>There was an uncomfortable silence in the locker room.
>None of the competitors spoke to one another, which left a heavy tension in the air.
>Stonewall occasionally eyed you stoically.
>He never trembled in fear, unlike Lark.
>He never offered kind words, unlike Star.
>He was one who showed no weakness.
>And you were to face him in under two hours.
>But that didn't bother you right now.
>You were still mulling over Star.
>The batpony himself lie still on the bench next to you, staring at the picture of his family again.
>It didn't help your thoughts right now to see him doing this.
>Surely, you would think of something to do to, at the very least, help him.
>Maybe you and Polo could travel home with him to care for his brother.
>You both weren't very knowledgeable in medicine, but it was the thought that counted, wasn't it?
>It was your best hope.
>You stewed in your thoughts, feeling a bit frustrated.
>Why did Star have to be so friendly?
>You never asked for this drama. You never even expected to make any friends in all of this.
>You just wanted to kiss a pony princess.
>And if you hadn't befriended Star, and never learned of his brother, you wouldn't have to worry about it.
>You would have won this competition and walked away guilt-free.
>Or would you?
>What you didn't know didn't hurt you, but Star would know.
>He will be going home to an expectant family.
>You don't remember much of your own family, but you were sure the burden was a difficult one to carry.
>And what about the other competitors?
>Miracle Crop was here to promote his farm, but wouldn't the prize money be a necessity as well?
>And Moses, who promised his pack that he would bring back gems. What will befall him once he returns home?
>Every action has a consequence, but you never thought winning this competition would cause any negative ones.
>It was a necessary evil, you had figured.
>But you don't want any "necessary evils".
>You wanted it to work out well for these friends you had made.
"I need a walk," you suddenly announced.
>You awkwardly stood up from your seat and shuffled out of the room, leaving a dumbfounded Polo.
>Hopefully moving around would clear your mind and give you an answer.
>You heard the door shut behind you, and you stalked the halls of the arena alone.
 
>"Sister, is it almost time to retrieve our final competitors?"
>Luna's excitement could be sensed from the tone of her voice.
"Almost, Luna. We have about an hour left until the match begins."
>Her giddy movements caused you to giggle.
>It had been a long time since you had seen Luna this excited, and you were always open to seeing your younger sister happy.
>"Our competitors have provided such a fierce battle for us!" she shouted. "Oddly enough, I had always thought the pure, physical strength exhibited by these challengers was nonexistant among our subjects." She paused, and smiled. "I am relieved to find myself disproved, however."
"There's no need to doubt our subjects, Luna. I'm sure if you were to lower your expectations, they may surprise you in various ways."
>Your sister nodded at your words.
>"They all have much potential, don't they?"
"They do, all in their own little ways. This competition has shown us that some of them have already discovered their abilities. It makes me proud to see how far our subjects have come."
>Alongside that, you were glad to provide the ponies of Ponyville with such fiery entertainment.
>It had been a while since you yourself felt tense and excited about something at the same time.
>The last time was when you attended the cake tasting.
>That was a fantastic day for you.
>The VIP lounge you and your sister stayed in was quiet for a moment, before you heard the lunar pony clear her throat.
>"So, Celestia," pondered Luna, "where did the idea of getting to kiss us come from?"
>You let out a few chuckles after hearing her ask.
"Oh, I suppose it was just a last minute rendition the ponies here made for more incentive to sign up."
>Luna giggles herself.
>"It was quite the morning when I received a letter asking if I was okay with kissing the winner of a competiton."
"But you agreed to it, didn't you?" you rhetorically asked, a playful smile on your face.
>A small tinge of pink forms across her cheeks.
>"It...would have been rude to say no."
>You couldn't help but laugh a little.
>She turned her head away, embarrassed.
"It's nothing to be flustered about, Lulu. Even I sometimes romanticize the thought of meeting a strong warrior whom I would gladly grace with a kiss."
>She turns back around to face you.
>"Although, you would mostly envision a stallion as your warrior, correct? What say you to our finalists, a human and a minotaur?"
>You curled your lips slightly and thought on her question.
"Hmm...well, it's not very like me to choose favorites, Luna."
>"I suppose you're right. It wouldn't be befitting of a princess to be biased. Still, they are both unordinary sights in Equestria, Anonymous especially. Has there even been another human sighted?"
>In all of your years of ruling Equestria, you had never seen a human before until you had heard of Anonymous.
>There were rumors you had heard during your duties of a creature calling himself a "human" journeying around Equestria, but you didn't pay them much mind.
"I don't believe there has been another human. He's very likely the first of his kind."
>You put on a sultry grin.
"I suppose that makes him all the more exotic..."
>"Tia!"
>You laughed heartily.
 
>An hour had passed since you left the locker room.
>You had traveled around the entire arena as you let your thoughts flow freely.
>Despite the freedom of motion, your concerns still weighed you down efficiently.
>It would be hard to find a way to help Star, Crop, and Moses at the same time.
>You supposed you just had to think more on this.
>Hopefully you'd have a solution by match time.
 
>Luna looked up at the clock in the room, her eyes becoming wide.
>"Twenty minutes, sister! Would now be the time to go prep our competitors?"
>You looked at the clock as well. It was nearly match time, and you were certain ponies were going to start crowding the seats again.
"Yes, Luna. I think it would be best to go now."
>You and her arose from your comfy couches and headed for the door.
>You were ready to see the determined looks on Anonymous and Stonewall's faces.
>They looked like they would put on a fierce battle.
>And coincidentally, once you left the room, you bumped into Anonymous.
>The odd part, though, was that he didn't look very confident.
>Instead, he carried a large atmosphere of gloom to him.
>What could possibly be bothering him?
 
>"Anonymous," Celestia calmly greeted.
>You looked up at her.
>Even her divine radiance wasn't enough to make your troubles fade away.
>She noticed your glum expression right off the bat.
>"Anonymous, what's the matter?"
>Princess Celestia herself was asking you about your troubles.
>While you were hoping to keep these thoughts to yourself, it would be best to share with her.
>You exhaled deeply.
"Princess...when I entered this contest, I thought I was going to fight only for you and Luna's kiss, and I would let nothing stand in my way."
>She and her sister nodded, intrigued.
"But..." You looked downwards. "Throughout the contest's duration, I actually ended up making a few friends out of my fellow competitors."
>"That's good, Anonymous," she praised, "but if that's so, why are you troubled?"
>You found the confidence to raise your head and look her in the eyes.
"It's just...they all have their own reasons for coming here, like me, but they were mainly seeking help. A part of their lives somewhat depnded on this competition...and I rose above them." You took a deep breath, then continued. "My goal in this competition was to kiss you two, but I feel so selfish when I compare my goal to my friends' goals. I feel like I've denied them their last hope for help, and I feel awful for not really thinking of that until now, considering what I'm fighting for."
>Celestia smiled kindly at you.
>"Anonymous, that is very selfless of you to consider your competitor's feelings, and you are not selfish for fighting for your goal. They are all here to compete for their own reasons, but I'm sure they would think the same way if they had risen above you. And if you think about it, you're all technically here to fight for the same reason: to achieve something. They aren't very different from you in that aspect, Anonymous."
>Her words lifted your spirits, and your frown disappeared as you gazed at her.
>She continued, her voice carrying an uplifting tone.
>"And listen, Anonymous. Though your friends may have lost in the competition, it does not mean they have lost in reaching their goals."
>This confused you.
"But, they would need the prize money to get what they need."
>Celestia puts one of her hooves on your shoulder.
>"Yes, Anonymous, but think about it. If you win, that prize money is yours to do with as you wish. There are more ways to use money than spending, after all."
>She gives you a reassuring pat.
>"I'm confident you'll do the right thing, Anonymous." She takes her hoof off of your shoulder. "Now, are you ready for your match? It begins in about ten minutes, and Luna and I were about to escort you and Stonewall ourselves."
>The princess' kind words left you more than ready.
>They left you more motivated than before that you would win.
"Yes, I'm ready. Let's go, princesses."
>The solar and lunar ponies obliged your request, and you walked with them back to the locker room.
 
>Your walk back was a tense one, but you had no doubts that you would win whatever kind of battle they had planned for you and Stonewall.
>If not for the princesses, for your friends.
>You made it back with the royals, who called for Stonewall to come front and center.
>To be honest, you were just glad they didn't ask about Lark's absence.
>With the minotaur retrieved, you, your opponent, and the sisters began your walk to the gates.
>This would be the last time you would be going through them as a competitor.
>You would come back here either a loser, or a champion.
>You were fully convinced it would be the latter.
>The silence between the four of you was slowly broken by the sound of cheering ponies from the outside.
>"I must say, bodyguard," Stonewall mentions as he walks, "I've been looking forward to this."
>You grin confidently at him.
"I have too, Stonewall. I'm excited to see how well you can defend your 'champion' title out there."
>"It will be with utmost force, bodyguard. Be ready to face a fierce opponent," he warns.
"I've been ready since the beginning."
>He looks at you stone faced, but nonetheless acknowledges your words.
>Before you know it, you've reached the gates to the field, and your heart begins to pound.
>This was it. It was time to run the table, or go home empty.
>The cheering of ponies increases as you and the others step out into the sunlight, the clouds from earlier having subsided.
>The field looks different this time, though.
>There is a large fighting ring set up in the middle.
>You and Stonewall follow the princesses, who are heading towards the ring.
>An announcer and two assistants stand together in the middle.
>The princesses reach the ring and climb up the stairs and onto the tile surface.
>You and the minotaur follow suit, and follow them to the middle of the ring with the announcer.
>"Fillies and gentlecolts!" the announcer begins once you settle in your spot. "Please welcome our two finalists, Anonymous and Stonewall the Champion!"
>The crowd roars with applause and cheering, but at this point, you've gotten used to it.
>"We've watched six intense battles of endurance and strength, and now we have one final match underway! As you can tell by the ring, our event has been predetermined, but I'll let our princess explain in detail!"
>He gives the microphine to Celestia, who carries it in her magic.
>She clears her throat, and begins.
>"Our two final competitors will be competing in a one-on-one duel. The winner is determined via knockout or ring out. There will be several eyes on the stage in the case of cheating, so please," she turns to you and the minotaur, "Anonymous, Stonewall, give us a good, clean fight!"
>The crowd cheered once more as Celestia and Luna took flight to their seats above the crowd.
>You and Stonewall were directed by the assistants to stand on opposite ends of the ring, and once you were in position, they hopped off and watched the two of you.
>The announcer, once he was given the confirmation by the assistants, started. "Fillies and gentlecolts, let our final battle BEGIN!"