//------------------------------//
// First Jumper, Last Jumper 
// Story: Don't Be Afraid 
// by Metal Fight Maru 
//------------------------------//

I’m the last one to jump. Hooray. Now Armour and Mac probably think I’m a wuss. Perfect.
All of us initiates follow Armour to a strange room with what looks like a fighting ring in the center. AJ turns to me and says,
“Now this... this is what I came here for.” She has an eager grin and she’s rubbing her hands together like she’s plotting something evil. I can’t help but chuckle. 
“Be careful,” I say, teasing her. “You’ve already been injured twice and we haven’t even started initiation yet!” It’s true. AJ has a pink mark across her temple from landing on the rope after the jump in a wrong way, and her nose is crusted with dry blood from hitting that brick wall. 
And she’s still standing, I think. I can’t help but admire her for it. 
“Ok! We’re gonna start fighting now!” Armour announces.
“First jumper!” Applejack saunters up to the ring.
“Last jumper!” Crap.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Last jumper!” Twilight walks up, shaking, and I suddenly don’t know what to do. Hit her? Let her makes the first move? 
My question is answered when I feel a fist hit my cheek. 
Didn’t know Twi had it in her to punch like that. I think.
“Oh so that’s how it’s gonna be?” I ask, raising my fist. I hit her square on the temple, and the fight is over. I’ve won. I’m so proud that I almost smile. But then I see Twilight on the floor. I don’t think she’ll be getting up anytime soon. It's then I can feel the vomit rising.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My head hurts. I’m laying on the floor of the fighting ring. I look around to find AJ, and she’s turned around, throwing up. Neither Armour nor Mac are helping her. Then, I remember the fight. It must have only been a minute ago, because I can still feel blood running from my forehead.
AJ punched me.
I punched her.
At least she’s ok. I think. Why is she vomiting? I didn’t hit her that hard. Did I? 
“AJ, Twilight, get up.” Someone says. I look up. Mac is speaking. He doesn’t offer a hand to either of us.
“Wha... huh?” I say. I hear AJ sputter and then she turns around, wiping her mouth. She shoots me an unreadable look, and stalks off the platform. I slowly stand up and walk after her as two new fighters begin to circle.
“What was that?” I snap. She whirls around. 
“What was what? You swung first.”
“But I didn’t hit as hard as you did. Did you not see me black out?”
“Of course I did! That’s why I was throwing up.”
“Oh. I--uhm-- sorry.” I stuttered.
“I don’t care.” She says. I begin to feel worried, but then the feeling resolves and is replaced with anger.
“You know what?” I say, “I’m actually not sorry. That’s what we were supposed to do, and you’re the one who took it too far!”
She went silent and looked very sorrowful. Sensing that our conversation was over, I stormed away to meet some new people. I’m not going to be treated like I was back in Erudite in my refuge.