Title:           A Sparring Match with Celestia
Author:          Woofr
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/Ut9kWkQ7
First Edit:      Sunday 14th of December 2014 06:40:25 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Sunday 14th of December 2014 08:35:46 PM CDT

>You still thought this was a bad idea.
>You were supposed to guard the princess, not duel her.
>"What's the matter Sir Anon? Surely you must be ready to spar by now?"
>Sigh and pick up your helmet.
"I'll be right there princess, just needed to adjust my armor."
>You raise yourself from the bench, and grab a training sword from the rack.
>A two-hander, the blade was longer and wider than the others by a margin.
>Walking out of the barracks you lift an armored hand to your eyes, the training yard was bright and sun soaked.
>Standing in the innermost dueling circle, Princess Celestia makes a wondrous sight.
>Her white coat seems to softly radiate light.
>She's also lacking her normal royal regalia, opting instead for nothing at all.
>Celestia's normally long flowing mane is done up into a relatively small ponytail and her tail seems to have been shrunk through magic.
"You're certain you want to do this Your Grace? To be honest I have some reservations of my own."
>Celestia chuckles.
>"Yes Anon, I'm certain. It's been quite a long time indeed since I've done combat, I can't be getting rusty."
>A grimace and you put on your helmet.
>Lifting up your visor and beating both hands on your breastplate you ask,
"Are you certain you don't want your armor?"
>A training sword, one-handed and slim, floats over to Celestia, spinning slowly before coming to a stop at her side with the point facing ahead.
>"I am."
>Well alright then.
>Figure you'll take it easy on her at first, then push harder till you find a sweet spot where you beat Celestia, but don't hurt her.
>Lower your visor and get into a proper fighting stance.
>Celestia adjusts her stance as well, low with her sword held higher and ready to strike.
>Silence but for the birds flying above and the murmur of castle chatter.
>You decide to strike first, a small lunge with a stab at her chest.
>Celestia dodges left and lunges at your left, her blade swinging around to your head.
>With a swift recovery from your lunge, you pivot to face her and parry.
>From what you see so far, she has basic form. But lacks finesse.
>Deciding to press your attack more diligently, you feign a swipe to her right and switch left.
>Celestia falls for the feign but jumps back in time for the real strike.
>You continue your assault, slashing wherever her blade isn't.
>She parries or dodges, purely defensive at this point.
>Suddenly, a slip, you spy Celestia's back legs buckle somewhat.
>She gasps, realizing her mistake.
>You smile, knowing just how this ends.
>Lifting your blade high, you slice straight downward at her head.
>Just as you're swinging, Celestia's look of despair changes dramatically to a smirk.
>Her blade comes sliding out of nowhere and strikes you in the chest.
>Holy fuck.
>You've taken some hits in your time, but this beat out everything.
>You're flown away and onto your back, the wind knocked out of you.
>Celestia starts laughing and walks sedately to you.
>Tapping the tip of her sword to the new dent in your breastplate she says,
>"I never thought you to become overconfident anon. Never lower your guard, never ease on the skills you have."
>With a smile, Celestia helps you stand with her magic.
>”Care to go again?”
>Fuck no.
“I think I’ll go down to the train station and have them hit me with one of their locomotives instead. Easier on the body.”
>Giving you a wry look, Celestia replies,
>"Come now anon, don't be silly. Let us have at least one more match. This time hold nothing back please."
>Resigned to your fate, you nod your head and walk back into the circle.
>Celestia follows suit, facing you once again.
>You give her just enough time to get in position when you begin your assault, jumping left opposite her sword and slashing at her barrel.
>Celestia pivots around to face you, your sword just nicking her.
>She turns to the offense, her blade a whirl as she strikes you from all sides and angles.
>You can barely keep up with it all, every movement is unpredictable and each blow shakes you to the bone.
>Despite that, you manage to dodge or parry most of them at great cost to your stamina.
>Pulling out of range you catch your breath.
>Celestia pauses as well, seeing that you're prepared for her next attack.
>Seconds pass as the both of you pace in the circle, looking for weakness.
>Goddamnit, you see just how much wool Celestia was pulling over your eyes in your first bout.
>Her stance is perfect and her sword is always positioned just right in relation to you.
>She practically emanates grace, with nothing to mar it but the little blood spot from where you nicked her earlier.
>Now or never.
>You dash straight for her, sword held low to protect yourself.
>Celestia stands perfectly still, watching you come at her.
>You try to slash horizontally at her chest, but she isn't there anymore.
>Jumping at the last possible moment, Celestia sets a single rear hoof onto the edge of your blade and pushes herself over your head.
>Midway through a frontflip over you she strikes you in the back and you go flying forward onto your face.
>What.
>The.
>Fuck.
>Laying there stunned, you hear Celestia laughing joyously behind you.
>You're magicked back to your feet and you open your visor to dump out the sod that got pushed into your helmet.
>Celestia walks up to you and brushes off the dirt and grass on your breastplate with a hoof.
>"Thank you for the match Anon. I feel I've gotten back into my 'groove'."
>Shaking your head incredulously, you ask,
"Why do you even have guards anyway?!"
>Grinning, she answers matter of factly,
>"To embarass them in sparring matches just like this one."
>Fucking Celestia.