The ‘Ale House’ was the opposite of the glamour of ‘The Moon’. were the Moon sought to create an atmosphere of darkness with every vice in plain view, the Ale House had an air of fanciness to it. Instead of pitch-black floors and dim light, the Ale House had bright red carpets with wall light the shined bright gold everywhere. Instead of whores and drugs being served, fancy high-class food and drinks were prepared for only the highest of guests.
In other words, this was paradise to Lacunae. She took another bite of her freshly prepared meal, a plate of freshly grown vegetables tipped with special sauce was a delight she’d thought in all 200 years she’d never enjoy again. She took small bites of the dish, savoring the flavor like wastelanders savor clean water.
Her companion on the other hoof was...another story. Sitting across from Lacunae was a conga line of meats, plate after was stacked with meats from every animal you probably could kill and then some. All cooked differently from rare to well done, all with different ingredients and spices. The consumer of all this raw flesh was devouring it like there was no tomorrow. Compared to Lacunae Rampage looked like a pack of wolves eating corpses as she chewed down on one piece after another. The other guests and waiters just watched in disbelief.
“You know Arloste they say too much meat can be bad for you.” Lacunae took a sip of hard ale, not evening sparing her friend a glance as she ate like a lady. “They say it messes up your bowels.”
Rampage took one look at Lacunae after taking a huge bite of a steak. “Fuck those ponies, I eat what I want when I want to. Fuck healthy living.” And with that, she went back to smashing.
Lacunae sighed, when Rampage’s mind was made up it was hard to change. “Okay but don’t blame me when you start throwing up after getting into the ring."
Rampage shrugged. “Hey, if I throw up I can earn the title the vomit mare.”
“You have no shame do you?”
“No.”
Lacunae rolled her eyes half-heartedly. How they were friends was beyond her but she enjoyed the striped mare's company more than anyone.
A ghoul waiter was giving them strange looks as he passed them, every few seconds he kept giving them glances which Lacunae noted. Finally, after Rampage had finished another plate the ghoul trotted up their table, putting out a notepad with his mouth and sitting on his haunches. He didn’t pull out a pen Lacunae notice. “So do you need anything else Miss?” though he had the usual ghoul rashness in his voice he seemed to do it with a hint of class to him.
Rampage was too busy eyeing gecko legs to care for another meal. “Let me finish this then come ask me.”
The ghoul chuckled at the response. “I see that black hole you call a stomach hasn’t closed ya Arloste.”
Rampage stopped mid bite to look up at the ghoul, he was a green buck with skin that rotten away around his lips and eyelids. Rampage’s eyes narrowed and then widened as she looked at him. “Goldie?” She got up from her seat to give him a deeper look. “Goldie ridge is that you?”
He crossed his forehooves as he nay. “Well, damn striped Zeeb bitch. 15 years and you already forget your pal Goldie the gravedigger!”
“Goldie it is you, it is you!” She threw her arms around him and embraced him into a big hug, he returned the gesture with the two patting each other on the back as they laughed in joy. “Motherfucker I missed you! Why are you in this dump?”
They broke off to look at each other. “Look at you motherfucker. A waiter? What did your love of Stable crawling die or something?”
Goldie shook his head. “Nah, just made enough money to settle down somewhere. Heard this place was good so I came here. Why are you here though?”
“Me and Luu on vacation after saving the Hoof.” She shrugged. “You know boring stuff.”
“I heard there was a fight between the Reapers and some cult.” He gave her a questioning look. “What happened?”
“Weird cult ran by a crazy A.I. tried to take over.” She seemed so none plus compared to the extremeness of what actually happened.
“So same old Hoof?”
“Yup.”
“I miss home sometimes.” The ghoul looked over to Lacunae with a wide smile. “Luu how you doing? Still believing in that old horse shit.”
Lacunae raised a glass to him. “Yep, and seems you given up your stupid horse shit too.”
He waved a hoof at his old buddy. “I still go into Stable, caves, and death traps. Only now I do it for the boss.”
Rampage got a little worried at that. “You in debt? cause we can pay that off”
Goldie smiled, even after so long she was still there for him. “Nah, I work here willingly. Boss is a hard case but she’s fair and smart.”
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” The smooth voice of a mare followed by hoof steps approached from behind the pair. “So these are the two causing all the commotion on the Cross huh?” The trio of ponies looked behind them to see a strange mare coming with guards around her.
She was green except for her greyish mouth, her body thick yet with slender legs. Her ears were longer than a pony, seemly flopping with her movement. She wore dark shades that would normally make her look threatening to ponies but to the mares, she was just another pony.
“Ah cool a mu-” Goldie moved fast to close Rampage’s mouth, turning his head around and giving his boss a sheepish smile.
“Eh, Lacunae and Rampage, this is my boss, Miss Molly. Miss Molly these are my friends from the Hoof, Rampage and Lacunae.” Rampage sensing something was off just waved her hoof, while Lacunae raised her glass.
Molly seemed to regard the two visitors with a sense of interest, but she gave Lacunae the most attention. “Well, you ponies leave quite a presence wherever you go. Both of you are the talk of the town.” She finally regarded Rampage with a huff. “I heard your some type of saint and dancer. So.”
She trotted closer to the pair with her bodyguards taking a position at both sides of the table. “What brings such strange visitors to the town of Sin? Especially my home?” She took an empty seat in the middle of the table, going back to staring at Lacunae.
Rampage was about to answer when Lacunae cut her off. “We’re on vacation for the week, we came to the ‘last’ city to judge if it really lives up to the name.” She met the green mare’s glaze with one of her own, she knew intimidation tactics when she saw them. Was this mare trying to tell them to leave? “In fact, Rampage has come here to judge how good your fighting arena is.”
Molly laughed. “Oh, is that right? “ she leaned back in a relaxed position. “You want a shot in my arena. Think you're good enough?"
Rampage finally chined in. “Yep, that’s right lady.” Rampage stomped her hoof down on the table. “I came here to do one thing and one thing only. Judge how tough Dise is by beating up your toughest people. Get your ponies, zebras, donkeys, bulls, whatever. I’m here to show ya how tough the Hoof is by making that ring my throne, showing Dise it ain’t shit.”
Lacunae just rolled her eyes. Really Arloste you could be a wrestler in the old world with promos like that.
For all her boasting it seemed to work, Molly showed a faint hint of anger at that rant. She kept her classy demeanor but was angier in her movements as she grabbed Lacunae’s wine bottle and took a chug much to Lacunae's annoyance. “Well, hon, that was a fine boast. But do you have the skills to back it up?” Her tone was serious now, the classy demeanor falling away. “In my arena ponies don’t always walk away.”
Rampage trotted up to the green mare, getting face to face with her. “Bring them all out, I want to fight everybody you can call.”
Goldie tried to wrestle Rampage away from his easily angered boss. “Rampage you can’t fight all our talent! We need them!” Goldie wasn’t afraid for Rampage, he was afraid of how many dead fighters they would have at the end of the day.
Rampage just looked at Goldie with that grin she gave whenever killing time was around the corner. “Sorry Goldie, you're going to need to find new talent after I’m done.”
Lacunae took a sip of her wine and sighed. This would be an all-nighter again.
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The arena was a thing only the new world of the Wasteland could create. What was once a high-class playhouse with a stage for performance, had been turned into a fighting ring with it’s stage outlined with steel bars made into a cage. Where once a chandelier stood, now that was a billboard with the names of the fighters on it.
The crowd was large tonight. Word had spread of the strange striped mare entering the ring and soon tickets to see her fight sold out like hotcakes. The house was packed with ponies of every race in seats as far as the eye could see. The room was ecstatic with life as ponies placed bets, gossip about who would win, and cheered on the display. Lacunae and Molly both sat in the second story balcony watching the events below unfold.
.
“Well, now your friend seems to bring out the lifeblood in ponies.” Molly leaned back in her chair, she seemed to be enjoying it.
“She likes being the center of attention.” Lacunae tried to get under the casino owner's skin “Can you blame her. Her appearance by itself demands all eyes on her at all times. She can never not be the odd one out in a group, no she takes that attention and uses it to express herself.”
Molly gave an annoyed huff. Obviously, something about that seemed to hit a sour spot in her. Lacunae knew why but she kept her words to herself. “Let’s see if this attention seeker gives a good show.” Molly took a microphone sitting table and began speaking into it “Fillies and gentle colts! Today I bring you a special event! Today, a new challenger has entered our ring. She has challenged all of Dise to fight, Declaring ‘Dise ain’t shit compared to the Hoof.’ Saying she plans to claim our arena in the name of Equestria!” That got boos from certain members of the crowd.
“We are at the Ale House have decided to answer her wish. She will be fighting a tower style tournament against all the Ale House’s best fighters. Until she fights the ringing champ, Torr!” The crowd went wild, fight like this were a once in a while thing. Very few ever went for the champion spot.
“So let’s welcome our honor guest: the stranger from a strange land, the striped mare, Rampage!” Some of the crowd cheered harder than others, Lacunae could make out Goldie cheering among them. “And her first opponent, the bullet mare, the pegasus killer. Lighting strike!”
A blue blur flew onto the stage, circling Rampage then quickly stopping in front of her. Revealing the form of a sturdy blue pegasus mare with a green mane, she looked like she chugged drugs with the crazed look she gave Rampage.
Rampage just nay. “Listen lady this is a fighting ring, not a drug lab. Take your Dash ass back to the crack house before you OD on the stage.”
The mare just snarled. “Gonna rip and tear your guts!!!! Rip and tear! Rip and Tear!”
“Let the fight begin!”
The pegasus rushed Rampage with such blinding speeds making her a blur, a living lighting strike. It looked undodgeable, it seemed for all the striped mare’s boast she would eat her words. The bets were 10 to 3, most in the crowd had money riding against her. Seeing the pegasus flying towards Rampage like a speeding bullet, Lacunae cracked a smile.
Rampage jumped out of the way in a nick of time, the speedy mare missing her and crashing into the cage with a metal clang sound. In the air, Rampage did a somersault before landing neatly on her hooves. The crowd went wild, hoof stomping filling the room. As the pegasus regained her composure Rampage yawned and stretched uncaring of her opponent.
“God this is boring. Lady if I wanted a good exercise I would go for a run.” Rampage took one look at her opponent then laid down on the stage on her side, her hind hooves crossed, one forehoof on her cheek, and the other laying lazy on her back. “Here I will give you an advantage”
The crowd was confused by this change in action, some were booing and yelling ‘get up and fight!’ Lighting Strike finally getting to her hooves stared at the striped mare with a murderous aura of a devil. with a loud Battlecry flew into the air and dive bomb towards her prey like an angry god bring down thunder.
Rampage yawned, she rolled out the way of attack, laughing like a filly as she did so. Lighting Strike followed her bringing her hooves down at every turn. Rampage just kept rolling, rolling, rolling. Lacunae laughed at the display loving the utter disrespect Rampage showed.
“STOP RUNNING AND FIGHT ME!” Lighting Strike kept trying to stomp her, but Rampage was like a slippy rat.
“Well, if you insist.” At that Rampage hopped over the pegasus and landed on her hooves, and with one fast buck, she sent Lightning flying into the cage bars.
She bounced off the bars with an audible crack, she went lump as she fell to the floor. The crowd went wild, cheers and boos following the attack. A few minutes passed before Molly sighed and grabbed the microphone. “Our winner by knockout. Rampage!”
Rampage struck a victory pose. The same pose she gave on the runway at the Finishers gallery, it was the pose of a mare who knew she was on top. “Is that all Dise has. All this booze and drugs have made you all soft.” She smiled darkly at the crowd. “Play time’s over. Time to show paradise what happens when demons come to play.”
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The next few fights weren’t fights, they were one-sided slaughters. Rampage’s next opponent was a unicorn who could create magical fists strong enough to smash through the floor. She lasted a minute before Rampage sent her flying.
The next guy was an earth pony buck who could bend steel and smash through bricks. He lasted two minutes before Rampage broke his legs.
Next was a tag team of mares who could perform combos so fast their hits looked like bullets. They were both piledriven into the stage.
After that was a Minotaur that looked like he ate nails for breakfast without any milk. He was smashed into the bars so hard they cut into him.
Finally, four fighters teamed up to take on the mare, all were former rivals but beating this visitor became a top priority. Four ponies on one would be on fair if the four weren't leaving the cage on a stretcher, one had their teeth kicked out, another lost a leg, another bent into a circle counterclockwise, and the last had their tail ripped off.
The crowd was filled with a mix of fear, excitement, anger, and confusion. No pony knew what to make of this strange mare, the most striking thing about these fights was the fact she never got hit. It seemed unreal, who was this weirdo and where did they learn how to fight?
“Fillies and gentle colts! It seems we’re coming up on the grand final. Next round is between the new up and coming sensation, Rampage! And our champion stone wall pony, Torr! Bets are half 5/5, a first for any pony fighting Torr!”
Rampage stood on the stage alone, her hind legs crossed as she sat. The bored look painted on her showing she wasn’t very impressed with the Arena and its offerings. On some level she knew she would find no challenger here, this wasn’t home, very few places in the wasteland could breed deadly ponies worth her time and this place wasn’t it.
The ground under her began to shake as the pounding sound of hoof steps entered the cage. Rampage looked back with morbid interest and saw a sight that made her eyes widen. A pony, no, a giant trotted into the cage from the right. His piss yellow coat revealing strains of blood on his hooves. He was large, big enough a simple slap could send a pony flying. His muscles matched hers’ in terms of their body weight, impressive by pony standards. It was no wonder he was the champion, few could fight such a monster and survive.
Most ponies would take one look at such a force and give up, most would coward at the sight of such a beast. But Rampage did what she always did when faced with a worthy foe, smile.
“FINALLY A WORTHY OPPONENT! I WILL FINALLY ENJOY MY VACATION!” She shouted at the top of her lugs for all to hear. Her eyes change from their normal pink glow to a sickening green hue. “WE WILL HAVE FUN! LET THE BLOODBATH BEGIN!”
The crowd cheered and shouted the names of the fighter they were betting for. From the balcony, Molly and Lacunae watched with renewed interest. The former taking curiosity in the mare’s newfound excitement and the letter looking on with a disturbed expression.
“Your friend seems to be letting her winning streak go to her head.” Molly seemed to be enjoying Rampage’s theatrics but Lacunae was in a state of fear.
“You have to call off this fight right now.”
“Why so hon? This is the biggest of the evening.” Molly looked at her sheepishly. “What? afraid your little friend is finally going to get hurt?”
Lacunae grunted. “No, your pony is going to die if he fights Rampage like this.” Lacunae couldn’t believe here of all places Rampage allowed her to take over her mind. “I could try to convince Rampage to ease up, maybe throw the fight.”
Molly snarled at the idea. “You will do no such thing hon. This is my best turn out in years! A lot of ponies paid good money to see your friend down there draw blood or bleed.” From behind a gun bush against Lacunae’s back, the alicorn didn’t care, she already knew the pony was there, she had sensed his aura when she came up here, “Sit hon and watch the good show. We don’t want to have blood spilled outside the ring do we?”
“You would let your own best fighter get torn apart just to have a show?”
“Ponies die in the Wasteland hon, Torr’s my best fighter but I have replacements lined up if he ever bit it.” Molly looked down at the arena with a cold smirk. “To be in Dise is to gamble with your life, win or lose however I always have backup plans.”
Down in the cage Rampage and Torr circled each other like two wolves ready to pounce. “Me Torr. Who you?” his voice was that of a large oaf.
Rampage cocked her head. “Your executioner.”
The large pony struggled to say the word as if learning rocket science. “Exe..cuter.” He didn’t have time to finish as the striped mare rushed him. Though he was slow and clumsy his swing hit Rampage with such force it sent the mare flying into the top of the cage, bouncing off with it a clang.
Normally Rampage would dodge such a strike with ease, but it was no longer about fighting. In this state, she wanted to feel the blood lust, the enjoyment of giving pain, and the thrill of death. She stood motionless for a minute, Molly started counting down. But with a jolt of joy, she jumped to her hooves like a skipping filly. “Not done yet mate.”
Cracking a few bones back into place Rampage then begin trotting up to a confused Torr. “Let’s try that again.” She rushed again, and he swung again. Normally one hit from Torr would end a pony but this mare was a whole other case.
She got up again, cracked a few more bones back, and skipped over to the buck. “Come on big oaf. Gimme your best shot.” Mockingly pointing to her chin wanting the stallion to hit her. “I won’t even fight back.”
“You make fun of Torr.” The piss yellow pony was getting angry, clearly not taking well to her jokes. “Me break you!” With an angry huff the pony spun around, and buck with such force it created wind pressure. when it connected with Rampage’s face the mare’s head snap back to the point she was looking at her back. She was sent flying smashing into the cage bars again.
Sounds of cheers, boos, with some mixed worry spread through the audience. Molly seemed a bit disappointed in the fight. “ Well hon, seems like your friend’s boasts were the end of her.” She looked at the alicorn. “Shame, I expected more out of her.”
Lacunae wasn't paying attention, only looking on with concern, but not for her friend.
Torr waved at the crowd happily, another win for the ringing champ. He didn’t like killing ponies but sometimes he didn’t know his own strength. He was soaking in all the praise when suddenly it stopped, replaced by gasps from the crowd. When he looked around to see what the deal was his eyes upon the sight of the striped mare getting back on her hooves.
Even with her head bent, even with one of her legs broken, and bleeding from the eyes, she got back on her hooves. She sat on her haunches, using both forehooves she grabbed her head, with a sickening slow turn she broke her head back into place, screaming while laughing at the same time.
The audience was left speechless, for a packed room it fell dead silent outside a few whispers. Even Molly was completely dumbfounded at what she saw. With one last crack Rampage moved her broken leg back into place. “Time to chop chop.”
With athletic speed, she darted towards Torr before he could react. Diving under his legs and landing right between his midsection. Torr tried to move but Rampage was faster, with a brutal buck she kicked him directly in the stomach. To every pony’s surprise in the theater, Torr was sent flying like so many ponies he fought.
He crashed into the bars hard enough they bent from the extreme force. He fell to the stage in a coughing fit, Rampage was already on him. Grabbing his left forehoof with both of hers’ she pulled. The buck tried to get to his hooves, tried to fight back, tried to stop coughing but couldn’t. The demon mare kept pulling and pulling until finally a sudden jerk to the right caused the limb to snap.
Torr roared in pain but his attacker wasn’t finished. rushing to his midsection, she begin delivering a series of beatings to the down giant. His rib cage crack, his organs broke, he began vomiting with blood mixed in.
“Come on! Come on!” she laughed like a mad mare. “I hear the pain, the screaming, and I want more!”
Finally, a hit piercer his stomach, its contents gushing out like a fountain. But this didn’t stop the mad rage of the striped mare as she kept beating him.
Lacunae had enough. Arloste stop! Repress her now!
Rampage stopped mid-punch, her eyes going wide as she fell back on her haunches. For a solid minute, she froze like a statue, eyes slowly changing back to their pink hue. Rampage put a hoof to her head as she dazedly looked around. “Sorry Luu, I, I shouldn’t have let her out.”
Arloste you could have hurt ponies if you let go too much! If you had escaped that cage what would stop you from going on a killing spree?! Lacunae’s thoughts were an ocean of anger, her stoic face barely holding back the disappointment she felt. Arloste Brown, don’t do that again understand me?
Rampage nodded, looking around confused but then placing her hoof in the air, her victory achieved. The crowd yelled chanting the name of the new champion of Dise. "Rampage, Rampage, Rampage.” Noncare about the fact she just beat her opponent half to death, or her violet blood lust she gave into, no for them that was the fight of their lives.
Molly gawked at the display, clapping her hooves together in a pleased manner. “My, my, your friend lives up to the rumors.” She reached over and grabbed the mic off the table.“Well gentle colt and fillies, with flying colors I announce our new champion, Rampage!” The striped mare seemed to hang her head in shame despite the roars of praise from the crowd. “Bet chits can be cashed in at the Box office in the back of the theatre, the next fight is between THE Batmane and Crazy Thunderhoof Facecracker at Eight AM. Be sure to come early for the best seat! In the mean time feel free to enjoy our many amenities. The White Tie restaurant is open until midnight, and of course the buffet is open 24/7.”
Rampage wasn’t listening, she just started looking for the cage’s exit in shame.