as they can for you whilst you and your comrades search for the stones." Luna insisted.

"Understood Luna," Winslow said with respect. "I will aid them as best as I can."

"Thank you, Winslow," Luna replied politely. "Oh, and just to be safe, you must keep this discussion to yourself. Twilight, or anypony for that matter, must not know I was here... it would endanger me, and everyone else involved."

"Again Luna, I understand." Winslow nodded in agreement with along with Luna.

"Now I must take my leave dear friend. I hope our paths will cross again soon, and on better occasions than this." Luna said with a happier tone to her voice.

"Yes, I hope so as well." Winslow chuckled. "And... Luna?"

"What is it?" Luna wondered.

"It was good to see you after all these years." Winslow chortled.

"It was good seeing you too..." Luna agreed with a warm smile before disappearing into the shadows. "Goodbye and good luck!"

"Goodbye," Winslow muttered before walking back into the crowded street.

****

Spike launched himself at great speeds toward Sigrid, the flames sprouting from his back acting as jet engines. He struck her with his foot, which was coated in an emerald fire. She flew back into the arena wall and stood there for a minute after recovering to think before attacking again. Then, she started another assault, but this time, she put all of her speed into the attack. She danced around Spike, flying left and right, and above his head. Spike couldn't keep up, and was hit in the back by both of Sigrid's hooves. He staggered a little but regained his balance quick enough to counterattack. He flung scorching fireballs towards his foe, but Sigrid dodged with swift aerial-maneuvers.

"That all you got hatchling?" Sigrid snickered.

"Not quite," Spike replied with a smile on his face.

Sigrid was confused by his words until she felt a blazing heat burn her back. A fiery explosion threw her onto the ground, and when she got up... more of the fireballs Spike had cast were zooming towards her.

"Impressive! The little hatchling finally figured out how to manipulate his flames!" Gin marveled at the blazing display, like fireworks.

"Since when could he do that?" Twilight questioned.

"Well dear, a dragon's powers when he's young usually are reckless and volatile. However, when they get older they learn to not just generate, but manipulate whatever element they possess." Gin explained in length.

"How do you know so much about dragons?" Twilight asked curiously.

"When you spend years listening to an old dragon yammer on ... you'll be surprised what you learn." Gin laughed. "Don't tell Draven I said that, though."

Spike began another attack, only this time, he shot off a blast of fire from his mouth. Sigrid quickly dodged, but realized the previous attack had scorched some of her wing-feathers, slowing her somewhat. The percussive bang from his attack still reached her, and the resulting boom caused her vision to blur and her ears to ring. She got up, and her face became lit-up with a furious rage.

"Fine! If you want to crank the heat up, then I think I might join in!" Sigrid said as she tore the armor away that was encasing her right arm.

Revealed to Spike, and the entire audience was a gruesome sight to behold. Sigrid's arm was a grotesque mass of imperfect muscle tissue and bony spines that formed itself into an "arm". The arm glowed a faint red color in the gaps of the muscle tissue, and the long fingers on her scaled hand were more like bony claws rather than functioning digits.

"She's the daughter of a witch," Draven said to himself.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, it appears Sigrid has cast some... strange kind of magic on her right arm that has transformed it into a demon-like appendage! This fight hasn't even started folks!" The announcer said, gawking at the sight of Sigrid's mangled limb.

Spike stood there for a while staring at the arm, trying to formulate a plan of attack. Without the restriction of the fastened armor, Sigrid's arm grew large, causing her reach to extend to lengths greater than her left arm, even with an ax in her grasp.

"What's wrong, hatchling?" Sigrid snickered as she saw his dumbfounded expression.

"Nothing," Spike replied quickly, blatantly denying his own doubts.

Spike attacked by tossing a fireball to test Sigrid's defense. To his surprise, she didn't try to avoid it, instead, she stood there. Before the fireball hit, however, her arm morphed, making bone-crackling noises. Her arm formed a bone shield, and it absorbed all of the impacts.

"That all you got you overgrown salamander?" Sigrid scoffed.

Angered, Spike tried attacking once more by lunging in to strike with his hands. However, before he got the chance to even land a blow, he was tossed aside by Sigrid's powerful arm.

"That arm makes it impossible to close distance, and it can block my ranged attacks!" Spike thought. "I've got to resort to another strategy."

Before Spike could formulate a plan, however, Sigrid grew impatient and started showcasing her arm's abilities. She drove her bony hand into the ground, pounding it firmly inside. The action confused Spike, and he was caught off-guard when massive bone-spines started erupting from the ground, one of which grazed Spike's chest. His chest burned from the slash. Although small, it felt worse than the dragon 's bane on her axe.

After getting to his feet again, he tried a different tactic. This time, he charged head on. Sigrid laughed at the attempt and tried to knock him away, but before Spike was in the range of her arm, he jumped upwards. His feet were engulfed in a fiery green explosion that rocketed him above Sigrid, and when he was in range, he discharged a fireball at her back. The newly added weight of Sigrid's right arm impeded her speed and rendered her perception quicker than her actual reaction. She tried to lift a bone shield up in time, but the fireball hit before she could defend.

"That's it! I'll outspeed her!" Spike stated in his mind.

The attack staggered her, and when she did so, Spike took the opportunity. "Dragon King's Fiery Breath!" He struck her with a blast of emerald fire from his mouth, and while she was able to block the attack, the force still knocked her back with great force, making her fly across the arena.

She got up again, but this time, it was apparent to Spike that she had been weakened. Her balance was slightly skewed as she rose, and her breathing seemed to turn into a soft pant. She became infuriated with Spike and began to cast strange magic with her right hand. Spikes rose from the ground near Spike, and he dodged the first wave of spines. Although, the second attack slashed him across the shin, making him collapse to the ground for a brief moment before struggling to rise back up again.

Spike used his maneuver again and struck Sigrid with another concentrated ball of green flame. This time, though, she became angered by the attack rather than injured.

"I've just got to keep the pressure on!" Spike thought to himself.

Sigrid finally had enough of Spike and caught his tail, whipping him around by it, then letting go, flying across the arena. She then went down into a deep ready-stance and started charging another strange attack. Her arm shone a dark red light and vocalized a noise similar to that of a prolonged and distorted screech.

"Let's see who's the strongest, you wretched salamander! Your flame, or my arm!" Sigrid shouted, her voice barely audible over the sound her right arm was making.

"Alright! Let's go!" Spike said as he began to charge his attack. "Dragon King's..."

"This might be the last attack, folks! Hold onto something please, because this might get explosive quick!" The announcer stated.

Spike began to concoct an inferno within his hands, the air around him heating up as he did so. The massive fireball started to scatter embers and sparks and made a roaring noise thousands of times louder than a campfire, roaring like a lion as the flame grew. "Infernal Blaze!"

Once the two were prepared, they fired without warning. Sigrid shot a huge drill-shaped spine coated in red energy, and Spike hurled an immense and all-consuming meteor made of green flames. As the attacks flew they burned a trail in the ground and made a rumbling sound as they traveled. When they collided, Spike's fireball shattered the attack and zoomed towards Sigrid, who raised her shield in response.

The fireball exploded as it made contact with her shield, releasing a cloud of smoke that lifted high into the air, then formed a thick and choking haze that clouded the audience's view of the fight for a brief moment.

"The smoke is clearing ladies and gentlecolts! Who's it going to be? The warrior, or the dragon?" The announcer commented as he began to make out the victor. "Oh! Oh! I can see somepony!"

Out from the smoke was Spike. Broken, bloodied, and beaten. He stood steadfast in the center, looking down at Sigrid, who was laying flat on the ground.

"This is... unbelievable... defeated by... some no-name dragon!" Sigrid choked out before falling unconscious.

"Ladies and gentlecolts, we have a victor! The winner is Spike Drafir from Ponyville!" The announcer screamed at the top of his lungs.

Spike fell to his knees, feeling the oncoming pain from the fight as the adrenaline wore off. He basically was forcing himself to stay conscious as he lowered his head. However, even after all of the pain, after all of the exhaustion, Spike somehow managed to summon up enough energy to crack a smile.

He had won his first fight.

Author's Notes:

It has been a long time! Sorry if I kept any of you waiting, but I've been really busy lately! Anyways, I really hope you enjoyed!

P.S- If your wondering about Winslow and Luna's relationship with each other. I'll get into it in later story arcs, but for now, I'm only giving tidbits of info about Winslow's character just for a little fun on the side!