Broken Howls and Tattered Leaves

Idea by Paw Print

May you always be bright.

---==Stalliongrad, The Slums==---

-=Underground Hunting Arena=-

Roseluck

Match 1

        "Oh..."

        That was all Roseluck could say before they forcefully tossed her into the arena. Well, 'tossed' may not have been correct. It was more of a 'polite nudge' with a sharp spear. A black, leather whip was thrust into her mouth as she stumbled into the sandy pit. The crowd watched her intently, few giving off catcalls which made her blush a bit. All eyes were on her, and this made her extremely nervous.

"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! Beings of all walks of life! We have a new champion in the making here in our midst! She has a dark and mysterious past full of dark secrets. Don't let her looks fool you though, she is deadly with her whip and isn't afraid to snare you in it's grip. I GIVE YOU THE WHIPLASH!"

        The crowd cheered and clamored to get a better look at the new contestant to gauge her for themselves. Most were just there to oogle her flank. She wasn't sure where the hell they got the name 'Whiplash' from, nor her 'dark and mysterious past', but she wasn't sure she liked it.

"Tonight is her first match in this arena and we have decided to start it off with a bang! It is The Whiplash vs Razorfang!"

        The other side of the arena exploded into chaos as a massive rodent with matted, brown fur and a large set of bloody incizors that were still wet from it's previous victim. The creature had a wild gleam in it's eye that made her involuntarily take a step back. The guards that were holding it's chains let it loose and dashed away into the safty of the monster cells.

        "Hey, do you even know how to use that thing?" Keet asked from her back.

        Roseluck couldn't help but think back to her younger days as a little filly alongside her sisters. Their father had been part of the Royal Guard and wanted his foals to at least to be able to defend themselves if the need ever arose. Daisy had inherited their father's skill with the longsword, while Lilly took easily to the rapier. Roseluck was the only one to choose a non-lethal weapon.

        "Yes, why?" She asked the parakeet that rode on her.

        "Whew, I thought you were some sort of pansy pony pacifist."

        Rose shot him a dirty look and took a defensive stance, circling the rodent. The way she held herself took a complete 180. She now looked strong and capable, easily flicking aside the charging squrrel creature with an expert crack of the bladed whip. She was no longer the weak and helpless pony Twigleaf had met in the forest. She was a fighting machine with nerves of steel. She was going to get through this and save Twigleaf no matter the cost. Keet was quite surprised by the personality change.

        Razorfang cautiously watched his opponent, wary after the stinging crack of the whip. THe match drug on and on as the two exchanged glancing blows, gauging each others strength and defenses. Roseluck was shocked by the level of sapience this creature possesed. But she knew never to underestimate an opponent, sentient or beast.

        "ROSE! LOOK OUT!" Keet called from above, causing her to turn her eyes off of her opponent for a millisecond. A chance Razorfang didn't pass up.

        Time seemed to slow down to a standstill as Roseluck watched the ROUS leaping for her throat. Her eyes flashed and her whip cracked like thunder, the leather cord wrapping itself around the monster's throat. The blade bit deep and with a slight tug, it slit the throat of Razorfang.

       Roseluck looked on at the giant rodent, it's eyes full of malice and rage towards her. Was it because she had killed it? No.... It was more than that. It didn't just hate her, it truly loathed her. But it didn't seem to be directed at her solely. Roseluck got chills as the life faded from its eyes.

"I-I'm sorry..." She whispered in reverence. She never liked taking a life. Even if it was a monster's. She held her head up and finally heard the cheers of the crowd. It disgusted her. Sure, Ponyville was a sheltered place, and everypony lived in happy peace, but she had thought it was mostly the same all around Equestria. How wrong she was.

"Aaaaaaand there you have it folks! A great upset by The Whiplash! Despite her demure appearance, she easily dispatched Razorfang like it was foal's play! Razorfang had a winning streak of 15 before Whiplash came along! Just what will she do next?! Come back tomorrow to find out!"

"Not coming back here, that's for sure...." She said under her breath as she made her way back into the waiting area where Azure and her friends were waiting to congradulate her. Keet softly landed on her back as she trudged back in.

"Wow, I didn't think you could handle a whip like that. You'll have to show me something later..." Azure said coyly. A round of 'well done's, 'Awesome's, and even a 'Holy Shmowowzow!' made Roseluck feel a little better, but she still couldn't get the image of Razorfang's last look out of her head. Azure seemed to catch on and gave Rose a concerned look.

"Hold on guys, Me and Rosie need to have a little chat. Mare talk." The stallions all groaned and let the two go as they walked to a les occupied area of the masive room.

"First kill?" Azure asked.

"No...."

"Then what is bugging you so much?"

"Have you ever noticed that the 'Monsters' seem a little too... hostile?" Roseluck said giving Azure a start.

"Hostile? Rosie... They're monsters. That is all there is to it. They want us dead more than we want to kill them."

"But something just seems.... Off somehow." Roseluck paused. "I can't explain it, but I can just feel it in my heart. These creatures are in pain."

Azure Lance looked on at the beautiful mare before her. She had an aura of confidence when she said those words and Azure could feel that she believed it entirely. She sighed and placed a hoof on Roseluck's shoulder. She could actually be happy and settle down with this mare, despite only having known her for a few hours, there was just something about her that just felt right to Azure.

"Look Rosie. I like you, I really do, but there are some things in this world that are a constant. Monsters are evil. Hunters kill monsters. That is all there is to it. Monsters can't think. They can't show mercy. Hay, they are just mindlss killing machines. Don't think too hard on it." Azure left Roseluck standing there and headed back to her friends. Roseluck didn't know hat to think. She thought that Azure may have been able to understand where she was coming from, having been doing this for longer, but she suspected that that was what kept her from seeing it. Azure's brother, Shielded Lance, trotted up to her slowly, each hoof fall sending a slight tremor through the ground near him.

"I am not going to lie and say I know what she said to you, but i do know she means well." He said.

"I know... but there seems to be something off about Razorfang. He was... Angry."

Lance sighed. "When Flash and I first started out our Hunting careers, we found our way here. At the time, the Arena was run by a Pony by the name of Night Bane. The creatures we fought here were true monsters, not these beasts today. Xerxes, the current owner, used to be a Hunter like us, but that changed when Night Bane died. he took control and soon afterwards the monsters became little more than mutated beasts. Nopony seems to remember the days when hunters would gather to slay the Great Wyrms. Days of comraderie and high adventure." He said, a wistful look in his eyes. He looked far older than he was.

"Come now, let us return to the others before Azure's fight comes on."

"Is she is fighting next?" Roseluck questioned.

"Yes, if I remember correctly, they have her scheduled to fight a Timberwolf they captured recen-" He was cut off by Roseluck gripping the front of his armor and shaking him furiously.

"Twigleaf? He's here?"

"I don't know." He replied after she stopped her violent assault, a sheepish grin and blush across her features. "I was not aware you tamed a Timberwolf, you must be formidable indeed."

"Well... No, he saved me from a manticore a few days ago and has been travelling with me ever since. He is really nice. He tries to make sure I am comfortable before anything else."

"Strange. I was not aware that Timberwolves could speak."

"Well, not exactly. He tried explaining it to me. Only beings who are closest to nature can even begin to hear him." She explained.

A Diamond Dog came out and announced that the next fight was about to begin and that Azure should get ready. Everybody in the room gave a cheer and wished Azure luck as she strutted out to face her challenge.

"I have a bad feeling about this...." Roseluck said as Azure disapeared.

"So do I." The large stallion agreed.

A Diamond Dog approached them and said. "Boss want see Whiplash. Meeting tomorrow night after rest."

Roseluck wasn't looking forward to the meeting. Hay, she just wanted to find Twigleaf and get out of here, but this presented a good opportunity to search the place.

"All right then. Tomorrow..."

/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\//\/\//\//\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Azure Lance

Stalliongrad Hunter's Arena

Night

"And now, for the mare you all have been waiting for.... The fierce, the deadly, the sexy..... AZURE LAAAAANCE!"

This is what i live for. The cheering crowd, the adoring fans, and the drooling fancolts as they imagined me in.... Compromising situations. I didn't mind at all, infact, I loved it! the crowd was mine and they hung onto my every action like it was the only thing in their pitiful lives. I kinda wish I could move on to some other arena where the wealthy and elite came to watch me fight, but those were shrouded in shadow and rumor. I needed something with more substinane to spread my name all the way across the world! Even Princess Celesta and Luna might invite me for tea or something. Not that i like tea, but you know, there are some pretty raunchy rumours about them both. I strutted out into the arena and blew kisses to my fans, watching them go absolutely gaga over such a simple act. They would never know who i blew the kiss to either. maybe that cute colt in the front row, or maybe that burly griffon.

"Tonight, we have a special game for all of you. Tonight is the 500th anniversary of the fight against the monsters of the Jungles when Stalliongrad was still young!"

Oh right. I had almost forgotten about the whole 'anniversary' fight thing. I didn't much care for it, but whatever floats the fans boats I guess. I was here to look hot and kick flank, and by the looks of this Timberwolf they were pitting me against, there wouldn't be much flank to kick. The thing looked seriously confused.

"Tonight you shall see our gladiators fight against the different species from the Jungle. First up is this rare strain of Timberwolf. As you can see, he is much larger than the normal Timberwolf and is much more deadly. They say that they once were guardians of an ancient deity, but fell into darkness when their deity forsook them. Now they are little more than beasts who hunt ponies and feast upon their corpses! Can Azure Lance overcome one of the Jungle's fiercest predators and claim the prize of 5000 bits? This pony thinks so. So place your bets and lets get fightin'!"

Really? Only 5000 bits? Oh well, at least I can get some excersize while I'm here. I hoisted my javelin and tossed it at it, just coming up shy of hitting it. The puropse of the javelin wasn't to actually hit it, but to distract it for a few seconds while I took to the sky with Star Striker, my trusty lance. I grinned and I struck the beast in the side, burying the lance halfway into it. It roared in pain when I tugged the lance out, carrying with it some of the beast's flesh. Of course, it was nothing but limbs and moss, but it looked rather grusome. The crowd was loving that bit.

I shook off the branch gore and locked eyes with my opponent. It looked like it was trying to beg for mercy! Is this really the best Xerx could find for me?! I wanted something dangerous! Not this sniveling pup! I charged it along the ground and thrust out Striker, only to hit air. I looked up and saw the stupid thing doing some sort of fancy acrobatic leap over me! I have some moves, but this thing was twisting in a way that would break a normal pony's spine. I quickly thrust the back end of my lance at it's head to try and daze it, but it spawned this massive.... Claw? Talon? No, it was too blunt, but it did a great job of grabbing Star Striker.

"Wh-what?!" I stuttered, this thing was alot smarter that I gave it credit for. Damnit! I just broke my Bro's number one rule. Never underestimate your opponent. I tried to pull it out of his grip, only to have it drag me close enough for our muzzles to touch.

"What? No dinner and a show first? You naughty puppy." At least, that is what I would have said in a normal situation. It just gave me a rather frightening look with it's golden eyes. I reaaaally underestimated this thing. I knew it was coming. I was going to die. This timberwolf was going to kill me right here and feast on my flesh. At least, I think it would have. I am going to admit that I don't know much about Timberwolves. I pulled out my short sword that I just remembered I had hidden on my and plunged it deep into it's chest. Ha! I win now stupid pup!

I pulled the blade out, fully expecting it to drench me with blood, but the blade was clean. I looked at the blade and then the wolf, only to hear it sigh and open it's chest. The damn thing was hollow! There was not much inside it, only a round pocket and a small sack that I had punctured that was leaking water, but was swiftly sealing back up. This thing was no monster, or beast for that matter, it was a golem! That sneaky, overgrown, bastard of a feather duster! Xerxes had tricked me! We never did get along, he always had a fetish for mares. He tried to add me to his harem, but I proverbally slapped him by saying I liked mares too.

"Go ahead and kill me monster!" I spat at his paws as he tossed my lance away. I turned away, waiting for the quick pain and the darkness of death. When that didn't come, I looked at it, confused. It just cocked it's head at me and I felt like it wouldn't kill me. Dunno how that works, maybe it was trying to communicate with me? I really should have paid more attention to Greyclaw...

"Y-you aren't going to kill me?" I asked. "But if one of us doesn't the-" I was cut off by Xerxes' paid mutts ran out and encircled us. My gaze went straight to Xerxes' private booth and I shot him the dirtiest glare I had ever conjured in my life.

I am soooo going to haunt you for the rest of your miserable life! I cursed him in my head. He smirked at me and flicked his talon away from him. They rushed forwards and impaled both me and the Wolf with their sharp spears. I coughed up aloooot of blood. Must have.... Hit something... vital... Y'know, death doesn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would. Sure, there was that sharp pain when the spears tore through my flesh, but after that was just this warm feeling. The Wolf tore through the spears as if they were the same twigs he was made of and cradeled me in those big ol' viney grabbers of his. THe edges of my vision went all fuzzy and my breath came out more and more ragged. I could see a field of amber grains gently waving in the wind and a pair of ponies standing there, as if waiting on me. One was a brown unicorn stallion with the whitest eyes and mane I have ever seen. It just looked so pure that I felt ashamed to even look at them. He just smiled at me and turned to the Pegasus mare. I vaugely recognised her amber coat and magenta eyes. She was crying, a mix between sad and happy. I could feel something sticky run down my face as I reached out for her. I remember her now...

"Mummy..." I practically sighed that last word as I felt my body go limp. I got back up and found my wounds were healed, my body felt lighter than it had ever in a long time. I looked at the Stallion and he smiled again.

"Welcome, Azure Lance, to the Elysian Fields." His voice seemed to echo and made me feel all giddy inside. "I believe that thou has a pony who has awaited many years to meet thee again..." Tears. Tears flowed freely as I hugged my mother for the first time in a loooong time. I'm kinda glad I died now. I hope that Xerxes doesn't do anything too drastic to that poor Wolf.