Chapter 41

Dave managed to creep out of Celestia’s bedroom and into the corridor where the two guards were still relaxing. They gave him a set of raised eyebrows as he pulled a white hair off his tongue and flicked it away

“Um… she likes to snuggle,” Dave gave a quick smile before rushing away and heading towards the barracks. He made it halfway before Strong Shield turned the corner and bumped into him

The black unicorn grumbled as he raised a hoof to his fresh stitches on his eye. “Watch where you are going next time”

“I’m guessing the alcohol has left your system.” Dave placed his hands in his pockets as Strong Shield nodded and began to walk towards the castle gates. “So what are we doing at this time at night?”

“We are going to see a match,” Strong Shield replied as they stepped out into the chilly air

Dave narrowed his eyes, “I take it we aren’t going to see a wonderbolt thing?”

…

The large Pegasus held up his hooves but could not stop the force from the unicorn’s buck from sending him against the stone wall. The Pegasus wiped the blood from the side of his mouth before being smashed in the chin by another powerful kick

“Oh and the challenger has gone down!” the commentator laughed, his hoof scratching the short stubble on his cheek. He looked down at the unicorn that had defeated the ninth pony to step into the dirt pit. “Will nopony stop this unicorn’s rampage? The bounty is up to five thousand bits for whoever can stop this monster!”

Dave sat with his wooden flagon of cider, his eyes watched the tall unicorn sit on a bail of hay and had a bucket of water thrown over him, washing the blood and mud from his black mane and yellow body. His cutie mark was two hooves being smashed together. The Pegasus he beat looked athletic but did not have the stamina to keep fighting and had to be dragged out of the pit

“I’m guessing that this is bare-knuckle…. Bare-hoof boxing,” Dave shuffled as another scruffy pony moved and obstructed his view. “Why are we right at the back?”

“Brawler has just managed to win enough fights so that he has been undefeated for two weeks straight, that is almost an eighth of the best record that was set years ago,” Strong Shield sipped his water and his face scrunched in disgust as the staleness stuck to his tongue

Dave shrugged, “So? Why are we here if it is only a really big unicorn? Admittedly he does look a little bigger than Big Mac but I don’t think he would last as long”

“Because this is the first time somepony has reached this far in months,” Strong Shield glared amongst the crowd, “Somepony wants to make sure his record is safe”

Dave looked back up at the commentator that stood in a box that was suspended above the mud pit. He was scanning the crowd and tried to tempt somepony to face the tough unicorn. His eyes widened as he saw a navy hoof extend into the air

“A new challenger appears!” The commentator tapped his hooves to get everypony to pay attention. Some ponies began to place bets as the challenger stepped forwards and dropped down into the pit

“Oh… shit,” Dave placed his drink down as he leaned forward, shoving a pony out of his way. Strong Shield narrowed his eye at the new challenger as he did a few stretches

“So what’s yer name old timer?” The commentator smiled down at the earth pony

The hulking pony smiled up at the commentator, “Battering Ram and I am just here for the cash so you might want to start bagging it up or write a cheque”

“Alright, Brawler against Battering Ram!” The commentator called out, “Youth vs… midday naps!”

Battering Ram continued to smile as Brawler scoffed and strutted up to the taller pony, “Dant worry gramps, I aint allowed ta use my magic in tha pit”

“So you have a disadvantage?” Battering Ram lost his smile, “You will lose either way”

“Yer carers must be out lookin for ya, they must think you gon crayzay,” the unicorn’s accent made Dave instantly think of the cockneys and gypsies that lived on Earth

The commentator smirked as the final bets were placed, “Rules! No racial advantage, that means no magic or wings! That’s all we got so far and it hasn’t done us wrong in fifty years,” he smirked, “Now fight!”

Battering Ram closed his eyes as Brawler rose to his hind legs to deliver the first blow. To Dave’s surprise, the earth pony did not resist as the unicorn began his vicious assault or bucks and punches. Battering Ram’s eyes remained closed as he muttered something silently

“What is he saying?” Dave looked at the frowning Strong Shield

“I have no idea,” Strong Shield leaned forwards as Battering Ram was pinned against the wall and his stomach began receiving powerful punches that would have winded anypony else. “He is counting down with every attack he receives,” he whispered in confusion

Battering Ram spat some blood from his cut lip as he was released from the wall and heard the crowd cheer for his opponent. He stood calmly as Brawler lined up a hook up and swung it into Battering Ram’s jaw

It collided with enough force to send the earth ponies’ head upwards, his eyes slid open as he mouthed, “Zero”

Battering Ram roared as he finally brought his muscles into use and brought his raised head smashing down into Brawler’s face. The smash from Battering Ram’s forehead let out a loud crack that silenced the crowd as Brawler’s cheek was crushed

Ram followed with a short and powerful jab to an exposed shoulder that resulted in another crack and the unicorn to fall face first into the mud. He hooked a hoof under Brawler’s waist and effortlessly lifted the unicorn over his head and slammed him into the wall

The crowd sat in silence, stunned that the unbeaten fighter was rendered unconscious in mere moments by an older pony that was allowing himself to take a beating. The commentator blinked as his champion was dragged out of the pit and was being seen to by a medically trained pony

“W-well what do ya know,” the commentator gulped, “The winner is Battering Ram and he wins the jackpot of five thousand bits”

Battering Ram happily stayed in the pit as the money was being counted, the crowd of ponies were reduced to low mumblings as their entertainment was cut short. Dave sat wide-eyed as he looked at Strong Shield

“What now?” Dave gulped

“Nothing, I just wanted to know if him and Flux were still in Canterlot,” Strong Shield nodded, “We are done here”

Dave looked down at the earth pony, he froze as he saw Battering Ram was looking back at him. The earth pony ignored Dave but shot Strong Shield an aggressive snort. Dave frowned as Strong Shield looked away, “Well I am getting answers!”

Strong Shield groaned as Dave stood up and took off his trench coat and shirt, leaving himself in his jeans. He marched down to the pit and dropped in, the crowd all turned their gazes as Dave pointed at Battering Ram

“I bet two bits that I will beat you!” Dave glared as Battering Ram sighed

“Fine, two bits” Battering Ram turned to face the human, sending a quick glance to the commentator, “it isn’t like anypony else is going to fight now”

Dave clenched his fists and held them up, relaxing one hand and letting it hover above his other arm. Battering Ram did a short stretch before his eyes danced around the room before landing on Dave

“Five,” Battering Ram whispered as Dave lunged forwards and planted his fist into his neck. He grabbed Battering Ram’s head and kneed him before pushing away

The earth pony recovered quickly and coughed before he whispered again, “three”

Dave ran at the Battering Ram, jumping so he could use both feet to kick the side of Ram’s head. Battering Ram staggered but recovered by the time Dave was on his feet and running at him

“I want answers!” Dave growled as he grabbed Ram’s throat, lifted him and jabbed under his ribs. The earth pony didn’t react to the punch but instead gained a grin

“How about this?” Battering Ram stretched his neck as Dave let him go, “Hit me one more time, then for every decent attack that you hit me with, I will answer a question”

Dave nodded as he swung his leg and kicked Battering Ram in the side of the head. The earth ponies’ eyes flared as he grabbed the leg before it could pull away. Dave gasped as Ram yanked his body towards him before swiping at his face

Dave groaned as the hoof smashed against his face and caused his vision to completely disappear for a split second. He pushed himself to his feet as he looked at the earth pony, his fists clenched as he ran at the smirking pony

Battering Ram hopped to the side at the last second and brought his hoof up to catch Dave’s head, mid-run. Dave reached out and grabbed the hoof that remained outstretched. He pulled himself off the ground and swung onto Ram’s back, punching the back of the navy head as soon as he could

Battering Ram hopped into the air and allowed himself to slam into the dirt, Dave taking the full force from the throw. “Alright, one question, go”

“What was that… counting about?” Dave grunted as he stood up, his back covered in mud

Battering Ram looked at the floor, “For everypony that I hurt, I allow myself to receive a strike,” he looked up at Dave. “In this case, five, you, Strong Shield, Flux, Princess Celestia and Noxporta”

“How does that work?” Dave ducked as Battering Ram tried to hit him with a flying punch. “Alright another hit, another answer,” he remembered

Dave inched closer to Battering Ram, waiting to avoid another kick or punch. When they both remained still, Dave made the first move of a quick punch aimed for Ram’s head. It was slapped away and the same hoof swung back to smack into Dave’s stomach

Dave collapsed to his hands and knees as he struggled to regain his breath, he glanced up to see Battering Ram begin to slam down with his hooves. Dave dropped to his side, avoiding the hooves, countering by using his legs to sweep the front hooves from under Battering Ram

As the earth pony’s face fell into the mud, he chuckled as he pushed himself up. “Alright, I am beating you up, one,” he dashed forwards and grabbed Dave in a grabble that involved twisting his arm behind his back and throwing him to the ground

“Your father is watching, two, Celestia and Nox are your family and they will be worried about your health, three and four… five is Flux, I promised her that I wouldn’t fight you unless it was necessary… I broke that promise”

Dave rolled away from Battering Ram and shook his head, mud clung to his dirty hair. “Next question, what were you to my father?”

Dave rushed forwards and tried to punch the side of Battering Ram’s head, his futile punch was blocked and he was struck across the head in return. But this time he flowed with the attack and used the extra force and twist to arc his foot up and kick the opposite side of Battering Ram’s head

“Heh… we were basically brothers, he would do anything for me and I would do anything for him, well… I used to,” Battering Ram sighed as he glanced at the glaring Strong Shield. “Our group started apart but we formed the greatest bonds that we struggle to break even when we want to”

The earth pony looked back and saw that Dave was missing, he tensed his muscles before Dave’s attempt at an elbow drop could hit his back. Dave yelped as his arm hit something as strong as concrete

“Ok, I guess I deserved that for trying a sneaky trick,” Dave stood up and nursed his arm, “But it was still a hit so… what will you do when you open the vault?”

“It isn’t Project Harvest!” Battering Ram spat, “If it is then I would gladly fight it and then hand myself in for all the crimes I committed”

Dave paused, “Harvest? What the hell is that?”

“It is a blasted abomination which was destroyed!” Battering Ram glared at Strong Shield, “It is impossible that it still exists”

“Fine, last question,” Dave figured Ram had stopped caring about the agreement but he continued anyway. “Why are you doing all this?”

“Because if a few of us sacrifice our time living then we can make everyponies life better, no war, no crime, no… sadness,” Battering Ram groaned, “Strong Shield didn’t join because he was too obsessed being a hero of the guards… he wasn’t even awarded when he stopped us the first time”

“You were killing innocent ponies,” Dave sighed as he stood up straight, his chance to prepare was taken as Battering Ram manoeuvred around him and grabbed his chest. The large earth pony grunted as he arched his back and dropped Dave on his head, gaining a gasp from the crowd

“The ponies we took were criminals,” Battering Ram muttered as he stood, “My question now… why do you fight so hard for somepony you still can’t fully trust?”

Dave glanced at Strong Shield, “Because he is family, if it makes him happier then I will do anything I can… even if it means me getting beat up to find out that you still have a soft spot for him”

“There is nothing soft about me,” Battering Ram snarled until he looked up at Strong Shield, “just tell him that… never mind, he wouldn’t believe me”

“Wait, what is it?” Dave looked at Battering Ram from his position in the dirt

Battering Ram chuckled, “Tell him I am sorry for knocking his son unconscious”

“But I am not uncons…”

THWACK!