Post by ForgottenExistance on May 7, 2015 3:16:39 GMT
Nightfall lead the way into the private area, greeting the guards who were standing by to make sure that no one uninvited made their way in to make trouble, and to ensure that they were allowed entry through the doorway. There was a time that they didn't have security and just let anyone fight, but after a particularly nasty fight where a civilian thought he could take on one of the hoof-to-hoof specialists from the Solar Guard in the ring. After a couple of lawsuits were avoided and the civilian recovered, the brass decided that it was best if they prevented untrained and uninvited ponies from joining the fights in the back of the tavern.
Looking over at Aero, she smiled and nodded, "Looks like this is it. Don't worry, this is going to be a cake walk," she whispered back, "Valiant Display is a heavy hitter, but he is slow and very inexperienced," she said before turning towards the ring and stretching her back, cracking a few bones in the process as she limbered up for the fight ahead. It wasn't going to be that difficult, she had fought more impressive enemies before, but she would still enter the ring with caution. She always insisted on fighting with caution.
Giving her lover a nod of confidence, Nightfall trotted into the ring and gazed around, studying the mix of audience and fighters with curiosity. She knew them all, she knew this ring, she knew the building, it was familiar and comforting to her. The faces were of those she had trained with and fought with, of ponies she'd lead and followed, who she trusted. The occupants of the tavern were her extended family; colts and mares who she considered brothers and sisters, who were now gathered for a family reunion.
Clopping a hoof on the stone floor twice, she cleared her throat to get the attention of the ponies in the room. It only took a few moments for the laughing and talking to silence and was replaced by a muted hush. A few more guards filed into the room, recognizing the silence and following suit as all eyes were turned towards Nightfall.
Looking around, Nightfall assumed her role, and her voice fell into the crisp snap of a commanding officer, "Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the Eclipse arena. You all know what that means; we're here for two things. One of those things is to beat one another into submission for some well earned exercise and bragging rights. The other is the more important one. We're here tonight because we're friends, we're siblings, we're parents and children. We've fought beside one another, and we will continue to fight beside one another. It's through combat that our best relations are formed, and it's through combat that our best relations are maintained. That is why we established the Eclipse arena to be what it is today, and that is why we fight," she snapped out, turning her head as she spoke.
"There are a few new faces here, a few recruits and newcomers who've never fought here before. For you, there are only a few rules. One: tonight is a one-on-one tournament. No leaping into the ring to fight with someone, you fight who the bracket says you fight. Two: The fight ends when somepony taps out. I don't want to see anyone wailing on someone who's tapped out. Three: No fighting outside of the ring. No one is going to break Tinder's bar while I'm around, she's kind enough to let us fight here, there's no need to make her regret it. And finally, rule number four: Loser always buys the winner a drink," she finished her speech as she finished turning around to face every pony in a three-sixty radius. It wasn't an inspiring speech, it wasn't anything fancy. But it was something that one of the highest ranking officers always said during fight nights. As such, it was met by a round of hoots, hollers and cheers from the guards standing around the ring before the laughing and chatting began again.
Looking over at Aero, she smiled and nodded, "Looks like this is it. Don't worry, this is going to be a cake walk," she whispered back, "Valiant Display is a heavy hitter, but he is slow and very inexperienced," she said before turning towards the ring and stretching her back, cracking a few bones in the process as she limbered up for the fight ahead. It wasn't going to be that difficult, she had fought more impressive enemies before, but she would still enter the ring with caution. She always insisted on fighting with caution.
Giving her lover a nod of confidence, Nightfall trotted into the ring and gazed around, studying the mix of audience and fighters with curiosity. She knew them all, she knew this ring, she knew the building, it was familiar and comforting to her. The faces were of those she had trained with and fought with, of ponies she'd lead and followed, who she trusted. The occupants of the tavern were her extended family; colts and mares who she considered brothers and sisters, who were now gathered for a family reunion.
Clopping a hoof on the stone floor twice, she cleared her throat to get the attention of the ponies in the room. It only took a few moments for the laughing and talking to silence and was replaced by a muted hush. A few more guards filed into the room, recognizing the silence and following suit as all eyes were turned towards Nightfall.
Looking around, Nightfall assumed her role, and her voice fell into the crisp snap of a commanding officer, "Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the Eclipse arena. You all know what that means; we're here for two things. One of those things is to beat one another into submission for some well earned exercise and bragging rights. The other is the more important one. We're here tonight because we're friends, we're siblings, we're parents and children. We've fought beside one another, and we will continue to fight beside one another. It's through combat that our best relations are formed, and it's through combat that our best relations are maintained. That is why we established the Eclipse arena to be what it is today, and that is why we fight," she snapped out, turning her head as she spoke.
"There are a few new faces here, a few recruits and newcomers who've never fought here before. For you, there are only a few rules. One: tonight is a one-on-one tournament. No leaping into the ring to fight with someone, you fight who the bracket says you fight. Two: The fight ends when somepony taps out. I don't want to see anyone wailing on someone who's tapped out. Three: No fighting outside of the ring. No one is going to break Tinder's bar while I'm around, she's kind enough to let us fight here, there's no need to make her regret it. And finally, rule number four: Loser always buys the winner a drink," she finished her speech as she finished turning around to face every pony in a three-sixty radius. It wasn't an inspiring speech, it wasn't anything fancy. But it was something that one of the highest ranking officers always said during fight nights. As such, it was met by a round of hoots, hollers and cheers from the guards standing around the ring before the laughing and chatting began again.