“Get up you idiot!”

My eyes opened as wide as I could get them to. The swelling deterred that, but I could still barely see my opponent, Bitter Brew, in his corner. I used what energy I could muster and pushed myself up. My forelegs wobbled in exhaustion, but I wasn’t ready to go down just yet.

The bell dinged twice; just in time for me to get a rest and avoid being pulverized by Brew. The crowd looked worried for me as I stumbled my way into the corner where Hearty and my medic waited.

“Come on kid, I didn’t invest in you for nothing. I know you have what it takes to bring him down. You HAVE to watch out for his downward hits though! You block and dodge nearly all of his attacks, but those you just take, and he knows that!” Hearty shoved the straw into my mouth. My swollen lip made it hard to keep it from running down my chest. “But he has a weakness too. He leaves his left side open with his stance, and he doesn’t bother trying to block it. Rather, he moves away from those blows. You can win by pressing into his left!”

The medic smoothed a bandage over the superficial cut above my brow, and applied anti-inflammatory balm around my eyes.

“Good luck kid, and remember what I told you.”

I met with Bitter Brew in the middle of the cage, and the bell rung out to signal the next round has begun.

Brew made an early attempt at a downward attack. I stepped back and raised by right hoof hard. Just before it made contact with his jaw he tilted his head just out of reach. My counter was countered by his sudden clip to the side of my head, inches from my ear. I could feel the side of my head become warm quickly as blood flowed from the new open wound. But there weren’t any time-outs in underground cage fighting.

Brew kept coming, and I took the advice of Hearty to stay away from his attacks from above. I needed to end this quickly, otherwise he’ll wear me too thin.

Another hit to my shoulder dropped my leg. Brew must have thought this was the time for a breaking blow. He reared up and was ready to bring the match to an end, but I had other ideas. His belly was open during his attack, in which I took my chance to make the perfect move. I recovered and juked to his left side swiftly, and with a single hard hit I launched my hoof into his ribs. I had to of broken something, because my hoof continued after a release of resistance from his insides.

Bitter Brew plummeted to the ring’s padded floor. Blood spewed from his mouth in a coughing fit. The crowd roared as Bitter’s trainer stormed his way out of sight. I became swarmed by the medics, as was Bitter Brew.

After being made sure that I was fine, the referee raised my hoof and deemed me the winner of the match. The excitement was almost too much for me. My head throbbed with pain, and my muscles ached from holding him off for six rounds. It was a glorious victory.

“Hello, Honey,” I put my leather coat on the rack after I entered through my front door. I heard shuffling come toward me from the bedroom’s hallway.

“Break! I told you to be more careful if you’re going to continue fighting underground!” Honey Dumpling emerged from the hall and embraced me. She let go and looked at me in the eyes. “Dear, you have a child that worries about you every time you leave. He hates seeing you with all these scars and bruises.”

“I know, Honey, but I make a lot of money from this. That’s the only reason you don’t have to work, and we have a wonderful life in a real house. Would you rather go back to living in that cockroach infested apartment?” I frowned, and she pulled her ears back in sorrow. She trotted around the other side of the couch and sat down. My heart dropped with a sad feeling. “I know you worry about me, and I’m sorry about that. If I could stay home with you and Blu I would, but I don’t want our son to have to live like that anymore.”

“No, I understand. I just don’t want you to get too hurt, or anything worse…” Honey Dumpling turned her head away. I reached my hoof around her neck and up her face. I pulled her head around and leaned in. Our lips touched, and I was glad she kissed me back.

“I love you so much, and I would never be happy again if I lost you or our beautiful son. If I died in the ring, I would be gone, yes, but you and Blu Dream would be given my life insurance for the rest of your lives. That’s over three thousand bits a month,” I smiled. She didn’t smile back, but I knew she was only concerned. She didn’t care about money; she cared about me.

“I have another fight in thirteen days. So until then, we get to spend the ten thousand bits put into my bank account.”

Her eyes brightened and her mouth dropped in awe. “How did you make so much?”

“I made it into the league. From here on out I make more and more every match.”

“And your chances of getting hurt also go up,” Honey’s face drooped again.

“I know. Trust me, I will make sure not to go too far. I myself cannot stand the idea of you and Blu being alone. Let me do what I do; I know you will worry, just don’t worry TOO much.”

She smiled and nuzzled me for another kiss.

“I was thinking… What are we supposed to do with that much money?” Honey gave me a questioning grin.

Author's Note

This is just the beginning of the story. Feel free to comment any ideas or corrections. Constructive criticism is always helpful.