Tales from the Equestrian Arena
Chapter Four
The cavernous halls under the arena floor seemed to wind forever, especially for new recruits. Blood remembered his first steps into the 'catacombs' and the terror that came with. The shadows used to taunt him, shapeless figures would speak in familiar, yet unknown voices. Now he walked them fearlessly, knowing the only thing hiding in wait were only memories. His gaze caught a silhouette coming towards him.
Blood paused in the hall, curious who else was down here. The silhouette moved closer, but it's steps were silent. The shadowed being moved ever closer. Finally it was within sight, and Blood watched as the stallion trotted past him. The stallion's sight was solid, not even glancing at the other pony he passed. His armor was thick, his helmet fully concealing his face. The only feature was the long horn protruding from the helmet.
As the unicorn stallion passed Blood, his eyes caught the strange weapons resting on the warrior's hips. They looked like miniature cross bows but with some kind of attachment resting on the shaft. His curiosity was sated however as he continued through the catacombs to the stands. If that pony was going where Blood thought he was going, many questions were about to be answered.
Jaque awoke from his comfortable bed and made a note to remember this inn should his business plan succeed. The beds were so much better than the spring mattresses he was so often forced to sleep on. His thoughts drifted for a moment as he sat on the edge of his bed staring out the window.
"I wonder how the little guy is holding up... Bah I'm sure he is fine, hasn't lost a fight yet!" Jaque chuckled as he threw on a ragged jacket, not very classy looking for the area but it was his lucky jacket.
The slender stallion embarked on his day's journey through the city, in hopes of meeting more ponies of note. The better name he built for himself, the better chances he had if the princesses passed his offer right? After a brief walk around the block, he ran into a familiar face. Literally ran into her as she blindly smashed a pile of tailoring supplies and a magic field into him
"Oh my, I am terribly sorry sir. Are you alri... Jaque?" The mares voice resounded in his head.
"Ooohh my head..."
"Jaque, are you okay? I know I bought a lot of fabric but I did not think it would be quite that heavy"
"Oh... no, it is... quite alright Rarity... I just have... adverse reactions to... magic... is all..." Jaque gathered himself and stood woozily, attempting to steady himself. "A rather... impairing defect to my nature... Small spells have little to no effect, it's the big stuff that really... well, you saw first hand."
"Some kind of allergen maybe? Sounds simply tragic" Rarity voiced her concern.
"Oh no, call it a weak... resistance so to speak. It runs in my blood I'm afraid, most of my family considers it a curse"
"A curse? From what, or by whom?"
"Well, it is a rather interesting tale but I would rather not keep you away from your apparent business" Jaque explained, eyes scanning the cloth and string spilled around them.
"Oh no, it's quite alright. This is just restocking, please. I am quite interested in this curse of yours"
"Well then, perhaps I can tell you the story over breakfast" Jaque smiled.
"Sir Jaque! Are you suggesting a date!?" Rarity was shocked, but quickly recovered when Jaque responded.
"Just a morning of swapping stories my dear, strictly on a friendly level"
"Well... In that case, I would certainly enjoy hearing your tale, just let me drop off my supplies." The white unicorn smiled as she gathered up her supplies.
"Forgive me if I do not help a kind mare like yourself" Jaque backed away as the fabric lifted into the air.
"Not a problem, you can make it up to me by meeting me here in an hour" Rarity spoke, still smiling as she walked away. She turned her head and with a wink said "And Sir Jaque, a gentlecolt like yourself just may have made me say yes. Regardless of friendship"
Jaque smiled as he watched Rarity walk away, trying to force the red in his cheeks to go away. He sighed as he turned around to continue his walk, thinking to himself of the other curse his bloodline was said to hold. Yes, his blood held a significant weakness to any magic, but his family always had a certain weakness to a mares smile. Jaque sighed once more as he walked down the street.
The armored unicorn waited behind the gates, listening to the roaring crowd behind the giant wooden barrier. With a deep breath, he sighed into the ground. With so much riding on victory, the pressure of the arena can be a heavy burden. He refit his hoofplates into a comfortable position, then pulled each crossbow from it's holster. After checking the cartridge of bolts, ensuring they were fully prepared to go, the unicorn then knelt down.
"Forgive me of my sins" He muttered in soft prayer as the noise of grinding gears surrounded him. Dim light cracked into his chamber as he holstered both crossbows, and with a slight chuckle he spoke.
"{Showtime...}"
The dark green armor of the unicorn gleamed as the sun reflected off the metal plating. The unicorn scanned the arena, memorizing the layout. Light magic illuminated the floor from the night sky's darkness. The gates across the floor opened, revealing a pack of canine creatures. He smirked, and knelt his head for battle.
The pack of timberwolves split apart as the alpha of the captured pack stepped to the lead. The alpha stared down the unicorn across the floor with eyes of bloodlust and hunger. A howl signaled his pack to spread out to surround the unicorn. The unicorn stood his ground and watched as they advanced on his position. The alpha growled into the ground for a moment, glancing at his pack mates. With a ferocious roar, he signaled the pounce.
Three timber wolves charged the unicorn from all sides, but met nothing but the heads of their brothers. One rose his head to sniff the air, curious as to where it's prey had gone. It almost picked up a scent when... SNAP!
The unicorn kicked as hard as he could from the air above, crashing down on one of the wolves below him. The other wolves responded with snapping teeth and gnarls as they pounced once again, the unicorn dodged bite and claw retaliating with hoof and buck for each shot given. One wolf managed a bite on his rear left thigh, his armor ate the bite. Another wolf went for the neck of the unicorn but was fiercely rewarded with a blast of blue magic.
The wolf was blown back to the paws of the alpha in a cloud of blue smoke. The unicorn stared up through his helmet, grinning as the alpha growled. The remaining wolves gathered around the alpha, and the woodwork from each separated and scattered. Each wooden limb rose in the air and gathered around the alpha. The coagulated mess of leaf and wood formed into that of a giant timberwolf, it's roar filled the arena with terror.
Sharp quills from it's back shot towards the sky, almost taking out the unicorns casting the light. The light giving casters retreated for their safety, leaving the Alpha and the unicorn warrior alone... in the dark...
Reaching for his crossbows, the unicorn charged his horn. The charge was feint, but the spell was priceless. Enhancing his eyesight, he again scanned the black field of battle. The hulking monster of nature skulked around in the darkness, but the unicorn was prepared for the worst.
A wooden quill shot through the darkness, the unicorn knocked it from the air with a bolt. Two more shot and two more bolts received them. The unicorn listened in the darkness, when he heard several spitting noises come his way. He rolled to the side as he heard the quills stab into the ground where he was once standing. Once again he closed his eyes and listened. Several more spitting sounds shot through the darkness, to which he rolled away again. Rather than steadying himself, he landed on his belly raising both crossbows into the air. Pulling both triggers, a volley of bolts rained into the darkness. A loud yelp signaled a hit. The unicorn stood.
Blood stepped out onto the stands, followed by Whitney. They stared at the arena, clouded in darkness. Whitney looked at Blood who was still watching the arena. She noted his eyes scanning the field, could he see whats going on down there? A loud yelp shot through the air, followed by several loud thuds. The things breathing was so intense, she thought. Who was fighting and against what?
The unicorn stepped into the thick of the darkness, still using his magic to see. He spotted his prey, cowering in the dark. He easily spotted three bolts that hit, both eyes and once closing the jaw. The others were in mixed places of the back or scattered on the ground. Checking his crossbows, he pulled one with three bolts left in the cartridge. He ran a hoof down the creatures jaw line, caressing in a gentle hold as he pulled the crossbow to it's skull. In a swift moment, the creature's heavy breathing was silenced.
Using his own magic, he illuminated the area around him. Everyone in the arena, pony and griffon alike saw the armored unicorn stand victorious over the beast. Nopony bothered to ask who this warrior was, they all seemed so caught up in the fight and excitement. Even Blood nodded in respect to the unicorn's skill, even hoped to be pit against him some time.