DATE: February 25th
LOCATION: Appleloosa

[Perspective: Risk Reward]

Panic.

New Appleloosa was in a crazed, enormous panic. Everypony was screaming and trying to run from something, but none of them knew exactly where it was, so they were just running in random directions. The town had done a complete 180 from how it was when we arrived just hours earlier.

Nimble had run off to find False and Asylum, hopefully before they got into the fight. I was busy trying to find a place for Arrell to heal up. As it was, the best place for him was inside the saloon, if only because it was away from the sun’s intense heat.

A few of the ponies inside had actually been rather helpful once I explained what was going on. Two stallions offered to stand guard outside in case the pony with the headband came back, and another few stallions and mares were gathering together anything cold they could find to place around Arrell, who was lying on a table.

“C’mon, wake up!” the bartender shouted at the Windigo’s sleeping form. “Y’can’t just sleep through somethin’ like this!”

“He’s slept through worse,” I muttered. I felt a poking at my leg and looked down to see... “Nimble?”

He nodded. “False and Asylum are at the sheriff's office. The headband pony is there too.”

“Son of a...” I groaned and turned to Arrell. “Come on, dammit! Wake up! False and Asylum are out there probably getting their flanks beaten and you’re asleep! Wake up!”

[Perspective: False Front]

We didn’t stop to think. We just followed the cries of “Hadoken!” and found ourselves at the sheriff’s office. Ponies everywhere were running around, screaming like it was the end of the world. They were tripping over each other, galloping in random circles, and occasionally fainting from pure fear.

I have to say, if we weren’t in such a rush, I would’ve stopped to slap them all and yell at them to calm down. This was an overreaction if I’d ever seen one.

Dashing into the office, we found the pony with the headband holding the sheriff in a chokehold. I drew my sword and charged, catching his attention. He threw the sheriff to the side and ran at me, bringing a hoof back.

I swung my sword, trying to get a hit on him, but he rolled to the side and hit me in the stomach with an uppercut. I went flying up, and he jumped to get to where I was, punching me so hard I slammed down into the ground and left a crater at least a couple inches deep.

As I sat up, I saw the pony dashing towards me again and quickly rolled out of the way. Clenching my weapon in my mouth, I got to my hooves and turned to where I thought he was, only to find nopony there. Slightly paranoid, I looked around quickly, but couldn’t find him.

“Hadoken!”

He was above me.

I tried to jump away from the projectile, but I wasn’t fast enough. It hit my side, which hurt a lot more than you’d think. I cried out as I fell to the floor, my sword being flung from my grasp. My entire body felt weak and in pain; I couldn’t even stand back up to see where Asylum was.

The sound of collisions behind me told me enough, though. A yellow blur hit the wall, revealing itself to be the pegasus, now looking bruised. She groaned as she fell to the floor.

“Who the hell is this guy?” she asked, her voice straining.

“You think I know?” I finally managed to get back onto my hooves, though my side was still burning in pain. I barely turned around before I took a hoof in the face so hard I flew right into the wall alongside Asylum.

The pony with the headband just stared at us with a look of disapproval on his face, then turned and began walking away.

“None of us have reached our full potential.”

That was the last thing I heard him say. My vision blurred and went dark. Just before I slipped into unconsciousness, I heard Asylum groan again in pain.

[Perspective: Arrell]

...

...

...

“...th...a...el...”

...

“...now...id...er...”

...

“...rell...”

...huh?

Wake up.

...

Arrell. Wake up.

...I told you to leave me alone.

Yes. You did.

...

You need to wake up.

...no.

Your friends are in danger.

I’m not falling for your tricks again.

This is no trick.

Oh? I just got nearly killed by some crazy pony - an event that I’m willing to bet you orchestrated, again - and now you’re telling me to wake up and get back into the battle. I’m not throwing myself into the arms of death that easily.

They need you. Can’t you hear them trying to wake you?

Not over you.

Then listen.

...

“...ake up...”

...

“...can’t just...thing like this...”

...

“Come on, dammit! Wake up! False and Asylum are out there probably getting their flanks beaten and you’re asleep! WAKE UP!”

My eyes shot open.

I felt...alive. Healthy. Strong.

Dangerous.

Risk said something. I didn’t hear it. Other ponies yelled something. I didn’t hear it. I just got up and began walking.

Nothing around me registered in my brain. I had one sole focus in my mind, and it was nearby.

And then there it was. A red headband.

“HEY, ASSHOLE!”

The pony turned to look at me. Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, I saw a flash of confusion in his eyes.

“Round two. Fight.”

Author's Notes:

Actual battle next chapter. Please don't kill me.