>*CRASH!*
>You are awoken by the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning.
>Rain is pounding against the window and on the ground outside.
>Your eyes have a hard time staying open, but you manage to look at the clock on the wall.
>6:57 A.M.
>Too early to be awake.
>You attempt to go back to sleep, closing your eyes and snuggling into your pillow.
>Another flash of lightning streaks across the sky outside, and the low booming of thunder follows quickly after.
>There was no going back to sleep now.
>You tossed the bedsheets off of yourself and sat up on the side of your bed, stretching.
>Polo was at the desk in the room, a map at his hooves.
>He hears you move around on the bed and looks behind his shoulder.
>"Ah, good morning, sir. It's a beautiful day out, isn't it?"
>He chuckled to himself at his sarcastic remark.
"Fine enough," you replied, standing up. "I'm just more concerned about how this will effect the competition."
>"Oh, I'm sure they'll still hold it. I doubt they'd cancel for a bit of a drizzle such as this."
"It's not that, Polo." You scratch your back, and smack your lips.
>"Oh? What's troubling you, then?"
>You look him dead in the eye.
"This rain's going to make the grass slippery, and create a lot of mud on the track. If anything, it'll provide more of a challenge."
>You head into the bathroom to bathe, while you listen to Polo reply.
>"Not that that will slow you down, right sir?"
"Of course not, Polo. It'll just make things funner."
 
>Due to your early rising, you made it downstairs to the dining hall just as the chefs were setting out breakfast.
>You would be sure to get yourself a good amount of food, now that the opportunity to do so was in front of you.
>After gathering your food, you and Polo sat away from the windows, so that your food wouldn't get soggy.
>Unfortunately for you, another patron at the inn had the same idea as you, sitting at the table next to yours.
>Stonewall.
>He must be an early riser too, considering you hadn't seen him yesterday morning.
>"Maybe if we just ignore him, he won't bother us, sir," Polo whispers to you over his golden waffles.
>"I can hear you, rat."
>Polo attempts to bury himself behind his plate of waffles.
>"You aren't of my concern right now, rat. Come back out. Cowardice is dishonorable."
>After a moment, Polo shows his face again, surprised that the minotaur wasn't threatening him.
>"I'm...not?"
>The minotaur sat sideways in his seat.
>"No. I was actually thinking about you, bodyguard."
>He points one of his fingers at you.
"Me? Might I ask what for?"
>Stonewall took a handful of leafy greens and stuffed them in his mouth, then spoke after he swallowed them.
>"I heard of your victory yesterday. You challenged the cheating griffon, rather than calling for disqualification. That in itself shows you are no coward."
>You were as shocked as Polo at this point.
>Stonewall wasn't talking down to you, but rather, praising you.
>"I will be honest with you, bodyguard: I anticipate facing each other."
>He pauses.
>"Provided you win today, that is."
>You flash him a confident grin.
"We'll battle, Stonewall. It'll be interesting to see which one of us comes out on top."
>Stonewall goes back to facing forward in his seat, though you hear him mumble to himself.
>"For once, I am unsure if it will be me..."
 
>The time comes to leave the inn yet again, and you and Polo head to the arena.
>While the initial downpour this morning has finished, it is still sprinkling, and thunder occasionally rumbles in the sky.
>Remembering the route from last time, you and your pegasus companion make it to the arena in quick time.
>Ponies have still formed a large line outside, undeterred by the rain.
>They cheer you on as you pass by, and you oblige them with a wave.
>"Oh, they seem very excited to see you go again, sir!"
>You laugh to yourself.
"Who wouldn't be, Polo?"
>When you arrive at the back entrance, the same guard from yesterday awaits you.
>This time, however, he lets both you and Polo pass without a fuss.
>Finding yourself in the familiar hallways of the backstage arena, you headed to the locker room you had been in yesterday.
>You arrive and notice that everyone from yesterday is still here, despite four of them having lost.
>"Wait, I thought anyone who lost would go home," Polo wondered aloud.
>This earned him four glares, causing one of his hooves to cling to your leg.
>"For your information," Lark drolled, "we're supposed to be here for the 'closing ceremonies', granted the competition ends today."
>Lark turned his head away with a huff.
>"Oh, um, I see."
>After the exchange, you and Polo awkwardly find a bench to sit on in the room.
>You so happen to sit next to Star Gazer again, who gives you a friendly smile.
>"Hey Anonymous. Hey Polo."
>You return the greeting with a hand gesture.
"So, are you ready to go up against me today, Star?"
>"Y-yeah. I'll admit though, you look a little tough."
>You pat him on the back.
"You doubt yourself too much, Star. I'm sure it'll be a close match."
>"And what a fierce one it will be!" says Polo in an excited tone. "I like to think you're stronger than you look, Star. Give it your all out there!"
>This outburst was ignored by most of the competitors, save Star Gazer and Miracle Crop.
>"Mmm," Crop lustily hummed, "you're an excitable one, aren't ya hun? You're extra cute like that."
>Polo's face went red at the compliment, and he sunk back onto the bench.
>Stonewall grunted.
>"Indeed. Rats are known to be excitable."
>"Lay off him, would you? I'm sure he's a good pony when you get to know him, big guy," Crop tried to reason.
>Stonewall said nothing, and went back to his thoughts.
>Unlike your arrival yesterday, which was full of conversation, today was eerily silent, likely due to a couple of the losers still sulking.
>You sat, bored, while Polo held a quiet conversation with Star Gazer.
>The clock had struck 11:45 before you knew it.
>Fifteen minutes before showtime.
>To your surprise, the door to the locker room opened.
>In came the princesses yet again, smiling.
>Along with them was the same escort, looking grumpy as ever.
>And like yesterday, this sent everyone in the locker room into a frenzy as they all tried to get the princesses' attention.
>You didn't even bother to listen to what everyone else said, as you yourself tried to speak to Celestia, just once.
>"Gentlecolts, please," Celestia calmly said as she waved a hoof. This single motion shut up everyone in the room, including you, as you all readied to hear what she had to say. "We were enthralled by yesterday's competition," she told you as she motioned a hoof towards Luna. "I'm sure the show you'll put on today will be as, if not, more exciting than yesterday's!"
>"We both look forward to fine feats, competitors," Luna said. "I trust you won't disappoint us."
>Celestia nodded at her sister as she finished, then spoke again.
>"Now, would Stonewall the Champion and Cerulean the Brave please come forward? It's almost time for your match."
>The two creatures obliged Celestia's request, and made their way to the front of the room.
>"Alright, let's go you two," the escort commanded as the group formed at the front of the room made their way out.
>The doors closed, and once again, the radiant sun princess was out of your sight.
>You slumped back onto the bench, next to Star Gazer, who sighed.
>"Isn't she beautiful?" he asked dreamily.
"Who, Celestia?" you commented, a grin on your face.
>"Oh, well sure, her too, but I was mainly talking about Luna."
>You only chuckled at his response.
"To each their own, I suppose."
 
>Time passed, and you were certain the match had already started.
>The locker room was silent yet again, the hum of the lights the only noise being produced.
>Your eyes began to feel heavy, since you had woken up so early that morning.
>You yawned.
"Polo," you nudge him in the side, and get his attention. "Make sure I wake up for my match, alright?"
>"Of course, sir. I'll tell you the results of the current match as well."
>You shuffle on your seat to get comfy.
>"Thank you," you barely mumble as you close your eyes.
>And before you know it, everything goes dark.
 
>You are Polomarco.
>Your friend and fellow adventurer Anonymous sat asleep on the bench.
>When the time came, you were to wake him up for his match.
>Entertaining yourself was no problem, considering you could think about your next journeying route once you left Ponyville.
>And you could also speak to Star Gazer.
>He was always a nice fellow since you met him.
>Speaking of Star Gazer, he knew the place better than anypony, and you were quite parched.
"Star Gazer," you called, getting the bat pony's attention. "Where might I find a drinking fountain in this place?"
>"Oh, uh...lemme think...right! Go straight out from this room and take the first left you see. You'll find some bathrooms and a drinking fountain."
>You get up off the bench and thank him for the information before heading out the door.
>Following his advice, you look for the first left turn, and when you find it, go down that path.
>Lo and behold, there was a fountain, a couple bathrooms, and even a vending machine for snacks.
>You trot over to the fountain and press down on the button, letting a stream of cool, clear water flow out of the faucet.
>You drink up the water, making sure not to touch your lips on the faucet.
>Mother always told you that area had plenty of germs.
>When you finished, you licked your lips and turned around, only to stumble into somepony behind you.
>You looked up at the figure you bumped into, and recognized it as Lark, Anonymous' opponent yesterday.
>"Hey, you're Anonymous' buddy, aren't you?"
>His expression was not one of friendliness.
"Oh, uh...yes?"
>Sweat began to form on your forehead as the griffon continued to give you a dirty look.
>"What was it he asked you in the locker room back there? 'Wake him up when it was match time?'"
>He walked forward, trying to get into your face.
>You tried backing up, only to hit the wall behind you.
>"Hm, I wonder what would happen if Anonymous slept through his match? Maybe he'd be disqualified?"
"I would rather not find out, actually," you tell him nervously.
>"Oh, really?" He flashes an evil grin. "Because I would."
>Before you can respond, a claw comes at your face and punches it, then grabs you by the neck and tosses you to the ground behind you.
>You try to get up, but the griffon is on you in no time, kicking you with his pawed legs.
>He hits you in the stomach, knocking the wind out of you, before going back to hitting you in the face.
>You're certain you're bleeding at this point as he relentlessly attacks you, hitting you in the sides with his claws.
>He again hits your stomach, then continues with your face, hitting hard with his fisted claws.
>The pain is overbearing, and it's then that you're certain you're going to pass out.
>Your vision slowly fades to black as he gives you one last punch, which makes the world around you disappear.