I was awaken by a large thunderous booming in my ears. My heart followed its beat, and my pulse followed its radiating momentum. I didn't open my eyes, that is until someone kicked me in the ribs.
"Wake up sleepy Its your turn to be smashed". The speaker really needed a tic-tac, I was probably a meter away and i could smell rotten fish. I opened my eyes and tried to stand. The voice spoke again "arghh you lazy worm the crowd be waiting for you, wake up pony". He grabbed me, I felt another pair of hands grab my other arm. My surroundings were dim, I was blinded by a slowly growing light in front of me. I lifted my head to try and see my captor. I made out dirty green between the thick grey pelt. I looked ahead but there was only the growing light. I felt tired and tried to remember what he said.
"Something about being smashed". I felt tired, but one thing stuck to my brain. He said.....pony right?" My eyes opened I quickly checked my limbs only to be violently thrown into the light.
I fell. Hard. I did not realize it but there was also cheer with the loud drums. My eyes adjusted to the bright sun and my chest was still hurting from the throw. I wiped my face with my hand....hand.... A hard object punched my face. I opened my eyes to be faced with a grey hoof...hoof.... Holy crap! I was a pony! I smiled to myself but was interrupted by a blow horn. suddenly a loud voice was heard from above me.
"Welcome one and all to the Ponyville arena. Our original Nine contestants have been joined by a late comer, please welcome our final contestant." The crowd booed and hissed, I got the idea I was the final contestant. At this point my eye sight returned, I surveyed the arena. Metal wire coiled to the sky. the audience safely behind it sitting and eating the wire was too thick to make out any actual shape but the sun still managed to cut through the top.
"The round is starting in five seconds, fighters take to your circle. I looked behind me. the door had closed, the guard behind me gestured to the circle behind me. I quickly stood in it. "3.....2.....1 BEGIN" the area around me suddenly vanished. The piece of ground I was standing on rose to the sky. Below me the ground was set on fire. "good thing I got on". I saw the other contestants also rising.
In the middle of all of us was a large piece of land It looked like a destroyed city. The contestant right opposite me was easily a hundred meters away and I realized how big the arena was. A bridge extended us onto the island which was floating five meters off the ground, the audience cheered with joy. "The set is The city in flames. Surrounding our challengers is a fiery wasteland, the last five contestants remaining will be the winner"
I realized that all the other contestants had disappeared. I quickly went onto the island and tried to make sense of the situation. "Alright I'm in Ponyville, I am a pony. Right now I am fighting for my life against nine other fighters which only half of us will survive." I did not have long to think as an arrow whizzed past my ear. I ducked behind a large broken down building. I heard another arrow scrape the side.
I waited for a few seconds looking around. I noticed a box beside me. Scrabbling to open it I heard footsteps slowly approaching. My hoofs couldn't open it. The footsteps got closer. In desperation I kicked it with my back hooves. I opened but my attacker was right behind me. I spun around swinging my elbow into him. He keeled over in shocked and let out a surprised Oof. I grabbed the contents of the box with my mouth and ran.
I just kept running, through the fake city and away from whatever that was, until I felt safe. I settled hiding in a building. I finally looked at the contents of the box. It was greaves and shin guards. It also came with a sword and a sheathe. I uncomfortably and slowly tried to slip the armor over my legs. My back was covered by a leather cloak. The sheathe was buckled onto my front shoulder? I guessed it was my shoulder in pony anatomy.
"Hope this can stop arrows" I started thinking of all the arrow to the knee jokes when my thoughts were disrupted by a twig snap. "My senses are so refined". I felt my ear twitch facing behind me. I spun around and faced my attacker. It was a different one. Unlike the other one he did not have a bow or crossbow. It was a large grey beast with an equally large mace. I pulled out my sword with my mouth and it spoke.
"ay' It be one of 'em pony folk. I'm gonna crash you." I was about to correct his English when he swung it at my face. I ducked, the mace swiped into thin air. The creature was off balanced. I charged at him but the sword fell out of my mouth. " Crap, not used to holding it yet I improvised. Running to his side I used my powerful back hooves to launch my self into the air. I jumped onto a near by stand and jumped onto him. on my way down I slammed my front hoof into his face.
"Man I feel so Achilles right now." The creature stumbled and smashed his face into a nearby building. But the building collapsed. He looked at me with anger in his tiny eyes. "WRAGHHH" It charged at me screaming, my small success only made him angrier. I put my hooves above my head in a pathetic display to defend.
His roar was cut off. I heard a loud sound of him crashing. It went quiet. I looked up. He was lying on the floor sleeping like a baby. I turned around to see my savior. What I saw caused me to both be shocked and surprised.
"Come with me if you want to live" The figure vanished into a building, I was unable to catch who it was but it looked like Nightmare Moon. I trotted to the house it was hiding in and smiled at the terminator reference.
I could see a pony silhouette. I guessed it was twice the size of an actual pony but i haven't seen an actual pony. The figure was breathing slowly but silently watching through small cracks in the wall for attackers. "Who'ed be thou, and would thou be willing to fight in thy name." I was startled by her speaking manner. It was a mix of new English and old. "Could it actually be Luna?" My heart fluttered. Luna was my favorite pony.
"Luna?" I took a step forward confidently.
"I have not heard that name in a long time." She took a step forward. My heart almost dropped. She was wearing Nightmare Moon's armor.
"Nightmare Moon !" I got into a crouching position ready to strike. "Do not fear my subject." she cautiously took a step towards me. "That is my stage name. Now its no longer something feared. but loved." She spat the last word out in disgust. Seeing the pain on her face I calmed down. "What is going on Princess why are you fighting here."
She started to open her mouth when a loud crunch shook the whole house. A part of the roof caved in and the wall crumbled to the ground. I spun around and grabbed at my shoulder for my sword, my mouth bit into thin air "Shit I left it behind" I ran for cover. Our attacker. A large snake with a mace on the end of his tail smashed into another wall caving it in.
"Youu cannnottsss run foreverssss" The predator slithered into the house. The dim light shimmered on his skin and he flicked his mace like a chew toy. I searched around in panic. "Something to throw something to block... ANYTHING"
I almost screamed in frustration. "I canss ssensse ffear " He flicked his head to the upturned table i was hiding behind. I heard the mace fly through the air. I ducked and rolled facing the snake in full view. The snake smiled. at the last second he flicked his tail into me instead of the table. I turned around and held up my front hoof to block it. But it slammed into me throwing me out of the house. As I flew I saw Luna fire multiple beams of magic into the snake. I dodged effortlessly swinging its large body around laughing.
I tumbled outside. getting up I rushed into the house. Luna was still battling it. flying around firing beam after beam. the snake dodged or deflected it with his tail. "Issss that the bessst you can do?" He grabbed a table leg with his tail and flicked it at her. She fell to the ground and he slithered to her unconscious body. "Ssssuch a lovely fffeassst." His jaw unhinged and I took this opportunity to slam my hoof into his head. He reacted with speed. Biting into me with his fangs. I felt my body go numb.
He reflected to himself. "Although I replaccced ssssize with poisssson my bite Isss ssstronger than my barkssss" He smiled at his own joke. noticing the patterns on his back "Crap, its a diamond back rattle snake." Recalling what I had learned. "Bite causes paralysis internal bleeding an..... My mind slowly went to black. The snake went back to eating Luna.....Lun.......
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I awoke. The wound where the bite took place was throbbing, my head was throbbing. I rubbed it with my hoof. "Wait I was about to be eaten by a snake" I looked around in shock. realizing I was in the house my heart settled slightly. I looked around to see where Luna was. She was sitting by the window looking for more attacks. I looked at the bite mark. The Snake had tore through my shin guard with one fang. And the leather protecting my back with the other.My wounds had been tended to and I felt the pain leave my body.
"Princess?" I stood up slowly. the blood rushed to my brain and I fell back dazed. "Take your time." she told me, without raising her head. " The poison is still flushing out of your system." I looked at her "What about the snake and you wer-"
She interrupted. "I dealt with him while he was attacking you." she smiled. "It was very brave of you to try and help me." I felt my heart rise. "But a fools try." My heart sank. I interpreted that as it was a stupid thing to do. "However, I am happy to have such a loyal subject. however you should try to use your magic more often."
"What?" I suddenly remembered the horn on my head. "oh.. yea.....sorry" I looked at her sheepishly. She turned her head mt me confused. "Does thy not know how to use magic." I tried to think up of a logical explanation without revealing my world but nothing came out. She took a step towards me. I noticed her armor glimmer in the sunset. "you are a curious one." I felt my head flush. But our conversation was interrupted by a horn.
"Let us go. The round is over" she started walking towards the sun and I hobbled after. as I got nearer I saw old and new scars under her armor.
I followed Luna to the end of the arena. Gathering there we found ourselves to be the last to arrive. Two guards dressed in full armor approached us but they stood their distance from Luna. Obviously she wasn't one for chains. We were guided to a exit...that is until a dozen guards surrounded us.
A dozen lizards walking on two feet in light armor quickly surrounded us. Pointing sharp spears at us, they were expressionless. At least I couldn't see their face under the heavy mask. "And how do lizards smile anyway?". My thoughts were interrupted with a figure approaching us. It was a large crocodile feasting on some grapes in a very cliche way. Lying down on a couch with two very pained looking lizards underneath lugging him. He flicked the stems into the arena and got off his couch.
"Well if it isn't Luna. I was hoping one of my best soldiers could have at least torn a nice hole in your side." He sucked his scaly fingers. "After all his specialty was being a royal pain." He smiled at his sick joke. Luna looked as if she was about to leap on him and bury her hooves into his face. I remembered the Giant snake's arrogance was very much like his general.
The fat crocodile looked at her then at me. "Well it looks like you picked up a new friend in the arena. Nice meeting you, I am your leader and you are nothing but my slave. However, fine work in the arena, people are already asking for a name." I saw Luna frown at the word slave. Completely oblivious to the death stares Luna was throwing into his back he walked towards me.
"Well Unicorn lost for words? You need to be more confident, people are asking about you now so give them what they want and everyone is happy."I kept a straight face.
He turned his back and started strutting back to his couch. Jumping back on I felt the ground thunder and pitied the two lizards forced to carry him. "Oh well, time for lunch, I hope I see more of you boy, Unicorn magic can be interesting." He walked off followed by his team of guards.
I looked at Luna. She looked as if she was about to tear a whole in the ground. I nudged her on and we exited into the musty dungeon.
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I did not know how long I slept for. After coming back from the tournament we ate and went to bed. I was shown my living quarters. Not exactly the Hilton but it was spacious. The housepony explained to me that I was automatically bumped to a fighter status due to my win with the snake and my happy fans. I fell asleep almost immediately.
I was awaken the next morning by the smell of food. Wandering outside my room, I found another pony cooking something in a pot. "Well if it isn't the champion everyone talks about." The stallion gave me a toothy grin scooped a spoonful of something into my bowl using his mouth. "Well it isn't Kanterlot Castle but food is food." He slid the bowl across the table and I sat down. Using my hooves I clumsily picked it up only to drop it back on the table.
"Hands a bit shaky after the battle? Well we've all been there." He grinned again and sat down beside me. I stared at him completely embarrassed, I felt like a kid who didn't know how to eat. "Well then just use your magic, you gotta eat one way or another." He poked me in the horn. I stared even more embarrassed. He let out a sigh "Well I don't know how to use magic."
He seemed to take it completely fine. "Its alright then lemme give you something. " He clipped brace onto my hoof. There was a claw attached. "It runs on pony magic so you gotta think a little." he slipped on onto himself and showed me. Although it had only two fingers he expertly picked up the bowl and brought it to his mouth. " Shee Itsh eashy."
I tried it. Focusing real hard I expected some tingly sensation to happen. I kept telling myself grab the bowl grab the bowl. It seemed as it he could read my thoughts as he said. "Try thinking of closing the claws, instead of picking up the bowl."
I closed my eyes"Alright close the claw, close the claw." I opened my eyes. And the claw retracted to its original form. I felt exhausted. "Good job on your first try. Its never too late to learn magic." He went back to eating Instead on using the claw he used both his hooves to eat the rest of the Porridge. At this point I had decided it to be porridge. I brought my head down and drank it in a most ridiculous manner. Wiping my face I felt stronger. Realizing how empty the area was I turned to the cook who was washing our dishes. "Hey mister where is everypony?" He turned around and smiled.
"Well they are all training. I was tasked by our dear princess to train you. so clean up and meet me in the back in ten minutes." I walked back to my dorm to wash up. Behind me I heard him call. "By the way You can call me Three-legs."
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"Training?" I washed my face and headed to the designated room in the back. as I approached, the smell of sweat and metal burned my nose. sounds of wood and steel clashing rang in my ears backed up by valiant shouts and screams. As I entered through the thick wooden door the smell and sound escalated. Inside the large high ceiling room was about a dozen ponies fighting, sparring getting medical attention and so forth. I saw Three-legs in a corner polishing weapons and testing them. The moment he saw me his grin went back on his face.
"Well I hope ya feel better. I am not gonna go easy on you." he took a sheathed sword and flicked it over to me. Catching it with my mouth i clumsily slung it over my shoulders. Drawing it out i saw my own reflection in the blade. It was sharp but not very long. it seemed to be about a meter long for both the handle and the blade. gripping tightly with my teeth I tried a few swings. It wasn't easy. my jaws ached with a few strokes of the 3kg sword. "We are trying to make it lighter." he took it from me and tossed me a spear.
I grabbed it with my mouth. looking back at him I saw him dance and leap like old kung fu movies gracefully stabbing and slicing with his mouth. Slightly breathless he turned back to me. "alright lets teach you the basics. stab and slash." he stood a distance from me. swinging his head he turned and moved his legs to balance each slash.
"The key is foot work. as you slash you must never be off balance or you cant recover." He approached a pony mannequin and swung his head. quickly his feet instinctively danced with his strokes and he sliced a clean blow off the thick wood. The head bounced onto the ground. he turned to me. alright time for you to try. I gripped the 1.5 meter spear in my mouth. gripping tight I felt my teeth grind into the thick oak wood. Swinging I tried to imitate his feet while slashing. It was not easy. We practiced for the what felt like a whole year.
Finally I was able to take off the mannequins head in two strokes. I dropped to the ground. catching my breath He approached with a leather pouch filled with water. He bit off the cork and poured it into my mouth. "well you did better than most. anyway the next battle is in tow days and you are expected to be there with your name ." I stood up with a start.
"Two days? And what name? my name is Kevin!" He placed the cork back onto the pouch. "Well you see we are all given names in the arena. stage name. Like our dear princess took to her old name of Nightmare Moon. I became three legs after I lost one in a battle with that nasty timber wolf."
He tossed the pouch aside "But really my name is Inquisitor Driscoll Bridge. But you can call me three legs. He showed me his back leg. For once I got a clear look at it. It was a brass dirty brown color and every few minutes steam would hiss softly from a exhaust pipe. It had a cylinder and all kinds of strange sockets on it. He quickly hid it back. "I was an engineer back before all of this." He looked at his leg. "Took so many scientists to learn how to harness the power of steam" He looked at his leg sorrowfully "Funny how I became its first tester."
I began to inquire about what happened before this before he cut me off. "Well soldier we don't have long, and I still have to teach you to stab." He tossed the spear at me and our training resumed. Dusk settled soon. exhausted Three-legs had to carry me back. the other ponies were eating around the fire place so me and Three-legs sat at in the corner trying to decide on a name.
"How about the Grey bolt?"
"Nah, too much reference to the wonder bolts"
"How about the grey magician ?"
"Nope kinda cliche and not very inventive."
"The grey knight?"
"Are you even trying?"
We smiled and ate our food. the other ponies soon went into their rooms and fell soon fell asleep. I leaned against the wall. Full, Three-legs took my bowl and started throwing them into the sink. He turned to me" By the way, Princess Luna wanted to see you." He smiled at me. "Gotta little surprise for you. "
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I made my way to her room. It wasn't hard to miss. On the outside was a crescent moon that lighted up the dim hallway. I knocked on the door. Inside I heard a muffle sound that kinda sounded like come in. I opened the door to be greeted with Princess Luna not in her armor. She looked calm and kinda child like without her scary Nightmare Moon armor on. She was over by the table staring intently at some pictures.
As I approached she looked up but did not smile. "Ah it be that brave yet crazy grey stallion that risked his life for me." I did not know whether to be happy or depressed. A small smile crept on her face. "Do not fret my subject I was merely teasing." She went back to the board mumbling something about ponies. I took a step forward. "Princess you wanted to see me?" She turned to face me. "Oh yes, silly me I almost had forgotten. You can drop the Princess. only Three-legs feel the need to."
Her face became serious. She took a step closer to me. I felt the aura of the princess bear on me. "There was something that confused me. During our last fight you were wearing a leather cloak were you not?" I looked questionably "Well yea I gues-" She interrupted me "And have you taken it off?" I realized that same cloak had been on me the whole time. I raised an eyebrow. "Yes prin- I mean yes Luna Why?"
She took another step towards me. the pressure of magic increased to the point where I felt my knees slightly shake. she went passed my neck and pulled the cloak off. I closed my eyes as a flurry of brown cloak went over my face. spinning clumsily I fell on my bottom. Looking back at her she was levitating a mirror. And on the mirror and on my back. was two dainty grey wings.