Fluttershy walked in thoughtful silence, save for Lord Threx’s earth-shaking steps and prideful words that the pegasus pretended to hear, as the duo traversed over an inclined grassy plain and approached the large and imposing structure held up by a rock formation.
“I must say, you have a very particular name,” Threx dropped during their traversal. “Fluttershy. Hmm. Well, it won’t earn us a preferable reaction from the crowd, but we can cross that bridge once we make a proper alias for you in the arena.”
“Proper alias…” Fluttershy’s hesitant comment earned a rumbling chuckle from Threx’s throat.
“Of course. Having the crowd chant ‘Fluttershy’ repeatedly during the arena’s events doesn’t sound too fearsome. Actually, I’m confident that you’d become a laughing stock with that name, and we can’t have that. We need something that strikes directly at their hearts and screams, ‘Hello, everyone! I’m a fighter and here to kill for your amusement today!’ Ohoho~ Yes.”
As Threx continued to ramble on and on, Fluttershy reflected on her current situation while pretending to hear the tyrannosaur’s words.
A proper alias. Craglorn had mentioned something along those lines several times before, during the ape’s many ramblings about the arena. That was the most horrible thing about those who resided on Cragg’s Island; they thoroughly enjoyed these barbaric acts.
The clipped pegasus wasn’t ignorant of the arena’s concept. Her talks with Iron Will shed some light upon Minos’ minotaurs and how gladiatorial events were held for a multitude of reasons. In fact, the pegasi were no different during the time of the three warring tribes as they had similar events held within Cloudsdale’s Cloudeseum.
Of course, the pegasi had long since changed their ways, and although Cloudeseum still hosted events to test one’s physical capabilities in modern times, it was nowhere near the brutal conflicts of the distant past.
But now, in the penultimate twist of fate, the old traditions of Cloudsdale would rear their ugly head - here, on this island. And to Fluttershy’s absolute displeasure, she would be forced to commit such atrocities, like the pegasi of old.
Fluttershy needed to find a way out of there. Despite them beating her down and clipping her wings, she refused to give in. Patience would provide an opportunity; that’s all she needed. But even so, she couldn’t help but feel like there was more to their tactics in this...conditioning.
In addition, and at the very back of the pegasus’s mind, something festered there that she never thought she’d ever be capable of harboring. It was faint at first, but as her captors continued to treat her like she was absolutely nothing, a feeling - a desire, grew.
Revenge.
She wanted to make them feel the same pain she felt. She wanted to inflict upon them what they did to her tenfold. She hated them! She hated all of this! She-!
And it was at that moment that the pegasus’s eyes widened in realization, Threx’s voice still playing out in the background as they were moments from standing before a large stone incline with stone railings that allowed one access to an upper district of the vast structure.
Was that their plan? To turn her into some spiteful- no! She wouldn’t give them that satisfaction. The very thought of doing such a thing made her want to wretch - it was entirely against all she stood for.
And yet, it was there… The seed had been planted, and despite her best efforts, its roots were taking hold. Slowly, but to her horror, surely.
“And here we are, Fluttershy,” Threx chirped as his massive steps stopped alongside the pegasus, who took a moment to absorb the structure from up close.
A small guards tower with another one of those mountable turrets resting on top, a wooden sign, and the obstructed visage of another turret’s barrel placed on a higher elevation is what immediately stuck out to the pegasus.
The secure gateway at the top of the incline parted, its double reinforced wooden doors retracting inwardly and mildly scraping against their stone doorframe, which was etched into the larger building to the right.
A familiar female presence of dark-brown fur with patches of white donned in brown-orange chitin armor exits the structure before looking down the incline and at the duo with glee. The individual is a member of the slimmer and shorter variant of gigantopithecus, her frame practically radiating agility and swiftness.
Craglorn.
Craglorn rests her hands on her hips. “Ah! Lord Threx!” Craglorn’s voice caused Fluttershy’s ears to flicker in response. It was higher pitched than any other female gigantopithecus she’s ever met in this place. “I see you’ve finally met our equus-shaped dodo.”
“She truly is a unique equus,” Threx responds. “That being said, see to it that she gets a more fitting name. ‘Fluttershy’ just makes me want to gag myself the more I think about it,” Threx quickly shot the pegasus a glance, “No offense,” He turned away, meeting Craglorn’s gaze again.
“Now then, Craglorn, are the others getting prepared for our upcoming events?”
“They sure are!” Craglorn gave a saluting gesture. “The other combatants are out in the training grounds as we speak. I’m also glad to report that there have been no escape attempts, well,” She points to Fluttershy, “‘cept for that one. Remember that time she tried to kill herself just to escape? Have to say, I was pretty impressed.”
“Myes, quite. That was how you discovered that she can respawn and send items away to her inventory.” Threx sighs. “How tiresome.”
“She’s just like me and the others, my lord.” Craglorn steps forth and begins to traverse down the incline. “But I’ve long since cleared out her inventory. Also, we have her pteranodon mount tucked away nice and easy.”
Threx nods before lowering his head and resting a side gaze upon the yellow mare. “You should really try it at least once, Fluttershy. I truly do think you’d enjoy yourself in the arena, so please, put these foolish ambitions of escape to rest.”
The dinosaur carefully stepped over the equine, tail swaying while he hummed a tune. “It’s been an absolute prime meat of a time, but I must be off. Busy, busy, busy. And I must meet with some invaluable clientele from the Red Gathering.”
“Red…Gathering?” Fluttershy inquired.
“It’s a gathering place and supermarket of the island’s bountiful outcasts, pirates, and not-so-friendly tribes like us,” Craglorn answered, joining the duo on ground level as her chitin boots planted themselves on the grass. “There’s a huge compound built beneath the Red Obelisk, thus the Red part of the name.”
Fluttershy nodded in understanding. Sweet Celestia…it was worse than she thought.
“Well put, Craglorn,” Threx commended. “Oh, would you be a dear and give our latest recruit - yes - a tour? I think that would be very beneficial before showing her to the other fighters, and I can think of no one better for the role than your capable hands.”
“Already on the criteria, big guy,” She winks, giving him a thumbs up.
“Delightful!” Threx celebrated as he raised his torso and spread his arms apart. He then turns in place and walks away from the mammalians, shaking the earth as Craglorn waves off his departure.
“Oh, and, Fluttershy?” Threx called out in the short distance, looking back.
“Y-yes?”
“I meant what I said before.” The dinosaur’s slitted gaze narrows and dilates as if daring her to try something, “Do not try to escape again. I can promise that it will not end well for you or this ‘Tribe of Harmony’ you come from.”
The effects of Threx’s words were immediate as Fluttershy’s eyes widened in fear with a low gasp. He knew. They all knew. And the dinosaur seemed to be satisfied with this as he turned away and resumed his stroll, his enormous frame distancing itself with every step he took.
“Surprised?” Craglorn questioned, standing alongside the equine with crossed arms, garnering their fearful attention. “You shouldn’t be. After all, we do have these handy identifications within our implants to thank.” To emphasize her point, Craglorn lifts her left hand and turns it in place to show off the diamond-shaped implant present on her forearm.
“It’s amazing what information you can get from someone else’s implant with a little know-how.” She abruptly clasps her hands together, startling Fluttershy and drawing the equine out of the innumerable emotions flowing through them.
“So, about that tour? Actually, instead of just showing you the arena, I’ll show you all of what Cragg’s Island has to offer. After all...it’s named in my family’s honor.”