"Ladies and gentlecolts, this is it! The final fight!" The announcer cheered; the crowd giving him a holler of approval. "Only two teams left, but... only one shall emerge victorious!"

Spike thought about just how far he had come to reach the final fight. While he had surmounted many obstacles in his path, the challenge in his way seem twice as daunting than all the rest combined. Armandura was a formidable opponent, and a expert tactician. Stín was on another level- being able to steamroll Cyro in such a short time. When they were together, they seemed unstoppable. Spike began to become nervous, as a tight feeling began to stretch his chest. He felt like screaming, like running, but he knew that couldn't happen. There was a lot riding on this last fight. Coba saw the doubt in Spike's expression and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Spike, you have to face you doubts, let go of your fear." Coba comforted the terrified dragon. "Don't let your own fear be your downfall. I have seen countless warriors fall to that fear that doubt. It can kill you on the inside, tear away at your soul."

"It's not that simple Coba. I'm not a warrior, or a knight in shining armor. I'm just a dragon who gets lucky now and again." Spike sighed. "I can't just shake fear off."

"You think those victories have to do with luck? No, you Spike, are a fighter. Time and time again I've seen you face adversity, not because you are fearless, but because you have courage. While you may not see it yet, you have courage." Coba placed his hand on Spike's shoulder.

"What if I'm not strong enough? What if I fail?" Spike said as he held his head in his hands.

"You act as if weakness is a sin, why? A weakness makes us better, it reminds us to keep pushing, to keep reaching out for something." Coba lowered his head to get to Spike's level. "If you go into this fight thinking about losing, you're guaranteed to lose. You can't think, you have to just fight."

Spike smiled. He didn't realize it before, but he always felt a flame- not in his hands, but in his heart. He never understood it until now. The level-headedness he experiences in battle, the sudden determination he experiences. He felt complete when he fought in the arena, and he loved the thrill of the fight. Coba may not have known what he was thinking, but he knew his words got through to the young dragon as he gave him a pat on the back.

"Now folks, it's time I showed you just what our fighters have been waiting for! Show them, the crown!" The announcer yelled as he pointed towards the center of the arena.

From the center emerged a grand headdress held by two guards. It was decorated with extravagant peacock feathers and beautiful red jewels, but the most impressive feature of the headdress was the centerpiece. It was a stone that shone a crimson light that seemed to burst with energy. The guards set in on a magical platform, and it rose into the sky until it reached the announcer, who placed it beside himself.

"There it is... the Stone of Right. The Queen's Stone." Coba said as he lifted his head up. "My ancestors have been safeguarding it for generations.

"Woah." Spike could only gawk at the mystical orb as he watched the energies of it swirl inside, and fill his mind with wonder.

"Long ago our shamans foretold of a day when Haki would return. They warned us." Coba uttered with a enchanting voice, similar to that of an old stallion telling fillies and colts an old wise-tale. "They told us to find the greatest warriors in the land, warriors worthy enough to face off in combat. And when a champion was declared, they would face the ultimate challenge... Haki herself. However, the true purpose of the tournament was lost to the ages, forgotten. My family on the other hand, must not forget. We have waited countless years for the return of Haki, and the return of a new champion. One that would fight her, and slay her once and for all. Perhaps today, that champion shall be chosen."

"And you think it'll be me?" Spike wondered.

"Draven has faith in you, and I think that counts for something." Coba smiled.

"Fighters! Assemble in the arena!" The announcer ordered the competitors.

"Well, let's get going..." Coba grunted as he stood, and outstretched his hand towards Spike to lift him up onto his feet. "Win or lose, we shall see this battle through."

As Spike go to his feet and began walking over to the stairs leading into the arena, he was halted by another hand that placed itself on his shoulder. He turned, and to his surprise it was Cyro, giving him a jolly smile.

"I just wanted you to know that I'm rooting for you out there." Cyro said cheerfully, but with some degree of seriousness in his tone.

Spike gave him a nod and walked up into the arena with Coba and the Crystal Empire team; the crowd screaming wildly as they caught sight of the two fighters. They shouted things like "Equestria! Equestria!", and they cheered louder when Spike waved his arms. Twilight watched from afar, and smiled when she saw how happy Spike was.

"Your dragon has become a regular celebrity, hasn't he?" Gin laughed.

"Yes, he has..." Twilight grinned.

"Fighters! Prepare yourselves!" The announcer warned the two teams.

Stín and Armandura summoned their weapons, and Coba withdrew his spear; ready to strike. Spike felt the flame in his chest returning; excitement spreading throughout his body, and making him practically vibrate.

"Three! Two! One! Fight!" The crowd chanted.

The battle started silent, as the two teams began to analyze each other. They circled each other, until finally, Coba grew impatient, and struck Armandura with his spear. He dodged with impressive agility, and caught the spear; pushing his opposition back with a palm-strike. However, he did not continue- he simply stood in place, unmoving.

"Odd, knowing his strategy you'd think he would counterattack..." Twilight said in confusion.

"Maybe he's taking a moment to gauge his power." Draven suggested.

"No, he is a smart fighter, he would've watched Coba fight before and learned." Winslow wondered.

Spike attacked Stín next; igniting his hands and unleashing a flurry of flaming fists. Stín dodged with even greater speed than his partner, and evaded every single strike from the dragon. As Spike charged up a fireball, Stín knocked it away with his staff, and closed the distance between them; walking right up to the Spike and placing his hand on the left side of the dragon's chest.

Spike felt his body go numb as he felt Stín's hand touch his chest , and although he tried to react, he couldn't move. He struggled and struggled, but it was no use, Stín began whispering a strange language that was unrecognisable at a barely audible volume. While Spike did not understand him, the unknown words seemed to resonate within his body and soul, and he felt his muscles tense-up. Stín then pushed him back with an unknown force, and the young dragon stumbled backwards, but recover. Although he was flummoxed by what had just occurred.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Draven scratched his head.

"He... looked into his soul, but why? It has nothing to do with the fight." Winslow looked down and scratched his chin.

"Maybe that's just it, maybe he knows something we don't." Twilight suggested; pondering Stín's actions.

Spike backed off and thought about what just happened; gripping his chest tightly as he felt a sharp pain spreading through his heart and lungs. It was not severe enough to incapacitate him, but it was enough to be a minor irritant.

"What did you just do?!" Spike demanded Stín, who said nothing.

Stín instead, began attacking Spike with great ferocity. He slashed wildly with his saber, and attempted to cut at his legs to immobilize him. However, Spike noticed something strange about Stín's attack pattern. Although he had cut him multiple times, they were barely flesh wounds, and each attack that landed seemed to avoid his weak-point entirely.

"He's holding back." Winslow pointed out as he scanned Spike's injuries with his eye. "Spike should have received far more devastating injuries than that. What is he doing?"

Armandura and Coba were locked into a furious fist-fight; Coba landing a significant amount of blows to his foe. Armandura however, did not really put up too much of a fight. He only blocked strikes with his forearms, and threw a few light-jabs into Coba's mid-section. This confused Coba, as he had seen him fight so many times before. Eventually he grew impatient and halted his attack.

"Are you going to fight me?" Coba asked in outrage.

His masked opponent said nothing, and went back into a fighting position.

Coba charged at his foe again, and he launched a side kick directed towards his enemy's face. This did not go as planned however, and Armandura moved his head to the side; dodging his attack. He then spun around, and struck Coba in the head with a backhand. Coba felt the full-force of the impact, and he crumpled to the ground as he felt a trickle of blood escape his nostril. Coba was rendered unconscious with one blow.

"Coba!" Spike cried out in horror; his anger redoubling as he attacked Stín with all his might.

"This is bad." Gin choked out nervously.

Armandura stepped into Spike's battle with Stín, but he did not attack. He merely watched his partner fight the young dragon. Even when Spike held nothing back, the wizard still did not retaliate. Spike pounded at his magic shield relentlessly, but it was no use. He had to think of another strategy to face his foe.

"Maybe I can outmaneuver him if I build up enough speed !" Spike thought; charging up his fire, and letting it envelop him.

Spike used the propulsion of his flames to zoom around the arena, and sure enough, Stín was caught in a daze. He was unsure where his foe was going to attack, and although he didn't show it, Spike could see that he was in a panic. Spike flew right at Stín, and the hooded mage raised a magic shield made of light. However, Spike curved around his shield, and struck Stín right him the back with a flaming-kick. Stín flew forward, and got back to his feet instantaneously.

Armandura then joined the fight, and raised magic barriers that blocked Spike's flight-path; denying him an opening. Spike zoomed back around and tried striking, but just before he struck Armandura, the shrouded stallion blocked him with another barrier; Spike hitting the wall with all his force. This caused him great trauma, and he fell to the ground just as he felt the wall hit his face. Spike got back on his feet, but with great difficulty. Regardless, he forced himself to continue no matter what.

"I can't think... just got to move!" Spike thought as he surrounded himself in flames once again.

Spike shot-off again, only this time, he tried using a technique he employed during his fight with Sigrid. He chucked a fireball at Armandura and intentionally missed, only to have the fireball curve back at him. Although Armandura saw this coming, he neglected to raise his guard as he defended against the fireball. This was Spike's opening. Spike closed the distance, and landed a debilitating blow right in his gut. The stallion stepped back and gasped for air, but Spike did not give his foe a breather. He struck him with a kick to the ribs, then his head, and then another strike to his gut. Eventually the stallion had enough, and fell backwards. Armandura had been overpowered.

"Way to go Spike!" Twilight stood up and cheered.

Spike then directed his attention to his last foe, Stín. He zoomed past his guard again, but this time Stín was waiting for him. He caught him in mid-air with a shadowy tendril, and brought him down to earth. Stín followed up with a blast of light that pounded him further into the earth, but Spike recovered once again, and just before Stín raised his sword to jab at him, Spike hurled a fireball at his face. Stín was blown back by the force of the fiery explosion. He clutched his face tightly as he felt the sting of the intense heat.

Spike rose to his feet and charged again, but this time, he stopped dead in his tracks as Stín raised his head. Armandura panicked and got to his feet to try and distract Spike, but it was too late.

"Stín, your hood!" Armandura shouted at the mage in horror.

Spike was speechless. Underneath the mage's hood was a face he did not expect, one that brought him, and the rest of the audience terror. His mane was grey, his fur was light grey, and his eyes were an emerald green. Although his appearance had changed ever so slightly, his face was still unmistakable.

"King... Sombra?" Spike muttered to himself as his eyes met "Stín's" once more.

Author's Notes:

Ooooo... we're reaching the end of the first arc guys! I'm excited to write the next couple of chapters! As always, I hope you enjoyed!