Eventually the téte-a-téte ground away in the earth pony's favour, reacting to the human's speed and strength with counters and shields, and blasting the stag to keep it at bay, switching up his game with spells and explosive magical blasts that tore up the very ground they fought upon. It looked like he was going to get the upper hand upon both of them after an exceptionally powerful buck from the sorcerer caused Handy's shield to buckle, forcing him to tear it off of his arm. Jacques got his second wind, however, and rejoined the fray, alternating between firing arrows of magic and swiping with his rapier clasped across his forehoof. Thunder roared in frustration and stomped on the ground, ripping up the earth in shockwaves, sending the three of them rolling across the ground. The surrounding tents were an absolute mess as the devastation of the spellcasting tore swathes through them, leaving blackened trawls and gouged, muddy ground and small burning fires struggling against the damp of the ever-present ground levels clouds.