Heaven is a Dungeon

Alright, if I win, you'll pay for my trip to heaven.

Maybe this will scare him off; there's no way he can afford that.

Deal!

What!? Can you really afford that?

Do you know nothing about me? I'm the son of a very wealthy merchant. When I've vanquished you, I'll celebrate with ale made from faraway lands, not the poultry slime you find here.

Hey watch it's, the barman yells at him, with a few of the patrons yelling curses at him.

You all know it's true, shut up and drink your piss.

I was trying to scare him off with my demands, oh damn now it seems I'll have to fight him and my armors are already ruined. But more importantly I really hate this guy.

What will it be, ghoul!?

If you can afford it then, let's go outside.

It's late noon and sun was still out, the patrons line the front of the tavern, cheering vehemently for Asher.

Damn I don't like this, I almost wish I insulted the beer too. Wait, it's never too late, is it?

Hey, listen to all of you! your beer sucks and so do your women.

How dare you say such a thing, the women of Eradon are the finest, it's obvious you're not from here, you might be an Orbion spy

Huh? You escalated it again! The patron start cheering for him again

It's a shame her majesty ever gave you the time of day. Seeing you with her made me sick to my stomach and here you are drinking in a tavern, while she's trapped in a slumber, how dare you call yourself a knight. That's it, you must be a ghoul or some hideous monster.

Pheew. He thinks I'm a ghoul again. That's better. I've gotta watch out for this guy. He's oddly suspicious of me. My plans aren't yet in place, dad wouldn't want a nuisance.

Alright draw out your sword, Asher!

Alright. Asher draws out his sword, in a flash Lancelot appears in front of him, his blade raised in the air. Their eyes meet.

How did he move so quickly?

Lancelot brings the blade down with a ferocious speed.

I'm open, there is no time, there's no space. A clash of the steel rings out from between the knights and echoes through the street. The patron gasps.

Lancelots looks awestruck.

How did he do that? How did he manage to block my strike, with only his pommel?

Asher had only been able to draw his blade upwards and with that, he narrowly blocked the strike with the top of his sword.

Lancelot jumps back.

Boy, I didn't know you were this serious, you almost got me there.

The doll watches enthusiastically, from between the legs of the patrons.

His movements are quite fast, is that his natural speed or is it a result of his armor, it looks in such good shape, man I'm jealous.

Lancelot darts at him in a flash, delivering a swift strike

Waoh! Asher parries it away but he immediately goes in for another strike, Asher blocks again then Lancelot swings for his legs. Asher jumps back, startled.

Hey!, I thought you were a noble knight aiming for my jewels.

What!? I did no such thing, and besides look around, this is a street fight you know. Aim for whatever you must, to win, jewels included.

A street fight, huh? Alright.

The patrons quiet down, they watch both knights, for a moment they seem frozen without the slightest bit of motion.

That's so cool, the doll says, a patron almost steps on it but, it jumps to the side just in time, it exhales a sigh of relief.

Hey! Watch it you moron!

Asher watches him closely, Lance could see his eyes weren't even blinking

If this goes on any longer I feel he'll read my moves.

Lancelot darts at him, swinging his sword in from the right.

You fell for it! Asher says to him

What!?

He quickly kicks a hail of sand at him, Lance covers his eyes.

My turn. Asher jumps in, swinging his blade at his legs. Lance jumps back almost on instinct.

Could he see me, though I timed it perfectly.

You monster you were really going for my jewels.

What can I say it's a street fight. This annoys lancelot. Hismood changes, his expression twisting into a scowl.

So you think you can mock me, huh?

Hey I never wanted to fight if any one's mocking you here, it's you.

Lancelot swiftly takes out a blade form his back pocket and trow it's at him. He hits it alway, sending it flying toward the patrons, they quickly duck, narrowly dodging the blade. The doll laughs.

The block leaves him open for a second and in that time, Lancelot ceases the moment he sprints at him, covering the space between them in a flash.

Did he get faster? what's with those eyes of his, I've seen eyes that hate. That's not what they look like

He thrust the blade directly at his chest

His attacks seem too hostile for those sorts of eyes. He knocks the blade aside with his free hand but due to the heavy damage on his armor the blade cuts him.

Lancelot strikes again. This time he parries with his sword, the sound echoes through the streets, even passing by had stops to watch them now. They hold there, their blades grinding against each other.

Lancelot, could I ask you something.

Yeah what is it? lancelot puts in more strength trying to over power him

Are you a psychopath?

What!? What sort of question is that, his focus slips and Asher overpowers him for a second

No it's just your eyes they don't seem to really hate me

What? How can he tell? He quickly puts in more power.

That's nonsense! I have hated you ever since the day I met you! He out powers Asher, pushing him back. He swings at Asher's shoulder

He chuckles, I wonder what he's really after. He blocks the swing aways.

I've gotta create some space between us

He quickly jumps back to safety, but before he lands, Lancelots appears just before him in a gust of wind. The crowd gasps.

What! He got even faster!

He swings his sword upwards, with a power violent enough to cut Asher in half. Asher blocks downwards, just in time, supporting the end of his sword with his free hand.

The force from the swing throws him away. Asher lands on his feet.

He sees drops of blood on the floors, and realizes he's been bleeding all along.

Hey! drawn first blood, you win

Those aren't the rules

Oh, come on, this is pointless, I know you don't have money

How dare you? I once saw him disarm the captain I won't stop until I disarm him.

This duel only ends when one of us is disarmed by the other!

Really! Alright!

But you can't just let me win, it must be genuine

Oh. What's with this, has he got some sort of plan in mind, we'll I don't mind a good plan even if it's used on me.

Come on show me something more than your speed, I've seen ponies with more tricks than you!

Alright you asked for it. He pulls his sword in as though he was putting it back in its sheet.

Asher holds his sword in front of him. Damn this sword is so blunt. I couldn't cut an egg with this.

Lancelot swings out the sword, letting out a vicious slash

Huh. I'm all the way over here. Why's he cutting the air? Damn! Sudden realization down on him. The wind brushed against his blade, but it sounded as though steel had clashed with it.

What! A large cut appears on his arm, it begins to bleed profusely. The patrons gasps

He armed the air with his sword! Asher grips his blade tighter.

I should be careful not to breathe in too much or he'd slice my lung from the inside.

You asked for it and you got, lancelot says, now I can get you anywhere.

Asher chuckles. Well I guess I've got no other choice, but to use that move.

Hey, I'm gonna use my finishing move now!

Finishing move? the patrons murmur amongst themselves

What is he planning, was it that move he used on the captain. I'll have to watch out for that.

Asher draws his blade back. Lance gets on guard.

Asher charges in, Lance charges in too.

They swing at each, exchanging blows after blows.

When's he gonna do it? He seems so relaxed.

Their swords clash a final time and Asher holds him there pushing the blade down at him, Asher pushes his sword down on him, on his shoulder, putting all his strength into his arms. Lancelot begins to feel his blade pressing through his armor. He kneels and begins to buckle.

How did he get so powerful? Well it doesn't matter. Lance using his immense speed quickly side steps leaving Asher falling to him from his own force. Asher immediately regains his footing.

He reacts so quickly

Asher swings at him. The the blade flashing before him, everything seem slower,

These blades are so battle worn, how could he hope to defeat me with this.

Lance parries the strike away, he knocks Asher blade downwards leaving him open for a strike.

I've got you Asher!, he raises his sword above his head and swings down at him. Asher jumps back to escape

Lancelot grins. I predicted as much.

He quickly jumps in after him,

Escape is futile! He swing at Asher from the right

And with his feet not yet on the ground he blocks the strike, the clashes resounding through the streets, the patrons could feel the vibrations flush against their face. They gasp

No! Asher says looking down at his sword,

I disarmed him, and now for the finishing blow. Lance jumps and in mid air he throws his arm back for a swing. He unleashes the strike. Asher sees the blade swinging down at him.

I'm off balance. He looks down watching as the blade falls

I'm too open, can I deflect this?