Esmerelda jumped back from me as the shrill whistle sounded in her ear. I kept blowing for a few seconds after she left just out of pure shock. I ran out of breath after a few seconds and let the whistle fall out of my mouth.

“... What the buck was that?!” Esmerelda hissed.

“What the buck was that?!” I hissed at the exact same time. She blinked.

“What?” She asked blankly. “I’m doing what I came here to do! You!”

“... What the hell?! This better be some sort of joke Esmerelda!”

“Joke? Why should this be a joke?”

“Because you basically just made me have to use my rape whistle!”

“Oh, that’s what that was...” She tilted her head slightly. “But why would you blow it? I wasn’t raping you...”

“You were about to!”

“... Sharky, that would be sex. Not rape.”

“Really?! Did you ask me if I wanted it?!”

“... Don’t you? I was under the understanding that males always wanted sex.”

“What?!”

“Don’t they?”

“No!!”

“Well, do you want it now?”

“NO!!”

“And why not?!” Esmerelda pouted. “I paid too much money for you to not be in the mood!”

“Esmerelda, it’s not even that! You’re supposed to be my friend! Not my lover!” A small smile creeped onto Esmerelda’s face.

“I don’t see why I can’t be your lover... after all, you did just say it wasn’t your mood keeping me from what I want...” Esmerelda started trotting back over to me.

“Esmerelda, don’t you dare!” She ignored me and kept going until she was pressed against my chest. Her lower body right over mine.

“What’re you gonna do about it? You gonna risk hurting me to stop me?” She teased. I lifted her up with one arm and held her above my head.

“Nnope. I’ll just hold you here for four hours until you have to leave.”

“What?! No! You can’t!”

“Sorry Esmerelda, but I’m not rutting with you. It’s against my rules.”

“Rules?! What rules!”

“No sex before marriage.”

“... What?”

“Also no cheating on my marefriend.”

“You have a marefriend?”

“Well... technically not right now because I pushed the days back, b--”

“Then I’m ok with breaking only one rule!” Esmerelda cried as she flailed around, trying to get me to drop her.

“Esmerelda, why the heck are you even doing this?”

“Because I love you! I want this Sharky!” I groaned as I was forced to again go through flashbacks that reminded me of everything that I should have noticed.

“Of. Fucking. Course.”

“We can rut?!”

“What? No, I was talking to myself. Look, if you like me, you’re gonna have to get in line. I’ve got four other mares all trying to get me too.” Esmerelda frowned at me.

“Dragons don’t wait. Besides, I’m already here, saving you from being with a stranger. Where are these other girls?”

“They’re all stuck in Ponyville because they aren’t dragons that can fly all the way here by themselves! Also, only one of them even know I’m here.”

“Ha, not true! As soon as you joined the Arena news spread like a fire! Everypony knows it by now!”

“... Oh. Well they still can’t get here on their own.”

“Which makes them unreliable. I’m different, I can be anywhere you need anytime you need me! I can help you with whatever you need, be it a dragon ride...” Esmerelda threw me a seductive smile and started wiggling her flanks. “Or a pony ride...”

“Hmm... I see what you did there. Very clever, but no. You can’t talk me into breaking my rules so easily. Especially not when I can just lift you and end any chance you have of getting to me.” Esmerelda’s smile turned into a scowl.

“Look, I will rut you Sharky, one way or another. I’ve been waiting a thousand years for a suitable mortal like yourself! You aren’t going to stop me with a few stupid rules!” Esmerelda’s tail started flicking wildly. I assumed it had been out of anger, but her growing look of frustration told me different.

*flick flick flick*

“What the buck are you doing?”

“Can’t you smell how much I want you Sharky? Doesn’t it turn you on?” Esmerelda asked teasingly as she continued wiggling her tail. I frowned and thought for a few moments before I understood what she was doing.

“Oh! Ha, you’re trying to get me to smell pheromones or something like that! Heh, sorry Esmerelda, but I’m no pony. Humans can’t smell or be affected by things like that.” Esmerelda gritted her teeth and growled.

“No fair!” She grunted. She started hitting my arm. I didn’t blink.

“Sucks to suck I suppose.”

“You haven’t even let me suck you yet!” I rolled my eyes at her crude comment.

“Dammit! Why you no fuck magic dragon?! Struggling won’t help you. I don’t like not making you happy, but you know I won’t rut you.”

“W-why?! I gave up so much food to get here...” She sobbed. She went limp in my hand and I started to feel bad.

“Look, I’m sorry. I just can’t do it and live with myself knowing I broke my own vows.” I apologized. Esmerelda didn’t mean any harm with her actions, she just really liked me. She sniffled a little.

“Fine... can we at least hug for a while? I don’t want to have wasted all those gems for nothing...” I thought for a while before realizing there was no harm in her request.

“I don’t see why not. Just as long as we only hug.” Esmerelda smiled at me thankfully as I lowered her to the ground. She wrapped her forelegs around me and sighed contentedly. I draped an arm over her back and leaned back against my cell wall in relief.

“...” Esmerelda sighed. “This isn’t enough for me.” She wiggled out from under my arm. I gave her a wary glare.

“Don’t you dare try to jump on me again...” I warned. She grinned.

“I won’t, I promise...” She turned to the cell door. “Guards!” She shouted. I gave her a confused look.

“You’re going to leave?”

“Hee hee, did you really think I’d make it that easy?” I frowned. Guards appeared at the door in a matter of seconds.

“Is something the matter ma’am?”

“Yes, it seems the gladiator I paid for is resisting a little. Would you mind putting some restraints on him?”

“... You didn’t.” I muttered. The guards unlocked the door and brought some chains over to me. I glared at Esmerelda’s smiling face as the guards chained my arms behind my back. Then they broke out a few collar like chains and attached them to my neck and legs. They pulled my legs apart and attached the chains to little loops in the walls. Then they pulled my head back and attached my neck chain to another loop.

“Will that be all ma’am?” The guards asked. I seethed quietly. Esmerelda knew I wouldn’t fight the guards. She smiled warmly at them.

“Yes, this will be fine thanks...”

“Okay, have a good night.” The guards took their leave quickly.

“Oh, I will...” She whispered lustily. I strained against the chains a little to find that they only had a tiny bit of slack. Nothing that I could do anything with. Not only that, but since I was wearing a leather battle skirt and my legs were spread... It didn’t help my situation.

“Esmerelda, don’t do this!” I warned. She just giggled and trotted over to me slowly.

“You sure know how to keep a mare waiting Sharky. I guess that will make this extra pleasurable though...”

“Esmerelda, if you do this, it’ll be the last thing we ever do together.” I warned more sternly. Esmerelda paused.

“... What do you mean?”

“I mean if you make me do this then you can forget about being my friend. Let alone anything beyond that.”

“W-what?!”

“You heard me. You can have tonight, or you can wait and try to get me normally.” Esmerelda looked to be on the verge of tears.

“B-b-but... You’re right there! Waiting for me! I can reach out and touch it.... Don’t make me turn away from this! Please!” She begged. I shook my head.

“It’s tonight or forever. You may never get this chance again, and you may get it every night. At least we’ll be friends forever. If you take it this night, I’ll never be with you, even as a friend.” Esmerelda frantically looked back and forth between me and... another part of me.

“T-that’s not fair!” Esmerelda whined. She tapped her forehooves anxiously. “W-what if you like it? Then it’s technically not even rape!”

“Nice try, but no.” Esmerelda whined loudly.

“Ooooooohhhh.... Fine!” She barked. “If that’s how you feel... I won’t do it!” She ran to the corner of the cell and sat with her back against it. “I... I still need to have fun though!” She eased herself down slightly so that her rump raised a little. She spread her legs and her hoof came up, and I instantly knew what was going on.

“Oh uhh... C-could you l-leave?” I asked quickly. She shook her head.

“I can’t! I need this, you won’t help me, and if I change back to get to the privacy of my cave, I won’t be able to change back and do this! J-just look away!” I tried to turn my head to look away, but the collar restrained me too much. I settled on closing my eyes as tightly as I could.

“F-fine, just m-make it quick...” I muttered. I did my best to ignore the happy noises that started coming from Esmerelda’s side of the cell, but my body reacted a little differently. Esmerelda giggled.

“You s-still sure I can’t rut you?” She teased.

“Very sure! Just hurry up please!” I closed my eyes and focused all of my thoughts into not thinking. The paradox allowed me to calm myself down and totally ignore my surroundings. My body obeyed my commands and I was able to totally rid myself of any lust I had only moments ago. Then I made the mistake of opening my eyes again.

“Hee hee, couldn’t help but peek?” I instantly shut my eyes again and had to focus on the paradox once more. It was much harder to get myself under control this time. I didn’t even notice it, but soon enough blood started trickling down my shoulder a little. Esmerelda had gotten my blood pumping so much that my wound had decided to bleed again. It was only a few drops worth of blood though.

“You done?” I asked as I heard the noises come to a stop. I felt a soft kiss on my cheek. I opened my eyes and Esmerelda was next to me.

“Yes, I’m done. Thank you for keeping your control there, I know that would’ve only gone south had you not put me in my place.” She admitted. “I... I just like you so much... and it has been soooo long...”

“Don’t worry, I understand. I won’t hold tonight against you, just don’t do anything like this again.”

“I won’t I promise. I just lost control...”

“Again, it’s fine. Go now please, I still feel a little awkward.” Esmerelda nodded and called for the guards again. They undid my bindings and left without a word. I slept uneasily a few minutes later. I was haunted by the small noises I had heard from Esmerelda.

And a tinge of regret.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning I was awake when the guards came to get me. They tossed me my gladius without a word before escorting me to the arena. The gate opened and I was met with a blinding light again. I stepped onto the field and the gate slammed behind me. A mighty cheer rose up from the stands. I stepped back in surprise at the volume and gasped as I looked at the stands. They were full. Packed to bursting even.

“H-holy crap... Esmerelda was right... Everypony knows...” I mumbled.

“Meet our first fighter!” The king boomed. Obviously he was putting on a special show for the huge crowd. “You all know him, most of you love him, Sharky White! The hero of the Ponies! He has only one kill in the Arena thus far! He’s looking to prove himself a true hero, but can his competition stop him?” A huge ‘no’ rang out from the crowd.

“Wow.” I muttered again.

“Our second fighter, weighing in at 55 pounds of pure beat-down, Petra the Blind! She has a defeat count of 23 and a kill count of 3!” He cheered. The second gate opened to reveal a solid green earth pony with a brown mane. I couldn’t tell from here, but from the name ‘Petra’ I guessed it was a mare. She had a white cloth wrapped around her eyes. “She’s only here to kick flank and get money! ... And she already has her money...”

“Now, FIGHT!!” The king boomed.

“Wow, she’s really blind...” I muttered. I wondered to myself how a blind earth pony could be a threat to me. I started to approach her cautiously, wary of any tricks she might pull. Her sightless gaze seemed to be locked on me. It was a bit creepy. Then she started trotting towards me.

“I am very sorry hero, but your life ends today!” She shouted.

“That would be the third time I’ve died! Bring it!” I shouted back. Then she stomped. I tilted my head a little in confusion. Then leapt and rolled to the side as rumbling started up beneath me. A huge spike made of rock flew through the floor right where I had been standing.

“Ah! You’re faster than I expected!” She laughed a little. “I guess I’ll have to use something bigger than spikes!”

“Oh shit, she’s an earthbender in pony form... She must be a... stone cold killer...” I gasped. That roll had been right on my damaged shoulder, and it wasn’t fully healed yet. More rumbling started beneath me and I rolled to the left this time. It wasn’t enough. This time a large area of the Arena below me flew up, still flat. I was propelled into the air.

“W-whoa!” I shouted, thinking I would fly pretty far. However, twenty feet up I was caught by something... and thrown back down. There was a magic barrier over the Arena! I slammed into the ground and was tossed into the air by Petra again. My gladius flew out of my hand.

*Whoosh**WHAM**Whoosh**WHAM**Whoosh*WHAM**Whoosh**WHAM* I was repeatedly slammed against the ground and barrier. It hurt. Bad. Luckily it would only cause bruises.

Then she switched out the flat surface with a spike as I fell from the barrier again.

“Shit!” I shouted as I fell. I grabbed the sides of the spike as I fell, barely managing to come to a stop with the spike almost touching my nose. “That death would’ve been... written in stone...” I muttered. The crowd was laughing wildly at my misfortune. Then the stab in my right shoulder cause my right arm to quit on me. I fell down the side of the spike and landed harshly on the ground. My right arm was now dripping a little blood as a small river flowed out of my dagger wound.

“You might as well give up now!” The mare taunted. I stumbled back to my feet and grinned.

“Heh, you must be ‘stoned’ if you think that’s gonna happen.” I spoke confidently. “After all, I’m about to rock you...” I punched the rock spike next to me and hefted the pointed tip that broke off like a spear.

“... What?”

“Like a hurricane!” I threw the spear at her quickly. She lifted a hoof carelessly and the rock split in half and flew off to both of her sides as it hit her hoof.

“Seriously, that all you g-- Ah!” What she hadn’t seen coming was me, right behind the rock. My punch caught her in the chest, propelling her back into the far wall. She fell to the ground of the arena and a rock shell flew up around her. I started to sprint towards it, dodging left and right as spikes popped out of the ground. I leapt as high as I could as I approached the shell, causing myself to hit the barrier.

“I wish I had a rock pun for this!” I shouted as I shot downward and smashed both of my fists into the shell. The rock shelter shattered and flew in every direction, revealing a very frightened mare. “Ah... I should’ve said something about meteors or something.” I grabbed the mare with my left hand and hefted her into the air. The crowd let out a thunderous cheer.

“Impressive show Sharky!” The king boomed. “You are that much closer to earning the title of ‘hero’ even in my empire!” The crowd cheered again. “As for your opponent...” The king held out his talon sideways. I frowned as he pointed it downward. I placed the mare on the ground carefully.

“Forget it! I’m not gonna get my hands... ‘dirty’! She lives!” I boomed back. The crowd let out a muffled mixture of laughter and cheers. I turned without another word as the mare stumbled to her hooves.

“H-hey! Thank you!” She shouted. I waved over my shoulder as I walked back through the gate and the guards escorted me to my cell.

“... Oh yeah, forgot the gladius... I’m sure they’ll get it and give it back next fight.” I realized as I sat down in the cell. Soon I was brought a tray by another guard. It had a roll of bread, some water, and a grilled fish.

“Eat up hero, your next fight starts soon.” The guard warned. I sighed.

“Well, at least this’ll be an interesting day.” I muttered as I took a bite of the roll. No sooner had I finished my food than another guard showed up.

"Hey, time for your next fight hero." He informed me.

"Well damn, that was fast."

"The last round didn't last too long... Here, we grabbed your gladius for you." He handed the sword back to me after he unlocked the door. "Try to hold onto it this time."

"Will do. Take me to the next smack down." He nodded and turned to lead me down the halls again. the gate dropped once more and I stepped into the Arena. The first thing I heard after the roar of the crowd died down was... twinkling?

"Well ladies and gentlebirds, here he is again! Sharky White, the Hero! He has a kill count of one and a defeat count of one as well! You know why he's here, so go ahead and just put your talons together for him!" Massive amounts of applause rang out from the stands. I sighed in boredom and looked across the stadium to my opponent. I couldn't believe my eyes.