>The locker room light hummed its dull song.
>You could hear the crowd cheering through the walls of the locker room.
>You weren't sure if you were able to go out and watch the match, but you were mighty tempted to do so regardless.
>Besides, the locker room was extremely boring.
>Everyone, sans Star Gazer and Cerulean, talked among themselves, leaving you and Polo with little to do.
>You thought about your missed encounter with Celestia.
>The memory played over and over in your mind, making you angry that you weren't able to speak to the divine ruler.
>How everyone else was able to get to her and her sister before you is a mystery.
>You would gladly fight through an army alone if it meant you could speak with her.
>A dreamy sigh next to you snapped you from your thoughts.
>You looked to your side and met Polo's gaze.
>He stared at you a moment, then pointed his hoof to the pony next to him.
>Star Gazer.
>His face was adorned with a goofy grin, and his eyes drooped.
>You could practically see the hearts that had formed in his eyes.
>"He's been like that ever since the royal sisters entered. I wonder what put him in such a state?" Polo mused.
>Polo hadn't been in love before, maybe.
>Or he was just oblivious.
>Star Gazer's attention turned to Polo.
>"Oh, it's just..." he sighed again, "Princess Luna..." He pronounced the lunar pony's name with a loving tone.
>You only chuckled.
"Ah Star Gazer, we're both enraptured by the princesses, it seems."
>He snaps out of his lovestruck-awe to look at you.
>"Wait, what?"
"You seem to be infatuated with Luna. I'm infatuated too...just with her sister."
>Star Gazer's eyes don't leave yours.
>"Heh, that's kinda funny, really...I mean, not that it's funny you like Celestia, I mean-"
"I know what you mean," you assure him.
>He smiles warmly at you.
>"Oh, but how could you two not be lovestruck? The princesses are arguably the most beautiful ponies in Equestria!"
>Polo was a little enthusiastic himself.
>He takes a moment to realize his outburst was noticed by all in the locker room.
>Even Cerulean.
>"Eh heh, right..."
>He slowly sits back down.
>"Still, I don't really think I'll win, so I doubt I'll get to kiss Luna..."
>Star Gazer frowns and kicks at the bench he's sitting on.
>You knew that was a correct statement, but you didn't like seeing this competitor so sad.
>He seemed to be the only friendly one here.
>Well, besides Miracle Crop, but that was a different kind of friendly.
>You patted Star Gazer on the shoulder.
"Hey, maybe you'll do better than you think, and that will impress her enough. You never know, right?"
>That felt a little awkward coming out.
>Considering this batpony was shy and small, you were unsure how he got into the competition to begin with.
>Nonetheless, he smiled.
>"I like the sound of that. If it means I might be able to kiss her, I'll do even better than normal!"
>For once, Star Gazer looked like he had confidence.
>That's when he noticed the looks of every other competitor, except Miracle Crop, who wasn't paying attention.
>Instead of neutral expressions, like with Polo, though, they looked angry.
>You lean over to whisper to Star Gazer.
"I doubt it was a good idea to shout out that you could get one of the grand prizes without winning to the entire locker room."
>Star Gazer slowly slinks back down.
>"You've got a point there," he whispers back.
>The silence afterwards is tense, before each competitor moves their gazes back to their previous activities.
>That's when the crowd outside cheers uproariously.
>Your curiosity had gotten the best of you.
"Polo, I'm going out to watch the match between Moses and Stonewall."
>You made sure to announce it quietly, to assure the other competitors didn't hear you.
>Polo hops out of his seat.
>"But sir, how are you going to find your way out to the arena?"
>You shrug.
"I'll find a way. Maybe I'll get lucky and reach the gates."
>"But this is a large building, sir. What if you get lost and don't make it back here in time for your match?"
>"Well..." Star Gazer droned.
>You and Polo turned to look at him.
>"Sorry for eavesdropping, but...I can't really help it. Bat ears."
>He points to his ears with a nervous grin.
>"But anyways, my uncle used to work here, and I'd get to come backstage when he needed to foalsit me when I was younger. He didn't know it, but...I may have gotten out and explored a couple times when he wasn't watching..."
>"An adventurous spirit, even as a young lad! I like that."
>Star Gazer looks away with a smile on his face.
>"I wasn't that adventurous..."
>"Pish-posh! I was the same as a little colt, always out the door with me. Maybe that's why I'm a navigator though..."
>As Polo thinks, you speak to Star Gazer.
"So, how do we get to the arena?"
>Star Gazer trots in front of you and Polo, making sure the other competitors don't notice.
>None of them seemed to care.
>"This way. Follow me."
 
>True to his word, Star Gazer knew every corner of the place.
>You and Polo were amazed at how big one building could be, but Star Gazer casually mentioned that he had seen bigger.
>His uncle apparently moved around a lot.
>Reaching the gates, you and Polo looked through the metal bars to see the arena outside.
>The sight that greeted you was a small view of the actual field Stonewall and Moses competed on, whilst the most of your view was taken up by the numerous amounts of bleachers.
>Bleachers with LOTS of ponies.
>For a moment, you decided to search for Celestia, more interested in at least seeing her again before watching the match.
>She was easy to find, considering she was sitting in a throne atop the bleachers, next to her sister.
>Below them sat who you assumed was Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
>Her beauty was still matched by no other.
>You gazed at the pristine white pony as she sat, entertained by the event.
>Even though she was so far away, you felt as though you were right next to her.
>You only wanted to win even more if it meant you would receive the right to so much as touch her.
>*SLAM!*
>You were brought back to reality as a heavy object found its way far out into the field.
>A large weight sat on the field, having just been thrown by Moses.
>A pegasus referee went out to measure the distance between the weight and Moses.
>Once he reached the heavy object, he gazed at his large tape measurer.
>"79 yards!" he called out to the crowd.
>That must be one long tape measurer.
>The crowd cheered at the announcement, showering Moses with praise.
>The diamond dog ate it up, bowing to the ponies that adored him.
>Once the pegasus returned to Moses and Stonewall, the grey minotaur walked up to a large weight.
>The last one, to be exact.
>Seems you only got here at the tail end of the match.
>Stonewall only popped his knuckles and took hold of the chain holding the weight.
>The referee and Moses stepped back.
>The minotaur began to spin in a circle, the chain tight in his grip.
>The weight moved along with him, and was dragged on the ground.
>The minotaur started slow, then began to pick up speed in his spins.
>The weight was lifted off the ground and started to spin in the air along with Stonewall.
>He only went faster and faster around, the weight catching speed as well.
>The crowd watched in awe as what seemed like such a heavy object was being moved around with ease.
>The weight had now reached a speed that made it glide through the air just below Stonewall's chest.
>Once he had picked up enough speed, the minotaur let go of the chain and let the weight soar through the sky.
>It flew high into the air, gaining a large amount of distance.
>It started to tilt downwards past the midway point, but was still at a moderate height.
>Before you could blink, the weight smashed into the ground, causing the dirt around it to fly upwards.
>The referee wasted no time in flying out to measure the distance.
>The crowd sat in silence as they awaited the ref's results.
>He gazed at the measurer, before looking up and proclaiming, "96 yards! Stonewall wins the first match!"
>The crowd cheered as Stonewall grinned smugly at the crowd, while Moses sat mortified.
>"96 yards!? Sir, that's-"
"I know, Polo. That's incredible, especially considering how much that thing likely weighs.
>You watched as the crowd continued to rally Stonewall.
>The grey creature waved at the princesses.
>They waved back with friendly smiles.
>That only lit a fire in your belly.
"That's not going to stop me, though."
 
>You, Polo, and Star Gazer made it back to the locker room, and soon after, the two previous competitors arrived as well.
>Moses looked down as he walked.
>He gave off a sore loser vibe.
>Stonewall prided himself on his honor, and he was gloating big time.
>"If you had adopted my minotaur code, maybe you'd have prepared yourself better, dog," he taunted the brown diamond dog.
>A referee came back for the next competitors instead of the princesses this time.
>"Cerulean the Brave and Gravel the Humble, you're up next."
>The teenage dragon and the grey unicorn make their ways to the exit, following the referee.
Moses sits on the floor with his head down while Stonewall walks your way.
>Polo stands behind you as the minotaur passes by.
>"Rat, Bodyguard," he casually greets as he walks past.
>You decide to ignore him and keep your seat on the bench.
>"He's nothing but a bully," Star Gazer whispers to you.
>You nod and grin at his opinion.
 
>Outside, the event had been chosen.
>Cerulean and Gravel had to battle through 10 matches of tug of war.
>The loser of each round would be pulled into a large puddle of mud, so this was certainly going to be messy.
>The announcer paraded himself around the field and the competitors.
>"Are you ready, ponies!?" he asked the crowd.
>The excited ponies responded with cheers and applause at an almost deafening volume.
>"Then let the second match begin!"