Warning this chapter contains a bit of blood and fighting, I figured one or two chapters of fighting didn't mean the story revolved around gore so that's why the tag hasn't been added, just a heads up.

The entrance split into something like a crossroad, forward was sunlight and I assumed, since it was an arena, the public stands. We went left, up a ramp and we were suddenly on the stands just below the larger of the two viewing boxes. We, the Queen and I, went into the larger of the two boxes and the guards remained outside the door. The interior was empty aside from a well-kept rug for comfort, I suppose only the Queen got shelter if it was raining. The Queen curled her tail up along the floor inside the box and forced me to sit beside her, she didn’t feel sandpaper rough like Midnight but she wasn’t as soft as Ruby, or maybe I just preferred her. Not to mention the Queen’s tail had more girth to it, coiling me quicker. I focused on the arena. Sure enough we had a perfect view and could even see the entrance where Ruby would appear below us, the seats were strange though, like separate empty sand boxes where I assumed the citizens could lay their tail and coil up mates. The opposite box was really funny looking though, it had what looked like two horns (As in the ones you’d blow air into to make a sound, not the ones on a unicorn.) on either side of the windows, one was golden and the other was black with red lines.

Despite present company (Who was currently pressing me against her pony half like the backrest of a chair, her tail wrapped up to my wings) I couldn’t shake my curiosity.

“What are those horns meant to do?” I asked.

“Well, the golden one signals when an arena match is going to begin, one of the guards will head around to signal the town. The other is for when there is a crisis and we need to evacuate the city.” I looked at the Queen.

“You’ve planned for evacuations?”

“You may not have the best image of me but I do care for my people, Bolt. But, sometimes, you have to do things you wouldn’t like, personally I don’t like having my people fight one another but I suppose this is one way they relieve tension. It’s not fun knowing any day something could swoop down and end your life, but it’s how we live.”

“So the monthly visit?”

“To check you are alright… She may not admit it, Ruby, but I do worry about all my subjects.”

“So what’s with decking Midnight out in full war gear?”

“Three reasons, one; Even I have to have a little fun,” the Queen licked my ear and I shivered but not happily “Two; you’ve trained around Ruby’s speed and agility and Midnight’s lack thereof, I’ve just made Midnight have even less. Ruby just has to play using her head now. Oh and three; if I do let her leave she has to be prepared for anything.” I shifted in the Queen’s grip, it seemed like she’d biased this towards helping Ruby more than I’d thought but I still didn’t like it, maybe she was twisting my mind.

“Do you believe Ruby can win?” I asked.

“Oh she has a chance, but so does Midnight.” I gulped and silently prayed for Ruby.

Said prayer was cut in half when I looked down at the actual arena. Around the base the seats were separated by wooden spikes tilted downward so ‘contestants’ in the ring wouldn’t be able to get out. In the ring four wooden poles covered in metal spikes, spread out like a four on a dice, separated the arena into little zones. I could see where Midnight would come out from, it looked like an iron gate used in castles. Beneath the spiked stands were weapons and armour, lots of it but it was mostly just pony armour. I saw battered shields, broken swords, spears with the tips missing, a bow broken and held together by the string, husks of armour, both royal guard and makeshift as well as helmets… I half thought there would be a skull inside one, a grinning pony head but I was mercifully mistaken. There was also more pristine weapons and armour but they were few and far between and I remembered how the guards around the gate had pony armour, I guessed they used what they could scavenge.

“What’s with… All the pony weaponry and armour?” I asked.

“Rebelling, escapees, murder attempts. They all end up in here, alternatively ponies sometimes challenge their masters for freedom, it never ends well for them. The Canterlot royal guard armour is from the guards themselves, they end up finding us and try to fight us. We lead them, or drag them, here.” The Queen said grimly. So the armour and weapons have been used by untrained ponies as well, that made my stomach heave.

The guard reached the signal box and blew the golden horn, it was a slow, long deep note. She then began making her way back towards us.

“Does the town have to attend?” I asked.

“No, but two lamias must attend, as well as any slaves with their masters.”

“Who are the two lamias?” I asked.

“Well one is me, the other you can probably guess due to the combatants.”

“Diamond.” I mumbled the Queen nodded grimly.

The arena filled up gradually, not until now did I realise the expanse of the city’s population; there were nowhere near as many as say a small town in Equestria, there was about over a hundred or so lamias. But I suppose that was a lot here. I could only see a number of lamias with ponies, they were wrapped up and being hugged like water bottles, a few were even kissing and my brain felt dizzy as I glance towards one pair so I guessed they were having some hypnosis based quality time.

“Hay ma’am, may I ask a question?” I asked and the Queen suddenly laughed.

“Oh my, I forgot to introduce myself, I am Sunny Coils.” I blinked.

“Seriously?” I asked, Sunny chuckled.

“You were expecting something more regal?” She asked, I nodded “Well I’m not born of royalty, I earned it,” Sunny glanced around “I started this town you know… Before Ruby was even born, the palace was a single treehouse standing alone, I offered shelter to another lamia who was scared, hungry and alone. When she left a few more returned with her and I helped them build a home. More and more lamias slowly trickled in here searching for shelter… I didn’t ask but they made me Queen, I owe it to them to protect them and keep them happy, even if I am not.” She wasn’t lying, I could tell from the way she spoke and looked so far away as if she were remembering the simplicity of the beginning.

“If it means anything, I think you are a very good Queen and your people should be thankful for having someplace to call home in this unforgiving land.” I said Sunny smiled faintly.

“I can see why Ruby likes you so much, you are very sweet.”

A lamia ascended to the two horn box, and held up what looked like a megaphone.

“Lamias and ponies, welcome to the battle arena! Tonight we are going to bear witness to two lamias duking it out. Midnight Blade, captain of our fair cities guard, undefeated and ruthless, versus; the agile Ruby Scales, wishing to earn her place in our home. Let’s wish them both luck while I have the honours of telling you the rules.”

It was strange, it wasn’t overly loud like the announcer for the snow tipping marathon’s had been. It was like she was speaking in a calm voice beside me as if we were having a normal conversation.

“The rules, or lack of them, are simple; anything goes, biting, poisoning and generally bashing opponents is fine, spectators may assist or hinder if they so wish. The game ends when one combatant is knocked out, incapacitated, taps out or dies! So who’s ready for some entertainment!?” This seemed a little cruel.

“How did this start?” I asked as the crowd cheered.

“Well it used to be just a training ground for the guard, then lamias began to watch. Finally the arena was built due to a royal guard patrol, we managed to trap them and the guard fought them while the citizens watched… They found it ‘entertaining’ so much so they built the arena. I barely managed to convince them to add the knock out slash tap out rule. It was originally going to be a battle to the death. I told them we couldn’t afford the population drop.” Sunny didn’t looked like her name sake, she looked bitter but defeated, as if she’d tried to get rid of this and failed before and just didn’t want to go through the pain again.

I heard the iron gates being raised slowly, lots of winches being turned to lift the heavy metal. Midnight exited first, sliding up to the centre of her side. She looked grimly determined as well as a little smug when she saw me.

“Get comfortable.” She mouthed and looked down as Ruby entered.

I gasped, I had half expected her to go in and back out into the arena with nothing, but somewhere inside, where she had waited, she’d somehow obtained weapons and armour. She had on what looked like thick reinforced wool armour around her pony half, a thin metal helmet with a metal spike covering her horn like a single bull horn, her snake half was a crisscross of light iron armour and reinforced wool. Across her waist where her pony half joined to her snake half was something like a utility belt of pain. Ruby had a funny looking hoofheld crossbow with a pouch of steel bolts, a second pouch full of-were those bombs? She also had a curved hunting knife much like a curved knife I’d seen a griffin use to gut an animal and skin it. Her armour was painted completely deep green like vegetation, she looked like she was ready to do some reconnaissance or assassinate somepony… Or seduce somepony. The last though made me blush.

The announcer shouted begin and Ruby did a fancy quick draw with her crossbow, I realised it was actually revolving with three bolts loaded, awesome. Midnight tried dodging the first, failing, but it pinged off her heavy armour harmlessly. The second bolt Midnight blocked with her shield, having slung it and her spear off her back. The third found a mark, the bolt sailed just beside Midnight’s shield and under her left hoof, wedging itself in above her armoured scales in her pony flesh, which was unarmoured by about a centimetre. Midnight pulled the bolt out and Ruby began moving to her left around the ring, she had time to load one bolt and pull back the string on the second before she sheathed it in favour of her little hunting knife.

Midnight growled charging Ruby, if you’ve ever seen a snake strike or dodge you are always expecting the rest of their tail to stay behind since it is so large and heavy, you’d think some of it wouldn’t escape, but you’re always surprised to see the whole thing move like a little spring that extents to a massive length, like Ruby did. Ruby spun around, standing on her tail. Midnight swung her spear around like a baseball bat and Ruby rolled under her. I heard something like a wrench hitting the side of a car, Ruby’s knife connecting. The whole crowd gasped and made appropriate noises for what was happening; generally being really annoying. The announcer keeping a running commentary but I wasn’t listening more focused on my friend fighting for her life. The ponies watching were a little more energetic, when Ruby first scored a hit with her crossbow they cheered like somepony scoring in hoofball, they groaned at the clanging sound.

“They really hate Midnight.” I noted.

“Indeed, she isn’t very popular due to some of her actions with the slaves, but that’s private if you don’t mind.” I wondered what that meant. First thought was that she must have murdered a slave or something, she seemed cruel enough.

Ruby was backing up, retreating or so I thought, Midnight had begun taunting her.

“Aw, is the little corn snake scared? Don’t worry this’ll only hurt for as long as you keep moving away!”

“Sorry but I’m not moving away because you scared me, your breath is so bad it’s more painful than those weak movements you call attacks!” I don’t think Midnight was used too insults because she charged instantly.

Ruby ducked grinning towards me as Midnight smacked into one of the wooden spiked poles. If not for her helmet and armour she would have been pinned to it like a cartoon character walking around with a giant cactus stuck on their head. As it was, all Midnight got was a slight dent in her helmet that looked rather uncomfortable, a few scratches along her face and a nice stab on the underside of her tail, which she kept above the ground making her even more sluggish.

“She’s doing well, Ruby could win this.” I mumbled, I just had to open my mouth.

Midnight wasn’t hindered even slightly, I suppose she must have been used too pain, because she charged just fine. Ruby, surprised, reacted a little too slowly, her left hoof got caught by the spear and I saw blood spray from it. Ruby backed up and Midnight turned around to face her, Ruby pulled out one of her little bombs and chucked it, but Midnight hit it against her shield back into Ruby. Whatever was in that little bomb has some kick, Ruby flew across the arena, her helmet flying off, Ruby smacked against the back of the arena, narrowly missing a spike and slumped against the side.

“Don’t get up Ruby, don’t get up.” I mumbled, she did.

Ruby was smacked in the side of the face by Midnight’s shield then stabbed in the top part of her tail. Midnight smacked her with her own tail and Ruby fell to the ground, the rolled over swinging her knife but another, softer, clang sounded that it had failed again.

Ruby managed to get up and backed away, Midnight had a hole wound from the starter bolt, a slight stab from the spike pole and some scratches. Ruby on the other hoof was covered in blood, stabs and bruises, she was not looking too good. She was using her left hoof to hold the top of her tail which was bleeding badly.

“Tap out Ruby, you’re not going to win.” But the sound came out so soft, no chance she’d hear. Midnight went dirty, she tossed several shattered bits of armour with her tail at Ruby who raised her tail to block them, allowing her a moment to charge. Ruby drew her crossbow, set to the unloaded bolt. A sound like a whip hitting flesh echoed and Midnight backed off with a scream holding her cheek, which was bleeding. Ruby had used the firing mechanism on her crossbow too, literally, slap Midnight away. But I could see it had cost Ruby one of the bolt loaders she could do that two more times, with no guarantee it’d work a second time now that Midnight knew that trick. Still Ruby fired her pre-loaded bolt, which punctured the dent in Midnight’s helmet.

For a second the whole arena fell silent, then Midnight raised her hooves and pulled off the helmet, a cut, no larger than a toothpick, was slowly weeping blood.

“I’ve grow tired of this.” Midnight mumbled and tossed her helmet at Ruby.

Who used the exact same tactic Midnight has used with her bombs. Midnight flinched back, her nose bleeding from the heavy metal launched off Ruby’s tail. Ruby then threw the whole pouch of bombs, a smoke cloud engulfed Midnight before she appeared at the other side, smashing even further into the side of the arena than Ruby, a crater, like a meteor landing, where she had been before.

“This is certainly the most damaging fight I’ve ever seen.” Sunny mumbled with a small smile. I was also grinning, Ruby was back in this she just needed to…

I think my brain almost switched off, it didn’t want to comprehend what had just happened. Hidden from the cloud of smoke, Midnight had thrown her spear… It hit. Ruby looked down at the long wooden shaft in her chest, easily cutting through her light armour, mildly surprised before her knife and crossbow fell from her grip. Midnight slid up to Ruby and pulled the spear from her chest, Ruby fell down slightly holding her chest and looked up at Midnight, she tried to speak and I swear I knew what she was trying to say .

“I concede.” but Midnight neither heard nor cared.

Several lamias and a lot of ponies began shouting for Ruby to move, to do something but she was in no state to. Sunny stood up and opened and closed her mouth like a fish, unable to speak but her wanted words clear.

“STOP, SHE HAS LOST! DO NOT KILL HER!” But like Ruby and myself, no sound. And soon Ruby wouldn’t ever make a sound again. Briefly I thought back to what little time we’d spent together, I’d met her half asleep fleeing for my life, pushed her away when she became a little ‘playful’ and ended up passing out in drunken misery. Then I saved her, the memories got a little warmer, dearer to my heart. More to lose.

I galloped over the Queen’s tail and she found her voice.

“Bolt don’t!” But I’d already jumped.

I landed within the ring and grabbed the closest thing to me, a circular shield. I’d never been good at throwing but I think my body knew now was not the time to screw up. The shield sliced through Midnight’s raised spear, the end sailing away. Ruby closed her eyes and fell sideway onto her side. I froze staring at her still form, the whole crowd was silent. I reached down and picked up a second circular shield and gripped it in my right hoof, my new good hoof picked up a large square shield and I hovered slightly above the ground, my rear hooves brushing against the floor.

“When I’m done, you’ll be reaching for your own sword to slit your own throat!” I cried and charged.

For the second time in my life, I was charging a creature stronger and more cunning than me. But I didn’t care, I could see Ruby still on the ground and Midnight drew her sword facing me, she looked so smug thinking I’d gone all defensive. The grin disappeared when I ducked under her first swing and smacked her with the square shield across the face, right where Ruby had whipped Midnight’s face. Midnight spun around as I flew up, the crowd cheered stomping their hooves, it was actually kinda nice to be cheered on. Midnight swung her tail around in a large arch and I dived under it. Midnight tried swinging her shield and sword at me at the same time, I spread my wings and skidded to a stop, I didn’t have to hit Midnight she did it herself with her own shield, but I smacked her with my circle shield across the jaw to be sure before darting away.

Midnight spat blood onto the ground, beside Ruby’s head. Which caused her to remember that she was there, totally helpless. Midnight grinned at me and raised her sword. I snapped. I let off an ungodly scream and charged, one second I was at one end of the ring, next I was beside Ruby smacking Midnight’s sword away, the faint tingle of static lightning brushing my fur, I swung the shields around hitting Midnight repeatedly with heavy wood and metal. Blood, satisfyingly, sprayed from her mouth. I kicked my right front hoof into Midnight’s stomach and she keeled over, holding her stomach gasping for air. I brought the two shields down on Midnight’s bare head and she fell to the ground with a loud thump. The ponies in the crowd went berserk screaming and cheering, stomping their hooves in victory… Then they began to chant.

“Kill her, kill her, kill her, KILL HER, KILL HER, KILL HER!” They got faster and louder and were soon almost in tempo with my heart.

Midnight looked up at me, her face bloody and miserable, she spat a wad of blood and spoke.

“You’re just like all those other ponies, out for our blood!” She mumbled. I raised my shield over my head and the chanting went faster, I closed my eyes before glancing at Ruby.

She was still motionless lying on the ground. I wanted that image to fuel me into doing the deed but it didn’t, if anything it made it less desirable. I threw the circle shield beside Midnight’s head, she flinched but blinked looking up at me the whole crowd had gone silent again at my choice.

“I’m not like you,” I mumbled the whole crowd able to hear “I know mercy.” I dropped the second shield and turned walking over to Ruby.

I sat down looking at her still body, it was just like I had pictured but with a bit more blood and now the smell of iron to go with it. I sobbed then wrapped Ruby in a hug crying.

“Come back, Ruby. Please I don’t want to lose my only friend. Please,” I suddenly felt compelled to talk about what I had secretly planned for if we escaped, I wasn’t even aware myself I had been making the plans.

“I was going to show you Canterlot skyline, how it looks with the cute houses cutting the sunrise up, I was going to treat you to a hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows and grated chocolate. You’d get a cute little foam moustache and we’d have laughed about it. I wanted to head up to the roof of Canterlot castle with you, I know a secret way up that the guards don’t seem to pass, I’d sit with you coiling me up and we’d share a kiss under Luna’s moon…” I felt tears flowing like a stream and I could almost picture them in my head.

“You’d feel my little heart in you coils, my warmth leaking into your cold scales… It’d be such a memorable moment… I want you to live that… Please Ruby…” I couldn’t speak anymore. I felt a cold blade against the back of my neck and looked back at Midnight.

“Send Ruby my condolences.” She mumbled I closed eyes bowing my head.

“Get it over with.” I whispered misery all I could feel.

“You lost.” I opened my eyes gasping and looked back at Ruby, her eyes were slightly open and she was smiling at me.

She’d never looked so beautiful to me before, even covered in blood. I tried to speak, failed and began to cry before hugging her.

“What do you mean?” Midnight asked.

“She is right, you lost. You were incapacitated by Bolt.” I looked over at Sunny and managed a smile that hoped said.

“Thank you, thank you so much!”

“B-But Ruby was incapacitated first, she passed out!” Midnight argued.

“Indeed, which means the game had ended… And yet you still tried to kill her. Again.” Sunny’s tone was hardly sunny, Midnight froze and actually whimpered in fright.

“I’ll deal with you later, for now… Somepony help this lamia she is bleeding to death.” Diamond teleported, literally, into view.

“I’m not leaving you again.” I whispered to Ruby.

“I know you won’t.” She managed and closed her eyes.

Midnight grumpily left whilst we; Diamond, Sunny, her guards and myself, took Ruby back to Diamond’s house. Once there I was told to wait outside Ruby’s room, I didn’t argue, though it hurt to leave Ruby, I would just hinder Diamond. So I was stuck with Sunny and her guards, who she sent away instantly to guard the entrance. Sunny sighed.

“What’s up?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the phantom screaming.

“Ever since we formed the guard, they insisted that I should have bodyguards in case anything or anypony attacked me. I appreciate the gesture but sometimes I’d like to be alone.” Sunny shook her head “Not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to say what you did was… Amazing.” I looked at Sunny confused “You stood up for a defenceless lamia, then comforted her, showing you truly cared… I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before, it was… Beautiful.” She said.

“Well… Maybe you should give the slaves a little freedom, they might come back. After all they have families as well.” I said.

“If they don’t come back though…” Sunny groaned and shook her head “Sometimes a leaders has to do what’s best for all, even if they don’t like it. And my people like the ponies when they have a little fight in them, a little life. Which they only have at the beginning.” She muttered to herself “If this works out for you and Ruby, then I will consider. Now onto another subject, the battle victor.” Somehow I didn’t think it was going to be simple.

“While Midnight was defeated it was not by Ruby, it was by you. So, technically, Ruby did not win,” I gulped “However I am willing to make a deal; I am still allowed those six hours but Ruby is a full citizen and may also leave the city… And I won’t call those six hours in now. Maybe when you next get back, once you’ve had a little practise. Don’t want to steal your first time, that’s Ruby’s property.” I felt my face burn and Sunny giggled

“Ruby chose well, I’m jealous.” Sunny slid up to me and kissed me, it was a slightly sweet and bitter combination but nicer than Midnight.

“Don’t tell Ruby about that.” Sunny whispered “Goodbye Bolt, and I hope you can fulfil what you said to Ruby. It sounded amazing.” Yep everypony heard that, oh god.

Author's Notes:

PONY KOMBAT! Okay admit it, you all thought Ruby was either going to lose big time or win alone. Nope Bolt stepped in, I would like to point out that Midnight was severely beat up before hand... Hoof, whatever, and that Bolt just finished her... Sorry for the pun there. :3

Also wan't the part where Bolt gave up so sad, talking about Equestria to Ruby wanting to show her, thought that was cute! :)

One problem I have is that the fight went to quickly for my taste but I couldn't find any way to make it longer without making it tedious, sorry. Enjoy none the less. :)