Gladiators: Forged of Steel and Blood

[NamelessTrax]

In a humanized Equestria, a great war is being fought outside its borders, and the people grow restless from its effects. However only one Event is thriving, easing and providing the people with excitement and pleasure. The Gladitorial Games, events of blood and steel. Houses of ranking Men called Lanistas raise and train capable slaves to become great Gladiators in the arena. Each House has a Dominus and Domina, along with about 2 dozen slaves and gaurds. The Gladiators are taught by a former Gladiator who is highly skilled in his craft, he is refered to as Doctore. Though still a slave, the Doctore is given more pleasures and freedom than the Gladiators he trains.

Scene: Market place of Ponyville

The iron barred carriage comes to a halt, and the backflaps are flung open, sunlight floods in illuminating dirty and solumn faces several men. "Out with ya, aution time has arrived!" A mans voice sounds out, slowly the men get up one by one and file out the back. A crowd of people swarm around to inspect the new batch of slaves as they are lined up by guards on a wooden platform. The slaves wore baggy and dirt rattled pants, each of them were shaved clean except for their head and face. The first was a blue eyed man in his early twenties, he had short hair on the top and shaved sides, guestering towards former military.

[MetalBronyATL]

A muscular man was brought off the cart, his hands bound in chains. He had jet black hair with streaks of navy, which had be cut shorter than normal due to his capture. On his left shoulder was a brand of a crescent moon, signifying his former allegiance to the Lunar Republic. He looked out over the crowd of people eyeing him and the other slaves. His venomous eyes finally landed on a man standing on a balcony looking down. He was dressed in the armor of an Equestrian General. General Slipknot Hellfire smiled coldly at this particular slave, taking pride in his soon to be suffering. The green eyed man was placed next to the blue eyed man who had just gotten off the cart. He looked at him with a blank stare, but didn't say anything yet.

[NamelessTrax]

The blue eyed man glanced to his side, noticing the mark he smirked, "You were of the Lunar Republic? The Gods have truly condemd you to the afterlife, we may have fought the Equestrians from different banners, but now we are brothers of the same." He tilted his right arm up showing a tribal tattoo of two wolves colored as the yin and yang, the marking of the northern native tribes, whom were being slaugthered by the Equestrian Army in the name of General Lucifer. The guard at the end shot them a warning glance while gripping his whip.

[MetalBronyATL]

The green eyed man didn't show any fear of the guard, but looked straight forward at the crowd. "Soulscream." He said under his breath. "Where did they catch you?"

[NamelessTrax]

"Oak Heart, I am the soul survivor of the Wolf tribe, I was captured after slaying several captains and over 3 dozen soldiers. General Lucifer himself brought me down and then spared me to die in the Gladitorial games. One he shall regret after I win my freedom. Let us pray we end up in the same house, or risk us having to face in the arena." Oak whispered inder his breath.

[MetalBronyATL]

Before he could answer, another slave, closer to Oak's age and younger than Soul, was dragged up with the rest of them. He struggled and resisted the guard, but the guards around him punched him hard until he stopped resisting. They stood him next to Oak, where his shoulder also bore the mark of the Lunar Republic. Soul leaned over and looked at him. "Easy, Kane." He whispered before looking back to Oak. "We're warriors of the Lunar Republic. Well, we were. Now it looks like we're POWs, and soon slaves. Kane here is my apprentice. He's a great fighter and a great person, but defiant to a fault." He said as Kane scowled and spit out blood. "Equestrian dogs..." Kane whispered under his breath as the crowd clamored to bid on the slaves.

[NamelessTrax]

"Your next teaching should be restraint or it'll be the mines for him, or death." Oak said subtly before the Slaver stepped up onto the platform, "Here we have today are several strong men capable for gladiators. We have four men who just recently put into slavery by unpaid debts, all strong and able to spill blood upon blood." He said waving to the other four men of Equestrian breed. He walked over to Soulscream and with the help of the guard behind him, put hands on Soul to show the crowd his mark, "Today I have not one, but two dogs of the Lunar Republic," The Slaver announced as he also pointed to Kane, "Captured by the glorious General Slipknot and his Legion." The crowd erupted with cheers to Slipknot on the balcony. "They admire you greatly General, one should be so for protecting Equestrias people beyond her borders." Lanista Black Star of the Star Family said as he walked up to Slipknot, he was accompanied by a personal outing Slave and another covered by a dark hood but stood taller and broader than Slipknot. Black was just shorter than them and wore blue robes, his brown eyes tied in with his spiky brown hair, his personal slave was a browneyed and black haired equestrian in tan robes. The mysterious mans face was hidden but through the darkness could be seen piercing blue eyes. "Perhaps I will buy the two of your captives and see them to use in the games, or their deaths, which would suit your desire." Black offered to please the General in order to gain his favor, this was accustomed of all Lanistas to seek favor of higher status to pursue greater rewards and bits. The Slaver continued on, "Lastly I have here a most rarest of blood, a warrior from the Northern Native Tribes. Story goes he is the last of the infamous Wolf tribe, brought down buy General Lucifer himself, said he killed over fifty men before his eventual defeat by the General." At this the cloak man with Black turned his head down to look at the Northern tribesman, Black acknowledged the sound of such a rarity, "Another Northern Warrior to add to my collection, what do you think Doctore, another one of your brothers and the two Lunar Dogs?" Black asked the cloaked man, Doctore being the title of the former Gladiator turned Trainer through pure skill. Doctore looked back to Black and dipped his head quietly, "They show promise but may prove troublesome to obedience, Dominus." He answered deeply. Oak glanced around menacingly at the oohs and awes he got as being noted, he disliked the idea of slavery, every man and woman should have the taste of freedom forever on their lips. The Slaver back up and turned to the crowd, "The bidding is 10 Bits for the Equestrians, 30 for the Lunar guards and 70 for the Northern, because of his breeds rarity."

[MetalBronyATL]

Slipknot scoffed and turned away. "Take them, they're worthless to me. Let them die in the arena." He said crudely as he went to walk away. "As long as they die, I care not who buys them." Slipknot acted like the two Lunar Warriors were disposable, but on the inside he wished for Soul to suffer greatly. Soul looked to Oak and smirked. "What could you possibly be smiling at, master?" Kane asked. Soul shrugged. "Just a little insulted that this one is worth more than both of us combined." He joked, making light of the situation, even though he knew the gravity of the situation, he found a way to remain positive though any problem. It was a trait that always dumbfounded Kane.

[NamelessTrax]

Oak scoffed, "Your optimistic ideals are a light in this darkening pit." He began, "Keep quiet you savage scum!" The guard yelled as he threw back his whip and slashed it forward striking at Oak, but the young tribesman threw up his bound hands letting the whip catch around his forearm. The crowd gasped in awe, Oak moved his arm down revealing the whip had scarred over his right leaving a deep gash. The guard grimmaced and tugged back lurching oak off his feet and down hard against the wood platform. Two more guards tackled over him beating him down, "As you can see the energy to fight is not lost on him. Bidding is start-" "200 Bits, for the whole lot." Black called out shushing everyone, The Slaver gulped in surprise and nodded, "Sold to the House of Stars." Some of the other bidders frowned and turned away. Oak stood back up spitting up blood, "Though sometimes defiance is a show of courage..." 

[MetalBronyATL]

Soul and Kane followed the guards in chains as they were led away to Black Star. Soul sighed. "Guess we found our new home." he thought to himself. Kane grit his teeth at the guards and citizens around him, wishing he could strike down the guards around him. 

[NamelessTrax]

Oak looked up to the balcony seeing Black and his cloaked friend starring down at them as the guards led them to Blacks carriage, Oak felt the cold eyes of the cloaked man make him shiver under the hot sun. "One I see we will come to hate." He whispered warningly as they were shoved into the carriage. Black turned to his slaves, "The two Lunar dogs already have more training than the others, have them tested against Stryker and Kaveck first. For the one you share blood with, see him tested how you like, hełl you can even pare him with the other slaves. If he is anything like you Doctore, he will repay me tenfold for their cost combined." He said patting Doctores shoulder and walking off with his personal slave, Doctore watched him as he rubbed his chin, then followed after.

"Gladiator, the word is new to me, explain?" Oak asked as his culture did not have such ideal nor the word itself.

[MetalBronyATL]

Soul sighed at he looked out of a small opening in the tarp of the carriage. "Gladiators are slaves who were too skilled in combat for petty slave work. Instead, they put our fighting skills to use in the arena. They pit us against each other in front of a crowd, and we fight to the death." Kane looked at Oak with despair. "In other words, we fight and die for entertainment."

[NamelessTrax]

"Another reason to hate these Equestrian fleabags, such thing is beyond disgusting to the eyes. Though the taste for blood is not lost on me, I'd rather fight as a freeman than a slave. You failed to speak of your capture, the last I head you Lunar Republicans had fled Equestria in search of your own lands after the Civil war." Oak asked sitting up straight as he was speaking to someone of age greater than his, a sign of respect.

[MetalBronyATL]

Soul reached to his neck and felt a crescent moon pendant around his neck, surprised that it wasn't taken when they were captured. "Long ago, during the Celestial/Lunar riff, the Lunar Republic was formed by Nightmare Moon to oppose Equestria. It was a long and savage conflict that ended with Nightmare Moon being banished for a thousand years. Since then, the Republic decided to change their ways. We stopped worshiping Nightmare Moon and began to create our own culture, our own way of life. We founded a thriving city far to the south that could rival Canterlot. It's been this way for the next thousand years. However, for some reason, Princess Luna was experiencing horrific nightmares and PTSD of Nightmare Moon, something she was apparently suffering since she returned. Celestia and the nobility blamed us for this. We tried to reason with them that we are not responsible, that we no longer associate with Luna or the Nightmare, but they did not listen. Now we are at war, and Kane and I are now more casualties. We have been shredding Equestria's forces using guerrilla warfare, but unfortunately for me and Kane, General Slipknot discovered our guerrilla tactics and was prepared. Our squad was wiped out and they took us." Kane felt his chest and revealed he wore the same pendant. "He was one of us once.....Slipknot was part of the Nightwatch. But he was cowardly and fled to Equestria when the war started. How he became a general overnight I will not understand."

[NamelessTrax]

"That is whats wrong with this country, any sleazbag with a fair silver toung can have his hands dipped in nobility just by laying lips upon the right asś. In my culture we all honorbound to an ancient code, we are taught about equilibrium and balance. There can be no good without evil, but evil must not be allowed to flurish. Sadly my people are being pushed away from our ancient lands for the sake of one Generals greed." Oak said with a deep sigh of longing.

[MetalBronyATL]

"It's even come to the princesses pushing away their own family." Soul said, looking back out the small tear in the canvas. "Before we were captured we heard rumors that they disowned Princess Cadence and broke ties with the Crystal Empire because she spoke out against their ways. Seems Equestria finally reached the pinnacle of power. They're so indestructible that they can piss off everybody and still fear nothing." The carriage began to slow down as they approached their destination.

[NamelessTrax]

"For now we must push those thoughts aside, from what I can gather, our focus should be on protect our own lives." Oak said as the carriage stopped, the flaps oppened up with the dark cloaked man from before, "Lets go pups, and welcome to my Tartarus." He threw off his cloak revealing scuplted hard muscles all around, he wore a thick leather chest plate with a whip tied to his side, his pants were lined with more leather armor. His eyes were as blue as Oaks, a single scar stretched across his face from right to left, both shoulders bore a different tattoo, tribal in origin. Oaks eyes grew wide as he recognized the same tattoo mark on his right inner arm, the mark of the Northern Wolf tribe. "I am your Doctore, and you will refer to me as such. Get the buck out!" Doctore said harshly before moving off. Oak practically scrambled out in a daze trying to get a better look of Doctore, the guards lined them up in the middle of large are surrounded by high walls with a steep drop off at one end leading down hundreds of feet.

[MetalBronyATL]

Soul and Kane got off the carriage and stood with the other slaves. They were emotionless and didn't show any expression as they were lined up. The other slaves around them were terrified of what would happen to them. Soul noticed the other gladiators and slaves already in the area, and some of them stopped to watch the arrival of the new slaves. He saw out of the corner of his eyes two slaves sitting in a gated area at a table playing chess. They looked up at them and their eyes seemed to sparkle, implying that they were former Crystal Empire citizens. "News friends." one of them whispered to the other as he moved a knight piece into position.

[NamelessTrax]

The other Gladiators started standing up to watch the announcemnt of new initiates, Doctore stood in front of them watching with a piercing gaze. Black came up on the balcony above looking over them, "Welcome to the House of Stars, until your last breath you will serve me as Gladiators bringing honor and bits to this house. I am your Dominus, and will address me as so. Doctore, they are yours." He announced giving a nod. Doctore took his whip and gave it a quick lash that cracked the air still. "What is beneath your feet?" Doctore asked, one of the Equestrians glanced down dumbfounded, "The ground?" The other Gladiators burst into laughter, Oak was starring at Doctore still surprised to see fellow kin, and of here of all places. Doctore scoffed, "Kaveck?" Behind him stepped forward a hard muscled man as tall as Doctore but bigger in size, "Sacred ground Doctore, watered with the tears of blood." He said obediently. "Your Tears!" Doctore continued, "Your blood! Your pathetic lives forged into something of worth. Listen! Learn! And, perhaps, live As Gladiators!" He finished proudly, the Gladiators behind him chanted loudly together, "AHOO! AHOO! AHOO!" Black smiled and turned away heading back into the house.

[MetalBronyATL]

Soul stood there unamused and unmoved. He had heard many speeches before, some motivational, others made to intimidate. To him it was all just yelling and acting. Speeches didn't motivate him, only the thought of his blade piercing an opponent in defense of his home could inspire him. Kane looked at Doctore with a glare. "When do we start?" He asked with determination, but with somewhat of a smartass tone. Soul closed his eyes and sighed in annoyance. Kane was the best student had ever taught, and a great companion and friend, but he never knew when to shut up.

The two gladiators from the crystal empire looked up from their game once again to the new slaves, and noticed the only three of them who weren't trembling in fear. "Those two from the Republic look competent enough." one of them said. The other nodded. "At that one...he's like Doctore. I didn't know there were more of his kind."

[NamelessTrax]

The Gladiators all laughed and chuckled, Doctore just stood looking menacingly at Kane. "Ha, the boy is impatient to die. Then I should happily send him on his way." Kaveck boasted with a heavy chuckle, his joke was followed by another round of laughter. "Pair him with me Doctore, I'll gladly give him his wish." Another man almost the same size as Kaveck stood up, his bright green eyes showed stronger than emeralds. Doctore thought back to what Black had said, and this way he could guage their strengths and weaknesses, giving him at least a small base to work with. He felt an unusual attraction to those three on the end, like he actually cared.

[MetalBronyATL]

One of the crystal gladiators rolled his eyes at the others trying to intimidate the new slaves. "Isn't that what you told us when we first got here? Before Blade and I had you on the ground in a bloody heap in 30 seconds flat?" He called over tauntingly, causing Kaveck to become the victim of the gladiators laughing. Soul suppressed a smirk while Kane ignored everybody and kept glaring forward, ready to fight.

[NamelessTrax]

"You speak of old words, maybe if you quit living in the past, Dominus will finally put you back in the arena." Kaveck retorted causing another round of oohs towards the Crystalites. For the past several games, Dominus had kept them aside allowing Kaveck and Stryker to rise as the Champions, saying the Crystalites had seen their glory days long past. Doctore cracked his whip causing silence, "Enough bicker and put words into actions. Kaveck take position." Kaveck was tossed a wooden sword and shield as ge walked to the middle, the slaves were backed up allowing space. Doctore pointed with his whip at Kane, "You, step forward and present name." Another field slave threw Kane a wooden sword and shield. "You think he stands a chance?" Oak asked Soul.

[MetalBronyATL]

Blade rolled his eyes, not moved by Kaveck's attempts to insult him. "Well, Moonshield, what do you say we watch the new guys?" Moon nodded as they left their chess game to watch the fight. Kane stepped forward with determination in his eyes. He took the wooden sword and shield and gripped them. "Hurricane Lightning. Son of the Lunar Republic." He said as he lifted the shield and raised his sword, awaiting a strike. Soul looked over Kane as he anticipated combat. "It's not a question of physical skill. Kane has the ability to slay any opponent he wants. It's his mind I worry for...his emotions."

((Soul and Kane's relationship is kind of like Obi-wan and Anakin in the prequels.))

[NamelessTrax]

"Tch, Son of my $&@! Is what you are. Your not a Son of any Republic, cast your past aside little welp, just like your pathetic life it means absolute sh!t now." Kaveck told him bashing his shield twice before whirling around fast slashing his sword across Kanes shield, the force was surprisingly heavier and knocked Kane back off his feet and flat on the ground. "Look, on his back with legs wide open, just how his Republic was for the Equestrian army." The Gladiators burst out in laughter, Stryker folded his arms and chuckled.