The Estoc Plays

As Navinia guided Igneous to their seats the sun took its position over the Estoc stadium signaling the time. Every pony present fell silent and for every operator that had occupied the floor only one now remained as the rest scurried away behind trap does or raised gates so that the show might begin.

As Navinia happily waited by Igneous preoccupied himself to spotting out Joel. Today the crowds took seats near the very entrance of the Estoc stadium: West that was so that the performers and speakers need not look in all directions to appeal to the audience members, instead in one general direction.

Again west where every pony sat.

The wait was short but when it was over Igneous was taken by surprise when a loud, amplified voice rang throughout the stadium. When he looked he found it was the operator using alchemy to enhance his voice by manipulating the air. One would think it was a nice trick but honestly it wasn’t as grand as applying wind in combat, or so Igneous thought.

“Today,” the main operator began. “We will be showcasing the history of Caridian, but fret not as it will mostly consist of the more… exciting parts of our history.” There was a small applause but nothing unnecessary. “Warriors and warfare, Unicorns and Celestials, Monsters and Falconers, Magic and Majins and the days of the Colossal black dragon Aminus!”

There was another applause but this time a bit more enthusiastic accompanied with a few cheers. Igneous had to admit he felt a bit excited as it had been many, many years since he had ever witnessed an Estoc play and he could vouch: If their costumes and magical effects were anything like they were when he was a colt then he would find himself enjoying his time with Navinia all the better.

“Every era!” the operator announced with great enthusiasm hyping the crowds further. “Every hero and every ledged. The great beast of before and the Hexers who ruled. However we have something a bit more special.” He allowed a brief pause before continuing. “We have certain roles reserved for none other but the crowds themselves. You, the ponies who watch now! For any interested, exited or simply wanting to enjoy yourselves more you may offer up yourself in place of our hero characters and act out the lines and commands we directly provide.”

As the operator continued Igneous asked Navinia if they had ever done this before. He certainly never seen it but it has been a very long time. Maybe a few trends sprung up or they just wanted to try something new and unique. Navinia’s answer was that they had a couple times and for the most part it worked and ponies had enjoyed themselves.

“However," she began in distasteful recollection. "I remember hearing once that a certain volunteer ruined it all by panicking and running from the stadium soiling him or herself as they ran. Now I wasn’t there but what I heard was that afterwards the play continued however most ponies complained that it tore them away from the story all together.”

“Could only imagine,” he scoffed. Why would some pony volunteer only to fail so miserably?

Again they both fell silent as the main operator continued. As he spoke over the brief beginning of Carridian three ponies took their place within the stadium forming a triangle. “Now in the beginning,” he continued. “There was only mutual existence. Only three villages existed.” This of course was a metaphor as their were many, many villages in the days before the first war. What he more accurately meant was their occupation…

“...Farming.” At his words one pony broke away from the three. He took his place near the north east corner of the stadium as the announcer continued, “Ponies that worked the earth, and raised crops from fertile dirt to feed the masses.” The lone pony then reared up and when his forehooves made contact with the ground the area where he stood shook and trembled. Soon though the ground shifted and from it formed a landscape filled with rocks but and weeds but as the earth milled about, crops rose up and took their place within the stadium.

This wasn’t the work of the pony who had touched the ground as he was a simple earth pony. No, this was an act performed below by the operators who bent earth to their will. Unicorns to be exact. They pushed the fake crops up giving it the look of growth but to anybody willing to watch they could by it as a nice effect.

“Did you see that Igneous?” Navinia excitedly whispered.

“Yes I did,” he answered but honestly he was just waiting for them to be over with the opening scene and on with what most ponies had come here for. As a colt Igneous remembered having enjoyed the scripted combat sequences as often times they went over the top with fighting techniques that simply wouldn’t work in real combat. However he was naive and young then, this time he intended to scoff at their unconventional, useless swordplay while also respectfully enjoying the display.

“Lumbering.” A second pony broke away from the three as the first pretended to tend the crops. “Ponies that drove blades into trees working wood over to build structures, homesteads and tools as they subjected the forest to their will.”

Much like the farmer before, instead of crops, trees and grass rose from the ground sticking high into the air at the very touch of the earth pony. Along with were a few saddle tools this earth pony used to cut wood.

The announcing operator then moved onto the mining village speaking about it with just as much impartiality to the rest and when the mining earth pony struck the ground with his hooves a cave sprang up along with tools and a crate filled with metals of all kind as the announcer explained their role. That role being to mine for minerals, creating tools and digging up stone for buildings.

Now as the announcer continued to speak other earth ponies entered into the stadium through trap doors over their respective villages and began to work. Houses sprang up carts and trolleys took form hauling an abundance of their resource as they traded with the villages nearby.

Now as every thing seemed fine and ponies in the audience began to grow relatively broad but who could blame them. They didn’t come to learn things they already knew they came here for the battles. Thankfully this was the introduction as it wasn’t long before the announcer dropped the name everyone knew would kick off all of Carridians history.

“Kordan Verex!” the operator first began by. “...was a pony, a simple leader in a mining village many years ago. However before he became the first invader, conqueror and king he was with conflict in another village. Another mining village to be exact. The winter seasons were beginning to close in, trading was divided between them but the competition between both villages insured neither village could sustain itself. And so began the prelude of the first war.”

With swiftness of the unseen operators the arena suddenly turned to grassland and on either side stood a entourage of three ponies making their numbers six in all. One from each group stepped forward, both with looks of indignation on their faces and when they came to a greeting the first spoke saying, “I am Lato Kan, leader of my village.”

“I am Kordan Verex, leader of my village,” said the second. “I am here to discuss a resolve before the winter seasons set in which would inevitably spell starvation for all concerned.”

“And what exactly is your proposal Kordan Verex,” he said with a bit of spite. “Those other villages are only willing to barter with only but one of us. We lower the prices again and again and soon we’ll be selling mountains of rocks, ores and gold for nothing but scraps.” He said this with great feeling and emotion like he actually cared for his ponies but then when it came to Kordan he spoke more insipidly. “So what have you and come this day to make a proposition? Something that serves both parties favorably, I doubt.”

Now when it came to Kordan he stood tall, hardly moving unlike the distraught Lato he sauntered about making erratic gestures. “Simple,” Kordan had said.

“You are to suggest my word is incorrect, that both parties can be satisfied?”

“I am here to suggest...” He paused for the audience, “A merger.”

“A merger? A Merger!?” It was easy to see Lato was not pleased with Kordan’s proposition. “To say that two villages whose forefathers raised for generations should conjoin their roots and choke out one branch, my branch, while forfeiting the inheritance is outrageous. Not unless my excellence lead on will this deal be made.”

“Your excellence?” Kordan question firm but boldly. “Had your excellence come up with this proposition? Had your excellence did not but terry about in self destruction wilted to eyeing his neighbor and declaring him your demise when finding your own empty and void of sustenance? Had your excellency taken action and put forth forethought to this dilemma? Had your excellency? -your excellency?”

“You think I would simply stand by and demote myself to a commoner? I care for my ponies and cater to their needs and…”

“Can you do that now? ...Cater to their needs? The way I see it, failure to accept my proposition, this solution to all our needs, would engraven starvation and destruction upon both keeps. I the martyr, you the murderer for if you say you care for your ponies to decline would mean to put your own idealistic importance above all else, expunging the caretaker of you in place of mutually assured destruction for but an idea and a podium steadfast fore you. What you say is a lie for if you truly cared you would have accepted seeing no other alternative." His next line was a challenge. "See how long the essence of leaderships staves off starvation in line with commonwealth. Wo it makes no difference but take heed unto this; unlike you, your excellency, I do care for my ponies and I won't let ignorance spell death for us all. For if it is so then death will be made a tool along side shafts of tipped wood. Mark my words insufferable imbecilic; I will make death my tool and I apply it north of this location towards my own personal impersonators.”

But to when Kordan left expecting a messenger of appeasement. None did come and so Kordan came again just as he had said; with shafts of tipped wood and with death in stride. However in the events that ensued death only struck once.

The body of Lato as two shafts speared through his sides. He had no last words as was a silent shameful death of an instigator. Only Kordan brought peace to both villages, villages that could now ransom their services for greater.

Travelers
The day grew stark as they traveled and nearly blackened as they took shelter beneath a lone canopy of trees bearing not far off from the path eastwards. The grassy plans were tranquil save it for the wind that easily agitated the overgrown blades but the sent it carried signified to the Celestials that soon rolling thunder would be upon the land.

Ukalove, sitting against a tree with her heavy set attire, baggage and wooden thing that sat across her hooves was the first to mention it. “You prepped for thunder and the gales of wind and water?”

Magically unstrapping Lindestic the cart instantly tipped to the ground flinging up bars of metal which all landed back into the cart. Adridge and Lindestic winced at the event but regained their composure soon afterwards. Jumping onto the top she pulled out a roll of sturdy hide and threw it to the ground saying, “that's why I bought this.”

Ukalove didn’t seemed pleased. “You had so much yet you spent so little.” Her hoof tapped one of five strings the wooden thing held and it ticked once.

Adridge disregarded her as she jumped back down and began unraveling it. Ukalove was interesting to say the least if it wasn’t already apparent by the way she dressed, the numerous bags she carried and the way she carried herself, let alone talk. She was polite in her words but sometimes they eerily came off like she was speaking down to them or at least in a way one would talk to a foal. However she never criticized them just occasionally questioned things already apparent like the tarp. She witnessed them buy and take along - along with some scarce food, arrows and fire paper so why even?

'Why even!' Adridge thought.

Anyways the arrows were specifically for Adridge’s use with a summonable long- or hunting -bow to use in any situation, combat or hunting.

As she put the tarp up, over and around a low hanging branches she soon anchored down the edges with rocks creating a nice three walled, and ceilinged, wind and waterproof fort. Seeing as it was big enough to fit the three of them she nodded to herself in approval as Lindestic plopped wood down just outside the entrance.

With a sigh he said, “We're going to need more firewood if we intend to outlast the night.”

“I know, I know,” Adridge nodded as she followed him out.

Gathering wood on long travels was a common chore and one they almost never stressed about even though it took a good hour or so to gather preform, but often times that was normally accomplished with a company of three. A company two was good enough but one still lingered in the shelter; Ukalove who tampered with her wooden thing oblivious to their gases. From what Adridge could infer her wooden thing was a stringed instrument but not one she had ever seen.

Disregarding her little hobby Adridge thought Ukalove couldn’t be too stubborn that she wouldn’t assist them for her own good so she half cautiously, half flatly asked, “won’t you help us?”

She looked to the grass in consideration and for a moment they thought she would simply decline but throwing her head up she casually nodded and answered, “I wouldn’t complain if I found myself cold but… tonight I’ll be vertuous.” Setting her wooden thing aside she got up and assisted them and not long afterwards did they have two separate stacks dedicated to keeping the fire alight throughout the night.

Gathering round, or at least within the confines of the makeshift tent, Lindestic found his corner while Ukalove reoccupied her space near the back.

Arranging a third, significantly smaller pile of wood Adridge took her place by it and sighed. Looking to the other two ready for warmth she took the fire paper previously stoad away in her pocket in her scabbard and held it in her magical grip ready to be applied.

However she hesitated for a moment and only sat there as the winds slowly began to grow stronger as the thunder rolled along soft but loud, soon to be furious as it beared down on them earth shaking might.

Lindestic having already settled in raised his head to see her sitting dormant with the paper in her grip. “Will you really need fire paper?” he questioned.

“What?” she asked, her ears raising up at his sudden question.”

“Well…” he began as Dramier steadily adjusted himself to make him more comfortable before continuing. “There's plenty to be currently mad about. Surely you can indulge in… at least a little bit of anger.”

“It's not exactly like me to simply... be angry,” she said.

“What are you then?” Ukalove now asked prematurely drawing a conclusion on Dramier's subtle, final objective.

“What?”

“Well,” she began. “Are you happy? -With Noriphmy’s invasion?”

“N-no, not exactly,” Adridge answered.

“Do you find clarity in the events that have passed?” she again asked.

Again Adridge answered, “No.”

“Are you in a state of tranquility given your current situation?” Adridge shook her head. “Do you feel in control?”

It was hard to swallow but it was true. Everything that had happened had taken any sense of control or tranquility out of her and in turn severely weakened her alchemy that corresponded to those emotions. She tried to remember the times she was in control bending earth and stone to her will but it wasn’t enough as they hardly even shuttered.

She tried to remember the sense of tranquility and in times she was relaxed, calm and kind. In turn she was able to bend water and divert rivers. No longer as she constantly felt disoriented with a clouded mind.

“Well,” Ukalove prompted.

With another shake of her head she verbally answered, “no.”

This time Lindestic spoke, “Then there's nothing left Adridge.” He meant it in the kindest way possible, Adridge could tell that much.

Ukalove nodded in agreement, “yes, you must feel hatred, mad at least.”

“Maybe,” she admitted

“Then give us fire Adridge,” Lindestic pleaded. “I know you're furious, you don’t need to hide it from me.”

What was all this for, this psychoanalyzing they were conducting? To draw out fire from her and spare one little scrap of fire paper or was it something else? It was Lindestic who suggested it but was he just trying to help Adridge put to use a tool she hadn't drawn power from for years? To take pride in rage and wild fire with ferocity?

It was with the best of intentions as Adridge knew that in the day in the days to come compassion might be revoked to an after thought were as action, combat and protection became the forefront of their concerns. If anything fire was a useful tool, a tool to drive away the shadows, ward off the cold and burn their enemies to ashes.

Drawing in one breath she eased herself and focused and let down her emotional guard letting everything that had taken place over the past few weeks to get to her. Most memories were sad others unfortunate but all of which could be bent and molded into rage.

With a flare in her eyes her gaze bore down upon the wood pile and in doing so it erupted into flames, taking hold of the wood and burning on its own.

With a cheer from both the Earthpony and Celestial Lindestic happily patted Adridge on the back and said, “there you go Adridge. It's fine to indulge.”

“Unless you become poisoned,” Ukalove concurred.

“I know where I stand,” Adridge argued. “And it isn’t and will never be in a position that opposes either of you. If anything I’ll save my hatred for the armies and I’ll burn each and every last one of them I come across.”

“You and me together Adridge,” Lindestic said.

Fire was lit and when the storm overtook their little encampment they weren’t victims of the cold. For the most part they rested soundly with Lindestic having let his bird out to eat before snuggling back away beneath his feathers after Ukalove had examined in little blindness problem.

Lindestic had said its nesting place had been struck by lightning when it was much smaller. She suggested it had gone blind or was still in shock and in turn refused to open its eyes fearing the blinding light might return. This theory was only reinforced when the storm rang out with lightning causing the bird to anxiously squirm around as Lindestic kept it safe.

Ukalove poorly played her little wooden instrument before she set it aside and also fell asleep to the thunderous storm both Adridge and Lindestic found very familiar and easy to fall asleep to.

The Caridian History

Kohligans conquest, although interesting could easily be drawn out and repetitive. However it was something the play handled quite well. While two famous battles raged on the operator narrated over the screams and fake death cries explaining away the history and events leading up to the current battle explaining the triple alliances and the dangers they posed early on in Kordans conquest as well as the final battle that ended it all in a land that was now known as the Higliac Mound.

If anything the crowd really enjoyed the scripted battles that took place, some even going as far as to declare the final death by other means like hanging, mincing, flaying or anything simply unsavory. However all they did was spear them much to the disappointment of Joel who was one of the few who hollered for blood.

For as long as he had been in Noriphmy Igneous knew that Joel haddn’t seen an actual Estoc arena brawl were no limits are held and it's simply one life or the other. Igneous didn’t subscribe to those types of battles as he wasn’t very fond of seeing a convict earn notoriety through gruesome combat but if he were to be honest it wouldn’t be the fight itself he couldn’t stand. More like the dire struggle to be precise.

He’d lived that experience more times then he liked to admit but knowing this was all acted eased him but when a certain actor let out a true to life death/battle cry it often times unsettled the battle worn stallion. However when he found himself tense all he had to do was look to Navinia who’s soft gaze and friendly nature always calmed him again and again.

However every time he did he felt like he was stealing something from her. She may not have known he was the way he is, Igneous didn’t even know for sure. What was he? Lost, scared? Constantly in a place other than where he was, back in carridian; at the fortress, at the forest, at the gates, and on that snowy mountain where he found himself most often.

All that blood and those he loved, dead at the blade of an illusionist.

His chest tightened and his breathing deepened and he deeply wondered how he could be sitting right next to Navinia yet still feel miles away. This had to be a curse, it should have been but he stole yet another look from her, shook away the thoughts and turned his attention to the show down below were the first volunteer of the audience was playing Carridian the son of Kordan as he refused to keep his word and keep the nation whole and unbroken. There was a lot of monologuing, especially from the dying Kordan but eventually it ended and he was dead after what felt like a while.

“Did ponies back then really speak in that kind of language?” Igneous briefly wondered. After a short deliberation he concluded that probably wasn’t the case, especially since pre Caridian ponies weren’t that advance so how could they have such a wide vocabulary? Igneous never spoke like that and hardly four sentences before somepony else added something.

Perhaps it was just an idea that the ideal diction and way ponies communicated was sophisticated, self descriptive and drawn out but then Igneous thought that perhaps monologues were story methods that negated the need for a narrator hence why characters said their feelings aloud and talk to themselves when nopony was around.

“Igneous look,” Navinia whispered not taking her eyes off the arena floor.

By now the previous scene taking place in the castle courtyard had ended with Caridian saying aloud, “I will divide the nation into three separate powers and together they shall bring balance and unsure in reconcile.”

The audience volunteer who had played Caridian did so very well but if one looked they would know that he was a sophisticated pony indeed and to have participated in the estoc play would surely add to his notoriety amongst his peers.

As the crowd applauded him as he wandered away as instructed the narrator took his place again as the operators changed the whole scene from a stony castle garden complete with flowers and a decorated path to a small village all the while the narrator spoke saying, “in the coming years after the first war Carridian died peacefully as a well honored Verex unlike his father the first invader, conqueror and king.

“For the next forty four years after Carridians death there would be peace between each nation without a conflict of war until the end of the forty fifth year when the old lands of Carridian were conflicted by bodily creatures not akin to pony or beast known and willed by pony. These bodily creatures originated from no known land or area and seemingly came from the earth itself as if she conspired against the frailties and corruptness of her occupants.-”

The operators had finished their construction and once again disappeared within the buildings that were well placed over trap doors to also allow the villagers to emerge from the same building also.

Where the suspense had been built as the narrator drug out his last few lines the suspense was then broken as a roar rang throughout the stadium shaking the very stone it was built upon.

Igneous shifted in his seat, felt for his sword that had been stored away within the wardrobe and checked his back a shield that laid broken in a fortress long abandoned by Hexers. However where he instinctively reached for his weapons Navinia clutched his hoof in excitement and anticipation with a big radiating smile on her face as the ‘beast’ sauntered onto the stage.

“-From villages far bordering the lands, they fell to awful blood of all kind; beast, greater beats, avians and dragons. The armies and warriors hardly posed a threat as fiends mercilessly pummeled communities to dirt leaving nothing but beaten paths, broken homes and shattered embers but most abundantly of all, ash in their wake of destruction.-”

This ‘beast’ was well crafted to say the least and, if anything, lifelike as it moved just like Igneous would expect. Hunched low with eyes beaming the horizon stuck within a shifty head and body that waved with every step as if to mimic the trail of a snake.

This crafted beast was a greater one and if it could be described by Igneous, he’d say it looked very generic. Starting from the tail it was lined with jutting scales that lined the very back of the beats all the way up to the nape of its neck. It had two horns, clawed fingers and hardened knuckles and scaly feet. Also it was red, the safest color scheme known to illustrators when it came to illustrating beasts and dragons. As far as he knew beasts and dragons were a multitude of colors; some vibrant green, others a dark purple, more a shining yellow and lastly nightly blue.

Sure the beast before the audience was well crafted but Igneous having judged according to experience was a bit more critical even if it was only its color scheme. However he would let it pass, it was only an opinion anyways.

“-Ponies knew not what to do. In times of desperation they turned on each other, they grew fearful however she, the world, seemed to favor equis and so she granted pony beasts akin to us.” This he spoke while the crafted beast rampaged the village while ponies scampered around panicked. “Born from earthponies she first granted Celestials to rule the sky and keep watch in the night. Her second born was Unicorns whose minds and otherworldly skill devised contraptions and weapons laid forth for the slaying of beasts, avians and dragons.

“However Celestials and Unicorns were feared amongst their own kin fore born as they took the celestial for a sane beast, unnatural and unattainable for unlike earth, borne by earth, celestial were borne by sky their for making earth bornes inferior in nature. The Celestial later proved faithful as she fought alongside earth bournes.

“Earth bornes also feared the Unicorn calling it a freak amongst equis wielding entities without touch and shifting objects beyond. This unicorn elongated the spear head and shrunk the shaft creating the sword for slashing rather than just stabbing. However unlike Celestials who were borne by air unicorns dwelt amongst earthponies and so most considered it a ruler to be.

“This however was proven right in the later years but the first catalyst barer honorably, graciously and willingly fought below earthponies in the war against beasts, avians and dragons.” The crafted beasts had knocked down the majority of the city at this time and the actors had brought on a small battalion of earth ponies strapped with spears in a fixed positions pointing towards the beast itself. “However celestials were few and unicorn just as scarce. They couldn’t align themselves with any one nation for it was every nation that needed them but a celestial could dare combat a beast by itself neither could a unicorn match the strength and power of beasts let alone a simple earth pony.

“So they devised a groups acting as vigilantes and during this time when they combated beasts in threes; one earthpony, celestial and unicorn, Celestials were still considered beastly and unicorns freakish. However it was the celestial that had its due in the naming of these trios meant to combat beasts and those groups were named Falconers for a pony who works with birds and avians call himself a falconer so be not the nature of them?”

By this time the battalion of earth ponies had been cutely slaughtered with slow swipes and fake bites and over acted deaths by the lot. Igneous sighed, death was not so passionate as these ponies pretended it to be.

“I call upon two for our second act,” the operator then announced. “One celestial one unicorn to play the roles of the first falconer party.”

There was a stir amongst the crowd as many wanted to participate raising their hooves to show it as operators peruse the stands looking for a fitting candidate. However as Igneous felt disinterested in the matter as he would had rather sat amongst the rest.

However it was Navinia who excitedly said, “Igneous we just have to go. Were perfect the roles and your a falconer too!” She lightly tugged on him as he hesitated to consider.

Meanwhile an operator walked by and noticed Navinia’s efforts to volunteer him and so he asked, “Will you two be participating? Answer quickly for another might take your place.”

“Igneous, please,” she asked, her eyes pleading in much the same way a filly would cutely beg.

“Quickly,” the operator came again.

If Mace’s father had said anything it was to lay low and to not draw much attention to himself. This was going against that but Igneous remembered it was more of a suggestion rather than a command. Besides, he was the prince after all whether it be known amongst the public or to a loyal few.

“I’ll play the role of the first smith,” he said standing with Navinia who smiled in excitement. It couldn’t be that hard just face the crafted beast, say the lines given and wave a sword until it plays dead. Almost like actual falconering deducting the short monologue before the battle of course.

With Navinia having been equipped with lightened cloth designed to give off the appearance of armor and dull claws with a simple switch mechanism, Igneous was then also outfitted with studded non-authentic armor and a dull longsword made from cheap metal. If anything they looked real from afar but if Igneous remembered correctly studded or even metal armor may not have been used by ponies until the great rising was almost at an end. Whatever the case it didn’t concern him so long as Navinia was happy which she very much was as well as excited and giddy too as an earth pony actor of the estoc play accompanied them dressed in the same studded armor as Igneous but with a wooden block carved in a look closely mimicking that of an earthenier crossbow albeit without the mechanical components.

“I’ll be whispering you your lines,” he said as he moved a strip of cloth over his mouth presumably to hide any visual evidence of him speaking to them. “Follow me in and I’ll make it known to you as well as the actions to take.”

They were set on an lift just below one of the many trap does of the arena floor. As they were hoisted up the trapdoor gave and they were within a square wooden building.

Igneous swallowed nervously before the actor said to Navinia, “the scene has changed the villagers rest and the celestial keeps watch over the night. Night is the time and a beast lurks but you have seen it. Fly out and repeat these lines.” He drew in closer to Navinia and whispered silently so that only she could here. After a brief moment he pulled away and asked, “have you remembered?”

Navinia muttered the words to herself saying, “I am the celestial who keeps watch in the night and night is the time and this time is my domain were upon this best will lay slain before me, smith and earth; the falconers, sworn to protect.”

“Good, now go,” he said pushing open the front door that face away from the crowed gathered on the west side of the stadium. He then turned his attention to Igneous, “your lines, are you ready?” Igneous nodded. “On exit you’ll face the beast and here’s what you’ll say, ‘It is I the first born of my kind; dawned of armor and trekked for miles. Now I faceth thee with a forged sword of brass. I say fall dead in pieces.’ The beast will do its part, simply play along but don’t damage our property.”

“My word,” he assured with a nod. “Lead on.”

It was only a moment before they heard the Navinia finish her lines whereas the actor pushed open the door letting Igneous lead first. This was a simple task but the crowds were another thing but a thing Igneous wasn’t afraid of.

What did bring him to a halt in his tracks however was the crafted beast he now faced. In one hand it held an actor covered in fake blood. Upon shifting its head it faced Igneous with a toss of a lively corps and snarled an oh so life like snarl.

He had paused for too long as the accompanying actor whispered, “it is I, the first born of my kind…”

“It… i-it is…” He couldn’t take his eyes off the beast, the way it looked the way it moved and the way it glared at him, but it wasn’t only that but the sight and the familiarity of his peripherals round about. Torn homes, scattered corpses, blood, lots of blood.

“It is I, the first of my kind…” the actor said again.

The beast took one step forward and Igneous’ grip tightened upon the fake blade.

“Igneous?” Navinia worriedly called from above.

He could only swallow as the crafted monster towered over him blocking out a portion of the light. His grip tightened even more on the fake sword as he slowly positioned it for an offensive move.

The actor at his side then called out, “It is he, the first of his kind; dawned of armor and trekked for miles. Now I faceth thee with a forged sword of brass. Before, this beast will lay in pieces. Now go forth my league and slay thee!”

That must have been the que for the operators operating the fake beast as it took one last step forward with a snarl on its face. It was one step too far.

“Away From Me!” Igneous shouted as he charged beneath the craft of wood and cloth before plunging his sword deep within the belly of it. The actor at his side lept back in surprise but the crowed cheered unaware that he had diverged from the script however Igneous wasn’t done.

The actor although very, very displeased still had an audience to upkeep and so he bellowed, “be thee he slays the beast!”

With the blade buried deep he again thrusted upwards and the crafted beast was lifted off its feet. When it dropped to the ground Igneous quickly withdrew drawing it along its side nearly cutting it in half. He stabbed the back and again the crowed cheered as the blade stuck with only the tip having penetrated.

The crafted beast no longer moved. No doubt the ties any unicorn had over it had been broken while Igneous, who now stood over it with sword bearing, sliced away it at.

“The Beast Is Dead!” the actor shouted for all to hear but mostly as a sign for Igneous to let up and retreat away from it.

“No,” he whispered. “They never die.” The sword began to glow and the air around it morphed and before long Igneous again plunged the blade deep within the craft of wood and cloth whereas it erupted into a ball of flame obliterated and destroyed for good. Only then did Igneous’ ragged breathing subsided, only then did his eyes see and only then did he remember where he was.

The Estoc arena were the crowds now cleared but were the operators threw him out after having exited through a trap door. By that time Navinia had learned that Igneous had gone off script and destroyed the prop without permission. Igneous could only hang his head low he waited outside while Navinia talked it over with the Estoc operators.

Surly now she would want nothing to do with him especially after having embarassed her in front of half the capital. He could he have done that, what could have compelled him to suddenly lash out with such a compulsion? He lost control, something a falconer should never do. He wasn’t thinking straight, something a leader should always maintain.

However it wasn’t a leader he was trying to be. He simply was trying to be normal in this instance however that clearly didn’t work out. In fact it hadn’t worked out these past few weeks he had been within the capital and sadly it was no different today.

What would she do? What would she say? These questions and many more plagued his mind while he waited on the streets as ponies passed him by oblivious to his situation. If anything this was probably more scary then that crafted beast back in the arena over there.

With a crack a Estoc operator door built into the side of the Estoc arena Igneous winced as Navinia slowly stepped out and began to eye the guilt ridden unicorn. As she stared down at him Igneous didn’t know what to say as he hadn’t quiet been in this type of situation before.

“Igneous,” she began her usual soft voice giving some what to sternness. “What happened? Why did you do that?” It was the same questions he asked himself with no definitive answer to be given.

After a moment he simply shook his head and said, “I don’t know Navinia. It wasn’t my intention.”

“But Igneous you voluntarily destroyed their property. You weren’t under command, it wasn’t in the script, you just… just... ruined it.”

She had every right to be mad or at least upset and Igneous fully acknowledged it. “I’m sorry Navinia,” he offered still too guilty to look up at her. “I embarrassed you in front of every pony, I ruined your image and turned this day to ash.”

“As well as the monster,” she reminded. “Literally.”

“If you be done with me I understand. You deserve something better then my presents, after all I’ve had nothing to contribute, I've only taken from you, so just send me away and I won't burden you any longer.”

“Igneous,” she began. “Do you have any idea how much I spent getting you out of trouble with those operators?” It was a rhetorical question but one Igneous still had the decency to meet her eyes on. However it was what she said next that caught him off guard. “Why would I send you away now? Seems a bit counterproductive to invest that kind of money in you if I were to simply send you off.”

“But Navinia…”

“No,” she said with a smile. “I am your host and you are my guest. Be polite and spend the rest of the day with me.”

“But the ponies, your reputation.”

“As far as they know you followed the script,” she reassured. “My reputation is safe now come along and let's go find lunch.”

Author's Notes:

Finally so many distractions, just gotta focus, I can do it. Got every thing planned just gotta write, write, write. Can do with music too