It had been three months since her wedding, and Rainbow couldn't be happier. She and her new husband had enjoyed much time together during this time, getting even closer than before. Like she had said, she wasn't sappy or overly romantic. However, even she was able to show her share of affection to her husband.

Now, it was her son's birthday. He was turning seven years old, and she wanted it to be special. She had missed many of his birthdays for her work and wanted to make up for it in a way. She knew it wouldn't really do that, but she still wanted to try. So, she had procured some tickets to the local games.

The arena was packed, with hundreds if not thousands of creatures filing in for the day's entertainment. After grabbing some food near the entrance of the arena, she and her family made their way into the rows of stone seats. It was sunny out that day, but the heavy cloth awnings were extended, protecting them from the heat and the sun. The three of them took their seats down in the front row, right by the base of the Consuls box.

"Rainbow", Castus said, eyes wide in a mix of surprise and impressment. "How did you get these seats?"

She just smiled and said, "Being the Praetor has its perks."

"Heh, that's my mare!"

The three of them took their seats, her son bouncing up and down in his seat like at her wedding. Rainbow sat in the middle of the two of them, wrapping her wings over the both of them. Castus looked over the packed stadium in awe, thinking out loud, "Have you ever seen anything like this? Only the Coliseum in Pryha is bigger."

"Yeah, I have." When her husband shot her a confused look, she explained, "Back in Equestria, I was a fan of this group called the Wonderbolts. You know how I told you I was into stunt flying back when I met your parents, and how I showed off a bit?"

"Yeah! It was awesome, mom!", Depressi chimed in, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Thanks, Sport. Anyway, the Wonderbolts were like that. Professional stunt fliers, who performed public shows like what I did for you and your family. They also did things like races and stuff. They were popular among most of the ponies, but especially among other pegasi like me."

The conversation ground to a halt after a loud series of horn blasts sounded through the arena. Instantly, the constant speaking of the crowd quieted, and all attention went to the arena floor. From one of the doors, one the sands came a Caragor in a brown leather jerkin, a small kilt, and an old Mount-peaked helmet. He came to the center of the arena and began to speak.

"Citizens of the Empire, visiting foreigners and all those who come to this arena today! My name is Cameron the Pit Master! And it is my humble pleasure to bring to you the best spectacle only beaten by the Urbecalia games of the capital!" The arena burst into cheers, only to quiet down once again after he gestured for silence. "Let us begin! So, without further adieu, let the first competitors come forth!"

The doors opened up, and two figures began to slowly emerge. Rainbow then felt/heard her stomach let out a mighty battle cry; it demanded food like others who let out such a cry demanded blood. "Castus, would you be a dear and go get us some food?" she said in the best 'Innocent filly' voice she could muster.

Her husband had a flabbergasted look cross his feline features; a look that Rainbow thought was kind of adorable. "Oh, come on! It's about to start!"

"Then I suggest that you hurry up and do it", she replied with a shit-eating grin. And so, as the gladiators entered, her husband stood and made his way past the others in the front row, his movement championed by a chorus of "A thousand pardons, ma'am"s and "Excuse me, sir"s.

Looking back into the arena, she took in the two gladiators. She had, of course, heard about these games back when she was living in Pryha. She had never been to one, but Castus had told her how it worked. It was a bit like that Ogres and Oubliettes game Big Mac pretended not to playback at home, in a way. Each type of gladiator was like a class, and the various classes had various pieces of equipment and fought in a specific way. This would actually be her first time, and she was pretty excited herself.

The one on the left heralded as 'Zaan the Nimble' was a well built and muscular Zebra. He was of the class called a Retiarius: a fast, rapid attacker. To reflect this, he wore rather little armor, most of his coverings being a loincloth and a sling leather belt. What armor he did wear was a bronze manica arm guard with a large bronze pauldron on his left foreleg, along with a small vambrace on the other foreleg. The lighter armored limb gripped a trident spear, with several tips pointing out to form a fork-shaped business end. Hanging partially off of the pauldron was a weighted net, about the perfect size to ensnare an opponent.

The other gladiator stepped forward afterward, and Rainbow got a good look at him too. This one was a caragor, also incredibly well built, however with a bit more outward muscle. His armor was also heavier: a manica arm guard like the other one, however one that looked a bit sturdier and made of iron. Iron lamellar also ran along his sides back to his flanks, upper legs, and lower neck. His head was completely covered by a heavy, fully enclosed helmet topped with an overly ornate crest like a peacock. He was armed with the old Pedes short sword, and she could see a blunted dagger hanging from his belt. He was a Secutor; one named off as 'Cutler the Immovable'.

Cameron yelled, "Now, you all know the rules! First to disarm their opponent, get their opponent to yield, or to draw honorable blood is declared the winner! Now, Gladiators! Salute the crowd!"

Both of them turned to the crowd, bracing their weapons to their shoulders in the Pryhan salute. "We, who are about to fight, salute you!", they yelled. The two then crossed weapons as Cameron said something that was undiscernible amid the roar of the crowd. The two then stepped back, and the bout began.

Something that became apparent to her immediately was that it wasn't proper, Regimental fighting. Sure, they were no doubt skilled combatants who she could imagine could kick the asses of the Royal Guard. However, the fighting was much flashier and more elaborate than Pedes training. Again, not to the level of RGs or stage fencers or anything, but by no means skilled. Even knowing this, it didn't make her peel her eyes away. She, in fact, got on the edge of her seat, cheering along with everyone else.

The two went back and forth, trading blows and swings of the net. More than once, their fighting turned into a kind of controlled grappling, weapons locked as they pushed up against one another so much they went on their hind legs, trying to throw the other to the ground. At several points in the bout, one of them gained the upper paw/hoof, but it went away almost as soon as it came to them. She could see why it was such a popular sport.

Finally, however, one emerged victorious. Zaan got in a skilled strike over the manica, sliding it past the heavy plates and into his underbelly. The caragor stumbled back, dropping his sword to grip at the wound. The cheering reached a crescendo, the vibrations from the crowd likely being felt in the Castrum. Cameron declared over the roar of the crowd, "And the winner is: Zaan the Nimble!"

Castus then chose that time to come back, a platter full of bread, olives, and grapes on his back. He looked into the arena, muttering, "Oh, come on. I missed it."

"Oh, relax. You only missed one. The games go to five. It's", she paused to flip open and check her portable sundial. "Ten. You'll be able to see plenty of bouts. Now stop standing there like a serving maid and pass out the food already!"

Next Chapter: 77~Pirate hunting Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 7 Minutes