The Equestrian Warden

“Comet! Look out!”

It was too late as I felt a large armored hoof slam into my face. I groaned as I felt something crack. Probably my skull. I hit the hard stone ground as the crowd cheered around us. Thunderhooves stood above me, his massive size and armor made him a true terror to look at.

“Time to die little pegasi.”

I groaned as blood leaked down from my nose onto my now broken lip. He let out a shout of victory as he reared up on hind legs, his large hooves ready to smash my head in. I could just imagine my head being smooshed like a grape, and seeing my blood splatter on the floor. And that made me angry.

“Not today!”

Thunderhooves let out a surprised grunt as I slammed into his chest with all my strength. Since he was rearing back on his hind legs my push managed to send us both toppling backwards with me landing on top. I felt a sharp pain shoot through the side of my body when I hit his metal chest, but the rage and adrenaline pumping quickly through my body replaced it.

I started to slam my hooves repeatedly into his metal helm. The sound of metal crushing beneath my hooves brought a sick smile into my eyes. I was a pegasi. My race were warriors. I had warrior blood in my veins. I ignored the pain in my hooves as they cracked, I ignored the fact that the stadium grew quiet as I continued my assault on the prince. Then to my surprise I heard a scream somewhere to my right in the arena!

Azura!

I hesitated for just a moment but that was enough. Thunderhooves slammed both his fore hooves into my chest pushing me off him. My ribs cracked and I hit the ground groaning as I rolled against the stone floor. The crowd around me cheered, and I heard the sound of armored hooves running towards me. I groaned and weakly raised my hoof in a pitiful attempt to fight. I was surprised to find a gentle pair of hooves take my own and slowly pull me up. When I got to my hooves the pony allowed me to lean on them. Then I realized it was Azura!

“Not bad pegasi! I never expected you to last this long.”

I gave her a weak smile, but where was Lord Onyx? When I looked back at the arena I saw the warrior was on his side, unmoving, his eyes looking at nothing. And on his neck were two large puncture wounds. I looked at Azura in horror, and that’s when I noticed that on the tip of her fangs were two large drops of blood. Azura looked at him with her sapphire eyes, there was no sorrow in them. However, I swear I could see a small sliver of regret in her eyes.

“I tried convincing him to stop. I tried Comet. He just wouldn’t listen. I had to do it.”

It sounded like she wanted to hear me say it wasn’t her fault, but before I could say anything a shout interrupted me.

“You killed my friend!”

We both looked up to see Thunderhooves glaring at us. He had removed his helmet and now held the sword I had before he hit me.

The large pony’s eyes were filled with a burning hatred that sent shivers down my spine.

“You winged feigns! I won't let you get away with this.”

He lowered his head and dragged his fore hooves against the ground. I looked at Azura and her back at me. He was about to charge. I looked Azura over as her eyes refocused on Thunderhooves. She didn’t seem to be injured, only a couple bruises and pieces of armor missing from were Onyx must have slashed her. We were in a bad situation. This wasn’t going to end well for either of us. Scratch that. Azura was going to be in a lot of trouble if she stayed with me.

“Azura,” she looked down at me, “you need to run. I'll only slow you down. You’ll have a better chance of beating him then me.”

She looked at me in silence, before shaking her head.

“Don’t give me that crap. You honestly think they would let me live even if I did manage to beat him. Nope. If I’m gonna die, I’ll do it standing beside my partner.”

I wanted to tell her no. I wanted to tell her to run, but I couldn’t do anything else. I was too tired. I used all my energy. Then Thunderhooves let out a loud roar and charged towards us. His metal hooves slamming against the hard stone made the ground rumble, he gripped the sword tightly between his teeth. I barely knew how to use that rusted piece of junk, but I didn’t want to find out how well he could use it.

“Azura…” I managed to croak as I held on tightly to her.

“She gave me one last glance before turning towards the charging earth pony.

“Damn it all.”

She groaned before she did something that surprised me and possibly everyone else watching. With a roar she bit into her fore leg, allowing her blood to drip on the floor. Suddenly she started quickly chant. I knew it was a chant for a spell, but I didn’t recognize any of the words. Then I realized why.

“Burn!” She shouted and suddenly Thunderhooves stopped in his tracks. His sword clattered as it it the floor, and Thunderhooves was screaming loudly.

“Help me!”

He screamed and I noticed steam was coming from the inside of his armor. His face was turning an unhealthy red, and I could see sweat pouring down his face. He looked around frantically for help before his eye’s focused on us, specifically Azura.

“Witch!”

He shouted and started towards us. His steps were slow, as if every step he took was hurting him. Then his skin started to blister. The blisters were growing at an accelerated rate. Blisters were glowing on blisters, and soon his hatred turned to terror and his screams were louder than the crowd around them.

“Please! Help me!” He cried as blisters started growing on his eyes, and soon his screams were muffled as they grew on his tongue. Azura’s eyes were cold and unwavering, that’s when I noticed that her sapphire eyes turned yellow.

“Shut up and die!” Azura growled coldly.

The prince groaned as the blisters closed his eyes and his tongue bloated up further with blisters. Blood slowly started to leak from his closed eyes and mouth. The heat from his blisters melted his golden armor and sealed it to his already burning skin. The prince was nothing but a big blisters ready to pop.

“Begone!!!”

She shouted, and that one word sealed his fate. His body expanded further until it finally popped. Blood, skin, and melted metal splattered against the stone floor. The earth ponies screamed in horror at their prince’s death. However, the proving master’s voice boomed above all of them.

“Our prince has been slain by blood magic! Magic is strictly prohibited in the Proving. Guards! Take them to their cells!”

The guards entered the arena through the gates, but Azura held me tightly in her arms her yellow eye’s turning back into their normal sapphire look.

“Come on Comet. We’re ok. We’ll be ok”

She whispered frantically as the guards slowly surrounded us and my vision started to fade. The last thing I heard was her gentle voice saying the same thing.”

“We’ll be ok.”