Button's torch fell to the ground at the same time Sweetie's pickaxe did. Both foals were in the same state of mind, shocked beyond words. Sweetie Belle felt a huge blush creep up on her cheeks. There were two voices in her head...
The first one was tempting :
Continue! Button never really cared about you anyways! He has always been distant and cold... Look at the way he treated you when all you did was a simple mistake? Rumble on the other side, has always been there for you and can always manage to put a smile on your face... He is much better!
And the second one was fearful :
Oh my, please turn away! Swat his hooves away! Do something ! You can't let this continue! Rumble is just a phase, he happens to like you when you're going through difficult times. Button was simply worried about you and terrified that he'd loose you, that's all there is to it! Remember everything you went through and let go... Please...
The other voice came back, as if they were arguing :
Oh yeah, remember! Please remember how he left you to cry and stayed with Diamond Tiara... He probably did the same thing to her!
Images rushed through Sweetie's mind, making her feel dizzy. Plus, the air was already hot from the lava there was a few minutes ago so it really didn't help her concentrate. She felt even more dizzy... And her eyes closed, as she chose to not choose before fainting.
Button's torch rolled to the ledge and fell, letting a few sparks out before dying down. There was barely any light in the cave now, only the distant lava and redstone ever slightly glowing enough to let them see what they wanted if they concentrated.
The brown foal didn't think at all and simply jumped down, crying in pain from his sore heart.
Rumble had already been alarmed by the torch and had broken the kiss when Sweetie's body had fallen limp, but he let out a suprised gasp upon hearing Button.
"What are you doing-" he only managed to say before being pinned to the ground pretty violently after Button landed on him.
All the breath left him and the only sound he could hear was his blood pumping through his ears for just a small moment. Then the shock wared off as a punch in the cheek brought him back to reality.
"You bastard! How could you?!" Familiar screams echoed through the cave as he was punched once again.
That time, Rumble reacted and tried defending himself by crossing both his front hooves over his face. His head was spinning and he had no idea what was going on. His memories were blurred as well as his mind was foggy.
A hoof slammed into his, and his opponent groaned in pain as he had hit the bone. Rumble took the occasion to fight back and bucked his front hooves upwards, right in the foal's stomach and sending him flying away. He stood up, trying to recall what had happened, shaking his painful head.
Man, Button really hit me hard! What is wrong with him? I could have had serious injuries!
"Button! I'm sorry okay, but please stop all of th-" Once again Rumble didn't finish his sentence as he saw the brown foal lunge at him in the semi darkness. He did the first thing that came to his mind and threw a punch. The problem is, he didn't expect to hit something and as hard as it did. Button shouted and fell to the ground as Rumble tightly clutched onto his hoof, gritting his teeth.
Did I just hit a bone?
But Button bravely stood up, blood flowing from his muzzle and mouth as he flicked his ears back. A few of his teeth were broken and there was no doubt his muzzle had probably followed the same faith. His injuries looked pretty serious even though he didn't seem to be paying any attention to them at the moment. Button groaned and jumped on top of Rumble, bitting onto his ear even though it procured him great pain.
Rumble cried out and desperatly tried to flap his wings, moving them around as a few feathers came flying off. Although his attacker was holding them against the cold ground, making sure there wouldn't be any escape. More feathers were ripped off as Rumble wiggled under his weight. But he was getting weaker, the adrenaline disappearing smoothly...
"The hell is wrong with you two?!" screamed a sudden voice, so full of fright that it was abnormally high-pitched.
Something pink jumped down and they felt themselves get seperated by force.
Neither of them dared to move again or protest, as all their energy had left them.
"What happened?!" A torch flashed in front of their eyes and they saw Diamond Tiara quickly pulling out steaks from her backpack, eyeing them down nervously.
Rumble looked at Button, waiting for him to explain himself. He noticed that the foal had a few holes in his teeth line, blood flowing from his muzzle, and cuts all over his rump. He was also standing on three hooves only and didn't seem to want to sit down even though his exhaustion was apparent, so Rumble deducted he had probably broken a few ribs.
But Button looked strait back at him, his eyes cold as if he was the one who had to explain.
Diamond saw the tension between the two and started helping Rumble out. She saw one of his eyes were closed and completely blue, that he had bruises all over his hooves, his mouth was bleeding, his right ear was almost destroyed and his left cheek was purple. Plus, his wings had lost a lot of feathers and he kept shaking his head, as if he had trouble concentrating.
"Dear Celestia..." she whimpered as Rumble gobbled up the food. "What would have happened if I hadn't shown up when I did...?"
It was at that very moment that something in the shadows moved a little. A giggle was heard and Rumble's eye widened in fear.
Just as Diamond was about to ask him what was the problem, two glowing red eyes appeared a few hoofsteps away.
"I told you I'd find another way around... You were nice enough to beat up your own friend and render another one, plus yourself, completely usseless..." a soothing and calm voice said, excitement peeking in it. "Looks like there's only an Earth Pony left..." the figure stepped out of the shadows and smiled before winking at Rumble. "Thank you for the meal!"
Diamond blinked.
That definitly isn't good...