>You hesitate for a moment before speaking weakly.
"I didn't... she wasn't... that wasn't supposed to happen... she took the one before it like a champ, I don't know why that attack was so... strong."
>They’re still silent.
“You saw what I did, right? The instant I saw nopony else going to help her, I went straight to her and made sure she was alright. I patched her up and I brought her straight here. Please, trust me on the fact that I have no idea what happened there, and I’ll be here between every match to see how she’s doing. ...I feel bad enough already.”
>You say this last line as you look back at her.
>At least she’d be alright.
>Your attention returns to them when AJ speaks.
>”At least you’re tellin’ the truth, I suppose… She was just a calf though, Anon!”
“I know… I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
>After this, there is another moment of silence between you, but there is no tension.
>They understand and believe you.
>Redheart then points something out.
>”You’re bleeding again, hon.”
>You look down, and this time the blood was trickling down your chainmail.
“Right… I’ll go fix myself up--”
>”No.”
>You look up at her, and you’re suddenly getting dragged to a vacant table.
>She brings out a supply medkit, and she silences you every time you try to speak.
[Redheart uses Medkit on you.]
[You have been fully healed. HP: 130/130]
>Once you are finished getting medically pampered by Red’s gentle touch, she gives you two light pats on the cheek and sets off.
>”Alright, we’ll leave you alone for now. As soon as they’re finished fixing the seats that you broke, they’ll be right back at it, so you don’t have much time. Go rest.”
“But-”
>”Rest.”
>Her tone is very solid.
“...W-”
>”Go!”
“Alright, alright…”
>You turn to leave, but before you start walking you get a tight vice grip from pink hooves.
>”Don’t get hurt again, Nonny!”
>When you turn around, she’s already back with the leaving party.
>They give you all a quick wave before disappearing behind the cloth.
>You feel like you needed to be careful from here on out.
 
>Inspect Competition
[So far, the listings are as follows:
 
Dr. Anon Y. Mous - Noble Valiance (X) (No wins)
Dr. Anon Y. Mous - Charm Rose (X) (Won against Plume Bloom)
Dr. Anon Y. Mous - Little Strongheart (X) (Won against Pogo Bounce and Wood Weaver)
Dr. Anon Y. Mous - Lance Dance (-) (Won against Demo Test, Vixen Spree and Jettison Streak)
 
There’s two more rounds that you will be fighting after Lance Dance, but the combatants are undetermined.
 
Other notes: It looks like Gable hasn’t gotten a single hit on him the entire last three rounds. Jettison Streak was eliminated in the third round.]
 
>Before you leave the Medical Tent, you stop a passing doctor and speak to her.
“Hi, is there any chance that you guys have anything that restores magic? Like potions or anything similar?”
>She shakes her head with a sad smile.
>”I’m sorry, sir, but there isn’t anything like that. Only bodies get repaired here.”
>You nod and she leaves.
>Well, it’d probably be best if you could rest before your next round, then.
>You make your way back to the booth, and decide to take a quick look around.
>To your surprise, including the two that are waiting outside to fight next, there is a total of 8 fighters left.
>You decide not to bother any of them as you reclaim your spot where you rested before, and before you know it, your eyes are fluttering shut.
>...
[Partially rested. Regain 50% of stats.]
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 16/18]
>...
[“WEEEEEEEEEEE’RE BACK IN BUSINESS, MARES AND GENTLECOLTS, IT’S TIME FOR THE QUARTER FINALS! ON MY LITTLE NIFTY BRACKETS HERE, IT SAYS HERE THAT THE FOURTH ROUND MATCH IS GOING TO BE DR. MOOSE VS. LANCE DANCE! LET’S GET IT OOON!”
>The announcement startles you as you wake up.
>Once you try to get up, however, your feet suddenly fall flat and you slam your face in the ground.
>You then hear an arrogant laugh in front of you.
>”Don’t trip on the way to the ring, magic hands, you might just blow up Equestria!”
>You look up and see a receding pegasus headed for the repaired arena.
>That must be Lance Vance.
>You dust yourself off and walk back outside, to the massive cheers of the audience.
>Odd, you think they’d be a little more afraid of you after what happened, but it seems you must’ve missed some hardcore battles while you were resting.
>You walk out to the stanchion line and draw your spear, looking the cocky bastard in the eyes.
>What would you like to say to Lance Dance before the battle begins?
 
 
 
>Well, he’s a right bastard, isn’t he?
>”What’s the matter, Doctor? Gonna shock me with your little magic tricks? Guess what, you’re not going to be able to hit me. You might as well give up, you old, wrinkly buffoon!”
“KAAAAAMEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAMEEEEEEEEE--”
>He instantly began shuffling back like a scared foal who saw the boogeyman, intense fear and adrenaline in his eyes.
>You stop before the last syllable and start laughing so hard you were choking.
“Ohhh… That was funny, you shoulda seen the look on your face!...”
>”You know w-what buddy!? I’m going to make this extra painful for that!”
>He gets himself up and draws his own spear, specifically a lance.
“You must be a fellow doctor, because you sure as hell saw the last of my patience.”
>You’re finally fighting someone with a weapon, at least.
>Right before it starts, you point at him, to which he blows raspberries at you.
>The spit lands on your face, and the moisture seeps into your very DNA, starting the apocalyse of his demise.
>It was all ogre now.
>Used Ogre Dance!
>At some point during the dance of your people, however, you forgot about the fact that you had already drawn your spear, and the imbalance catches you offguard, sending you tumbling and tripping again.
[-5 HP and another spaghetti dinner]
>Lance laughs at your misfortune, going so far as to wipe a tear from his eye.
>The audience seemed to take kindly to exposing your vulnerability as well.
>Shit.
>The sound of the gong begins the match…
 
[BATTLE START] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlNPpdoKRFQ
Anon: [HP: 125/130][MP: 16/18][Defense: +20 PD, +20 MD]
Lance Dance: [HP: 150/150][Defense: +10 PD, 33% dodge rate]
>”Let’s go, you old geezer!”
[Lance is too fast! He attacks first!]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…][Abilities: Expert Spear Combat (+15 PA, 50% chance to crit for x3), Wing Force (x4, 2tcd), Fly (2 turns, hits +50 PA and 33% chance to stun for 3 turns, 5tcd), Jettison’s Bane (+20 PA, x2.5, 5tcd), Use Medkit (33% base heal, can do 2 times, 7tcd)]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with JETTISON STRIKE! [5 turn CD]
>0 (+15 expert skill)(+20)(x2.5) = >88<
[-20 PD]
>68<
Anon: [HP: 62/130][MP: 16/18] “Agh, son of a bitch!”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
1
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Giga Buster! [-4 MP, 3 turn CD]
>87 (+25 MA) = >102<
>Lance dodges the Buster with ease!
>”C’mon dude, let’s not embarrass ourselves! The last guy I fought was too slow, and he only brought a knife, the wimp!”
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Expert Spear Combat
>4 (+15 skill)(+15) = >34<
[-20 PD]
>14<
Anon: [HP: 48/130][MP: 8/12] “Gh… Getting roughed up..”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
2
[ANONYMOUS]
>Uses medkit
>25% (+50% skill) = 75%
>+98 HP<
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 8/12]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Fly!
>Lance flies up into the air with impressive speed. He seems to be readying something...<
[MELEE LOCKED]
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 8/12]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
3
[ANONYMOUS]
>Uses Parry!
>You ready yourself with your spear in both hands in a defensive stance, ready to take him on.
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Fly! [5 turn CD]
>As Lance approaches you from the air, you apprehend his attack and predict his movements, successfully parrying his strike, and then you elbow him in the face, sending him back on the ground.
>8< (+50 PA)(x2 Doubles) = >116<
[ANONYMOUS]
>Counter-attack for 50% damage!
>116 (/2) = >58<
[-10 PD]
>48<
Lance Dance: [HP: 102/150]
>”I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!”
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 12/18]
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
4
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Sabre Strike!
>4 (+5+15 PA+15 MA) = >39<
[-10 PD]
>29<
[LD: HP: 63/150]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK...]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Uses Medkit
>25% (+8% skill) = 33%
>+50 HP<
Lance Dance: [HP: 104/150]
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 11/18] “You fucking sonic-ass twat! STOP STEALING MY MOVE!”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
5
[ANONYMOUS]
>Uses Heart’s Calling [5 turn CD]
>The necklace behind your armor gleams with a luminous red shine!<
[+50% attack boost next turn!]
[LD: HP: 104/150]
[AWAITING ENEMY ATTACK…]
[GIGA BUSTER REFRESHED!]
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Wing Force!
>0< (x4) = >0<
Lance: [HP: 104/150]
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 11/18]
“You uuh… You having some performance issues there?”
>”SHUT UP!”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
[SABRE STRIKE REFRESHED!]
6
 
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Flamescythe!
>99 (+10 MA)(x2 doubles)(x1.5 Calling) = >327<
>Lance Dance flies up and tries to dodge the the sudden ferocious electroflame slash, but he’s caught in the crossfire!
>Damage override<
[BATTLE END]
 
>It happened again.
>Your mana was fluctuating for some reason, and there was another burst of power that you hadn’t intended.
>You swing the spear forward with the enchantment lightning destroying the air that it exists in, creating a whistling effect.
>Lance was fast, but he wasn’t that fast.
>In massive panic, you manage to throw the stream up and have the Flamescythe energy fly up into the sky, a slash that breaks apart the heavy clouds above and into the afternoon sky.
>You watch as the end of your spear slices right through his wing, blood spraying all over your face and the faces of a large group of audience behind him.
>”GGGGGHHHHHRRRRRRRGGGHHH!”
>Lance falls to the ground in a crumpled, bloody mess, and you drop your spear in the shock of everything.
>Medics rushed onto the field, the crowd was panicking and screaming at the sight, and you stand there, frozen in the disbelief of what just happened.
>What is this power that you have?
>Why is it so strong?
>Did that tree think you needed to be this strong to face the shadow?
>... Just how dire is the situation?
>With this calibur of magic… You think the vision was an understatement.
>It was for all of Equestria.
>You look over at your party, and they were gone from their seats.
>They were running straight for you.
>”ANON, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?”
>You don’t think you’ve ever heard Berry that angry before.
>Redheart didn’t even look at you.
>She went straight for Lance to assist the other medics.
>And now the rest of your party was now staring at you in a mixture of hatred, anger and fear.
>What do you say?
 
 
 
>You look over at Lance and start moving towards him to inspect him, but you’re instantly stopped by one of the outlying nurses.
>”No, do not approach him! You’ve done enough!”
>The nurses refuse to let you in to see how he is doing.
>You catch a few glances and see that there was a large amount of blood. His wing is indeed cut off raggedly at the root.
>”...We want an answer, Anonymous.”
>AJ’s voice catches your attention.
>”Why did you do that?”
>It isn’t something you can answer.
>You look down at the ground, and back up to them.
>As if your legs don’t want to hold you anymore, your knees buckle and you sit down, all of your morale shattered.
“I… I don’t know what happened… I wasn’t trying to hurt him like that, I just… Something’s wrong with my magic. It’s too hard to control…”
>You’re not sure, but you think a tear falls down your face.
“It’s just too powerful… Why did the tree give something like this to me? Is this whole thing with the shadow just… that important? Is it really that strong? Please… Believe me when I say I didn’t want to do that, I didn’t want to hurt him…”
>Wheaties still looks ready to run away from you.
>”Y-you say that, but these last few fights have said different! You crippled him, Anonymous, and you nearly killed that calf!”
“I don’t know how to control it!”
>AJ scoffs, her tone becoming quite harsh.
>”Then why in your right mind did you even join this stupid tournament, then? If you didn’t know how to stop yourself from killin’ everypony, why would you take that risk!?”
“I didn’t know I’d be this powerful, I’m sorry for not having all the answers! Look, at least I didn’t kill him, okay? I managed to pull it up at the last second, just be thankful what could’ve happened, didn’t. …”
>”Nice excuse, Anon.”
>She’s right. It is just an excuse.
>That doesn’t mean you have any idea how it happened.
>You look over and see if there was any way you could help, but Redheart and the rest of the doctors have begun to carry him on a stretcher, after having stopped the blood flow.
>They wouldn’t let you near him anyways.
>What do you want to do?
 
 
 
>You slowly get yourself up.
“... I’m sorry for what I did… and, I hope that you can forgive me. I… I need to go…”
>You look at them one last time, your words having no effect on their state of minds.
>You then walk away, but you aren’t quite sure where you’re going.
>You eventually return to the waiting booth, where the other 6 competitors sit and stare at you.
>A few of them actually draw their weapons at your presence.
>At this point, there is little else you could do with the others excluding you party.
>So you decide to milk it for all it’s worth.
>You raise your voice high enough to be intimidating.
“If any of you do not wish to die, then I suggest leaving now. You’ve seen what I’m capable of, and I need that money. So be wise, and make your decision wisely.”
>As soon as you say this, the crystal pony you seen before bares his teeth, but that is no longer your main concern.
>Gable suddenly pins you to the wall with his talons at your throat.
>Hearing him speak in person was terrifying.
>”Do you really think because you have some strong magic and a little spear, you can order us around like slaves? Do you have no morals!? Tell me, were you really just ‘aiming’ up to miss that poor pegasus, or were you trying to kill him, and just got unlucky?”
>It’s hard to speak with his talons constricting your air flow.
>”If I had it my way, you’d be on your way to the dungeons, even executed for being such a reckless threat to society! But no, you’ll get to stay and fight because of a technicality. Tell me, human, what’s going through your mind, huh? What are you really prepared to do to get that money?”
>What should you say?
 
 
 
“Okay…. look, I didn’t want... to tell you guys this before, since it’s…. supposed to be a secret, it’s why I just tried to scare you off…”
>You feel the grip lessen on your throat, but only barely.
“I’m with a group of other ponies that you might’ve seen, and we’re investigating the appearance of a powerful shadowy entity named Bane. It demolished Ponyville, it’s taken the magic of Celestia and Luna, and it’s going after Cadance, the reason why we’re here. We came because sans the Elements of Harmony, we were the best choice, and we need the money to better protect ourselves for the journeys ahead, and hopefully take out this monster before it harms anyone else.”
>Everyone in the booth stayed silent at the reveal.
>Most of them looked at you as if you were high on acid.
>However, Gable drops you, sending you to the floor and rubbing your throat.
>”You’re pathetic. Coming up with such lies to save your own hide… I await to see you in the ring.”
>Gable walks away silently.
>You’re now sitting in the waiting booth with feelings of resentment, for everything you’ve done today.
>Well, it was bound to happen with the decisions you were making.
>What would you like to do before the next match?
 
 
 
>No.
>You’re not going to let it fester like this.
>You feel the inevitable change from what you did before, and you’re going to do everything in your power to make it better.
>You stand up quickly, and you run outside, catching up with the group of doctors still tending to Lance.
>As you approach, one of the nurses looks back and spots you, to which she alerts the others.
>”Uhm, he’s coming back!”
>You didn’t stray.
>In fact, you sped up.
>Doctors start lining up to stop you, but all you do is raise your spear.
>Then, Redheart gets in front of them.
>”Anonymous, stop right now!”
>You grip your spear tighter, knuckles going white.
>Her expression falters, and she looks at you with intense fear.
>Then you drop it, and suddenly push past the doctors to the writhing, failing Pegasus.
>You see they had kept the wing close, so you pick it up and attempt to place it in a position that would heal it if possible.
>Lance looks at you like you are still going to kill him.
>Despite the loud, frightened protests of the doctors and Redheart, you’re going to do this.
>They aren’t about to stop you.
>You then place your hands near the wounds, and you call upon your magic to the best of your ability.
“Just listen, you stupid fucking markings… I need your help. Just… heal him, please, let me do this right…”
>You close your eyes and concentrate your magic, feeling the flow beginning to churn.
>Magic then crosses into Lance’s body, both of you illuminating in a powerful white light.
>The magic begins channeling… but you aren’t controlling it.
>Your mana fluctuates again, and it causes a reverberation of extra power to force into Lance’s body.
>Suddenly, the magic overflows his form and begins to split him apart, boiled blood and bones becoming more and more apparent until he finally explodes.
>His intestines and skeleton break apart and fly away at high speed, acting as fleshly bullets that pierce the skulls and ribs of everyone nearby.
>The magical explosion, with nowhere else to retreat, returns to your body without you being ready for it, and you feel yourself begin to melt from the inside, and your vision fades immediately.
 
[You have died.]
[Bad End - Magic is OP, and OP is a faggot.]
 
 
>You’re in a dark abyss, seeing nothing but streams of memories that begin to flow around you.
>A few memories are burning brightly in your ethereal vision…
-You see yourself fighting an armored pegasus in the middle of an arena.
-You see yourself driving a scooter to a large waiting line.
-You see yourself entering a city made of crystals.
 
There are more memories, but they are less bright.
 
>Which memory would you like to go to?
 
 
 
 
[LANCE DANCE]
>Attacks Anonymous with Wing Force!
>0< (x4) = >0<
Lance: [HP: 104/150]
Anon: [HP: 130/130][MP: 11/18]
“You uuh… You having some performance issues there?”
>”SHUT UP!”
[AWAITING BATTLE COMMANDS]
[SABRE STRIKE REFRESHED!]
6
 
[ANONYMOUS]
>Attacks with Moderate Spear Combat
>5 (+5+15 PA+15 MA)(x2 doubles)(x1.5 Calling) = >120<
[-10 PD]
>110<
[Lance Dance: HP: -6/150]
[Lance is outcold!]
 
[BATTLE END]
 
>You didn’t want to hurt him too badly, so you took it back a notch and decided to just attack him without magic.
>With a quick strike to the head, you sent Lance face first into the ground eating dirt, due to his unlucky position.
>Damn, who knows what would’ve happened if you decided to use that new move of yours, it could’ve been bad.
[“AND THAT’S THE MATCH! IF I WERE YOU, I’D START CHEERING A LITTLE MORE FOR THIS BIPEDAL FLAMETHROWER, BECAUSE HE’S ON FIRE! DR. MOOSE WINS THIS MATCH! NOW LET’S GET ON TO THE NEXT ONE, DUM ASS VS. MYSTIC SHADE! ...WHAT? THAT’S HIS REAL NAME, HE’S AN ASS, ISN’T HE? I MEAN A DONKEY!!”]
>As Iron Will go off on a tangent, you raise your spear and sheath it upon your back.
>Looking over at the party, you see they are cheering and whooping harder than they have yet.
>You definitely scaled yourself back since the fight with Little Strongheart, and it paid off.
>You’re going into the Semi-finals now.
>You walk back into the waiting booth, passing up a rather annoyed crystal pony with a bad teeth-grinding habit and a smelly-ass donkey.
>You have some time to kill now.
>What would you like to do?
 
 
 
>You check your bags and realize that you only had one medkit left after so quickly scraping it on yourself during the fight with Lance and helping Little Strongheart.
>You take a quick detour down to the medical tent, where it was busy as always.
>This time, you saw a particularly large amount of nurses next to a bed that had this poor unicorn sap that had his horn replaced with his hoof.
>That must’ve been an ugly magic fight.
>While they were busy, you take a look at the supply closet and see multiple large stacks of medkits.
>How many should you take?
 
 
 
[ACQUIRED SUPPLY MEDKIT (5)]
>After getting the supplies you need, you make your way back to the booth and look through the room.
>You realize there were only four fighters left not including Shade and er, dumbass.
>Right now, however, you needed to rest.
>You think you were going to need your rest.
>You get yourself an extra chair to prop up your ass, find your old spot, and lay all the way down to rest, closing your eyes as you drift off to your short-lived nap.
>...
[Partially rested. Stats restored by 50%. HP: 130/130, MP: 18/18]
>...
[“THE SUN IS SETTING, THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE SEMI-FINALS! WATCHING PONIES AND GRYPHONS BEAT EACH OTHER UP JUST MAKES ME FEEL ASSERTIVE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?! WITH THE SEMI-FINALS WE KICK IT OFF WITH OUR TWO CONSTANT KICKASSERIES, DR. MOOSE VS. MYTHIC SHADE! NOW LET’S GET! IT! OOOOOOOON!”]
>You feel yourself being shaken awake by some odd force.
>You look over at the assailant, and it turns out to be the magical push of your next opponent, Shade.
>”It’s time to fight.”
>He leaves without giving you a chance to respond, simply trotting through the gate to the arena.
>You get yourself up and wonder why he was so calm in his demeanor with you, but he was annoyed with the ass.
>In any case, you straighten out your armor and walk out, back into the ever-familiar cheers of the crowd.
>It seems Mystic Shade is a fan-favorite due to them cheering his name far more than they ever changed yours.
>It is actually sort of intimidating. They might as well have been booing you.
>You did see your party arguing with the other Shade cheerers around them though, so that made them feel a little better.
>You get out your spear and look at Shade, readying into your battle stance.
>He just stands there, and that’s when you realized something.
>He has no armor, and no weapons.
>Just his horn, which has some odd jewel at the base.
>”Ready to give up?”
>The suddenness of his question takes you aback.
>What do you say to Mystic Shade before the battle begins?