Post Authors Note:

Phew! It's been AGES! Sorry bout that guys, I got lazy for a while there. (Don't we all?)

Anyways, I sure you guys are anxious to get to chapter 11, so HERE IT IS!

Chapter 11: Bulls on Parade

I yawned as I turned out the window to see the yellow sun followed by yellow desert. I had almost forgotten where we were. I had dreamed we were back in PonyVille, before the whole incident occurred… It seems as if we had been gone for ages.

"Rise and shine y'all!" I heard Applejack yell from across the hall.

I yawned again and replied, "I'm rising but I aint shining."

"Come on, y'all got your sleep already." Applejack said back. "Get yer butt up already."

I just groaned and bucked the sheets off. I wondered how Lightning is fairing having to wake up this early, or even Rainbow for that matter.

As I trotted to the dining room of our little living quarters, I discovered Lightning Thrash hitting it off with Applejack, and Rainbow Dash up and chipper in a riveting conversation with Daring Do.

"Hey there buddy!" Lightning said waving over in my direction. "Still tired?"

"Yeah, I mean it is like three P.M. already" Rainbow said.

"Three o' clock!?" I yelled running my hoof through my course mane. "Geez…"

"Yeah, and I thought I slept late…" Rainbow said looking over at the clock hanging on the wall.

"Anyways, lemme get ya some peach cobbler. I'm sure your starved." Applejack said handing me a bowl of the stuff.

I wasn't really a Peach person, but I came to the realization that I truly was hungry, so I started devouring the cobbler with no questions asked.

After eating up the cobbler, I decided that maybe we should move on and head back to PonyVille. That is, until I saw some sort of sand storm out the window.

"Hey Applejack, what's that?" Lightning said catching my gaze.

"Uh, I dunno. I don't reckon I've ever seen any sandstorm like that round here." Applejack replied.

"What the…" Rainbow said squinting finally catching a glimpse of what was coming in the distance.

"More buckin bulls?" Lightning said furiously.

"Come on everypony! Let's get out there!" Applejack yelled.

Outside ponies were scrambling to get into defensive positions arming themselves with whatever tools they could fin lying around. It looked like the War for the Crystal Empire was about to take place out there. I rushed outside along with the other and also took up arms. I spotted a rusty sword and took it between my teeth, while Applejack and Thrash went back to back with pitchforks held by their mouth. Even Rainbow had a tiny hoof-attached blade at the end of her hoof.

"You guys ready for this?" I asked facing the oncoming storm of bulls.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the bulls also armed with blades were now feet away and the charge began. The two groups clashed in a mess of clashing swords and bloodshed. How many were there anyways? I swung my sword at almost everything that moved performing sword maneuvers I never knew I had. I spotted Applejack and Lightning fight off bulls together as well, and bulls and ponies alike fell from both sides, but the bull's numbers were thinning. After much sword swinging and deathblows, a loud "STOP!" rang from the crowd. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the source of the voice. It was the chief bull, the largest and most painted of them all.

"Why must there be bloodshed?" He said. "Why must there be all this chaos? Instead, let there be one challenge." He said turning towards me. "You with the sword. You're the cause of the death of my men, no?"

"Well not exactl-"

"Good. Get in the ring." He said as a ring of buffaloes surrounded us pushing me in the center.

"Wha- What, I-"

"Take up your rusty stick you call a sword." He said drawing his own. "If you win, we leave and you can go free. If we win, we take you captive, no questions asked."

I drew my sword and we circled the ring a bit awaiting the first strike. The whole area had the stillness of an extremely frightened Fluttershy. I peered through the circle and caught a glimpse of a terrified Rainbow Dash looking back at me. As I looked, I felt a terrible stroke of pain within my front left hoof. I looked down. I was bleeding profusely.

Now within a state of panic I swung my sword over at the bull in which he dodged and swung at me again this time striking the side of my face.

"GAH!" I screamed out in pain. The pain was unbearable.

"Come on! Wee insects make a better fight than you!" The chief said winding up for another blow. This time, I dodged and struck him on the shoulder. He's pissed.

He kept on swinging and I kept blocking and swinging back almost in a stalemate. Finally, he dealt another blow this time across my chest knocking me down on the floor in a bloody mess.

He loomed over and said, "A pity. Any last words, fool?"

"Yeah." I said coughing a bit. "Have fun in bucking Tartarus!"

I swept him causing him to tumble over and hit his head on a rock knocking him cold.

The air was full of silence as I got up, stumbled over to his still body and drew my sword. One down stroke, and it was over. I breathed heavily as the bulls around me started to disperse running madly back to the forest leaving me standing over my kill. I looked at my hooves drenched in blood and fell backwards.

Lightning, Rainbow and the others trotted over to me mouthing words, but I heard nothing.

My vision blurred as I tried to read their lips. My ears were ringing and it felt as if true peace had engulfed me. I decided to embrace it and close my eyes to fall asleep.

I heard beeping, a constant intermittent beeping sound emanating from the left of me. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Lightning, Applejack, and nurse red heart around the bed I was lying in.

"Wha- what? Is this PonyVille hospital?" I asked turning and looking at everyone.

"Oh good. Your back." Nurse Red Heart said.

"Ya had us scared to death sugar cube." I heard Applejack say.

"What? How did I get here?" I asked more befuddled than ever.

"I chased one of the bulls down and made him escort us out of the forest as soon as possible." Lightning said making punching gestures as he spoke.

"So, we're out?" I asked still dumbfounded.

"Yeah." Applejack said. "We are."

"Where's Rainbow?" I asked looking around the room for her.

"She's right in that there bed next to you recuperating her wing." Applejack said.

"Oh hi there Dashie!" I said a bit delirious. I felt like I was going out again. I woozily let down my head and rested after having so much to take in. What a day.

End Author's Note: Hey! Hope y'all enjoyed! See ya next time!

Review, or… sadness…