It was noon of the third day at the court of King Bucko Bigbones, time for the Fighting challenge. Spectators were packed tight around the arena; others sat on the hillside or climbed trees. However, there was no air of festive gaiety. This was serious business, the outcome would decide which hare picked up the crown. The high bright sun presided over a silent and solemn crowd. A furtive whisper rustled about Bucko and his seconds as they made their way to the ring through the path which fell open before them.

The mountain hare had drunk 32 cups of coffee that morning so he wouldn't fall asleep again and now he was all hyper. He took the log barrier at a bound, leaping right into the center of the arena. There was so much caffeine coursing through his bloodstream that he couldn't stand still. He was hopping about from foot to foot as he waited for Dotti.

Dotti entered the arena calmly, clad in a simple green tunic. She sat down on the opposite side of the ring, scarcely giving Bucko a glance.

Trotting to the center of the ring, the zebra started to give her preamble.

"Good creatures, attend me! Today is the day-"

Bucko cut her short. "Och, awa' with it an' stop wearin' yer auld stripes oot. We ken the rules as guid as anybeast here. Let's get on wi' it!"

A roar of approval arose as the pompous zebra fled the ring.

Bucko stared at Dotti and clenched his big left paw. "Ye've brought this on yersel', missy. Ah'll be fair grieved tae lay ye oot flat- ah've no' raised mah paw tae a lassie afore. Ah promise not tae hit ye too hard."

Dotti moved a little closer to him. "Thankee, sah, an' I promise not t'let you hit me at all. Now, do we stand here jaw waggin' all afternoon, or shall we get on with it? What d'you say, eh?"

Bucko's vision was so blurry that he saw two Dotties in front of him. He decided to swing at the one on the right. His fist hit thin air as Dotti kicked his footpaws from under him. The crowd roared aloud.

"Ha-ha, did y'see that? She sat him down good 'n' hard!"

"Aye, an' without even landin' a proper blow. Ho, ho, ho!"

Bucko scrambled upright, flicking dust from his scut, and went after the haremaid like a charging bull. This time he aimed for the image on the left, but he missed again, and his momentum carried him down to the ground. He went ears over scut, landing on his back in a cloud of dust.

He arose, but not so speedily this time, blood dripping from his nose. They faced each other, Dotti breathing hard, but Bucko breathing harder. His eyes were red with wrath.

"Stan' an' fight me, ye wee whelp!"

"I'm not going anywhere," Dotti said.

Bucko lashed out with a surprisingly quick left paw. Dotti dropped into a crouch, hearing it whistle overhead. She whacked at the stomach protruding in front of her. Bucko's flailing right thudded against the side of her head. Stars exploded in her eyes, and the crowd noise suddenly seemed very distant. Bucko's left looped around her head and tightened on her neck.

Roaring darkness filled Dotti's brain as the breath was cut off in her throat by Bucko's grip. Dimly she could hear Commander Hurricane bellowing, "The old bread basket, miss! Give it him in the basket!"

Dotti knew what she meant. Swinging her right furiously, she pummeled the king's stomach, and as he gasped she slid out of his stranglehold. She found herself facing his back, and shoved hard, knocking Bucko face-down.

He struggled up, spitting earth and wiping dust from both eyes. Lowering his head for a vicious butt, he hurtled forward. Dazed as she was, Dotti knew she had to act quickly. Holding position, the haremaid sucked in her stomach and arched her back. The mountain hare's bowed head struck her fractionally, jarring her hip. Clenching both paws, she brought them down in a sharp double blow on the back of Bucko's neck.

Once! Twice!

Still bent double, Bucko carried on another three paces, staggering crazily. Then he crumpled and fell.

A deathly hush fell over the crowd. Dotti walked across and stood over the fallen king. A voice from the crowd split the silence.

"Finish him off!"

Dotti turned and glared in the direction of the shout. "Why don't you try it yourself? Come on! This hare is a brave fighter. He could still finish you off from wherever he lies, whoever you are!"

Bending wearily, she tried to lift Bucko, but she collapsed with fatigue alongside him. The mountain hare opened one eye and gave her a battered smile.

"Mah thanks to ye for that, lassie. 'Twas weel said!"

They sat sharing a pail of water from a ladle, the victor and the vanquished. Brocktree and Celestia positioned themselves behind the pair, stopping the numerous paws and hooves trying to pat their backs.

"Well done! What a sooper doper scrap, wot!" exclaimed Fleetscut.

"You're the victoryfullest hare I've ever seen, Dotti!" Chancellor Puddinghead gushed.

"Ah knew ya could do it," said Cookie.

"And I'm glad you didn't finish him off," said Pansy.

Commander Hurricane said nonchalantly, "Pssh, I could have done that." When the other ponies glared at her, she amended, "But you did a good job too."

The zebra pushed her way through, bearing the crown and scepter. Bucko placed a paw about Dotti's shoulder. "Ah'd take et if I were ye, Dorothea. Ye beat me fair 'n' square, lassie. Ah couldnae think o' anybeast more deservin' of mah title than ye. Och, yer a fatal beauty, so y'are!"

"And you, sah, are a valiant an' brave warrior!" She passed the crown and scepter to Lord Brocktree. "Here y'are, sah, crown an' thingummy. Don't rightly know what I'm supposed to do with the confounded things."

Bucko was taken aback. "Och, ye mean ye don't want mah croon an' scepter?"

Dotti shook her head. "No, not really. The plan wasn't for me to become queen or kingess or anythin' like that. No, we had a bigger idea, and one which we think will appeal to a great perilous warrior like y'self, sah! Don't you realize you've practically got a blinkin' great army here at your court, Buck?"

The former king shrugged ruefully. "Aye, 'twas mah intention that one day ah'd knock 'em intae shape as an army. Then ah could've found mah enemy an' marched against him with these braw beasts at mah back."

Celestia patted Bucko's shoulder. "Well, your time has come, sir. You can help us rally this crew into a great fighting force to follow us to Salamandastron and face Ungatt Trunn."

"Ungatt Trunn the wildcat? Haud on there, yon's the very foe ah'm bound tae fight an' slay!"

Luna gaped in surprise. "You're joking!"

"Ach, 'tis nae joke. Feel mah back."

The alicorn ran her hoof across the welted ridges of flesh beneath the fur of Bucko's back. "He did this?"

"Nay. Ungatt Trunn doesnae commit acts of violence himself, he only incites others tae violence. But the whippin' was carried out by a fox named Karangool, on Trunn's orders. Flogged me with the flat o' mah own sword 'til it breakit o'er mah back, an' drove mah hares from oor hame in the North Mountains. Karangool, och, there's a vermin wouldnae sleep easy if he knew Bucko Bigbones was still alive an' drawin' breath. The rogue thought he'd left me for dead, ye ken! Ah dinnae know where this Salamawotjimacallit place is, but ah'm goin' with ye."

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Dawn's first birds trilled to the rising sun, waking the dew scattered sleepers in the wide forest glade. Brocktree and the company of chieftains stood on a rock protruding from the hillside. The badger waited patiently until everybeast was standing grouped before him. Then, at his nod, Bucko took the fore.

"Hearken tae me, mah beasties. There's an auld hare here, who comes frae a mountain an' bears a message for all warriors. Ah've nae doubt ye'll listen to whit he has tae say. Judge for yerselves, ah'm nae langer yer king!"

Bucko stood back, allowing Fleetscut to come forward. The old hare held the crown in his paw. "Mount Salamandastron is where I come from, as most of you know, wot. I've been gone from there a while now, but I know for certain that any hares left alive on the mountain will be salves and prisoners of the wildcat Ungatt Trunn and his Blue Hordes!" He waited until the angry shouts died down. "Hah, I see that y'know the vermin, wot. When Bucko was king he intended to form you into an army to hunt Trunn down an' face him. Well, that still goes. Only difference is you won't be marchin' under a king; our leader is the rightful heir of Salamandastron, Brocktree!"

The beasts assembled clapped so much that the noise echoed so much that the sound was still heard after a minute or so. Then the Badger Lord's voice boomed like thunder about the glade, setting every creature's neck hairs on end.

"Friends! Warriors! Goodbeasts all! I am going to defeat the evil one, Ungatt Trunn. I am going to take back from him and his Hordes the mountain that is mine. Today, now! I march for Salamandastron! Those who would follow me, call out this war cry. Eulalia!"

The entire glade exploded in an earsplitting roar.

"Eulaliiiiaaaaaaa!"