This is an Original story that takes place in a Rule63 version of Equestria. It features my Original characters, and gender-bent versions of MLP characters.

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Prince Eventide stood up and held his right hand up. The crowd silenced immediately.

“Welcome one and all to the Royal Ponyville Knight Championship.” Eventide said. “Knights from across Equestria, and of all species, have come here, to my Kingdom, to win a chance to win Knight Captain Gleaming Shield's hand.”

The crowd erupted in cheers. After a few seconds, Eventide held his hand up again. He looked at the knights for a few seconds. His eyes settled on Gust. They narrowed as he spotted his coat of arms. He then looked at Gleaming. Gleaming, took her eyes off Gust, and then looked up at her brother. She blushed and shrugged. Eventide smirked and then looked at the knights again.

“Knights. Today the first rounds, Quarter finals, and Semi-finals will be held.” He continued. For those two knights that are not eliminated, the Finals will be held tomorrow.” He took a deep breath. “Those Knights that had even numbered doors, please form a group to my right, your left. The other knights – form a group to my left, your right.”

The Knights separated into their groups. Gust noticed that a white pony unicorn, in highly polished, gilded, armour, was in the opposite group. She HAD to be princess Blueblood.

Eventide clapped his hands twice. The ground in front of the Knights began to shake as eight wholes split open in front of them, and eight wooden platforms, with shield racks, and eight safety officers, Dusk included, rose up from them.

Gust was impressed.

He also noticed that each platform had even and odd numbers. 2 and 15. 4 and 13. 6 and 11. 8 and 9. 10 and 7. Gust gulped as he saw his number. 12 and 5. 14 and 3. And lastly, 16 and 1.

Eventide gestured to the Knights. “Knights, please make your way to your platforms.”

The crowd cheered as Gust walked over to his platform, as did a tall female griffon. He nodded at her. She, in turn, nodded to him.

“Knights, you each get four shields. You are to attack only your opponents shield. Any strike other then to their sword or shield will count against you. Three fouls, and you will be eliminated and forfeit. Ring outs also count.” He held up a finger for emphasis. “No magic is allowed either. If anyone is caught using magic, they will also forfeit.”

Dusk handed Gust his first shield. He then walked over to the female griffon and handed her a shield.

“Knights, draw your swords, so that the safety officers can apply the safety spells to the blades.” Eventide ordered.

The sound of sliding metal was heard as all sixteen knights drew their various swords. Gust was taken aback as his opponent drew a broadsword that ended in an bearded axe head.

Dusk used a pendant from his belt and traced it along Gust's blade. The sword shimmered as the safety spell was cast. Dusk then walked over to the griffon, and did the same to her sword.

“Knights, at the bell... the contest shall begin.” Eventide said. “May the best knight win.”

A brass bell was rung, and the contest began. The crowd, again, erupted in cheering.

Gust raised his shield over his chest and held his sword tip towards the griffon. The griffon smirked, and left her shield down as she leapt at him, swinging her sword in a downward motion.

The catter rolled to his left as her sword-axe hit the platform where he had just been. He quickly got to feet. She grunted as her sword was stuck, refusing to come out of the wood. Gust took the advantage and ran at her, aiming his shoulder and her shield. He hit it square on, and the stumbled and fell on his butt.

The shield cracked and shattered.

“Point to Sir Gust!” Dusk said, raising a flag. “Sir Gust, to your side.” He looked at the Griffon. “Lady Grey, do you need help?”

Lady Grey, visibly angry, shook her head no as she she used both her hands to rip her sword out of the platform. Gust walked to his side, as Grey returned to hers. She yanked a second shield off her rack, and then readied herself.

Dusk nodded. “Ready? Begin!”

Gust rushed Grey, rolling forwards as she swiped her sword horizontally at his shield. He got his feet, and hit her shield vertically with his sword. She hopped a foot back, and countered with her own vertical swing at his shield. He twisted his sword, and caught it with the back spines, locking them together. He drove the two blades down to the platform, and then used the edge of his shield to strike her shield in the spot where he had cut previously.

Her shield snapped in half, while his shield snapped cracked, but was still together.

“Point to Sir Gust!” Dusk said as he raised hi flag. “Knights, to your sides.”

Gust unhooked his sword from Grey's.

“He cheated!” She shouted. “He... he... used that weird sword of his to disable mine!”

“He didn't cheat.” Dusk said as he came over. “It's not against the rules to use your sword as it is designed.”

She huffed as Gust returned to his side. He watched as Grey picked up her third shield.

Dusk returned to his spot, and then nodded. “Ready? Begin!”

Grey crossed her sword across her chest as she circled to the right. Gust did the same as he too, circled to the right.

With an almighty screech that drowned out the crowd, Grey rushed Gust, sweeping her sword in an underhand swipe.

Gust swiped his sword down, and locked the blades together. Again. He then braced his shield against her breast plate, pivoted on his feet, and using her momentum against her, flipped her over his shoulder, and out of the ring. She landed on her back with a grunt.

“Ring out!” Dusk announced. He looked at Eventide for a second opinion.

Eventide stood up and held his hands out. The crowd went silent. “Sir Gust wins by ring-out!” He then looked at Lady Grey. “Medics to ring 5, please!”

Two unicorn ponies, dressed in white robes, and carrying medical bags, ran over to Lady Grey. Gust removed his helmet and handed it to Dusk. He then ran over to Lady Grey.

“Is she okay?” He asked in a panicked tone. “I-I didn't mean to... I was just...”

The lead medic scanned the griffon with her magic. “She's fine, Sir Gust. She had the wind knocked out of her. That's all.”

Gust sighed as he knelt beside Lady Grey. “Lady Grey...” He placed his right fist on his chest. “You fought well.”

With a grunt, Lady Grey placed her right fist on her chest. “You... too...”

The medical ponies placed her on a stretcher and carried her off to the first aid tent.

Dusk walked over to Gust as he stood up. He handed his helmet back to him, and then took his right hand in his left, and hoisted it to the crowd. The crowd cheered in response. Gust spotted De Poet, Lily and Shimmer trilling as loud as they could over the other Rom trills and cheering.

“Return to your dressing room, Sir Gust.” Dusk said as he lowered their arms. “When you hear the trumpets again, that will signal the quarters finals.”

Gust nodded and walked back to his change room. Once he had closed the door, he sat on the bench with a huff.

“First round...” He sighed happily as he stretched the collar of his under shirt to cool himself down. “Phew...”

An hour later, Gust, who was laying on his back on the bench in his changing room, with his hands folded in his chest, suddenly heard the Royal Trumpets, signaling the next round, or the quarterfinals, of the Knight Contest.

He stood up, stretched, grabbed his helmet from his armor rack, and placed it on his head. He then walked out of his room, and back into the Courtyard. He and the other Knights, including, he noticed, Princes Blueblood, once again lined up in two groups of four. The crowd was cheering loudly.

Prince Eventide stood up and raised his hands to silence the crowd. “Congratulations Knights, on making it past the first round and onto the Quarterfinals.” He clapped his hands twice, and the ground in front of the Knights split open. Only this time, four platforms came up instead of eight.

Gust looked for his number, without moving his head. He spotted it on platform 2, or the second from the right. The sign read 7 and 8. The others read 1 and 4, 16 and 6, and 10 and 15. He had no idea who 8 was, but he knew that they would be tougher then Lady Grey.

Prince Eventide gestured to the platforms. “Knights. To your platforms, please.”

Gust made his way to the platform. Where, once again, he spotted Dusk. He winked at him, and then turned and faced his opponent. A male Earth pony, dressed in silver armor, bearing Lunar’s crest, was his opponent this time.

Gust placed his right fist on his chest, and dipped his head in respect. The pony did the same.

Dusk handed Gust his shield, and then walked over to the pony, and handed him a shield as well. The catter noticed that the shield was metal.

“Knights, for the second round, your goal is not to break your opponents Shield.” Prince Eventide explained. “For this round…” He gestured to the safety officers. Dusk walked over to Gust and taped three small beanbags to his torso. Two on his chest, and one on his stomach. He then walked over to the pony and did the same. “Your goal is cut the three beanbags on your opponent’s chest.”

Gust swallowed hard.

“As with the first round, only strikes to the bags counts. Any other hits other then to the sword or shield, do not. Should you strike their arms, legs, or heads, it counts as strike against you. Three strikes and you forfeit the round.” He continued. “Unlike the first round, however, there will be no pauses between points.”

Gust and his opponent drew their swords and brought the blades vertically up to their face in a salute. Gust noticed that the pony had a simple, standard issue, broadsword.

“At the bell, knights, begin.” Eventide said as He sat down.

Gust kept his eyes on his opponents. A brass bell rang, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

The pony raised his shield, and slowly advanced on Gust. Gust raised his shield and advanced towards him.

Once they reached the middle, the pony made a horizontal swipe. Gust countered with his shield with a back hand motion, driving the blade away. The pony was thrown off balance, leaving his right beanbag exposed. Gust took advantage of the opening and struck with forward thrust. The bean bag split open.

“Point to Sir Gust!” Dusk called as he raised his flag.

The pony gritted his teeth and raised he shield as Gust made a horizontal cut for the bag on his stomach. Gust’s sword struck the edge of the shield. The pony quickly brought his sword down on his blade, knocking it down. Gust spun out of reach of they pony.

He didn’t have much time to recover.

The pony made an overhead swipe. Gust had just enough time to raise his shield. The sword crashed on his shield, driving the catter to his knees. The pony pressed his advantage, and kept hammering on the shield.

Gust acted quickly. The ceaseless hammering was making his shoulder really sore. Gust thrust his sword out and then using the back spines, caught the right edge of the pony’s shield, and quickly shoved it to the left, causing the pony to stumble, again, and leaving his chest fully exposed. Gust leapt to his feet and made two quick cuts, spilling the pony’s other two bags.

“Sir Gust wins!” Dusk announced. “All of Sir Silvermane’s bags are cut!

The crowd erupted in loud cheers and even louder Rom trills.

The pony blinked “I lost?” He shook his head. “To a Rom?”

Gust, breathing heavily, looked at Sir Silvermane. “So what if I’m Rom?”

“I… I was supposed to win…” He growled. “You…” He ran towards Gust, and using his armored fist, punched the right side of the catter's helmet.

Gust fell onto his back. The crowd started booing as Silvermane went for another punch.

Dusk reacted quickly. He tackled Silvermane onto his back, and quickly sat on his chest. He pulled a knife, seemingly from nowhere, and had it at the pony’s neck.

“Sir Silvermane!” Dusk gasped. “Move not a muscle!”

The Medics reacted quickly and where next to Gust in nearly a flash. They had his helmet off and were scanning him with their magic.

“Sir Gust?” The same medic that treated Lady Grey asked him, “Do you know where you are?”

“Uh… P-ponyville?” He grumbled as his head pulsed with pain and his vision swam.
“How old are you?” She asked next.

“I’m… twenty one?” He answered.

“How many horns do you see?” She asked.

“Uh… two?” He frowned.

The head medic turned to Prince Eventide and the Royal box. The crowd went silent. “Sir Gust has a minor concussion. He will need a few hours of bed-rest before the next round.”

Eventide stood up. “Take him to the medical tent and treat him. We will start the next round once he is medically fit.”

Gust felt himself being placed on the stretcher, and then being carried of the field by the two medics. His vision swam as he looked for his mother in the crowd, but couldn’t see her.

After a few moments, Gust felt himself being lifted off the stretcher and placed onto a soft bed. He then felt his armor and clothing being taken off. He was then dressed in soft, warm, pajamas.

The lead medic used her magic to reduce the swelling on the side of Gust’s head. “Quite the goose egg…” She hummed as Gust felt the swelling subside and his vision return to normal.

“Is it bad?” He asked in a concerned tone.

“I’ve seen worst head injuries.” She answered honestly. “Nothing to worry about, Sir Gust. You’ll be as right as rain in several hours.” She hummed some more. “You also have a sprained shoulder.” She moved her magic to his right shoulder, and began mending the muscles. “Not surprising, really. Considering how you fell, plus the beating your shield arm had taken before that.”

Gust nodded. “Thank you… Doctor?”

“Nurse Hope.” She corrected him. “The doctor is busy with another Knight.”

Gust smiled embarrassingly “Well, thank you, Nurse Hope. I feel a lot better.”

“You are very welcome, Sir Gust.” She looked to her left. “You have visitors.”

Gust looked at his feet. Shimmer, De Poet Dusk, and Lily came into his room.

Nurse Hope looked at them. “I’ll give you 10 minutes, and then that’s it. He needs some rest if he’s to fight in a few hours.” She left the room.

De Poet sat on his bed and used her magic to scan him. Not that she didn’t trust the Nurse’s skills, but she knew her Kitten better than anyone. She sighed in relief as she found that he wasn’t seriously injured.

“How are you feeling, Kitten?” She asked as she ebbed the flow of her magic.

“Sore…” He grunted. “Tired…” he looked at Dusk. “Thanks, Dusk.”

Dusk smiled. “Eh. No worries, Gust. Eventide’s guards were quick to react. Had him irons a few seconds after I had him pinned.”

“I wonder what made him do that.” Shimmer asked. “To risk your carrier over a contest.”

“Losing to a Rom…” Gust sighed. “Said so right before…” He winced in pain and closed his eyes.

“Okay, Rom.” De Poet said as she shooed them out. “Let’s give him some rest.”

She tucked him into bed as the other Rom left the room. She kissed him where the bump had been, and then sat on the chair next to his bed. She had always watched over him whenever he was injured or sick, and that would never change.

“Thanks… Mama…” her murmured as he fell asleep.

Nurse Joy popped her head around the divider. “Oh. Hello Ma’am…”

“I am watching over my son.” De Poet explained simply as she crossed her legs, and folded her hands on her knees. “I will call someone should he wake up.”

Nurse Hope smiled and nodded, and dipped her head back behind the divider.

Some time later, De Poet snorted and woke up. She must have drifted off. She looked at Gust, who was still sleeping. She then looked at the door to his “room” and spotted… someone she didn’t expect.

“Knight Captain Gleaming.” She greeted the Royal Unicorn.

“Just Gleaming, please.” She smiled. “How is he?”

“He’s sleeping, but he’ll recover.” De Poet answered.

The white pony placed a hand on her heart and sighed in relief. “I’m glad.” She then blushed as she looked at De Poet.
“You must be De Poet. I subscribe to your newsletters.” She smiled. “If I may ask, Madam… Gust isn’t from Equestria, is he?”

De Poet shook her head no. “No, he isn’t. He and Shimmer came to me when he was two weeks old, and she was 4 years old. I have raised them as my own since then.” She quirked her eyebrow. “If I might ask, Gleaming, why are you so interested in my kitten?”

“I…” She blushed harder. “Stories of his exploits have reached me in Canterlot. He’s so noble and generous… and kind.” She folded her hands behind her back. “When I met him… the way he looked at me, not as Royalty… but as me… made my heart flutter.” She glanced at his armor. “That’s why I gave him my ring. Why I gave him my crest.”

“What if he doesn’t win the contest?” De Poet asked her. “What if someone else wins?” She crossed her arms. “I won’t have you breaking his heart.”

Gleaming looked at De Poet. “I am to spend a week with the winner to see IF I will, potentially, marry them. I am not promised to them. If Gust wins, that would be ideal. If not? Well…” She blushed more. “He will have to wait a week before I see him again.”

“You mean…?” De Poet asked in shock.

“My parents aren’t happy with my news, but Ultimately, as my older brother pointed out, it is my choice.” She heaved a sigh. “I am going to renounce my rank as Knight Captain, and join Gust as a Free Knight.”

“So… this contest is pointless?” De Poet asked.

“Not at all.” Gleaming shook her head no. “The contest has served its purpose. See, by the time I had met Gust, it was too late to cancel. Even my brother couldn’t do that. Bad for our reputation, and all that. Besides, it has drawn more of a crowd to his fair than normal.” She smiled. “It has also shown my parents that Gust is an exceptionally skilled Knight. More skilled then our formally trained Knights.”

De Poet nodded at that. “So, you’re willing to travel with us? On the road? In the mud and rain, and pulling a caravan? Cooking? Bugs biting you?”

“It… will take some adjustment, surely.” Gleaming answered confidently, “However, I am willing to do all that. Live a life… not pampered.”

De Poet looked at Gust. “Oh… you needn’t worry about being pampered, Dear.”

Gleaming blushed more. “I… I need to get back.” She smiled. “Please, Madam. I want this to be a surprise for Gust. Don’t tell him until I do?”

De Poet nodded. “I promise.”