//------------------------------// // Chapter 5. // Story: Neutrality // by Debonair //------------------------------// The Alpha, whistled for his pack, the two along with seventeen more stood by his side. "Whahahaha," Rarity screamed. "Diamond dogs, there's so many of them," "Ya'll can't take 'em on yer own." "Don't worry, if I know anything about Werewolves is they they are honourable," All I wielded was the Lancer a blunt weapon one foot wide, and four feet long. Though I never personally got along with Lance, I always admired his way of treating his opponents as if they were greater than him. "Not many know what we really are," "So you can drop the charade, Loup-Garou." "Ah a fellow Frenchman."The Alpha's body twisted and turned as his bones snapped back into place. His fur receded into his skin and his muzzle shrunk to a human face. He stood six feet tall, his long blonde hair dangled to his waist as did mine. "We had decided to take on our bestial forms," "So not to be hunted by the new natives." "Wait a moment." The Alpha sniffed at the air. "You are not entirely human are you?" He stepped closer and took in another huff of my scent. "You reek of something else entirely, am I correct in these assumptions?" "You could say that," "Well back to the matter at hand, our agreement, shall it be a friendly duel, or one to the death?" "I owe debt to none and none is owed to me." "A friendly duel of points. Swordplay, or clashing of blades?" "It is your challenge, therefore I choose the way of battle." "Correct," "Clashing of blades." "Bon chance, Monsieur." "What happened to that Diamond dog?" Fluttershy asked Twilight. "What did he call it?" Twilight wondered. "A Loup-garou, it's French for Werewolf," Rarity explains. "But I thought they could only transform under the light of a full moon." "Do you see their pendants Darling, those are very rare gems called Lunar Diamonds, legends say that Lunar Diamonds have extensive healing properties because they fall from the moon every so often. They also say that they have strange effects on Werewolves and Vamponies. I've been wanting to get my hooves on such a treasure but like I said very rare." "Your pony has quite the eye for gems." "No not her," Three of the pack members hid behind a large monolith. "You must be the one," The Alpha kneeled down in front of her and took her chin in hand. "Vous êtes vraiment une rareté." She smiled her cheeks a slight shade of red. The Alpha stood and turned to me. "Shall we get started?" Fluttershy tugged at his leggings. "Please don't hurt Knight," "Do not worry timid one, no harm will be done, our weapons will be sheathed," He held his blade and tapped her head. "Did that hurt?" She shook her head. "No harm, no foul." He smiled revealing his fangs. "How many points?" "Five, deadlock rules." "Right." I held Lancelot's Lancer "What're deadlock rules?" "I know that one." Rainbow answered. "It's like hoofwrestling but with your whole body and a sword." "So first to five points wins?" Our blades clashed his Claymore against my Lancer, he put his weight into his slash catching me a little off guard, it had been three years prior that I had last deadlock dueled. His power was overwhelming and forced me to one knee. This angle gave me the edge I needed, I tilted my Lancer so his blade slid down and while he was off balance I swept it under his legs, and he dropped onto his rear end. "That's three points for me." I stood and helped the Alpha to his feet. "Why three points Rainbow?" "You score one point for winning one point for a hit and another if you leave your opponent open for a followup attack." "Oh I git it now, so all Shining needs is a win and a hit." "Right," This time I put all my weight behind my blade, strangely each individual blade weighed more than them all put together. The Lancer alone was twenty pounds, while The Dragonslayer weighed fifty. I'll never understand Merlin's enchantments. The Alpha was down on his knees but kept his blade steady. I took a page from Uncle Lionel's book and sprang over him, the Lancer caught his belt and threw him over my head and slammed him under the Lancer on the ground. "Sorry for that I got carried away." "You fight like Sir Lionel." "You know of Lionel?" I lift him onto his feet. "Of course he was the first pack leader." "I doubt that Lionel, would even speak with a werewolf. He was more of a cat person." "You have won fairly, now I will keep my word and send my pack away, as promised, and enter a life of servitude under you my liege." The Alpha kneeled before me and pledged loyalty. "Sir Clarvious Moonfang, pledges total loyalty, do with me what you wish." "Arise Clarvious, there is no need for formalities." I hold out my hand. "My apologies, Shining Knight, it has been many a year since I have met another honorable one, it is difficult to calm our instincts." "I owe to none, and none is owed to me, we are friends nothing more, Sir Moonfang." "You will not regret having me in your employ," He turned to his pack. "You three," "Yes Alpha," The cowards poked their heads out. "As punishment for disobeying my orders, you will do whatever she asks, until the sun rises once again." "But," "I am the Alpha, and you listen." "Yes Alpha," "Get away from me, ah oh, that's nice, you've had a manicure." They run their hands through her coat and mane. "Much better, and you've bathed. But you still lack manners, come I will teach you all how to be proper Gentlemen." "Yes Miss Rarity." The three hung their heads in defeat. "Anything you wish." "Well I'll have my work cut out for me, Twilight would you mind lending me Spike for the evening?" "I don't see why not if Spike's okay with it." "Now I have to ask, what were you doing down here?" "I had heard that the whereabouts of the map may be here." "The Map as in?" "Yes, the last crusade." "Now this one I know," Twilight was ecstatic that she knew something her friends didn't again. "Daring Do's Last Quest. The final book in the series," "I haven't read that one yet,"