Post by starguy on Jul 10, 2017 6:45:27 GMT
The sun had crested the eastern horizon a mere 2 hours ago, but lance and spear training was in full swing. Outside the military barracks housing the earth-pony infantry division, Lieutenant Charlie Horse was everywhere at once: yelling at the timid attackers to be more bold, yelling at the reckless chargers to be more sensible, and telling every pony else to keep the tips of their blunted practice lances up. Each lance had a small steel ball on the end of the pointed lance to prevent accidental injury during practice. The same was also done with swords and other weapons to keep the number of injuries to a minimum. The weapons still hurt, but without a few bumps in bruises, nopony would learn anything.
Charlie himself was behemoth of light brown, muscular earth pony stallion-hood with a chocolate mane and tail who, despite appearances, was known among his subordinates for being more approachable than most of the other officers in the Crystal empire's royal guard corps. Sweat from the top of his head sneaked its way through to the bottom of his helmet and dripped uncomfortably down his neck to spatter onto his armor. It was not especially hot; indeed, the sun had only just begun to make its presence felt in the empire. It was not the sun that caused Charlie to perspire, it was the knowledge that Captain Silver Saber was on his way to inspect his troops. The captain was practically a legend unto himself! Rumors of his achievements during the ultimately futile attempt to prevent Sombra from seizing the throne of the crystal empire for himself circulated around the lower ranks, changing slightly in each telling and usually becoming more preposterous with each telling. In one account, Silver had severed Sombra's horn with his saber in single combat causing Sombra to delay his invasion until he found somepony to help him heal it back onto the rest of his head. The captain's expectation for excellence exceeded the capacity of even the most stringent expectations held by military professionals elsewhere in Equestria.
Charlie blew his brass fugal horn to indicate the next bout: a timid low level guards-pony mare named Winter Breeze and more confident looking officer-pony stallion named Hammer-hoof.
The two ponies took their positions on opposite ends of the lists with the green painted tilt between them to avoid collisions between the two jousters.
"I take it this group of gaggle incompetent clowns is what you call my infantry division."
Charlie froze. The low, gravelly baritone had taken him by surprise. He had not expected the captain so soon.
Perhaps it won't be so bad. He can't be a difficult as every-pony says, surely.
"P..please reserve judgement until you see this latest recruit, Captain Saber. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with her progress. "
In the front row of the crowd that had formed around the jousting area, twin pony brothers Pearl and Diamond scrutinized the pair intently.
"She won't win" said Pearl nonchalantly. "She lost against him twice in previous bouts."
Diamond knew a bet when he heard it.
"So I heard, but I think she will win this time"
Pearl squinted at his brother suspiciously. Diamond didn't make bets without some belief he had the upper hoof, yet neither he nor Pearl had any reason to believe the shy indigo mare with the white mane and deep purple eyes would fare any better this time than the last.
"10 bits she loses" declared Pearl
"6 bits she wins. 2 to 1 odds she wins in the first pass." countered Diamond.
"Done"
Charlie blew his fugal horn again and the two ponies charged.
Hammer-hoof was about half way to the center when he realized his opponent was almost upon him. His opponent's thrust was lighting fast and Hammer only had just enough time to duck as his opponent's lance passed his helmet by mere inches, his own lance too low to even touch his foe. Breathing heavily, he made it to the recess area- a 'safe zone' where a combatant could recover between tilts without danger of being attacked by their opponent.
Diamond shoved a dozen gold coins into his brother's hoof without looking at him.
"She hasn't lost yet."
"Care to up the wager brother?"
"Fine. 5 to 1 on our original bet she wins."
"Done"
Elsewhere, Saber clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
"She's fast, I'll grant you, but far out of Hammer hoof's weight class. "
"If I may be so bold sir, he has to hit her first."
"At the speed she's going, that won't take long. Nobody has stamina enough to keep that pace forever" replied Saber Steel evenly.
As predicted, Winter Breeze's attack was slower than her last, though not nearly as slow as the heavily armored titan and his lance. Hammer hoof had purposely chosen a heavier lance with the intent to knock out Winter Breeze in a single hit, but had hitherto proven to be less of a danger than Winter Breeze's quick, precise jabs.
Two more rounds passed and little progress was made by either combatant. Both had occasionally brushed the other's armor a few times but not enough to knock their opponent to the ground. Hammer hoof was clearly both becoming more fatigued and frustrated with each failure to knock down his smaller, more evasive opponent. Winter Breeze's expression, on the other hand, had not changed from it's fixture of stoic determination since the match had begun.
The 5th round begun and Hammer hoof roared and charged down the lists, determined to defeat Winter Breeze. He was partially rewarded; there was a massive crack as wood splintered in every direction and Winter breeze stumbled as her now ruined lance remnant fell to the ground in a heap. She stumbled through, managing to stay standing through willpower alone. Mercifully, she made it to the recess area and retrieved her spare lance in time for the blast of the fugal horn indicated the final round would begin. She was losing, exhausted and overwhelmed.
Silver Saber smiled grimly.
Charlie himself was behemoth of light brown, muscular earth pony stallion-hood with a chocolate mane and tail who, despite appearances, was known among his subordinates for being more approachable than most of the other officers in the Crystal empire's royal guard corps. Sweat from the top of his head sneaked its way through to the bottom of his helmet and dripped uncomfortably down his neck to spatter onto his armor. It was not especially hot; indeed, the sun had only just begun to make its presence felt in the empire. It was not the sun that caused Charlie to perspire, it was the knowledge that Captain Silver Saber was on his way to inspect his troops. The captain was practically a legend unto himself! Rumors of his achievements during the ultimately futile attempt to prevent Sombra from seizing the throne of the crystal empire for himself circulated around the lower ranks, changing slightly in each telling and usually becoming more preposterous with each telling. In one account, Silver had severed Sombra's horn with his saber in single combat causing Sombra to delay his invasion until he found somepony to help him heal it back onto the rest of his head. The captain's expectation for excellence exceeded the capacity of even the most stringent expectations held by military professionals elsewhere in Equestria.
Charlie blew his brass fugal horn to indicate the next bout: a timid low level guards-pony mare named Winter Breeze and more confident looking officer-pony stallion named Hammer-hoof.
The two ponies took their positions on opposite ends of the lists with the green painted tilt between them to avoid collisions between the two jousters.
"I take it this group of gaggle incompetent clowns is what you call my infantry division."
Charlie froze. The low, gravelly baritone had taken him by surprise. He had not expected the captain so soon.
Perhaps it won't be so bad. He can't be a difficult as every-pony says, surely.
"P..please reserve judgement until you see this latest recruit, Captain Saber. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with her progress. "
In the front row of the crowd that had formed around the jousting area, twin pony brothers Pearl and Diamond scrutinized the pair intently.
"She won't win" said Pearl nonchalantly. "She lost against him twice in previous bouts."
Diamond knew a bet when he heard it.
"So I heard, but I think she will win this time"
Pearl squinted at his brother suspiciously. Diamond didn't make bets without some belief he had the upper hoof, yet neither he nor Pearl had any reason to believe the shy indigo mare with the white mane and deep purple eyes would fare any better this time than the last.
"10 bits she loses" declared Pearl
"6 bits she wins. 2 to 1 odds she wins in the first pass." countered Diamond.
"Done"
Charlie blew his fugal horn again and the two ponies charged.
Hammer-hoof was about half way to the center when he realized his opponent was almost upon him. His opponent's thrust was lighting fast and Hammer only had just enough time to duck as his opponent's lance passed his helmet by mere inches, his own lance too low to even touch his foe. Breathing heavily, he made it to the recess area- a 'safe zone' where a combatant could recover between tilts without danger of being attacked by their opponent.
Diamond shoved a dozen gold coins into his brother's hoof without looking at him.
"She hasn't lost yet."
"Care to up the wager brother?"
"Fine. 5 to 1 on our original bet she wins."
"Done"
Elsewhere, Saber clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
"She's fast, I'll grant you, but far out of Hammer hoof's weight class. "
"If I may be so bold sir, he has to hit her first."
"At the speed she's going, that won't take long. Nobody has stamina enough to keep that pace forever" replied Saber Steel evenly.
As predicted, Winter Breeze's attack was slower than her last, though not nearly as slow as the heavily armored titan and his lance. Hammer hoof had purposely chosen a heavier lance with the intent to knock out Winter Breeze in a single hit, but had hitherto proven to be less of a danger than Winter Breeze's quick, precise jabs.
Two more rounds passed and little progress was made by either combatant. Both had occasionally brushed the other's armor a few times but not enough to knock their opponent to the ground. Hammer hoof was clearly both becoming more fatigued and frustrated with each failure to knock down his smaller, more evasive opponent. Winter Breeze's expression, on the other hand, had not changed from it's fixture of stoic determination since the match had begun.
The 5th round begun and Hammer hoof roared and charged down the lists, determined to defeat Winter Breeze. He was partially rewarded; there was a massive crack as wood splintered in every direction and Winter breeze stumbled as her now ruined lance remnant fell to the ground in a heap. She stumbled through, managing to stay standing through willpower alone. Mercifully, she made it to the recess area and retrieved her spare lance in time for the blast of the fugal horn indicated the final round would begin. She was losing, exhausted and overwhelmed.
Silver Saber smiled grimly.