Waking up was never an experience Sharp Wing found pleasant, and the present circumstances didn't help things any. Sharp Wing figured she must have seemed very insane if Twilight Sparkle had deemed to necessary to put her under a sleeping spell. Worse yet, neither Fluttershy or Night Mist had tried to stop her. It would probably be a safe bet that everyone thought she was crazy now. Sharp Wing got up and scanned the interior of the wooden hut. Her swords were still there, thankfully. Sharp Wing wasted no time in strapping them to her sides. But where was everyone else?

Muffled sounds from outside the hut caught her attention. It sounded like some sort of commotion. A step outside showed why. A single cheetah was approaching the center of the zebra village, where the living Elements of Harmony, Spike, Frazzle Spark, Night Mist and the zebras were all gathered.

"Good evening, how is everyone?" smiled the cheetah.

It was Duma, who didn't seem at all worried that several spears were pointed at him.

"You've got some nerve showing your face here," growled Rainbow Dash.

"Nice to see you again too," smirked Duma, "I should probably warn you that any attempts to harm me will have unfortunate consequences. Like having your throat ripped out, or having your legs broken, for example."

"Do you really think you can take on a whole crowd of ponies and a dragon?" questioned Twilight Sparkle. "That seems rather over confident."

"Two dragons," Spike muttered to no one in particular.

"My entire tribe is watching us as we speak, and they're ready to pounce if necessary. Believe me when I say it would be in your best interest to listen to what I have to say," suggested Duma.

"Dragon trumps army of alleged cheetahs," pointed out Night Mist.

"That's right, you can't threaten us at all," scoffed Rarity.

"Oh, goodness, I completely forgot you had a dragon and made no plans whatsoever to deal with it," said Duma in feigned horror. "Ever heard the expression of fighting fire with fire?"

As if on cue, a large blue and green dragon crashed through the tree tops and landed behind Duma.

"I'm a sea-dragon, I can't breathe fire," the intruder corrected.

"Typhoon?!" gasped Frazzle Spark.

"Oh, wow, hi, Frazzle Spark. And Spike," answered Typhoon in equal shock.

A shadow of concern passed over Duma.

"You two know each other?" he asked.

"We met briefly over the ocean," Typhoon explained.

"Does this change anything about the deal we made?"

"Clearly you don't know anything about dragons. We fight each other all the time, especially when there's treasure or possible snacks involved," grinned Typhoon.

"What kind of parties do dragons have?" blurted out Pinkie Pie.

Typhoon glanced at Pinkie Pie but didn't say anything, presumably because she was trying to figure out where the question had come from.

"Anyway, dragon cancels out dragon, and cheetah tribe trumps zebra tribe and the rest," continued Duma. "I daresay you really ought to listen to what I want."

"And just what exactly do you want?" demanded Rainbow Dash angrily.

"A pegasus," Duma said bluntly, "just one, that's it. Do you know how disappointing it is to have a rare treat in front of you and then taken away?"

Rainbow Dash paled.

"We have issues with you eating Rainbow Dash," Night Mist said flatly.

"It doesn't have to be her, it can be any pegasus," shrugged Duma.

"It should obvious to ya that we don't want to give ya anypony to eat!" snapped Applejack.

"Well that's awfully selfish of you," laughed Duma, clearly enjoying himself. "I only want one. A cheetah can't go hungry you know."

"We understand a cheetah's need for meat, but there are plenty of non-intelligent animals for you to eat," noted Zecora.

"Well yeah, but they don't try to bargain with you for their lives, and I've never tried pegasus."

Sharp Wing decided she had had enough. This cheetah needed to go down, and she had an idea on how do it.

"What we've got here is a standoff," she announced. You can't make us give you a pony, and we can't make you leave right?"

Her words caused every head present to turn. Evidently no one had noticed her arrival.

"I wouldn't call it a standoff. If the dragons keep each other occupied my cheetahs can take all of you," said Duma smoothly.

"I think you're bluffing. If you and your tribe can kill ponies so easily, you would have eaten all these zebras a long time ago. I'm willing to bet you all don't really think zebras are easy game. In fact, I bet they're not really eager to risk their lives just so you can have a single pegasus."

Sharp Wing was rewarded by the sound of muttering by unseen observers. Duma scowled, sensing Sharp Wing's leveling the playing field.

"So we're at a stalemate," he relented. "Do you have some sort of compromise in mind?"

"Better, you and I are going to have a duel," Sharp Wing revealed.

"And why would I have a duel with you?" asked Duma with a raised brow.

"Because it’s your only shot at getting what you want and living too. It'll be a fight to the death. If you live, you get to eat me, and you'll be allowed to leave in one piece. But if you die, all of the other cheetahs have to leave, including Typhoon."

Another cheetah sprang out from behind a hut and into the clearing, walked up to Duma, and whispered something into his ear. Sharp Wing recognized the cheetah from before, it was the one with an earring. Duma's ears flattened and he hissed some native words at the messenger in an angry tone. The cheetah hissed something back and retreated out of sight.

"Very well, I agree to your conditions, providing all these other ponies will let me eat you when I win and walk away too," agreed Duma.

"And your cheetahs will leave if you die."

"You have my word."

"I don't give a rip about your word. I want theirs."

"We agree," said the cheetah with an earring, who had appeared again next to Typhoon.

"I'll still get my treasure if you die right?" asked Typhoon.

"If it comes to that, you will," Duma reassured her. "Just keep the red dragon out of it."

He turned his attention back to Sharp Wing.

"Well, all that leaves is the when and where," he prompted.

"Right here in the middle of the village, in an hour. I got stuff I need to do first." suggested Sharp Wing.

"As do I. I trust you'll be using those swords, and I'll have a spear?"

"Works for me."

"Excellent," Duma said as he turned about and started walking out of village. Several other cheetahs came out of hiding places to follow him. "See you in an hour, my little pony."