Author's Notes:

Okay! This is the fight scene, as the title gives away. There is blood and gore here, without going into unnecessary detail. The story's rating and markers have been changed to suit this chapter, so if you feel I haven't warned you enough already, this is your final warning.

Don't say I didn't warn you...

Twilight came out of her quite-comfortable quarters on the Xerxes the next morning, to find Stellar wasn't on the bridge. "Scootaloo, do you know where Stellar is?" She asked the only member of the CMC on the bridge.

"Yeah, Twilight." Scootaloo had noticed that Twilight hadn't toned her question to her as a member of the crew, but as if they were just in Ponyville, so she answered her in the same manner. "Stellar's down on the upper flight deck at the moment. She said she was going to get 'warmed up' for the fight."

Twilight nodded. That made sense. "Thanks, Scootaloo. Keep up the good work." She replied as she headed off the bridge for the lift.

Proceeding to the afore-mentioned flight deck, Twilight entered to see Stellar being assaulted by numerous members of her pegasus squads, and making them wish they hadn't been volunteered. On closer inspection, Twilight could see that, while the pegasi who engaged her were not suffering any injuries, the methods Stellar was using to repel them ended up with all of them very discombobulated for several minutes each time, before they regained their senses and attacked again. Stellar, on the other hoof, was grinning and looking as though this whole attack was great fun; and Twilight even saw her embrace one determined-looking stallion and give him a massive kiss as they spun around, before sending him flying. Twilight hid a giggle behind a hoof, before she proceeded to enter the bay.

Flash Sentry saw Twilight enter, and yelled out "Stand down! Civilian on the field!"

All the pegasi halted their planned attack-runs and stepped further out from a ring marked on the flight deck, and Stellar shook herself out as the pegasi guards saluted Twilight. She saluted them back as Stellar ordered "Break, everypony. Go have breakfast and get ready. We'll be heading down at eleven-hundred hours."

"Aye, Captain!" The pegasi replied, and formed up before heading out of the bay, as Twilight reached Stellar.

"You looked like you were having fun, although your Guards seemed to be treating things a little more... seriously." Twilight commented as the sisters headed out of the bay as well.

"That's because I wanted them to, Sis." Stellar told Twilight. "I don't want them to think I'm going soft, just because of the current circumstances. Plus these are griffons we're facing; I don't want them being too confident. There's still a chance Greatfeather could do me a decent injury in the arena, and I want them all to be ready to get you out in an instant, if things go wrong." Stellar reminded her sister.

Twilight nodded as they reached the lift and headed for Stellar's quarters behind the bridge. They talked on as Stellar showered, then they both sat down to a decent breakfast. "So, is there anything you need me to do before we set off, Stellar?" Twilight asked.

"The only thing I can think of is perhaps send a message to Celestia, asking her to send us some medical staff, Twi-Sis." Stellar answered. "The EAG and Flying Squad have medics, but a fully-qualified doctor could be a huge asset, if anything really serious occurs. Maybe Dr Rubber Gloves, if Celestia could spare him. At least he knows about Alicorn anatomy, and has been examining us since we ascended. No-pony knows us as well as he does."

"A good idea, Sis." Twilight agreed. "I'll write Celestia as you're getting ready."

Stellar nodded, and Twilight left Stellar's quarters to send a message to Celestia.

The next couple of hours were spent with Stellar and the CMC coaching Twilight more on the Xerxes and its layout, as well as running Twilight through some of the bridge simulations the fillies had been put through as the Xerxes had drifted along in interstellar space, before they had been able to turn around and head home again. They had managed to get through three simulations before Steady Sentry came to remind Stellar it was time to head down to the arena. "Thank you, Commander. Get those coming down with us to the upper deck, and we'll join you there." Stellar told Steady Sentry.

"At your conveniance, Captain." Steady Sentry replied, as Sweetie Belle shut down the simulation and returned the full bridge to its normal monitoring.

Stellar's Red-and-Gold Battle Armor extended out over her, as Twilight dropped to the floor from the Captain's chair. As Stellar left some last-minute instructions for the CMC, Twilight had her own Purple-and-Gold armor extend over her as well. "See you when we get back, Lieutenants." Stellar said with a casual salute to the Trio.

"Good luck, Captain!" The Trio replied, then the Twins left the Bridge for the Upper Deck, both Stellar and Twilight keeping their thoughts private for the moment...

While the EAG's first platoon and the Flying Squad formated around the Alicorn Twins on the upper deck of the Xerxes, Stellar looked down at the arena. The crowds lined up outside it were more than enough to fill the stands, she estimated, and a lot of the griffons were going to be disappointed about not getting seating inside. Equestrian flags were flying on half of the flagpoles around the arena's upper ring, as was proper, and banners hung from the outer walls as well. Stellar nodded. All the preparations were going as expected. As Twilight came up beside her, Stellar nodded to Twilight, who nodded back, then they opened their huge wings. At a gesture, the eighty-two pegasi and two alicorns lifted from the deck and drifted down over the arena, heading for the entrance to a section of the arena's outer ring that was cordoned off, with the banner of Equestria to either side of the entrance.

As they settled down in one of the arena's preparation areas, Twilight fidgeted nervously as Stellar began her preparations for the duel. Flash Sentry and Steady Sentry were standing together to one side, the Flying Squad and Elite Air Guard surrounding the rooms as well. "Now you all need to prioritise Twilight's safety over my own here." Stellar told the Sentry Brothers. "Until the duel is over, my life is protected from outside assault by the laws of the Honor Duel. Twilight isn't covered by that, so keep an eye out for anything the Griffons might use to try and hurt or kill her. Not all of them are as honorable as the majority are, and assassination is a legitimate political tool here, as you all know."

Flash and Steady nodded. "Aye, Commander." They said together.

Stellar moved to Twilight and gently nuzzled her. "Calm, Sis. Breathe." She said softly to Twilight, who nodded and did her breathing exercise. Stellar mirrored her, effectively doubling the effect it had on Twilight, to the point where they both giggled and smiled at one another.

"I'm just worried for you." Twilight admitted.

"I know." Stellar moved to Twilight and the sisters gently nuzzled one another. "Just relax. As I said, I'm protected until after the duel is done. All you have to do is stay safe with the EAG and the Flying Squad around you. And don't let the griffons rattle you. I know Greatfeather's going to do his best to kill me, but I've narrowed his options down as much as I can in that regard. He's not going to be able to use weapons against me, other than those he has naturally, and I'll still be wearing armor, so he'll have to get in very close and grapple with me." Stellar grinned. "He's going to find out very quickly that I'm no pushover in physical combat."

Twilight grinned back. "That's for sure." She agreed.

Then the first of the signals came from outside the ready areas, a gong that sounded one long, deep note. Stellar noted it, then looked at Twilight. "Fifteen minutes, Sis. Time for you to get to your box." Stellar told Twilight.

Twilight nodded, then the sisters hugged each other close, with forelegs and wings wrapped around each other as they nuzzled their noses along the sides of their muzzles. "Do Equestria proud, Stellar-sis."

"Always, Twi-sis." Stellar said back in the same soft voice.

Twilight nodded, then turned and headed out of the changing room and for her assigned box. Once all the ponies were gone, Stellar made her normal armor retract and she began to cast a special spell... one that would give her a much-more equal fighting chance against Greatfeather, and one that would have him both perplexed and have him second-guessing everything in the duel...

Twilight and her Guard walked out into the stands, taking a box that was meant for visiting Royalty when any were present. Surrounded by her purple-and-gold armor, this time Twilight had augmented the armor with her crown and regalia, plus a long purple and gold-trimmed cloak that covered most of her. As Flash Sentry directed her, she sat in the middle of the box, the Flying Squad and Elite Air Guard forming concentric rings around her in a protective formation. Flash Sentry was seated before her, Steady Sentry directly behind her; the brothers making sure that, if it came to evacuating the Princess, The Elite Air Guard and Flying Squad would be able to power Twilight up into the air as fast as their thrusters could take them, hopefully well beyond the reach of any griffons that might wish to overwhelm their formation.

Twilight was even more reassured as she sat there, for right in her view was the Xerxes, hovering effortlessly over the city and facing the arena. The power her weapons held could destroy the arena and most of the city unopposed, if the Ponies so desired... but Twilight knew that wasn't the plan. They had managed to get this far with no casualties at all amongst the Griffin combatants (hopefully), and Stellar's plan was for that trend to continue. She'd even told Twilight that if she could get out of killing Greatfeather, she would... but they both knew it was a forlorn hope at best. Greatfeather was out to win this duel; out to humiliate Ponies and the Crown of Equestria as well as take the Kingdom for himself; and out to destroy House Sparkle completely. Twilight knew, as Stellar had told her, that this had to end here and now, or Equestria and Griffonia would forever be on the brink of war. Even with the edge the Xerxes gave Equestria at that moment, that edge would be soon lost as the Ponies delved into the starship, seeking to replicate its secrets and systems. Twilight shook her head, then settled herself again and waited as the Arena filled to capacity around her.

About ten minutes before Noon, the arena doors opened and a griffon in somewhat-ornate armor came forth, walking towards the center of the arena floor. He gestured as he reached it, and a fanfare of drums and trumpets sounded out from the top ring of the arena stands, causing all inside (and many outside) to cease chatting and pay attention to him. Once they were silent, he stood on his hindlegs and addressed the crowd.

"We are here to witness an honor duel between Royalty!" The Chief Marshall sounded out to those who had managed to gain seats in the stands. "The stakes are no less than the Kingdoms of Griffonia and Equestria in their entirety! To my left, may I present His Majesty: King Razorbeak Greatfeather of Griffonia; Honored of the Sky-Gods, Lord of High Reaches Clan, and General-Royal of the Endless Army!" The Chief Marshall read out Razorbeak's titles.

To massed cheers from the audience, Razorbeak walked out in his best set of fighting armor, the Crown of Griffonia attached to his helmet and both the Sword of High Reaches Clan over his back as well as the Sword of The Empire. He smiled and waved to the audience of Griffons as he pointedly ignored Twilight where she sat, surrounded by her Guard. Once he reached the Chief Marshall at the center of the arena, he saluted the griffon, then waited with somewhat-feigned patience.

Then the Marshall gestured to the opposite door from the one Greatfeather had entered by, and continued "To my right, representing Equestria in this duel, is Her Highness Princess Stellar Light Sparkle; Alicorn of Honor, Princess of the Blade and Warrior of Equestria; Knight-Commander of the Royal Canterlot Guard; Knight-Commander of the Royal Crystal Guard, Captain of the Warship Xer... Xerxes," He stumbled a little over the unusual name, "and Dame of the Order of The Light!"

After the Marshall announced her, Stellar walked out into the arena... but looking very different from usual. She was standing up on her hind legs in a full-bipedal form, and her front hoofs had changed into hands. The armor she wore was suited for a biped and was red-and-silver, not her usual red-and-gold battle armor. She still wore her swords in back-scabbards, crossing over between her wings and her horn still stuck out in a horn-sheath. Stellar smiled confidently as she strode forward.

Twilight blinked with surprise, doing a double-take to be sure she was seeing what she had saw as Stellar had walked out. It was as if Stellar had merged her form on the alternate Equestria, the one with the Humans in it, with her pony-body. It looked strange, but powerful, moreso than either form did separately. Then Stellar reached the Chief Marshall and saluted him as well, taking an easy-ready stance facing Razorbeak as they waited for the signal to begin the duel.

Razorbeak was most surprised as he stood up on his hind legs to match Stellar. "What is this?" He asked with just a hint of the confusion and uncertainty he was feeling coming out in his voice.

"Just squaring things up a little, Your Majesty." Stellar answered. "Since you griffons mostly fight on your hind legs, I changed myself to be closer to that stance, making things more equal between us." Stellar explained. "I'm not even wearing my own armor. This is my Grandfather's armor which, despite its reputation, is not as indestructible as my own, so you do have a chance of killing me... if you're good enough." Stellar smiled.

Razorbeak glowered at Stellar, but then nodded. "I see you are living up to your title of 'Alicorn of Honor'." He said.

"Honor is what this is all about, after all, Your Majesty." Stellar reminded him. "I promised you as fair and honorable a fight as I could give you. That has not changed."

Razorbeak nodded, still frowning at Stellar. This change of stance had him more than a little confused. He had expected to face a pony at a great disadvantage, without claws or talons. The 'hands' that Princess Sparkle now had looked a lot like his claws, but they didn't seem to have any talons to them. He snorted. They would not aid her that much, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about getting a hoof in the face.

The Chief Marshall then spoke out again: "To reiterate: this is an honor duel between the King and the Princess. The rules are: This fight is to the Death, and Winner Takes All. This includes the two Kingdoms." He looked at Stellar and Razorbeak. "The terms of the battle are: Claw-to..." He looked at Stellar's new appendages.

"Claw-to-Hand combat." Stellar clarified.

"Claw-to-Hand combat, no weapons to be allowed, save for those that are natural to the combatants." The Marshall finished.

Stellar let her swords disappear from her back, and she stretched and rolled her shoulders, readying herself, as Razorbeak did the same. She also noticed, as did the Chief Marshall, that Razorbeak did not take off the two swords he wore. But nothing was said, and Stellar decided to hold her tongue.

"The two combatants will turn and walk away thirty paces, then turn and wait. Once the drum sounds its third beat, Combat will begin." He said, then watched Stellar and Razorbeak walk away from each other. As they turned to face one another, the Marshall signalled the drummer, who made the huge drum boom once as the Marshall retreated. The crowd held its collective breath as the second beat sounded across the arena. Then the third beat sounded...

Stellar raced towards Razorbeak, running along on her hoofs as she drew on the mana from Equis below her, strengthening her body and readying herself for the fight, as the audience roared around them.

Razorbeak also ran forward, talons extended out from under the armored covers and ready to shred Stellar... if he could find a chink in her armor. He knew this would not be an easy battle, but he still had physical size and strength on the modified pony, as well as weight. He would slam into her, force her off-balance, then pummel her to the ground and tear that armor off her... before he shredded her.

As they closed, however, Stellar showed that Razorbeak didn't know anything about how she fought. As he reached her, Stellar grabbed one out-stretched fore-leg in her hands, spun around and threw Razorbeak over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground, where he managed to roll and keep his wings from being damaged. As he recovered and got to his paws, however, Stellar was right on him. She slammed an armored fist up under his chin-guard into his lower beak-jaw with a lot more force than he thought she could muster, snapping his head back and sending him toppling over, since he was still unbalanced. A few more hard punches and kicks to his chestplate as Razorbeak collapsed again, and Stellar backed off from him, not willing to kick Razorbeak when he was down.

Twilight had held her breath as Stellar and Razorbeak went head-to-head at each other, but she cheered as Stellar flipped Razorbeak over and hit him hard. "Yay! Go Stellar! Show him you're no pushover!" Twilight called out before the Guards let out a rounding cheer of "HUZZAH!" after her words, a cheer she joined in eagerly. Seeing Stellar take control of the fight so easily, Twilight quickly let her heart release its anxiety and she started to enjoy the fight, as much as the Griffons that surrounded her.

Razorbeak lay half on his back as he breathed hard. Stellar's fighting style was very different from any he'd faced before. The use of a closed fist was not a part of almost all of the fighting styles griffons had developed and they had mostly created moves to counter only open-clawed blows. His armor had managed to absorb some of the force of the hits, but they'd still put him off-balance and on the ground twice. He also noted that his armored chestplate was dented in five places, two of them hoof-shaped; testament to the power of Stellar's blows. He rose to his paws and charged Stellar again.

Stellar, this time, interlaced her fingers with Razorbeak's claws and braced herself. They pushed against each other, facing off in a test of strength. Stellar's eyes danced at Razorbeak as they exerted themselves to force each other back into a position of weakness. Razorbeak then tried to head-butt Stellar's horn, an attempt that failed as she shifted to one side and Razorbeak copped a shoulder-guard in his beak-guard. He shook his head to clear it, as Stellar smiled under her face-guard. "Close, but no cigar, Your Majesty." Stellar said to Razorbeak as they returned to grappling.

"I will have your head!" Razorbeak returned in a voice that growled with his rage. Her strength was almost unbelievable. He was larger than she was and much more muscular as well, but this mere pony was holding him off with some ease, which made him even more determined to humiliate her before he killed her.

"Sorry, but I prefer it stays right where it is, thank you very much." Stellar replied. Then Stellar suddenly reversed her stance. She allowed Razorbeak to push her back... but she then ran with it, pulling Razorbeak with her, which not only had him off-balance, but completely surprised. Then Stellar went down on her back, wings spread out to her sides enough to keep her balanced, dragging Razorbeak over her. A hoof to the lower torso, just above his cod-piece, and a great shove sent Razorbeak sailing through the air, his arc controlled by Stellar's arms. She kept him rolling over, to flatten him hard into the arena floor, eliciting screams from Razorbeak as his wing-shoulders slammed hard behind him on the unyielding floor. Stellar let go of Razorbeak's hand-claws and flipped herself back to her feet, walking away as she shook herself out.

The audience was cheering the combatants on, their voices showing the thrill they were experiencing as they watched the two experienced warriors going up against each other. Twilight was grinning with delight as she watched her sister show her prowess to the Griffons, and the Flying Squad and EAG that surrounded and guarded her were also cheering in unison. Another round of "HUZZAH!" yelled out above the mass of griffons as Stellar got to her hoofs again. She gave them a wave and waited for Razorbeak to get up again.

Razorbeak moved his wings around as he rose back to his feet. They ached, but were essentially undamaged, the wing-shoulder-guards having absorbed enough of the blow to keep bones from breaking. Furling his wings again, he saw Stellar standing a short distance from him, ready to go again. With a scream of rage, Razorbeak closed the distance...

As Stellar grappled with Razorbeak once again, this time he did something unexpected. He had slipped something into his right claw and slammed it into Stellar's visor. She jerked backwards as some substance blanked out her view entirely and she tried to clear it by shaking her head, but that triggered a result she did not expect.

The armor she wore was her grandfather's, as she'd stated to Razorbeak as they'd faced off in the arena. But she wasn't quite thoroughly aware of some of the little tricks Canopus Star had infused into the armor. As her visor was covered entirely, it slid upwards without her commanding it to do so, revealing her eyes, to her shock.

Razorbeak, having expected that Stellar would have had to raise her visor to see, then plunged his talons into her eyes. He grinned as he tried to push his talons further inwards to her brain as well. But as Stellar screamed in agony, her armored hoofguard came up with all the muscle-power of her earth-pony-magic-enhanced strength, driving it straight into Razorbeak's family jewels, shattering the armored codpiece that covered them and lifting him several feet off the arena floor. Razorbeak's screech of triumph shot up several octaves and devolved to a pained cheeping as the two moved apart, Razorbeak's talons pulling the front of Stellar's eyeballs out as they parted from each other. Stellar's hands went to her ruined eyes as Razorbeak rolled onto his back, his bloody claws clamped over his crotch, covering the area in Stellar's blood and gore as he cheeped agonisingly, panting hard as he tried to will away the pain.

Stellar was groaning as she felt the blood and fluids running down the sides of her muzzle as her faceguard also opened to let the blood drain out; the pain being the worst she'd ever felt. Her training came to her, Canopus Star and Warfist Bloodfeather having taught her how to deal with pain. She breathed hard, her magic helping to shut down the sensations and compartmentalise her body, blocking out the pain from her ruined eyes as the blood-flow slowly eased.

The roar of the crowd filled the arena as the two combatants regained their equilibrium. Twilight had almost been out of her seat and ready to fly down to Stellar and stop the duel... but the guards with her restrained her gently. "You can't, Princess... That would cause a forfeit, and Greatfeather would win." Flash Sentry told her as he and Steady Sentry restrained her.

Twilight gave Flash a glare worthy of Stellar at her most furious... but then she sighed sadly and slumped to the seat. "I know." She said with a sob. She looked out at where Stellar was still standing, trying to clear the blood from her hands and face. Stellar had almost instantly cut herself off from Twilight when Razorbeak struck, so Twilight had only gotten a tiny flash of the pain in her face, then it had disappeared. As feelings and emotions slowly oozed back to her, Twilight whimpered in sympathy for her sister...

Then Stellar did something so unexpected, it silenced the entire audience: she started to laugh. Twilight gaped as Stellar threw her head back and laughed out loud, the mirth filling her and making her shudder as she shook the blood from her hands. "By CELESTIA..." She then yelled out. "They should have named you Razorclaw, not Razorbeak! Oh, All-Mother above..." Stellar said as she shook her head slowly, a bloody smile covering her face.

"Kill... you..." Razorbeak hissed as he tried to get to his claws and paws, one claw still holding his crotch as it pulled the shattered codpiece away, relieving some of the pain he was feeling.

"Oh, I know you're going to try, Your Majesty." Stellar said back. "But, really, you should be proud of that attack." Stellar told Razorbeak.

Razorbeak stopped and looked up at Stellar, an incredulous look on his face. "Pr...roud?" He asked, amazed.

Stellar smiled back, nodding as the armor that covered her wings retracted as Stellar opened them a little. "Ee-yup." Stellar answered. "You are the first being to ever cause me such a powerful and devastating injury." She revealed. "I congratulate you for such a strong and well-timed attack." And Stellar bowed to Razorbeak.

Razorbeak slowly got to his paws, still grimacing, but his anger showed in his face as well. "I am going to kill you, Princess Stellar Light Sparkle." He declared, not noticing that Stellar's ear-guards had also retracted, revealing her ears now had little tufts at the points. He also didn't notice she was now looking straight at him, as if she wasn't blind. "I will take your sister's life as well, then I will bring Equestria to its knees. I will tear it apart, rip out its heart, drain its coffers, destroy the other alicorns and render its citizens into slaves and food for my people." He was almost frothing at the beak as he declared his intentions out-loud.

Stellar was standing loose, relaxed as she turned her mind to the lessons of her youth. It was a thestral master of blade-combat who had taught her to fight in the dark, even pitch-black conditions. Plus her grandfather had also taught her the way of pegasus combat, teaching her to always be aware of her total surroundings, even if she couldn't see. Those lessons now filled her mind... until she heard a very familiar sound from Razorbeak: the sound of a sword being drawn. She frowned and took an alert stance, ready to fight. "This was supposed to be a weaponless fight, Your Majesty. Are you going to cheat now, and bring a weapon into our duel?"

Razorbeak had drawn the Sword of The Empire out of the scabbard on his back. "I am King here! I make the rules!" He yelled out in the silence. "I will cut you down and eat your heart before it finishes beating!"

Stellar slid one hoof back and, unseen to Razorbeak, the armor on her arms and legs changed color, the silver being replaced by gold. Her hoof-shoes also vanished, leaving her uncovered hoofs in contact with the ground... and the power it contained. "So... Honor really doesn't mean much to you after all, does it? If you're willing to cast it aside so easily." She said in a disgusted tone that carried all over the arena.

"Honor is nothing but a tool, a weapon I keep on my belt to beat others to death with if I so desire!" Razorbeak yelled back. "Only Victory mattersI" And he screamed as he raced towards Stellar, the blade high over his head, ready to cleave her in two...

Stellar smiled again, as the helmet's visor lowered over her bloody, half-empty sockets. He was doing exactly as she knew he would, screaming as he came at her, letting her know exactly where he was and what he was doing. As the sword came down, Stellar raised and crossed her arms, catching it on her vambraces... The forearm guards stopped the longsword easily as Stellar braced her hoofs and stopped Razorbeak's charge in its tracks. "Victory's not assured yet, Your Majesty!" Stellar yelled back, then slid her vambraces apart, her hand grabbing the hilt of the Sword of The Empire and sliding it from Razorbeak's blood-slick claws. The griffon was allowed to stumble forward as Stellar slipped aside and spun completely around, driving the pommel of the large sword straight into the back of Razorbeak's helmet, where the flared bottom changed into the head-hugging upper section.

Razorbeak screamed again, this time in agony, as the pommel drove a dent right through the quilted layer and in contact with the back of his head. He pitched forward onto the ground again, clutching at the back of his helmet as Stellar walked away with the Sword of The Empire. She moved to the edge of the fighting circle, then turned the sword point-down to the ground, taking the hilt in both hands. Then she drew heavily on her earth-pony strength and shouted "Ekosi!" as she drove the sword into the ground with a loud 'BOOM', right up to the cross-guard. Leaving it there, she got up and walked off.

Razorbeak fumbled with the straps on his helmet, almost tearing it off and flinging it away straight at Stellar, whose ears and wings twitched as it hurtled at her... and she caught it with only a little fumbling. "HOW DARE you lay a claw on me!" He yelled out, only to hear a little click in the following silence. Looking up, he saw Stellar had detached the crown from his helmet, then she tossed the helmet out of the circle. "GIVE THAT TO ME!" He demanded at the top of his lungs.

"No." Stellar replied in a smug voice. "I think I'll keep it, before you dent or mangle something this lovingly-crafted." She said as a H-S pocket opened, and Stellar, after missing her first try, dropped the crown into it.

Stellar turned to face Razorbeak again as he shot to his feet, opened his wings and came at her screaming bloody vengeance, forelegs and claws opened wide out from his sides, ready to strike. At that moment, a well-known fact came to Stellar: Her bones were like those of an Earth Pony; strong, rigid and very solid. Griffons, however, since their front half was that of an avian... had hollow bones. As he reached her, Stellar slipped inside Razorbeak's non-existant guard, grabbed his head and, as she jumped up, drove his beak down onto her rising armored kneeguard with all her strength.

There was a sickening crunch that silenced Razorbeak forever, as Stellar drove his own beak back through the nasal passages behind it and right into Razorbeak's brain. Two-thirds of its length vanished inside his skull as blood gushed forth; Stellar let go, pushing back on his advancing body, to land on her hoofs again as Razorbeak's body collapsed on the ground before her. Breathing heavily, in the silence, Stellar held out her hand and her horn lit up; the glow surrounded Razorbeak's helmet and it shot to her hand. She then moved to Razorbeak and gently placed it back on his head, covering the gruesome injury from sight. "Soraidh, gaisgeach làidir (Farewell, brave warrior)." Stellar said softly in Old Griffic, as she rose to her hoofs and saluted Razorbeak. All the griffon soldiers in the stands and around the arena walls then did the same, until Stellar lowered her hand.

Then she took out the Crown of Griffonia and walked over to the Sword that was buried. Taking it in her right hand, she pulled it from the ground with ease, then held both over her head. "These are mine!" She yelled out to the audience.

The griffons burst out in massive shouts of denial.

"SHUT THE BUCK UP!!!" Stellar roared out in a voice that matched Celestia at her loudest as her hands slashed down, the sword whistling threateningly as she did so, and the audience eventually fell silent. "You all know the rules of an Honor Duel: Winner takes everything!" She pointed at the audience with the Sword of The Empire as she made her point. "I have won, fairly and honorably, in this arena. Therefore, the crown is mine!" She held it up above her head. "All of Griffonia is technically now under my rule!" She reiterated as she slapped the sword's flat gently against her breastplate. She turned to face where the Chief Marshall of the Arena stood. "What is the rule for challenging for the crown, once a duel for it has concluded?" Stellar asked, as the older griffon walked forward.

"Once the Crown and Kingdom have been won in a Duel, there shall be no challenges for it for a year and a day." The Chief Marshall declared.

Stellar nodded. "A year and a day." She repeated. "I could take the throne for that time... but I will not put this crown on." She said to the now-silent crowd. "I will not take the title of Queen of Griffonia, though I have won it in accordance with the rules. Instead, I will form a caretaker government to rule over Griffonia with my sister and I as joint heads-of-state. For a year and a day, we shall administer Griffonia and keep it for the griffon who will win it back at that time."

As Stellar dropped the crown back into the H-S pocket, she went to where Razorbeak's body was still lying. She unhooked the scabbards from his back and slipped them onto her own back, taking the House Sword of High Reaches Clan as well as sliding the Sword of The Empire into its scabbard. The audience was awash with murmuring, wondering what Stellar was doing. "Two months before the Arena will host the challenges," Stellar then went on after she stood up, "all prospective combatants will be put through a series of tests, designed to see exactly how good a ruler they will be. These tests will be in subjects relative to the rule of a monarch, in such things as: Griffonian Law and Lore; Domestic Policy; Foreign Knowledge; Diplomatic Protocols and Financial Responsibility... subjects that... well, I'm not the best at, at times." Stellar admitted, as Twilight giggled behind a hoof and a rumble of laughter rolled through the stands. "Honestly, ask anypony amongst the Canterlot Palace staff, and they'll tell you that... I'm much better off in 'aggressive negociations', than wrangling a peace treaty or trade deal. That's why I have a twin sister who's so much better at that than I am."

Twilight was smiling now. If Stellar was making jokes about herself, then her mind was still stable even after such a horrendous injury, something that still had her amazed, even knowing her sister like she did.

"So... any who wish to contend for the Throne... you'd better study up, because the battles in the arena are the last test you'll face. And know this: ANY griffon can be a contender, not just the nobility here. If you think you can pass the tests and face me in the Arena, then study up and apply at the Palace." Stellar told them with no uncertainty. "And one more thing... There are to be NO assassinations, no duels between contenders or others, once their names are on the lists. ALL those who wish to contend will be given a fair chance to do so. ANY who break this rule will be dealt with by having their entire House and all its goods and chattels, properties and belongings confiscated and the family exiled. There will be NO skullduggery in this contest, or there will be consequences! IS. THAT. CLEAR? "

All the Griffons who had been watching got to their paws and shouted out their agreement with Stellar's stated plans. While some of them would have preferred it to be the more traditional style of succession-combat, the fact that Princess Stellar Sparkle, as a Pony, was not taking the Throne and possibly risking dishonoring it, was all the incentive the Noble Houses needed to agree to what she had proposed. The Throne of Griffonia had never had any being other than a Griffon occupy it. While there had been times it had lain unoccupied during past Succession Wars, Stellar letting that long-standing tradition remain intact was something very pleasing to their ears.

The wash of positive responses was music to Stellar's tufted ears. "Very well, then. Return to your homes, your estates, your loved ones, and thank the Sky-Gods I haven't brought their wrath down upon you, as I so easily could have." Stellar said to them, before she turned and headed out of the arena. As she did so, her red-and-silver armor retracted, then Stellar changed and dropped to all-fours as her normal self before she exited the arena, her white-and-gold Solar Guard armor wrapping itself around her as soon as her hoofs touched the arena floor.

There was an honor guard waiting for Stellar as she exited the floor, and they formed up around herself and Twilight. They all took off as they exited the arena and headed for the Xerxes, which had remained stationary above the city during the entire time. "Are you okay, Stellar?" Twilight asked softly, knowing Stellar would hear it.

"Been better, Twi-Sis; it could have been a lot worse." Stellar answered in a voice that was showing just a twitch of what she was truly feeling. "Is Doctor Gloves on-board?"

"He was brought here with Celestia's aid about five minutes before Greatfeather struck." Twilight answered. "He's waiting for you in the med-bay... which he's still shaking his head at, to be honest. I think it's overwhelming him a little."

Stellar nodded her head. "I'm going to need his expertise, Sis. My eyes may not regenerate easily with half my eyeballs still in place." She told Twilight as they reached the flight bay nearest the Med-bay and landed inside. "So I'm going to have to get his opinion on that, before anything else."

"I fully understand that, Sis." Twilight agreed. "But I can't believe he actually hurt you."

Stellar chuckled as they reached Med-bay. "It was a surprise to me too, Sis." She confirmed. "Grandfather's armor was hiding things, and I found out about one of them at the worst possible time. It just goes to show I'm as fallible as any other pony, at times." Stellar admitted.

Twilight snorted, not quite believing Stellar hadn't seen this coming. But she remembered when Stellar had disconnected herself from her sister: it was only after Greatfeather had struck that Stellar had cut their bond off, not before. Twilight knew that, if Stellar had sensed the blow coming, she would have spared Twilight even the slightest pain; that was just how she was, Twilight knew from long experience. Although she would never wish Stellar any kind of pain or injury, the proven fact that Stellar was, in actuality, less than perfect made Twilight feel that her own mistakes were somewhat lessened by that fact. They both made mistakes and suffered for them. As she sat there, watching Stellar retract her armor as Dr Gloves began his examination... Twilight felt even closer to her sister now. Stellar was no better than she was, yet it didn't lessen Stellar in Twilight's eyes; it just made Twilight feel that she could truly grow to equal her beloved sister...