The New Champion Rising

Chapter 2: Arizona's Test

Day two on this trip and we're here at Arizona's home! It's quite cozy to be honest. Arizona and I walk up to a ranch. By ranch I mean a huge town full of bulls and the occasional sheep or unicorn. I smiled and then looked at Arizona. She had a smirk.

"First rule in Prairie, newcomers fight the champion!" She said. I smirked.

"Game on!" I said, noticing the barriers go up. Arizona's health bar popped up and it was certainly different. It was gold with horns at the end. "Nice bar," I said gesturing towards it. She smiles and the word fight appears. She charges and I jumped, my katana out already. I then suddenly remembered what she said. If you kept losing, you will probably die! I got onto the ground quick and blocked a punch from her and jumped back. I jumped off the barrier and held the blade part of my katana. I slammed the handle onto her head and jumped back as she head-butted.

"Come on Jack! Stop weaving!" She said. She got out a lasso and roped me in. I struggled, but I got a firm punch in the face and I felt punches everywhere. I jumped up when she made a thunder stomp of some kind. I looked at the HP bars and saw that half of my HP was taken away, but Arizona is still pretty firm. I landed on the ground to only be lassod, but I cut ties with her and her lasso shenanigans. I charged at her, and then I felt a surge.

"Power up activated," said a feminine voice. I honestly wish I had a metal bat so I'd be able to actually hit Arizona. As if magic happened, I suddenly have a bat instead of a katana. I blocked Arizona as quickly as I could. She knocked me down and started slamming on top of me. No not in that way gees, get your head out of the gutter dude! Anyway, I felt my bones break and I growled to myself and pushed her off. I swung my bat at her, hitting her in the face.

"Hey batter batter batter!" I yelled. Arizona then charges at me. I side stepped and slammed the bat down, slamming her to the ground. "Swing batter!!!" I yelled. I looked at the HP bars to see she has half amount of HP left as well as I do. I jumped back and got into batting position. Arizona huffs and stomps her hoof.

"You fight like a dairy farmer!" She said in a taunting voice. I smirked. She charges again and before she hits me, I jump.

"Olei!" I yelled. She turns around and my bat turns into a katana. I quickly gulped before I was uppercutted into the air. I felt so much pain as I was beaten up badly. I fell to the floor and got up weakly. Arizona stands over me.

"Jack, you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, give me a second," I said.

"Here let me fix that," she said. She bucks me into the air and I heard a beep. Then, it doesn't stop their, I was literally kicked back into a bar through a window. Arizona gasps and runs over to me as I laid on the floor. I got up.

"So this guy fell into a bar," I slurred as I started seeing double. For a second I thought Arizona had a twin. "And he said 'Wowy! I never felt a kick like that except when I drank!'" I finished, causing Arizona to chuckle. I then felt my lungs stop. Arizona then stands over me and freaks out. I can barely hear her, but I did try to calm her down. "Don't worry Zona, if you keep standing over me like this, I think I'll get better," I said as she tries her best not to slap me.

I woke with a start in a bundle of hay. I look around to see an adorable Zona and a moon. I've been in too many hospitals to recognize where I am. I sighed in comfort though. This hay is so soft, like, I could literally sit on a stack and watch TV all day. I look around again, feeling like something is missing. I then see my katana and sheath on a different stack of hay. I got up and walked over to it, grabbing it and then looked around again to see where exactly I am. I see a bar building, a clock building, and a hotel stand. No seriously, it says 'Hotel' on the board nailed to it, yet I don't see any beds. I look down. Hay. Hay's for horses dang it! Well I guess cows too. I look around, sleep becoming my enemy and trying to control me. I yawned loudly, fell and grabbed the closest thing to squeeze in a cuddle. I have no idea what I got but it's warm.

Next morning I slowly open my eyes to see a sleeping cow in my arms. I then realized that I am gonna die if Zona wakes up. I felt heat on my face and ears and got up instantly. What made me even more embarrassed was that I only had my sleeveless undershirt, underwear, and saggy jeans on. I started feeling cold after I let Zona go. I think I like Zona as her nickname. Which reminds me, I'm gonna nickname Oleander Orlando. The names are so similar. It's uncanny even! I then brought myself back to reality and focused on situation at hand. I put on my shirt and katana and sighed. The last thing I need today is a beat down. I looked at Arizona, sleeping as a peaceful ball of fur, which reminds me of a cat. I shake my head to regain reality and took out my map. I need to go northwest to get to the sheep state. I hear they are literally a bunch of idiots. I doubt it, but I'm gonna need to bring Zona along. I hear a groggy yawn and look over to see Zona getting up sleepily. She takes my arm, yanks me down onto the floor and gets on top of me like I am some sort of bed.

"This is awkward," I mumble to myself. I take Zona and carefully put her down beside me. Before I got up, she yanks my arm and I'm being cuddled by a sleepy cow. I grunted and got out of her grip. I huffed as I was free and then I sat down. This time, she grabs my chest and yanks me to her side. I sighed as I realize that I am not gonna escape. I yawned and drifted off to dream land.

I wake up and I look around. It seems to be somewhat 7:30 AM. I look to the town, new buildings setted up. I got confused and stood up.

"Morning you sleepaholic," a raspy feminine voice said. I smirked.

"Yeah you too," I replied in confidence. Arizona walks up a little slowly.

"Seems like Market's setting up early today," she said, looking at all the new stands and buildings. "See, markets aren't really part of our town. They set up each morning and get as many customers as possible," she explained. We then heard a bull's roar.

"Out of my way!" Boomed a voice. Zona sighs as she prepares herself for something. I tilted my head in confusion until I saw the biggest freaking bull ever! Next time I eat steak, I think he'll be watching. I gulped when he came to a stop in front of us. He kept panting heavily like an angry animal. Oh wait he's a bull, okay never mind. He stares into my would as I just nonchalantly wave.

"Hi, my name's Jack, and this is my travel buddy Arizaona!" I said. He huffed into my face. "You know, if you need a mint, you can just ask," I said. He glares before chuckling loudly.

"So this is the newcomer eh?" He asks Arizona.

"Dad, don't, just don't," Arizona mumbled. Her father gave a hearty laugh.

"Don't worry, I won't hit him!" He said.

"If you want to fight just ask!" I said. He laughs a little.

"You know my cards huh? Well, let's be introduced to each other first," he said. "My name is Texas, the best bull in the Prairie!" He exclaimed. Arizona clears her throat. "Sorry, second best," he said. I smirked.

"I'm Jack Curtis, lieutenant officer of Equestrian Military forces!" I said. Texas huffs and Arizona gasps.

"Equestria? The only creature from Equestria that came here is called a unicorn named Starswirl or something. Now you best tell me where you're actually from," he said.

"Equestrian soil," I answered.

"I don't appreciate liars here boy," the bull said.

"You're wrong, I didn't lie, I'd bring up my green card, but with this sunny weather, it's now a tan card," I said like a smart-ass.

"Boy, are you crazy?" He asked. I froze and looked at him in the eyes.

"What did you call me?" I asked. Arizona pulls me away and slaps me.

"Don't go on fighting him now, he's my dad," she said.

"Shame," I replied. Texas huffs.

"Fine, we'll fight another time, come on over to dinner, I set up a meal for your health," he said. I nodded and followed him. Arizona gave me a side glance fuill of worry before sighing and following me.