The 2nd Human

Time had let slip whatever meaning it held during the flight down the tunnels. Everything flew by in blacks and greens, eerie light and secretive shadows. Finally after soaring down a menagerie of paths, branches and switchbacks, Chrysalis and her guards landed to walk.

Hunter and Sage were dragged down a long corridor, the stone worn down and polished to a marble-like smoothness. A faint glow lit the end, growing subtly brighter as they pressed onward. Once they exited the hall it opened up to a small viewing platform. A large throne covered in luminescent moss stood proudly in its center, the light at the end of the tunnel. The entire space, no more than ten feet on a side, was ringed by an earthen bannister.

Chrysalis took her place, seating herself as the guards took up positions; two flanking her and one to each corner ahead of her. Hunter was brought to her side and Sage to the railing, where she was promptly tossed into the darkness, yipping in fear. A thud and ‘oof’ followed soon after.

Hunter tried to move but a hoof pressed down on his head, holding him in place.

“How sweet,” came Chrysalis’ voice. Hunter trained his eyes on her. “You’re worried about her, aren’t you? Perhaps if it wasn’t so dark…”

She clapped her hooves together, twice. Green flames sprung up on the guardrail’s top, quickly spreading to the left and right. In a matter of seconds, the outline of a massive colosseum could be made out, its stands packed shoulder-to-shoulder with changelings.

In the arena some fifteen feet down sat Sage, who was wincing as she rubbed the side of her arm. She gawked at the sight of her massive pen, lit by the unusual fire.

Chrysalis grinned. “Release the Alpha!”

A silent pause followed her words, only to be interrupted by the sound of stone grinding on stone. Sage looked over her shoulder to see part of the wall was being lowered slowly, and felt the vibrations shake her small frame.

By the time she had risen to her feet, the shaking stopped. Staring at the yawning darkness only served to heighten her apprehensive mindset, causing her breathing to quicken.

She stopped panting when the eyes appeared.

A low rumble filled the arena, and for a moment Sage thought another wall was being opened. Until it grew stronger, and stronger. Her body was thrumming in tune with it, before becoming numb as a deafening roar echoed across the underground colosseum.

Sage’s heart started back up when it stopped, only to have a case of frantic panting.

Massive, dark paws padded out of the shadows, followed by the horrendous head housing the glowing eyes. Its flat face, devoid of any muzzle, only accentuated the mouthful of foot-long fangs. The paws moved forward, bringing its mane, like a headdress made of quills, into the light. Tattered dragon’s wings appeared in the next step, and as it finally escaped the confines of the wall, a scorpion’s tail the length of a sea serpent uncurled from behind its back.

The crowds of changelings shouted, stamping their hooves in applause, as the beast slowly stalked towards its latest snack.
Sage managed to gulp once. Can’t feel my legs. Head’s getting woozy. Need to run, move, something, anything!
Warmth began spreading down her legs to her toes.

Oh come on! Now I wet myself? Ruff me with a sandpaper-

Her thoughts were interrupted as a paw was raised, aiming to smush her into a diamond dog pancake.

Move-move-move, move you leg-wetting runt!

The crowd cheered as the paw came down.

And then laughed as Sage sprinted for her life on all fours, all the while screaming, “I’m not a mouse you stupid cat!”

Hunter’s eyes had widened until he thought they would pop out of his head. Chrysalis had started laughing along with her subjects, the hoof which had kept Hunter’s head in place having gone to in front of her muzzle.

His eyes hardened, hands quickly reaching behind his back beneath his jacket. Hope this works!

The sound of ripping cloth attracted the guards’ attention, as Hunter shot up to stand on his good leg with a unicorn horn in each hand. Chrysalis barely noticed he had moved, until one of the guards had bucked him in the chest, sending him over the rail and into the ring.

Right onto the back of the beast.

With a muffled scream of curses, Hunter bounced off its armored spine and face first into the segmented tail. On reflex, his arms tried to wrap themselves around the monstrous appendage. It bounded forward, each stride taking it closer to a slowing Sage, who was gasping for breath.

With a surge the Alpha leapt forward, landing in front of her. She squeaked out a high-pitched yip, slid to a stop and was batted to the side like a cat with a ball of paper. After rolling, twisting and tumbling across the floor, Sage came to a stop in its center, unmoving.

The monster stopped moving long enough for Hunter to turn his head, and see Sage get hit. He could feel it purring with each step it took towards her.

Still got the horns, but this thing’s covered in bug armor! How am I-

…

Is that a butthole?

Without further thought, Hunter reached around and underneath the Alpha’s tail, repeatedly stabbing it in the anus. An ear-shattering yowl pierced the air, causing every changeling to cover their ears. The sound woke up Sage, who groggily raised her head to see Hunter continue his handiwork.

Before it bucked him off, sending him sailing higher than the arena’s rim, and towards Sage.

In her semi-conscious state it did not register she was on her knees, with outstretched arms, until Hunter landed in them, sending them sprawling towards the far wall. After a menagerie of ‘oofs,’ ‘ows’ and ‘ughs,’ they came to a stop a few yards from it.

Hunter coughed, tasting blood in his mouth. From his prone position, he could see Sage had curled into a ball and was crying her eyes out. Though he couldn’t hear her, or anything for that matter, he could feel the Alpha’s steps as it slowly limped towards them.

Leg’s broken. Sage’s got a bone poking through her arm.

…

I’ve got nothing.

Tears streamed down Hunter’s cheeks as he sniffed. He bit his lip to keep it from trembling.

Don’t have an earth pony’s strength. Can’t fly like a pegasus. No way I was ever gonna do mag… ic…

He raised his head, blinked away the tears.

The horns were half a step away from his hands.

… so. Death, or a gamble?

With shaking arms, he pulled himself forward. His leg and chest screamed with each inch he took, making him scream with every effort. With trembling hands he grasped the horns once more, pushing up on his knuckles to a kneeling position. Hunter took a deep breath before bringing his good leg up, and groaned until he stood upright.

He looked at the Alpha, a snarl twisting its face into an even more grotesque mask.

With one last, desperate yell, he raised the horns high-

-and jabbed their bases into his forehead.