Fighting is Magicby unknownmercuryChaptersThrill of the FightThe PlanRecruitingFresh StartThrill of the FightMaim dodged another magical blast, hissing a bit as the ground where he had been standing went white hot. If that attack had hit, he would have been a goner. The brown Earth Pony stared down his opponent, a black Unicorn by the name of Shadow Gale. The other pony laughed a bit, charging up another blast. Maim had been lucky so far, he knew. Every attack he dodged took something out of him, and for the first time in a few months he felt he slight rush of fear mixed with adrenaline. A good fight always got him shaking a little bit, and this was most definitely a good fight. "You're quick," the Unicorn stated, "but how long can you keep that up? A minute? Two? Five? All it will take is one slip and I will win the match. And you will be a pile of ashes. So I offer you this one chance. Surrender now, or I will be forced to kill you." Maim snarled, rage clouding his mind for a moment. He hated being told to surrender. It was against his nature, his very being, to surrender. Maim's eyes narrowed, thick muscles tensing in his back legs. If he could just get closer, the Unicorn would be unable to stand a chance. But his opponent had so far stayed out of the former soldier's range. Any attempts at closing had ended with a very fancy looking teleportation on Shadow Gale's part. Magic like that tended to be limited in how often it could be cast, but so far the enemy had defied all known restraints of magic. It was supposed to be impossible for a magic blast to melt stone without a very specialized spell. Maybe he was just that strong. But Maim had one thing going for him. He had experience in the ring. So far the match had consisted of him evaluating the situation, dodging magic blasts and making the occasional probing attack. As his foe prepared another spell, he enacted a tried and true plan. Kicking up one of his forelegs, he unloosed a clod of dirt from the ground. Spinning quickly, he bucked it towards his opponent. Shadow Gale laughed as the dirt smashed harmlessly against his shoulder. He fired another burst of his inky black magic, which Maim again dodged. With a smirk, he rushed his foe. Magic cool down was the only thing that seemed consistent with his opponent, and the longer he spent charging a spell, the longer he had to wait before he could cast another. As Maim closed, Shadow Gale tried charging up again. The energy flowed slothfully through his horn, and just as it reached the tip, Maim acted. He pulled up a loose rock, bucking it exceptionally hard at an amazingly close range. The rock smashed into the Unicorn's horn, which cracked very loudly. He was filled with triumph as the pieces of horn fell to the arena floor. Shadow Gale's screams of pain only lasted until the magical backlash hit his brain. Then, he dropped like a rock, twitching and frothing at the mouth. Maim turned his attention upwards, to the balcony where the ruler stood. The dark-furred pony gave a wicked grin as she stomped twice. Shadow Gale would live, though he would probably never be aware of his surroundings again. Maim bowed to the Lunar Empress before walking down the corridor he had entered from. A figure was waiting in his chambers, a brown cloak obscuring the pony's identity. Maim took quick stock of the situation. He had taken none of his weapons into the arena, and the figure was barring him from where he kept them. However, the other pony didn't seem intent on taking his life. He could not make out any discernible weapon bulges, and as he watched, it reached up to lower the hood. He reeled back a bit, as if he had been physically struck by what he saw. Sanding before him was a mare he had not seen in a long time. She regarded him with cold blue eyes that contrasted with her dark red fur. Tilting her head, she grinned. "What's wrong, Buckwheat? Surprised to see me?" "It's Maim. And if you must know, yes, I am. After all, you left the circuit before you'd even hit the top fifty-thousand. I figured you long reformed, maybe even dead." He frowned a bit, regarding the visitor cautiously. Her name was Blood Axe. At least, that was her gladiator name. Her given name was Blood Wine, and he had met her when they were both fresh recruits. The two had been a formidable team, and he had spent many a long evening in her company. She chuckled a bit, stepping forward. Her horn was glowing faintly, he saw; he hadn't noticed before because her magic aura was almost the exact shade of her fur. Only the shift in light as she moved gave it away. "Far from dead. Never reformed. I just switched occupations is all." "And I suppose you just came to stop in, see how I was doing?" "Close. Actually, I came back on a job and saw you in the roster. And since your name is the one thing someone can't take from you, I figured I'd come in and say hi." "I'm sure that's all there is to it," he said a bit sarcastically. She had switched jobs? What was she doing now if not arena fights? They were criminals, killers. The arena was one of the few places they could make money, unless... "By Luna's night, you've joined on with the Hunters." "Aaw, now see? You've gone and ruined the reveal. Always knew you were a smart lad, even if a little slow." She grinned. "Yes, I've joined on with the Shadow Dancers Hunt Clan." "The Shadow Dancers? Doesn't seem your style. All that cloak and dagger nonsense." "Well, the Blood Drinkers were all too busy dying to accept me." "Oh sweet Celestia, that was you?!" He stared in abject horror. Of the ten hunter clans, none had been more physically tough than the Blood Drinkers. Except that four years ago, they had all been mercilessly slaughtered, and none of the other clans owned up to it, which would normally net them much glory. "Yes, that was me." She gave a cocky grin. "They asked me to prove my strength. How was I supposed to know that they were all incredibly weak?" "You really haven't changed at all, have you?" "No. And I can see that you haven't either. Still fighting for the thrill of it?" "Always." He grinned a bit. The money, though there was much of it, was only secondary to his true reason for fighting. He enjoyed the excitement, the thrill he experienced when he was dealing with Death.Blood Axe had been the same way before she'd vanished. "Good," she stated, that smirk of hers growing wider. "Because I have a proposition for you. Think of it as one big thrill." The PlanMaim sighed a bit, sipping at the goblet that had been placed in front of him. An appreciative noise escaped his throat as he swallowed. There were two things that Blood could conjure instantly: her axe and fine wine. He set the drink down carefully, leveling his gaze at the red Unicorn in front of him. "All right, tell me again. Slower, with more detail." Blood sighed loudly, rolling her eyes. "I've already told you four times. The Shadow Dancers are wanting to expand their territory, but they're being shut out of Canterlot by the Rage Born, who own the arena." "And that's what I don't understand. Don't you think I would have heard if the arena was a Hunter establishment?" "They keep it under wraps because they don't want gladiators knowing. They use the fights as a sort of training ground slash testing area. If a pony can become champion, they get offered a spot in the Hunter's Den, and don't have to fight any more. They'll be absolved of all crimes and can be considered almost normal again." "And the Shadow Dancers want to destroy the arena." "Yes! Because the Rage Born own the arena, and the Lunar Empress enjoys the shows of the arena, and if there's fighting between the Rage Born and the Shadow Dancers, she's going to step in and the Shadow Dancers will be demolished!" "So how does this plan change anything?" "A champion has the right to challenge anybody in the Rage Born Den for any prize they wish. If a Shadow Dancer-- or two, or three-- can become champion, then they can challenge the owner of the pit and gain the deed to it." "Which would give control over it to the Shadow Dancers." "Which would mean that the Rage Born are driven out without the arena ever having to shut down. So the Empress stays happy, the Shadow Dancers extend their territory, and the Blood Rage are shamed by their loss." "And you want me to..." "To form an alliance with me and a couple other ponies to fight our way to the top. You'll be an honorary Shadow Dancer, gain status in the pit, and maybe be able to get your old life back." Maim sighed, sitting back quietly. The plan was good, but not without its flaws. For one thing, forming an alliance with new fighters would drop his rank back to the beginning. He was in the top ten-thousand, and that had taken him years to build up to with almost daily fights. To join a team now would be career suicide. Not only would his pay rate drop, but he might not have the luck he'd had before. This plan might actually kill him. Slowly, he took another sip of wine, showing that he was thinking hard over her deal. She was staring at him intently, eyes cold and flat. "I wouldn't ask you if you weren't my best option, Maim. But you're the only pony I know can get the job done." Her voice was pleading. "If you won't, then I'll have to quit the job. The Shadow Dancers won't like that." Maim scowled. She knew just what to say to make him feel guilty. He really didn't want to be responsible for her death. "Oh, all right, all right!" "Yes! Another victory for Blood Axe!" "Yes, yes. But I have one condition." "Name it." "I get to pick our third fighter." "You get to pick the fourth. I already have a third." "But you just said--" "I said the plan couldn't go without you. I did not say that I didn't already have a pony helping us." He scowled, pausing for a second. "Fine. but I want to meet your recruit, see if he's worth it." "Oh, he is. You'll meet him in time. For now, get some rest. You have a long day tomorrow, what with browsing the fighting pens for a good fourth." Her horn glowed for a second, and she disappeared in an eerie red flash. Maim turned and trotted over to his cot, falling into a restless sleep. RecruitingMaim watched with interest as the fight went on. Blood Axe had insisted on watching her Hunting Partner's fight before going to recruit his own fighter. The match should have been even, but it had been so one-sided that the betters had already collected their winnings. In the ring, a silvery-grey Pegasus stallion with a gold-colored mane and tail squared off against a bleeding white Earth Pony. Maim hadn't been at all surprised at the Pegasus' choice of weapons. Wing blades were standard issue for any of them that fought. What was surprising was the way the Hunter used them. Every Pegasus he'd seen use blades tended to fly around, diving at openings in their enemy's guard, effectively "buzzing" them. But the Pegasus with the skull cutie mark was standing firmly on the ground, wings spread out, using the blades like an Earth Pony would use shoulder blades, or a Unicorn would use an axe. He was amazingly good at it. Any attack his foe had directed at him had been parried and countered, leaving the Earth Pony's white fur dyed red with his own blood. Back Stabber smirked, rushing at the enemy, wing blades glancing off of the buckler that the Earth Pony wore on his left foreleg. The opponent started backing up, making sure to turn as he did to keep his back away from the wall. The whole time, Stabber never even broke his stride, and it was obvious to Maim that he was toying with his prey. With two blades, he could easily have gotten under the buckler and ended it. The Pegasus smirked again, his right wing lashing down with the blade, catching the buckler hard. At the same time, his left wing snapped outwards, the feathers seperating slightly. Five objects shot into the air, arcing steeply to slam into the defendant's back. With a gasp of pain, the Earth Pony fell. Stabber looked up to the judgement box, where the Empress of the Night stomped her hoof once. Execution was called for. Stabber smirked, leaning in to whisper something to the Earth Pony, whose eyes widened just before his head was removed. Blood grinned at Maim. "Didn't I tell you he was good?" "He's good, I guess. What were those things he shot though?" Maim turned away from the arena and started towards the exit. "Those are his feather blades. Before any good fight, he hides a few away between his pinions. When he unfurls his wings fully, they shoot out for a nice surprise." Maim nodded, going quiet as they entered the tunnel leading to the Blood Works. They found Back Stabber cleaning his Wing blades, as well as his own body.He turned deep green eyes to them as they entered, a cocky grin on his face. "Did ya like the show, mate?" he asked of Maim. The Earth Pony nodded a bit. "Yeah, you're good I'll admit. A little underhanded, very sneaky." "The Shadow Dancer way of life." "What did you tell that stallion right before you killed him?" "Oh, that. I try to make their last seconds as terrifying as possible. Tell them 'I know your family' or 'I killed your father.' Something to surprise them right before it's over. Gets a nice look stuck on their face, don't it?" Maim scoffed a bit. "If you say so. Finish cleaning up and meet us out on the street. We have to head into town." Blood Axe quirked an eyebrow. "Why do we have to do that? Isn't your fighter here?" "Nope. He isn't an arena fighter." "Oh? Do tell." "You'll understand when you meet him. And he might be able to teach you a couple tricks." A few minutes later, Back Stabber arrived. He wore a cloak to match Blood's, a standard traveling cloak with a knife-shaped emblem on the flanks. Maim turned, leading them into a slightly better part of Canterlot. When they got to the Kelpy's Pool tavern and inn, a fight was just brewing. Maim led the way, ducking off to the left quickly to avoid drawing attention to himself. his two companions loitered in the doorway for a moment, surveying the large room. Four ponies were gathered around a table, cursing and spitting. They looked like the least worrisome of the bunch, despite the multiple scars each bore, and the missing eye of one. Blood turned to follow Maim, murmuring to Stabber. "Tough crowd. Think we could take them?" "My dear Blood," he replied, "we are two expertly trained Hunters with very powerful techniques at our disposal. If it comes down to a fight, we shan't have any trouble." He grinned. "Besides all that, your friend here doesn't seem worried, so we shouldn't either." Maim had moved to a table in the corner, where he could watch the crowd without being in any danger of getting attacked from behind. He was watching the crowd of four in the middle of the room as they pestered a concealed figure. The room was quiet as the rest of the tavern watched, waiting to see how things would pan out. A sudden purple glow lit the room spectacularly, and one of the molesters dropped to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain. The other three all moved forward, but they met with empty air as their target danced out of the way. Other ponies were standing, moving towards the action. Nopony had a side, they just all wanted to hit somepony. The original fighters were squaring off against a dark purple Unicorn with a blue and red striped mane and tail. The Unicorn's eyes were covered with bandages, but this did not seem to inhibit his fighting abilities. He ducked back from a kick from the right and retaliated with another surge of magic that dropped another foe. He proceeded to dodge around his other two aggressors, levitate his tankard to drain it into his mouth, and donkey kick the third opponent to the ground. The fourth attacker jumped at the Unicorn, who just grinned, his horn flaring up again. The pony disappeared, but now a potted fern was flying through the air. It smashed into the wall next to Maim, who didn't so much as bat an eye. The rest of the bar crowd had gotten into a full out brawl. The Unicorn casually ducked, bobbed, and weaved his way to the bar to order another tankard of ale. As he took it, his magic surged once more, and Blood and Stabber jumped in surprise as he appeared at the table with them. "'Ello there, sweethearts. You dun mind if'n I sssit here, do ya?" He half-collapsed into the available seat across from Maim, a drunken grin on his face. Blood turned to Maim. "Ugh, can we please just find your fighter and have done with this?" Maim chuckled lightly, turning to the Unicorn. "This is my fighter. Everyone meet Blind Drunk." "This is your fighter?! Buck-- Maim, he's an absolute lush!" Blood was furious, her normal cold eyes showing passionate rage. "Lush is as lush does, sweetheart," the Unicorn replied, hiccuping as he took another swig. He set the cup down with a loud belch, causing Blood to flatten her ears and try to retreat from him. "Please tell me this is some joke, Maim. Perhaps you were meaning to grab a different Unicorn? One who's not quite so... inebriated." Stabber, who had been silent up until that point, chuckled. "He's not half as drunk as he would like us to think. The whole thing's a ruse." "What? Are you certain?" The red mare frowned, leaning forward, examining closely. "How can you tell? He absolutely reeks of alcohol." The newcomer chuckled, pushing his tankard away. "Of course I do," he said in a much soberer voice. "I spend my day drinking and fighting and fighting and drinking." He smirked. "I just don't get drunk." "Maim, explain please." "Blind Drunk has two handicaps. The first is that he's blind, obviously." "Had my eyes cut out by bandits when I was but a colt," the drunkard supplied. "How dreadful," Blood commented, cringing a bit. "And the other handicap is that he has almost no personal store of magic. You of course know how a Unicorn's magic works." "Yes... Unicorns all have a pool of energy devoted specifically to magic that they can tap into at any time. And when they draw from that pool, they think of the runes for the spell they want to cast and channel the magic through their thoughts. That's a simple explanation of course..." "Of course. But Blind here, his pool is more of a puddle. He has the potential to store huge amounts of magical energy, but his body produces a much lower amount than most Unicorns." "But he teleported! He uses telekinesis! He transformed that one stallion and used a spell I've never even heard of to drop two more!" "Yes, and the way he did that was he imbibed a large amount of alcohol, and used what little magic he had to channel a spell of his own creation." "The spell only has one rune," Blind cut in, grinning. "The rune for alteration. I channel all my magic through that rune into my ale as I drink it, and it turns the liquor into magical energy instantly, filling up my mana pool." He grinned. "And I'm the only one who can do it." "Oh, and why is that?" "Because, my dear, I have next to no magic. When a normal unicorn does a simple spell, they have a base minimum of how much magic gets poured through it. For instance, if you were to use the single alteration rune, you would end up converting whatever you concentrated on into a material that explodes on contact with air. That's actually the basis for most casters' explosive spell, actually. But me, I don't have enough magic to do that. Instead, I have just enough that I can control the alteration into something easily found. I could turn my ale into water, or soda if I wished, but mana's much more useful in liquid form. And since I'm used to channeling low amounts of energy, I can do it even with more magic energy, allowing me to repeat the process indefinitely." "And that is why I came to him. He can literally make mana." "One more thing," Blood said. "If you truly are blind, how do you fight so well." "Another instance of a handicap being a great asset. Since I was blinded at such a young age, I adapted my other senses. I could hear a pin drop in that crowded arena and pinpoint its location. I can recognize an individual pony's scent up to a block away. I can feel the slightest variation in texture. I can taste any trace of poison in even the strongest drink. But most importantly, I can sense even the slightest trace of magic." "I'm not sure I understand how that helps you fight four Earth Ponies. Or Pegasi for that matter." "It's simple. Everypony has some form of magic unique to their species. What would a Unicorn be without simple levitation? Likewise, a Pegasus has natural magic that comes in the form of flight, weather control, and cloud walking. That has to come from somewhere, and it just happens to come from their body. The same goes for Earth Ponies, with their natural tie to the earth. Ones who are skilled in their magic can even direct it to feel for tunnels, or to alter a harvest to be better. It's in their blood, and I can feel it." There was a silence as Blood Axe took this all in. This Unicorn was ridiculously powerful, despite his handicaps. She turned to Maim quietly. "All right, he's in. We have our fourth." "Someone mind filling a simple lush in on what's going on?" They spent the rest of the night drinking and being merry. For tomorrow, they would find themselves fighting for their lives. Fresh StartMaim stared across the table at his companion, a pink Unicorn that was barely more than a filly. She was glaring at him with unbridled rage. "You're forming an alliance now?! Maim, you just hit eighty-five-K. You realize what this is going to do to your career-- or more importantly, my profits?!" She was one of his biggest monetary supporters. She had bet on him in his early days after Blood had left, when the odds against him were so long that nopony in their right mind would place money on him. She had done so anyways, and won a small fortune. Afterwards, she had approached him as a sponsor. She would pay for his food and personal quarters at the arena, as well as buy any weapons or armor he needed. In exchange, he would give her eighty percent of all money he won in a fight. He'd agreed simply because he didn't much care for money. Now, he was dropping his rank, and his pay was going with it. Instead of reaping in two-thousand bits per fight, he would crape by with a bare minimum of ten. Instead of having his fights be advertised across the city to bring in more profit, he and his team would have to drag their way slwoly to the point where advertisement was even possible. His sponsor, Cherry Blossom, had every right to be angry at him. He, however, just shrugged. "I wouldn't be doing this without good reason. Besides, with a four pony team and cumulative ranking, I'll be back in the top hundred-thousand soon." "Not if you die along the way, Maim! I saw you in earlier times! You won a lot of fights based off of a lucky shot, or because your opponent was crippled, or didn't want to fight. Your luck isn't going to hold you through a second time!" "No, but I also have a lot more practice now than I did back then. And I have a good sponsor who will make sure that my team and I receive the best gear and training we can get. Right?" "... Ugh, fine! I've already put this much into you, and what's a few hundred bits when you've earned me millions." "That's the spirit. Would you like to meet the others that you're going to be sponsoring?" "I suppose it's necessary.." She stood, trotting past him towards the blood works. "So, am I trading in your private room for a suite? Maybe you'd like to move into town somewhere?" "We'll discuss it with them. You won't have to worry about gear too badly. I'm set from years past, two of them are already funded for supplies, and the third doesn't use armor or weapons." "No armor or weapons? He's asking for death." "He says it 'encumbers' him. But he's fine without it, believe me. Though you might invest in a supply of strong mead." "Mead?" "You'll understand all when you meet them." Their group was down in the blood works, joking with each other as they cleaned themselves. All three had had matches that day, though Maim and Cherry Blossom had missed them for negotiations. Stabber was just congratulating Blind over his first paid fight. Blind was grinning like a fool as he cleaned the blood off of his horn and forehead. Blood Axe turned to Maim and Cherry, smiling a bit. "Hello Buckwheat. Ah, is this the infamous sponsor who steals most of your wealth?" "She doesn't steal it, I give it to her," Maim corrected, sighing. "Yes. This is Cherry Blossom. She's going to be our sponsor and treasurer. We give her some of our winnings and she uses her resources to buy us gear, lodging, training..." Blind turned his head towards them, smiling. "What about mead? I get cranky without it." Cherry Blossom frowned. "Yes, I'll buy your liquor for you if it will keep you out of trouble." "Woo! I like her, Maim!" "You like anyone who buys you a drink." Maim rolled his eyes a bit. Blind apparently had no intention of revealing his true depths to what was effectively his new boss. Maim couldn't really blame him, since Cherry might cut him off otherwise. "Now, something that Maim and I were just discussing. I can pay for you each to have individual lodging, but it would cost a good deal of money until you get up on the charts. Or, I can pay for a set of rooms for the four of you outside of the arena, but still owned by them. It will be cheaper, but you'll have to share space with one another." Blood looked to Stabber, shrugging. "We're Hunters, so close quarters don't bother us." "I'm a drunken lay-about, I can't take care of myself," Blind put in. Maim chuckled. "I guess it's unanimous then. Cheap set of rooms it is." "All right then, I'll make the necessary arrangements with the owners. There's actually a nice apartment just down the street from my place." The announcer was probably the least important pony on the arena's payroll. Her job was to tell who was participating in each fight, and that was it. No commentary was necessary for the brutal fights, so she usually kept her mouth shut. To make up for this fact, she tended to get a little long-winded with introductions. Like right now, for instance. "I cannot believe this folks, what an odd turn of events! Maim has joined into a partnership with three fresh faces! Or maybe I should say two fresh faces and an old blast from the past. That's right, his old partner has returned from her extended vacation. Anyone else think she was dead? But she's not! Blood Axe the barbaric Unicorn is ready to fight again! "Along with them is a Pegasus by the name of Back Stabber, a master of the Wing Blades favored by his kind. I've never seen anyone fight quite like him! And then a fourth member, a Unicorn named Blind Drunk. I don't know what he does exactly, but his first fight ended with workers having to scrape pasty pieces of pony off of the walls and floor. Team Ravage is here to fight for your entertainment today!" The crowd cheered, and Maim had to hand it to her. That pony knew her job. As he led his teammates out into their first exhibition, he kept his head up and his eyes forward. Exhibition matches were used to show off a new fighter or team without risking them actually dying. The fight usually went until first blood had been drawn, though in this case it would be the team with the last unblooded fighter who won. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Blind take a deep swig from a wine skin, belching a bit for effect. The other team stepped from the other tunnel at the side of the arena. Maim couldn't conceal the look of surprise on his face. Four of Empress Luna's Night Guard stood across from them, bat wings splayed, fangs bared. These ponies had black fur and dark blue manes, their eyes a deep red color. And, worse, they all wore silver armor that would protect them from most attacks. "And the second team: a group of Luna's guard, trying to regain favor with their Empress. Who will win this fight? Let's find out." This wasn't a fair fight. Maim grinned a bit, flexing his right foreleg a bit. Before coming up, he had had Blood wrap said leg in a device of his own creation. It was a leather harness with several spikes, nails, and barbed hooks sticking out of it. If he hit somepony with it, they would bleed. But it wouldn't go through that armor, which meant he had to go for their faces. Excessive violence always put him in a good mood. He saw Blood's axe appear, surrounded in her dark red magic. Stabber's blades flashed in the noon light. Blind hiccuped loudly as he took another swig of ale, his horn flaring to life. Maim grinned. "I'll take the ugly one." Blood snorted. "You always get the ugly one. I suppose I'll take the one on the left." Stabber nodded. "I'll go for the one in back there." "Whish meansh that I'm takin' the one on the riiight, right?" "Right." The match started, and both teams surged forward. Blood's axe flew forward in front of her, swinging at the Night Guard she had chosen to attack. The bat-winged Pegasus dodged it nimbly and came down at her, fangs bared. As he got closer, her horn glowed and a shot of dark red magic hit him in the shoulder, sending him spinning through the air and down to the ground. Maim turned his attention away as he neared his opponent. He smirked the slightest bit, raising his weapon-leg to swing wildly, throwing the guard off the attack. The Night Guard watched him coolly for a moment, then leaped into the air, moving to buzz Maim. Maim ducked just in time, feeling the hairs along his back get cut shorter by the blades. He cursed to himself, spinning to face his opponent. Stabber and the third guard were circling each other in the air, occasionally flying forward to slice wildly at each other and miss. The two kept their distance, gauging their opponent's strength. Blind, meanwhile, was having absolutely no problem fighting his guard. He was always moving two seconds ahead of any attack made, and despite his tumbling and spinning, he seemed to have no trouble avoiding the lethal blades. With a sudden vicious grin, he focused on his horn. The flash of purple light was blinding, and when it cleared there was no more Night Guard in front of him. Instead, the sand was scorched and there was the outline of a pony in the soot. He turned, staggering his way towards Maim's fight. Maim raised his leather-clad hoof, catching the blade on the guard's wing. With a roar of triumph he shifted his weight, pulling the unfortunate Pegasus to the ground. He brought the sharp point of several hooks to the guardspony's face. He felt a barbed fishing hook meant for catching larger fish dig into the opponent's cheek and pulled back and upwards, ripping off a chunk of flesh and black fur. The guard screamed, blood gushing out as his cheek was torn off, revealing sharp white teeth and tender pink gums. Blood Axe had advanced her technique since the last time Maim had fought with her. Instead of one large axe, she now was able to create multiple ones, each independent of one another in its attack. As the crowd cheered her on, Blood brought them all at the guard from different directions. The bat-winged pony flew up to avoid them, failing to see the one that was coming from above. It dug into his back and he gasped, falling to the sand as his spine was severed. Stabber had engaged his opponent in a more personal fight, opting to grab hold and slice at him instead of buzzing around him. The enemy had no maneuverability as the Hunter wrapped his legs around the soldier's waist. He dug one blade into the joint of his opponent's wing. As they fell, he jerked the blade up, dismembering the appendage. He let his foe go, watching him drop helplessly. The crowd was going ballistic. They had never seen such a bloody exhibition fight before. The four survivors turned to look up at their Empress, who was laughing at her guards' misfortune. In a swirl of stars and darkness, she appeared in the arena herself. She approached the remains of her guards, horn glowing. "Tell me now why I should just kill you painlessly. You have disappointed me greatly, and that deserves suffering." Wild cheers swept through the crowd as Luna ensnared her guards. None of them responded to her, resigning themselves to their fates. As the first scream built in their throat, four fighters moved in front of Luna. Each had stepped forward independently, none waiting for their comrades. Somehow, they all wore identical expressions of fury, and the scene was bathed in red and purple as the Unicorns powered up. It was Maim who spoke. "I would rather you kill them and have done with it, your majesty. They fought well, and deserve an end." Luna regarded him with a cold, calculating look. Her horn was still glowing faintly, but she was not actively casting a spell. "Only the noble would stay the suffering of their foes. For that, I will give you your wish. Step aside, and watch." The team did as they were told. The Night Guards were stripped of their lunar alignment, returning to normal ponies of different colors. With a quick spell, Luna had destroyed them, leaving not a trace of their existence. She then turned to the others. "This fight was not to end in death, yet all your opponents are dead. This fight called for first blood, but you all chose to disfigure them. You are easily the most violent cutthroats I've ever seen." She smirked lightly. "It has been long since I have involved myself int he arena. But you four have caught my eye, and earned my contribution. Your sponsor is named Cherry Blossom, correct? I would have words with that one. Just remember what happens to those who displease me. And do not think to stand against me again." The four bowed, Maim muttering a "By your leave," and Luna vanished again as the four of them retreated to the blood works.
Thrill of the FightMaim dodged another magical blast, hissing a bit as the ground where he had been standing went white hot. If that attack had hit, he would have been a goner. The brown Earth Pony stared down his opponent, a black Unicorn by the name of Shadow Gale. The other pony laughed a bit, charging up another blast. Maim had been lucky so far, he knew. Every attack he dodged took something out of him, and for the first time in a few months he felt he slight rush of fear mixed with adrenaline. A good fight always got him shaking a little bit, and this was most definitely a good fight. "You're quick," the Unicorn stated, "but how long can you keep that up? A minute? Two? Five? All it will take is one slip and I will win the match. And you will be a pile of ashes. So I offer you this one chance. Surrender now, or I will be forced to kill you." Maim snarled, rage clouding his mind for a moment. He hated being told to surrender. It was against his nature, his very being, to surrender. Maim's eyes narrowed, thick muscles tensing in his back legs. If he could just get closer, the Unicorn would be unable to stand a chance. But his opponent had so far stayed out of the former soldier's range. Any attempts at closing had ended with a very fancy looking teleportation on Shadow Gale's part. Magic like that tended to be limited in how often it could be cast, but so far the enemy had defied all known restraints of magic. It was supposed to be impossible for a magic blast to melt stone without a very specialized spell. Maybe he was just that strong. But Maim had one thing going for him. He had experience in the ring. So far the match had consisted of him evaluating the situation, dodging magic blasts and making the occasional probing attack. As his foe prepared another spell, he enacted a tried and true plan. Kicking up one of his forelegs, he unloosed a clod of dirt from the ground. Spinning quickly, he bucked it towards his opponent. Shadow Gale laughed as the dirt smashed harmlessly against his shoulder. He fired another burst of his inky black magic, which Maim again dodged. With a smirk, he rushed his foe. Magic cool down was the only thing that seemed consistent with his opponent, and the longer he spent charging a spell, the longer he had to wait before he could cast another. As Maim closed, Shadow Gale tried charging up again. The energy flowed slothfully through his horn, and just as it reached the tip, Maim acted. He pulled up a loose rock, bucking it exceptionally hard at an amazingly close range. The rock smashed into the Unicorn's horn, which cracked very loudly. He was filled with triumph as the pieces of horn fell to the arena floor. Shadow Gale's screams of pain only lasted until the magical backlash hit his brain. Then, he dropped like a rock, twitching and frothing at the mouth. Maim turned his attention upwards, to the balcony where the ruler stood. The dark-furred pony gave a wicked grin as she stomped twice. Shadow Gale would live, though he would probably never be aware of his surroundings again. Maim bowed to the Lunar Empress before walking down the corridor he had entered from. A figure was waiting in his chambers, a brown cloak obscuring the pony's identity. Maim took quick stock of the situation. He had taken none of his weapons into the arena, and the figure was barring him from where he kept them. However, the other pony didn't seem intent on taking his life. He could not make out any discernible weapon bulges, and as he watched, it reached up to lower the hood. He reeled back a bit, as if he had been physically struck by what he saw. Sanding before him was a mare he had not seen in a long time. She regarded him with cold blue eyes that contrasted with her dark red fur. Tilting her head, she grinned. "What's wrong, Buckwheat? Surprised to see me?" "It's Maim. And if you must know, yes, I am. After all, you left the circuit before you'd even hit the top fifty-thousand. I figured you long reformed, maybe even dead." He frowned a bit, regarding the visitor cautiously. Her name was Blood Axe. At least, that was her gladiator name. Her given name was Blood Wine, and he had met her when they were both fresh recruits. The two had been a formidable team, and he had spent many a long evening in her company. She chuckled a bit, stepping forward. Her horn was glowing faintly, he saw; he hadn't noticed before because her magic aura was almost the exact shade of her fur. Only the shift in light as she moved gave it away. "Far from dead. Never reformed. I just switched occupations is all." "And I suppose you just came to stop in, see how I was doing?" "Close. Actually, I came back on a job and saw you in the roster. And since your name is the one thing someone can't take from you, I figured I'd come in and say hi." "I'm sure that's all there is to it," he said a bit sarcastically. She had switched jobs? What was she doing now if not arena fights? They were criminals, killers. The arena was one of the few places they could make money, unless... "By Luna's night, you've joined on with the Hunters." "Aaw, now see? You've gone and ruined the reveal. Always knew you were a smart lad, even if a little slow." She grinned. "Yes, I've joined on with the Shadow Dancers Hunt Clan." "The Shadow Dancers? Doesn't seem your style. All that cloak and dagger nonsense." "Well, the Blood Drinkers were all too busy dying to accept me." "Oh sweet Celestia, that was you?!" He stared in abject horror. Of the ten hunter clans, none had been more physically tough than the Blood Drinkers. Except that four years ago, they had all been mercilessly slaughtered, and none of the other clans owned up to it, which would normally net them much glory. "Yes, that was me." She gave a cocky grin. "They asked me to prove my strength. How was I supposed to know that they were all incredibly weak?" "You really haven't changed at all, have you?" "No. And I can see that you haven't either. Still fighting for the thrill of it?" "Always." He grinned a bit. The money, though there was much of it, was only secondary to his true reason for fighting. He enjoyed the excitement, the thrill he experienced when he was dealing with Death.Blood Axe had been the same way before she'd vanished. "Good," she stated, that smirk of hers growing wider. "Because I have a proposition for you. Think of it as one big thrill."
The PlanMaim sighed a bit, sipping at the goblet that had been placed in front of him. An appreciative noise escaped his throat as he swallowed. There were two things that Blood could conjure instantly: her axe and fine wine. He set the drink down carefully, leveling his gaze at the red Unicorn in front of him. "All right, tell me again. Slower, with more detail." Blood sighed loudly, rolling her eyes. "I've already told you four times. The Shadow Dancers are wanting to expand their territory, but they're being shut out of Canterlot by the Rage Born, who own the arena." "And that's what I don't understand. Don't you think I would have heard if the arena was a Hunter establishment?" "They keep it under wraps because they don't want gladiators knowing. They use the fights as a sort of training ground slash testing area. If a pony can become champion, they get offered a spot in the Hunter's Den, and don't have to fight any more. They'll be absolved of all crimes and can be considered almost normal again." "And the Shadow Dancers want to destroy the arena." "Yes! Because the Rage Born own the arena, and the Lunar Empress enjoys the shows of the arena, and if there's fighting between the Rage Born and the Shadow Dancers, she's going to step in and the Shadow Dancers will be demolished!" "So how does this plan change anything?" "A champion has the right to challenge anybody in the Rage Born Den for any prize they wish. If a Shadow Dancer-- or two, or three-- can become champion, then they can challenge the owner of the pit and gain the deed to it." "Which would give control over it to the Shadow Dancers." "Which would mean that the Rage Born are driven out without the arena ever having to shut down. So the Empress stays happy, the Shadow Dancers extend their territory, and the Blood Rage are shamed by their loss." "And you want me to..." "To form an alliance with me and a couple other ponies to fight our way to the top. You'll be an honorary Shadow Dancer, gain status in the pit, and maybe be able to get your old life back." Maim sighed, sitting back quietly. The plan was good, but not without its flaws. For one thing, forming an alliance with new fighters would drop his rank back to the beginning. He was in the top ten-thousand, and that had taken him years to build up to with almost daily fights. To join a team now would be career suicide. Not only would his pay rate drop, but he might not have the luck he'd had before. This plan might actually kill him. Slowly, he took another sip of wine, showing that he was thinking hard over her deal. She was staring at him intently, eyes cold and flat. "I wouldn't ask you if you weren't my best option, Maim. But you're the only pony I know can get the job done." Her voice was pleading. "If you won't, then I'll have to quit the job. The Shadow Dancers won't like that." Maim scowled. She knew just what to say to make him feel guilty. He really didn't want to be responsible for her death. "Oh, all right, all right!" "Yes! Another victory for Blood Axe!" "Yes, yes. But I have one condition." "Name it." "I get to pick our third fighter." "You get to pick the fourth. I already have a third." "But you just said--" "I said the plan couldn't go without you. I did not say that I didn't already have a pony helping us." He scowled, pausing for a second. "Fine. but I want to meet your recruit, see if he's worth it." "Oh, he is. You'll meet him in time. For now, get some rest. You have a long day tomorrow, what with browsing the fighting pens for a good fourth." Her horn glowed for a second, and she disappeared in an eerie red flash. Maim turned and trotted over to his cot, falling into a restless sleep.
RecruitingMaim watched with interest as the fight went on. Blood Axe had insisted on watching her Hunting Partner's fight before going to recruit his own fighter. The match should have been even, but it had been so one-sided that the betters had already collected their winnings. In the ring, a silvery-grey Pegasus stallion with a gold-colored mane and tail squared off against a bleeding white Earth Pony. Maim hadn't been at all surprised at the Pegasus' choice of weapons. Wing blades were standard issue for any of them that fought. What was surprising was the way the Hunter used them. Every Pegasus he'd seen use blades tended to fly around, diving at openings in their enemy's guard, effectively "buzzing" them. But the Pegasus with the skull cutie mark was standing firmly on the ground, wings spread out, using the blades like an Earth Pony would use shoulder blades, or a Unicorn would use an axe. He was amazingly good at it. Any attack his foe had directed at him had been parried and countered, leaving the Earth Pony's white fur dyed red with his own blood. Back Stabber smirked, rushing at the enemy, wing blades glancing off of the buckler that the Earth Pony wore on his left foreleg. The opponent started backing up, making sure to turn as he did to keep his back away from the wall. The whole time, Stabber never even broke his stride, and it was obvious to Maim that he was toying with his prey. With two blades, he could easily have gotten under the buckler and ended it. The Pegasus smirked again, his right wing lashing down with the blade, catching the buckler hard. At the same time, his left wing snapped outwards, the feathers seperating slightly. Five objects shot into the air, arcing steeply to slam into the defendant's back. With a gasp of pain, the Earth Pony fell. Stabber looked up to the judgement box, where the Empress of the Night stomped her hoof once. Execution was called for. Stabber smirked, leaning in to whisper something to the Earth Pony, whose eyes widened just before his head was removed. Blood grinned at Maim. "Didn't I tell you he was good?" "He's good, I guess. What were those things he shot though?" Maim turned away from the arena and started towards the exit. "Those are his feather blades. Before any good fight, he hides a few away between his pinions. When he unfurls his wings fully, they shoot out for a nice surprise." Maim nodded, going quiet as they entered the tunnel leading to the Blood Works. They found Back Stabber cleaning his Wing blades, as well as his own body.He turned deep green eyes to them as they entered, a cocky grin on his face. "Did ya like the show, mate?" he asked of Maim. The Earth Pony nodded a bit. "Yeah, you're good I'll admit. A little underhanded, very sneaky." "The Shadow Dancer way of life." "What did you tell that stallion right before you killed him?" "Oh, that. I try to make their last seconds as terrifying as possible. Tell them 'I know your family' or 'I killed your father.' Something to surprise them right before it's over. Gets a nice look stuck on their face, don't it?" Maim scoffed a bit. "If you say so. Finish cleaning up and meet us out on the street. We have to head into town." Blood Axe quirked an eyebrow. "Why do we have to do that? Isn't your fighter here?" "Nope. He isn't an arena fighter." "Oh? Do tell." "You'll understand when you meet him. And he might be able to teach you a couple tricks." A few minutes later, Back Stabber arrived. He wore a cloak to match Blood's, a standard traveling cloak with a knife-shaped emblem on the flanks. Maim turned, leading them into a slightly better part of Canterlot. When they got to the Kelpy's Pool tavern and inn, a fight was just brewing. Maim led the way, ducking off to the left quickly to avoid drawing attention to himself. his two companions loitered in the doorway for a moment, surveying the large room. Four ponies were gathered around a table, cursing and spitting. They looked like the least worrisome of the bunch, despite the multiple scars each bore, and the missing eye of one. Blood turned to follow Maim, murmuring to Stabber. "Tough crowd. Think we could take them?" "My dear Blood," he replied, "we are two expertly trained Hunters with very powerful techniques at our disposal. If it comes down to a fight, we shan't have any trouble." He grinned. "Besides all that, your friend here doesn't seem worried, so we shouldn't either." Maim had moved to a table in the corner, where he could watch the crowd without being in any danger of getting attacked from behind. He was watching the crowd of four in the middle of the room as they pestered a concealed figure. The room was quiet as the rest of the tavern watched, waiting to see how things would pan out. A sudden purple glow lit the room spectacularly, and one of the molesters dropped to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain. The other three all moved forward, but they met with empty air as their target danced out of the way. Other ponies were standing, moving towards the action. Nopony had a side, they just all wanted to hit somepony. The original fighters were squaring off against a dark purple Unicorn with a blue and red striped mane and tail. The Unicorn's eyes were covered with bandages, but this did not seem to inhibit his fighting abilities. He ducked back from a kick from the right and retaliated with another surge of magic that dropped another foe. He proceeded to dodge around his other two aggressors, levitate his tankard to drain it into his mouth, and donkey kick the third opponent to the ground. The fourth attacker jumped at the Unicorn, who just grinned, his horn flaring up again. The pony disappeared, but now a potted fern was flying through the air. It smashed into the wall next to Maim, who didn't so much as bat an eye. The rest of the bar crowd had gotten into a full out brawl. The Unicorn casually ducked, bobbed, and weaved his way to the bar to order another tankard of ale. As he took it, his magic surged once more, and Blood and Stabber jumped in surprise as he appeared at the table with them. "'Ello there, sweethearts. You dun mind if'n I sssit here, do ya?" He half-collapsed into the available seat across from Maim, a drunken grin on his face. Blood turned to Maim. "Ugh, can we please just find your fighter and have done with this?" Maim chuckled lightly, turning to the Unicorn. "This is my fighter. Everyone meet Blind Drunk." "This is your fighter?! Buck-- Maim, he's an absolute lush!" Blood was furious, her normal cold eyes showing passionate rage. "Lush is as lush does, sweetheart," the Unicorn replied, hiccuping as he took another swig. He set the cup down with a loud belch, causing Blood to flatten her ears and try to retreat from him. "Please tell me this is some joke, Maim. Perhaps you were meaning to grab a different Unicorn? One who's not quite so... inebriated." Stabber, who had been silent up until that point, chuckled. "He's not half as drunk as he would like us to think. The whole thing's a ruse." "What? Are you certain?" The red mare frowned, leaning forward, examining closely. "How can you tell? He absolutely reeks of alcohol." The newcomer chuckled, pushing his tankard away. "Of course I do," he said in a much soberer voice. "I spend my day drinking and fighting and fighting and drinking." He smirked. "I just don't get drunk." "Maim, explain please." "Blind Drunk has two handicaps. The first is that he's blind, obviously." "Had my eyes cut out by bandits when I was but a colt," the drunkard supplied. "How dreadful," Blood commented, cringing a bit. "And the other handicap is that he has almost no personal store of magic. You of course know how a Unicorn's magic works." "Yes... Unicorns all have a pool of energy devoted specifically to magic that they can tap into at any time. And when they draw from that pool, they think of the runes for the spell they want to cast and channel the magic through their thoughts. That's a simple explanation of course..." "Of course. But Blind here, his pool is more of a puddle. He has the potential to store huge amounts of magical energy, but his body produces a much lower amount than most Unicorns." "But he teleported! He uses telekinesis! He transformed that one stallion and used a spell I've never even heard of to drop two more!" "Yes, and the way he did that was he imbibed a large amount of alcohol, and used what little magic he had to channel a spell of his own creation." "The spell only has one rune," Blind cut in, grinning. "The rune for alteration. I channel all my magic through that rune into my ale as I drink it, and it turns the liquor into magical energy instantly, filling up my mana pool." He grinned. "And I'm the only one who can do it." "Oh, and why is that?" "Because, my dear, I have next to no magic. When a normal unicorn does a simple spell, they have a base minimum of how much magic gets poured through it. For instance, if you were to use the single alteration rune, you would end up converting whatever you concentrated on into a material that explodes on contact with air. That's actually the basis for most casters' explosive spell, actually. But me, I don't have enough magic to do that. Instead, I have just enough that I can control the alteration into something easily found. I could turn my ale into water, or soda if I wished, but mana's much more useful in liquid form. And since I'm used to channeling low amounts of energy, I can do it even with more magic energy, allowing me to repeat the process indefinitely." "And that is why I came to him. He can literally make mana." "One more thing," Blood said. "If you truly are blind, how do you fight so well." "Another instance of a handicap being a great asset. Since I was blinded at such a young age, I adapted my other senses. I could hear a pin drop in that crowded arena and pinpoint its location. I can recognize an individual pony's scent up to a block away. I can feel the slightest variation in texture. I can taste any trace of poison in even the strongest drink. But most importantly, I can sense even the slightest trace of magic." "I'm not sure I understand how that helps you fight four Earth Ponies. Or Pegasi for that matter." "It's simple. Everypony has some form of magic unique to their species. What would a Unicorn be without simple levitation? Likewise, a Pegasus has natural magic that comes in the form of flight, weather control, and cloud walking. That has to come from somewhere, and it just happens to come from their body. The same goes for Earth Ponies, with their natural tie to the earth. Ones who are skilled in their magic can even direct it to feel for tunnels, or to alter a harvest to be better. It's in their blood, and I can feel it." There was a silence as Blood Axe took this all in. This Unicorn was ridiculously powerful, despite his handicaps. She turned to Maim quietly. "All right, he's in. We have our fourth." "Someone mind filling a simple lush in on what's going on?" They spent the rest of the night drinking and being merry. For tomorrow, they would find themselves fighting for their lives.
Fresh StartMaim stared across the table at his companion, a pink Unicorn that was barely more than a filly. She was glaring at him with unbridled rage. "You're forming an alliance now?! Maim, you just hit eighty-five-K. You realize what this is going to do to your career-- or more importantly, my profits?!" She was one of his biggest monetary supporters. She had bet on him in his early days after Blood had left, when the odds against him were so long that nopony in their right mind would place money on him. She had done so anyways, and won a small fortune. Afterwards, she had approached him as a sponsor. She would pay for his food and personal quarters at the arena, as well as buy any weapons or armor he needed. In exchange, he would give her eighty percent of all money he won in a fight. He'd agreed simply because he didn't much care for money. Now, he was dropping his rank, and his pay was going with it. Instead of reaping in two-thousand bits per fight, he would crape by with a bare minimum of ten. Instead of having his fights be advertised across the city to bring in more profit, he and his team would have to drag their way slwoly to the point where advertisement was even possible. His sponsor, Cherry Blossom, had every right to be angry at him. He, however, just shrugged. "I wouldn't be doing this without good reason. Besides, with a four pony team and cumulative ranking, I'll be back in the top hundred-thousand soon." "Not if you die along the way, Maim! I saw you in earlier times! You won a lot of fights based off of a lucky shot, or because your opponent was crippled, or didn't want to fight. Your luck isn't going to hold you through a second time!" "No, but I also have a lot more practice now than I did back then. And I have a good sponsor who will make sure that my team and I receive the best gear and training we can get. Right?" "... Ugh, fine! I've already put this much into you, and what's a few hundred bits when you've earned me millions." "That's the spirit. Would you like to meet the others that you're going to be sponsoring?" "I suppose it's necessary.." She stood, trotting past him towards the blood works. "So, am I trading in your private room for a suite? Maybe you'd like to move into town somewhere?" "We'll discuss it with them. You won't have to worry about gear too badly. I'm set from years past, two of them are already funded for supplies, and the third doesn't use armor or weapons." "No armor or weapons? He's asking for death." "He says it 'encumbers' him. But he's fine without it, believe me. Though you might invest in a supply of strong mead." "Mead?" "You'll understand all when you meet them." Their group was down in the blood works, joking with each other as they cleaned themselves. All three had had matches that day, though Maim and Cherry Blossom had missed them for negotiations. Stabber was just congratulating Blind over his first paid fight. Blind was grinning like a fool as he cleaned the blood off of his horn and forehead. Blood Axe turned to Maim and Cherry, smiling a bit. "Hello Buckwheat. Ah, is this the infamous sponsor who steals most of your wealth?" "She doesn't steal it, I give it to her," Maim corrected, sighing. "Yes. This is Cherry Blossom. She's going to be our sponsor and treasurer. We give her some of our winnings and she uses her resources to buy us gear, lodging, training..." Blind turned his head towards them, smiling. "What about mead? I get cranky without it." Cherry Blossom frowned. "Yes, I'll buy your liquor for you if it will keep you out of trouble." "Woo! I like her, Maim!" "You like anyone who buys you a drink." Maim rolled his eyes a bit. Blind apparently had no intention of revealing his true depths to what was effectively his new boss. Maim couldn't really blame him, since Cherry might cut him off otherwise. "Now, something that Maim and I were just discussing. I can pay for you each to have individual lodging, but it would cost a good deal of money until you get up on the charts. Or, I can pay for a set of rooms for the four of you outside of the arena, but still owned by them. It will be cheaper, but you'll have to share space with one another." Blood looked to Stabber, shrugging. "We're Hunters, so close quarters don't bother us." "I'm a drunken lay-about, I can't take care of myself," Blind put in. Maim chuckled. "I guess it's unanimous then. Cheap set of rooms it is." "All right then, I'll make the necessary arrangements with the owners. There's actually a nice apartment just down the street from my place." The announcer was probably the least important pony on the arena's payroll. Her job was to tell who was participating in each fight, and that was it. No commentary was necessary for the brutal fights, so she usually kept her mouth shut. To make up for this fact, she tended to get a little long-winded with introductions. Like right now, for instance. "I cannot believe this folks, what an odd turn of events! Maim has joined into a partnership with three fresh faces! Or maybe I should say two fresh faces and an old blast from the past. That's right, his old partner has returned from her extended vacation. Anyone else think she was dead? But she's not! Blood Axe the barbaric Unicorn is ready to fight again! "Along with them is a Pegasus by the name of Back Stabber, a master of the Wing Blades favored by his kind. I've never seen anyone fight quite like him! And then a fourth member, a Unicorn named Blind Drunk. I don't know what he does exactly, but his first fight ended with workers having to scrape pasty pieces of pony off of the walls and floor. Team Ravage is here to fight for your entertainment today!" The crowd cheered, and Maim had to hand it to her. That pony knew her job. As he led his teammates out into their first exhibition, he kept his head up and his eyes forward. Exhibition matches were used to show off a new fighter or team without risking them actually dying. The fight usually went until first blood had been drawn, though in this case it would be the team with the last unblooded fighter who won. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Blind take a deep swig from a wine skin, belching a bit for effect. The other team stepped from the other tunnel at the side of the arena. Maim couldn't conceal the look of surprise on his face. Four of Empress Luna's Night Guard stood across from them, bat wings splayed, fangs bared. These ponies had black fur and dark blue manes, their eyes a deep red color. And, worse, they all wore silver armor that would protect them from most attacks. "And the second team: a group of Luna's guard, trying to regain favor with their Empress. Who will win this fight? Let's find out." This wasn't a fair fight. Maim grinned a bit, flexing his right foreleg a bit. Before coming up, he had had Blood wrap said leg in a device of his own creation. It was a leather harness with several spikes, nails, and barbed hooks sticking out of it. If he hit somepony with it, they would bleed. But it wouldn't go through that armor, which meant he had to go for their faces. Excessive violence always put him in a good mood. He saw Blood's axe appear, surrounded in her dark red magic. Stabber's blades flashed in the noon light. Blind hiccuped loudly as he took another swig of ale, his horn flaring to life. Maim grinned. "I'll take the ugly one." Blood snorted. "You always get the ugly one. I suppose I'll take the one on the left." Stabber nodded. "I'll go for the one in back there." "Whish meansh that I'm takin' the one on the riiight, right?" "Right." The match started, and both teams surged forward. Blood's axe flew forward in front of her, swinging at the Night Guard she had chosen to attack. The bat-winged Pegasus dodged it nimbly and came down at her, fangs bared. As he got closer, her horn glowed and a shot of dark red magic hit him in the shoulder, sending him spinning through the air and down to the ground. Maim turned his attention away as he neared his opponent. He smirked the slightest bit, raising his weapon-leg to swing wildly, throwing the guard off the attack. The Night Guard watched him coolly for a moment, then leaped into the air, moving to buzz Maim. Maim ducked just in time, feeling the hairs along his back get cut shorter by the blades. He cursed to himself, spinning to face his opponent. Stabber and the third guard were circling each other in the air, occasionally flying forward to slice wildly at each other and miss. The two kept their distance, gauging their opponent's strength. Blind, meanwhile, was having absolutely no problem fighting his guard. He was always moving two seconds ahead of any attack made, and despite his tumbling and spinning, he seemed to have no trouble avoiding the lethal blades. With a sudden vicious grin, he focused on his horn. The flash of purple light was blinding, and when it cleared there was no more Night Guard in front of him. Instead, the sand was scorched and there was the outline of a pony in the soot. He turned, staggering his way towards Maim's fight. Maim raised his leather-clad hoof, catching the blade on the guard's wing. With a roar of triumph he shifted his weight, pulling the unfortunate Pegasus to the ground. He brought the sharp point of several hooks to the guardspony's face. He felt a barbed fishing hook meant for catching larger fish dig into the opponent's cheek and pulled back and upwards, ripping off a chunk of flesh and black fur. The guard screamed, blood gushing out as his cheek was torn off, revealing sharp white teeth and tender pink gums. Blood Axe had advanced her technique since the last time Maim had fought with her. Instead of one large axe, she now was able to create multiple ones, each independent of one another in its attack. As the crowd cheered her on, Blood brought them all at the guard from different directions. The bat-winged pony flew up to avoid them, failing to see the one that was coming from above. It dug into his back and he gasped, falling to the sand as his spine was severed. Stabber had engaged his opponent in a more personal fight, opting to grab hold and slice at him instead of buzzing around him. The enemy had no maneuverability as the Hunter wrapped his legs around the soldier's waist. He dug one blade into the joint of his opponent's wing. As they fell, he jerked the blade up, dismembering the appendage. He let his foe go, watching him drop helplessly. The crowd was going ballistic. They had never seen such a bloody exhibition fight before. The four survivors turned to look up at their Empress, who was laughing at her guards' misfortune. In a swirl of stars and darkness, she appeared in the arena herself. She approached the remains of her guards, horn glowing. "Tell me now why I should just kill you painlessly. You have disappointed me greatly, and that deserves suffering." Wild cheers swept through the crowd as Luna ensnared her guards. None of them responded to her, resigning themselves to their fates. As the first scream built in their throat, four fighters moved in front of Luna. Each had stepped forward independently, none waiting for their comrades. Somehow, they all wore identical expressions of fury, and the scene was bathed in red and purple as the Unicorns powered up. It was Maim who spoke. "I would rather you kill them and have done with it, your majesty. They fought well, and deserve an end." Luna regarded him with a cold, calculating look. Her horn was still glowing faintly, but she was not actively casting a spell. "Only the noble would stay the suffering of their foes. For that, I will give you your wish. Step aside, and watch." The team did as they were told. The Night Guards were stripped of their lunar alignment, returning to normal ponies of different colors. With a quick spell, Luna had destroyed them, leaving not a trace of their existence. She then turned to the others. "This fight was not to end in death, yet all your opponents are dead. This fight called for first blood, but you all chose to disfigure them. You are easily the most violent cutthroats I've ever seen." She smirked lightly. "It has been long since I have involved myself int he arena. But you four have caught my eye, and earned my contribution. Your sponsor is named Cherry Blossom, correct? I would have words with that one. Just remember what happens to those who displease me. And do not think to stand against me again." The four bowed, Maim muttering a "By your leave," and Luna vanished again as the four of them retreated to the blood works.
