K.O. (private)

Alert, Candle stood, so far, alone. Ears straight up, swiveling now and again as the wind rustled some plant or another that had once been alive, eyes scanning the rocky desert terrain meticulously for a hint of a certain pegasus. Her body was tense, legs stiff and ready to fling herself forward, sideways, or whichever way a sudden attack may come from; her hind legs were especially ready to knock some teeth out. Her horn was ready to either shoot a volley of fireballs or a stream of flame at a moment's notice. However, she had to keep reminding herself to listen for wing flaps or occasionally check the clear skies. It was slightly difficult that way, fighting a pegasus.

Sword observed the tensed mare from afar, the desert giving him a great line of site, but sadly no cover, and not much opportunity for stealth. "Might as well just trot on up and see how this goes. And so he did, casually trotting from the horizon at Candle's position, his ears perked as well, but them listening for a different signal. Watching her observe the skies made him chuckle for a bit. Well she's certainly expecting a pegasi at the least. Doubt she knows much else at this point.

Candle jolted at the sound of Sword's hooves shifting the sand. She whirled around, and the moment she laid eyes on her opponent, her horn flashed an orange aura before being engulfed in a bright hot fireball half the size of her head, which she shot right at Sword's torso.

"Single target pyromancy, noted Sword thought as he watched the fireball race at him. But rather than hit the deck or fling himself to the side to dodge, he adjusted his position ever so slightly, so that the fireball would miss him by the narrowest of margins, him not breaking his stride in the slightest as he continued to trot at her. "Well that wasn't very friendly Miss Candle. I've orders to take you in peacefully, so if you wouldn't mind giving up peacefully, that'd be quite nice of you." As he approached to within 50 meters, his stance would shift, an odd silver band around his right forehoof glowing, and he exploded into a sprint, leaving a wake of sand as he barreled right at Candle, eyeing that horn of hers.

Candle was just about to ask who exactly had ordered this stallion to take her, but before she could say anything, the stallion burst into a sprint not unlike a train's. She knew she didn't have time to charge a good spell that wouldn't knock both of them off their hooves, so she went with something likely much more effective: from about a foot ahead of her to several yards from that point, Candle's magic formed a thin sheet around two inches beneath the sand. Just as quickly as she conjured it, Candle yanked the sheet upward, sending a cloud of sand flying.

As Sword saw the horn light, he prepared himself to defend against a magical assault. What he saw instead surprised him slightly, as she lifted up a cloud of sand. His wings flared out as he brought himself to a very sudden stop, then flapping his wings hard in her direction, blowing the cloud of sand she kicked up at her, continuing to flap his wings to kick up more sand and debris to reduce her vision, or blind her temporarily.

Candle teleported away from Sword. Now she was at the edge of a sandy decline, her left side facing him and her eyes carefully watching everything he did. At the same time, she blasted a slab of stone off a larger rock and brought it under her hooves.

Then she sent three explosive fireballs at Sword: one aimed at his head, one aimed at his wings, and one at his hooves. Next second she was going down the slope on her slab, eyes focused in front and ears swiveled behind her. The fireballs would not be lethal.

Sword heard the horn activation, and the distinctive pop of a teleportation spell, instantly spinning his head on a swivel, spotting Candle as she launched her assault at him. His eyes narrowed, and he crouched. With unnaturally perfect timing, he lept, wings slammed shut and twisted his body to dodge the assault. And as the fireballs exploded behind him, he flared his wings out, letting the sudden updraft of air propel him as he flapped hard, propelling him towards her. But rather than take completely into the air he landed while still in motion, sprinting at Candle while keeping his profile low, preparing to close the gap with a precise maneuver when his chance appeared.