Author's Notes:

Hey I'm back again, and the creative juices are finally re-flowing.
I'm here to let you know several things.
One: You are about to read the most re-written thing I have ever created, surpassing even my English Research Paper for my '12th' grade class (In Junior year)
Two: I'm out of high school finally!
Three: This is currently unedited as I figured you guys should get this now, and, hopefully, MadMax can edit on the fly. (Or someone, not necessarily him, just... you guys get it.)
Four: This chapter signifies the beginning of the major split between this story and the first, and also the end of the first arc and beginning of the second.

Hope you enjoy!

The next few weeks after the ‘incident’ were relatively normal, following pretty much the same routine as before. I was still going to Twilight’s in the morning, sparring with Max in the afternoon, and then doing fuck-all in the evening. Melody did give me some simple chores to do, which I was happy to help with, as otherwise I would’ve felt like I was trying to bum a free ride.

There were several interesting interruptions to the schedule, including a random ‘protest’ by the weather team in Cloudsdale leaving all of Equestria in a massive heat wave. The mechanics behind it confused me, but I just accepted it after the fifth day straight of over a hundred degrees (somewhere around thirty-seven Celsius for you weirdos out there). After an interesting fireworks show in the distance, it dropped back down to a balmy seventy two for the rest of that week.

Not too long after that Twilight and Max left to go visit Twilight’s family for some reason or another. Something about meeting the folks. Both Max and Twilight expressed displeasure at my immediate and hilarious response. Needless to say, both Max and I had several more bruises than usual that day. He was getting quite good at speeding around my defenses. Still lacked a good strength to the blows, but that would come with time.

After they returned came the final interruption to the schedule, though it was far more unorthodox than any of us were used to. Some pegasus by the name of Sunny Breeze had arrived the previous night and somehow found out about Max being human… er… intelligent. When I arrived in the morning, I found the three chatting around a table, bags under their eyes and coffee in their respective appendages.
When I was told of the whole story, I was caught somewhere between laughing, sighing, facepalming, and attacking Miss Breeze. In the end, I just shook my head and tried to continue with my morning routine, though the caffeine-fueled company did not make it a productive morning. Twilight finally decided to call it a day, and went to bed, giving Miss Breeze the couch while Max took his human bed pad thingy. I returned to Melody’s house, deciding to work on my armor.

I had taken it out before the heat wave and was slowly and methodically working on it, de rusting and oiling what I could and using what sparse tools Melody had to fix the few bits I could. Unfortunately, I was unable to do anything about the tears in the hauberk, but piece by piece it was returning to the mostly shiny glory it once had.

I even managed to acquire paint to change my shield back, as it had been a Mr. Yuck face only for the duration of the event, the result of losing a drunken bet. Originally, it had been a circular serpent, biting its own tail, surrounded by a field of white. My coat of arms. I remember earning my AoA several years ago. It was one of the first times I had been called up in court at Pennsic. I was still a fresh-faced baby seal on the field, though not the worst out there. Apparently I had impressed some knight or something with my honor after giving an opponent the option of single combat at the end of a bridge battle. The guy killed me easily, but he was only able to defeat three people before dying.
I shook my head. Getting lost down memory lane is sometimes fun, but I need to focus. Looking down at the pauldron I had been polishing, I saw my distorted reflection staring back at me. I sighed, picking up the next piece and continuing the monotonous, but surprisingly relaxing, work. I missed home. That much was for certain. Recently I had been reminiscing, thinking back to happier times. It kept making me feel depressed, pining for something I couldn’t have.

After another hour or so of polishing and oiling, I finally stopped, giving my cramping hands time to rest. I was bored. I was angsty. I was hungry. Sighing once again, I walked upstairs to the kitchen, making myself a simple snack. Melody was off somewhere, something to do with some of her friends wanting her over for a knitting circle or something similar.
I went to bed two hours later, deciding I would deal with the world later.

The next week passed in much the same as the last, though the addition of Sunny Breeze did change the schedule a bit, especially because she didn’t like us sparring. Though, to be fair, the face she made when I started a match with Max was priceless. Thankfully, she only tried to talk us down rather than attack me. Max was right, Twilight was much worse than Miss Breeze.

She and Max had hit it off almost immediately, something to do with helping him during his ‘dark time’ or something. Not that it affected me, but it did leave me with nothing to do, especially since Twilight had stopped teaching us in favor of researching some spell. When I had asked Max, he said something about trans-dimensional magic, which I assumed meant she was trying to find us a way home. Something I was wholeheartedly behind.

It still did nothing to ease my boredom. I considered polishing my armor some more, but I could see my reflection on the inside of the knee. The segmented, nearly-impossible-to-clean knee. It was a pointless gesture now.

I sighed again. Melody was back at her job, and wouldn’t be home till four o’clock. If she didn’t have to help with a medical emergency. Another sigh, before I launched up from the couch and laced on my boots. Might as well explore Ponyville some more, I thought, I’ve still only seen the tip of it.

I walked out the door, blinking as the sunlight struck my eyes. It was a wonderful summer morning, slightly cloudy, and a breeze that would make anyone wax poetic. That is to say, it was a lovely morning. Setting a brisk pace, I let my feet wander, stepping beside and around ponies and humans alike.

At one point, Max walked past me, a large, fluffy, blue tumor growing out of the side of his head. I waved to the duo, who both smiled at waved back at me before continuing on their merry way. Finally, I walked into the park and sat down on one of the numerous benches, simply pony watching for a while. It was an activity I hadn’t really tried before, and in a town as literally colorful as this, it was bound to be at least a little entertaining.

I watched Cheerilee leading a large gaggle of colts and fillies around the park, most of which were roughhousing with eachother in the fun and playful way only children can. Or large, smelly people wearing tons of armor I thought, smiling. Granted the fighters were practically children anyway.

After sitting there for fifteen minutes or so, I suddenly felt uneasy, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Just something didn’t quite feel right. I looked around, not noticing anything unusual, until I noticed it was quiet. Not the ‘I’m alone and peaceful’ quiet, but the ‘why the hell can’t I hear anything’ quiet. The children were less than fifty feet from me yet it was dead silent.

Looking around once again, I saw a flicker of movement behind me followed by a burst of pain and light. I fell out of the bench, instinctively rolling on to my shoulder to lessen the damage even as pain pulsed through my skull. I felt something miss my head by a hairsbreadth and rolled away, blinking away tears and squinting through my blurred vision. A dark shape loomed over me, and I felt something smack into my forehead and then nothing.

I woke with a splitting headache, my face resting on cold bars. I was hanging in a large cage, surrounded by other, similar cages each with their own human. The cages hung in a mostly dimly-lit room, though one massive pool of light sat in the center, illuminating a large group of ponies sitting and standing around a sizable, circular pit in the ground. The pit was surrounded by bloodstained sandbags.

The ponies were making a loud ruckus, shouting about bets and passing large sacks between them. I scrounged my sluggish brain, bringing together the two wits that I had at my disposal, trying to determine the point, and a way out if necessary. Before I had a chance to gather any answers, a large red unicorn leapt atop a clear crate and shouted to the world in a sickeningly familiar deep voice.

“Mares and stallions! I am happy to announce that it is just about time to start!” He gestured wildly, for all the world a ringleader of the best circus in town. The ponies cheered for him. “Come on over and get comfortable! We got us several fights about ready to start that will be a good bit of fun!” More cheers and merriment burst from the crowd at his words, while he leapt down to talk to several other ponies.
Nodding towards the cages, he and two unfamiliar mares walked forward, one of them walking away from me and saying something I couldn’t hear, while the other approached a nearby cage.

“Hey Pearl, look who I found wandering around Ponyville!” she shouted to the other while shaking the cage. Inside I saw Max, a terrified look upon his face. I tried to grab his attention, but he didn’t look up.

“It appears that the princess didn’t really care for him,” Came Pearl’s reply, toting the cage she had selected, a snarling human inside.
“Hold up Rose,” came the red unicorn’s terse reply, before his horn lit up and broke Max’s collar, tossing it away. “That’s better, he doesn’t need this where he’s going.”

I watched as Max’s cage was carried over to the pit, the other cage behind him. They were lowered down, out of my sight, accompanied by the crowd screaming and hollering.

“Now the moment we’ve all been waiting for,” The unicorn said over the crowd, his horn lighting up once more. “Let’s get this thing rolling!”
I watched as the two cages were removed, empty. Cursing to myself, I tried to get a better view.
“Mares and stallions! Without further ado, let’s get this match started!” The unicorn shouted again, the crowd going nuts. Finally, the pieces sunk into place.

It’s a cockfighting ring! Fuck! I thought, desperately trying to see how Max was doing. I heard several grunts and cries of pain echoing out, but I couldn’t tell whose cries were whose.

Suddenly, a crack cut the air, the crowd pausing before going even wilder. That was a bone. I thought, but no cry followed. Damnit, why couldn’t I just see!

A scream tore through the air, one that was definitely Max’s. Fuck! C’mon Max!

“There you have it, mares and stallions! A rather spectacular display, wouldn’t you say?” The unicorn said, levitating a body out.

That can’t be! I thought, before sighing in relief. It was the other human, his neck and torso coated in blood. Thank the gods.

My premature gratitude was dashed at the unicorn’s next words.

“And it’s not over yet Let’s bring out the next competitor!”

Shit.

I watched as several humans went into the pit, and stayed, lasting longer and longer, but Max’s body never once left. Each time, a knot of tension grew in me, as I mentally braced for Max’s lifeless corpse to levitate out in that sickly aura. I desperately searched for some way to save him, and as I watched the next human enter the pit, an idea formed.

The moment Max’s latest opponent, some female, was levitated out, ugly purple marks across her throat, I began losing my shit, banging the bars, screaming, hollering, the works. Almost immediately, I felt the cage move, carried forward.

“We got a lively one!” one of the mares shouted, Pearl I believe.

“Oho! This looks like it will be good. Look at that specimen!” The red unicorn shouted to the crowd. “He just wants to be in the thick of it!”
I glanced into the pit as I was lowered, gasping in shock as I saw Max, bleeding from multiple lacerations, one eye swollen up and ugly yellowish purple marks adorning what little flesh was not blood red.

Oh fuck. He needs a hospital. I was dropped into the pit, barely managing to catch myself on the floor. Pushing myself up, I barely had time to throw myself to the side as Max charged me, his right hand held close, but some form of knife held in his left.

The blade scratched down my side as I went past, leaving an ugly red line down my face and right shoulder. I rolled when I struck the ground, flinging myself to my feet just as Max stomped where my face was a moment ago.

Setting my stance, I waited, as Max rushed towards me again, knife out front and a bestial vengeance in his eyes. Godsdamnit, I need to snap him out of it! I thought as I caught his left wrist and shoulder checked him, sending him sprawling. He still had the knife, so I rushed him, pressing my momentary advantage.

He rolled away though and then leapt at me from the ground, barely missing me. I grabbed his arm again, this time reaching out with my other hand and twisting enough to force him to drop the knife. A quick knee to his back gave me a moment of respite as the air left his lungs.
I grabbed the knife and threw it out of the pit, until it bounced of a previously-invisible shield and fell to the sandbags. I was amazed for a moment, until I felt something slam into my midsection and take me down. I rolled at the last moment, forcing Max to take the brunt of the force and leaving him gasping for breath.

I straddled him, his arms pinned by my knees and looked him in the eye. I still saw the adrenaline and fear that drove him, a bestial energy locked behind his eyes. Looking down, I slapped him, hard enough to sting.

The move was so unexpected, so unusual, that Max stopped for a moment, confused. Smiling, I flipped him the bird, though I kept him pinned, just in case. Realization dawned on him, before horror over wrote his features. I waited a moment more as he started tearing up, before standing up and helping him to his feet.

He sagged into me as he stood, adrenaline leaving him jittery and weak.

+You alright?+ I signed to him. +You don’t look to good.+

“What an upset!” interrupted the stallion above, “These humans don’t want to fight!”

+We should be worried about that+ Max signed, wincing as he jostled his right wrist.

“Well, let’s see if teamwork will fall apart in this next match!”

A two cages were lowered in, each toting a crazy-looking human, one with a large knife and the other a club.

+Shit.+ I signed, placing myself in front of Max. He was in no condition to fight.

The two humans dropped much more eloquently than my own, landing firmly on their feet and flexing as they stood. Ignoring eachother, they rushed forward, weapons held high.

I ducked under the knife, shoulder checking that one, and stepped around to grab the guy with the club. He anticipated the move though, and I felt pain spread across my body from my left shoulder. I fell to the ground, the force of the blow driving me to my knees. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Knife stand up shakily, while Club man was already striking again.

Rolling forward, I slammed my palm into his knee, watching as it bent nearly backwards and he screamed in pain. I stood up in the same motion, catching his chin on my right shoulder and launching him back. His club sailed away from us, into another portion of the arena. Quickly, I turned, simultaneously bringing Mr. Knife to the forefront of my mind and saving my life, the knife slipping across my left arm rather than into my heart.

I hissed in pain, forcing both arms back into the Italian knife defense style that I had learned not to long ago. The guy wasted no time, bringing his blade back across at me in a horizontal swinging motion. Backstepping, I avoided the blade and grabbed his arm, pulling him forward and slamming my left elbow into his face. I felt his jaw break under the force as he went spinning, knife falling from limp fingers.

Before I had a chance to grip the knife, a blur tackled me, raining blows onto the back of my head. Stars exploded in my eyes as I fell, my face slamming into the hard ground. I felt my nose snap, blood instantly pooling down.

Groaning in pain I flipped my body, wincing as something in my left shoulder ground against a bone that shouldn’t be there. Throwing myself away and forcing my pain into another section of my mind, I took a quick glance around the arena. I saw Max had grabbed the club and caved in the face of Mr. Knife, while Club man was staggering to his feet.

Launching myself forward, I grabbed the knife, and finished with a quick uppercut motion, disemboweling my opponent. As his innards fell out, he dumbly looked down, confused. I just felt sick as the muted purples and bright red strings tumbled from his stomach.

I finished it with a quick slicing motion, cutting his neck horizontally and slicing both the jugular and the esophagus.

The pain then registered, my left shoulder screaming in agony, while lines of fire wrapped around my body. I grunted, pushing the pain, the nausea, the emotion, as far as I could, holding just enough in to keep myself in check. I saw Max breathing heavily, blood clotting in multiple spots across his battered body.

As I continued to look around, I realized I could only hear my heart thumping in my ears, a maddening tempo of drums that played the music of battle.

Two more paired fights. Two more victories. Each one involving weapons, a chain, mace, knives, baseball bat. It didn’t matter. Each new injury registered once and was pushed back. I acquired numerous cuts and scratches, my chest covered in a horrible cocktail of blood, brains, and other fluids. Each step brought a new lance of pain, as my right leg was broken just above the knee.

I was held up by sheer willpower and need for life. Max wasn’t faring much better, blood pouring from even more injuries. I felt lightheaded from bloodloss, and Max swayed on his feet. We couldn’t last much longer.

I dimly heard the crowd cheer more, as the unicorn running the damned thing said something about the “dynamic duo” and “the biggest challenge yet.” The words flew through my mind, registering once and fading away. I couldn’t focus.

I wouldn’t last very long.

It was then I heard a thump behind me, my ears barely registering the sound. My feet registered a small shockwave, and I turned to see a massive human standing tall. He stood at least a head taller than me, and made even my frame look small.

Adrenaline once more pumped through my brain, pushing all irrelevant thoughts aside. I channeled it, and focused. He had a knife, right hand. Large. Size of a dirk. Leafbladed. Double edged. Bloodgroove. Made to kill. Deathgrip on handle. Untrained. Good.

Tall. Muscled. Heavy. Dim witted. Charging. Dodge.

No full thought crossed my mind. It was action and reaction. Work how I was trained. Use their body against them. I saw Max take a hit from him and go flying, his small club landing outside the pit and out of reach.

Dodge. Counter attack. I smiled grimly as the beast roared in pain, though the sound was a million miles away. He swipes. I felt severe pain as he smacked my right arm with his left, my knife spiraling away as a bone cracked.

I dodged the strike with his blade, before taking a glancing blow to my head, four lines of pain reaching across the right side of my face.
I stumbled, just as a foot came up and smacked into my chest. I felt a deep crack as I went flying, smashing into the wall. Pain exploded behind my eyes as my head made contact. I slid down, unable to move. I felt too heavy. Sluggish. The world was slowing down. Dimly, I realized my lungs were slowly filling with blood, and I was going to die.

I looked around, somewhat at peace. At least, if I would die, it would be fighting for my life, fighting for every inch they took. It was a warrior’s death. As good a way to die as any.

I looked around again, my vision turning black around the edges, and I caught sight of Max. He was lying on the ground, desperately pushing a knife away from his face. Too bad… I couldn’t… save him… I thought. Almost as an answer to my final thought, I saw a massive purple beam strike the behemoth, and smiled, before my world flashed to black.