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// Training Day 
// Story: Grey Little Pony 
// by Dusty Miller 
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	Chapter Six:  Training Day


	
“You must be deadly serious in training. When I say that, I do not mean that you should be reasonably diligent or moderately in earnest. I mean that your opponent must always be present in your mind, whether you sit or stand or walk or raise your arms”.

--Gichin Funakoshi’s First rule.

Grey gave himself a hard long workout the previous night so he would be able to sleep before his first day of instruction. The sun fully cleared the horizon when Luna walked through the doors of the palace. Grey stood at the base of the stairs looking up ears perked forward. 
“You have permission to enter the palace as you have named it. Please follow me.”
Grey climbed the stairs and followed Luna through the doors. This was the largest building he had ever been in and he was naturally impressed. Homes and buildings in Ponyville were just big enough to do their job and no bigger. And then they would fill up with stuff and knick knacks. The palace was open and lightly furnished. The windows lit the rooms naturally.
Grey followed Luna to what he calculated to be near the back of the palace. Two long rectangle doors opened as they approached. This was the great hall or ball room of the palace. It was actually a multifunction room. A stage on one end would fit a full orchestra or a head table for a banquet. 
Grey studied the room in a clockwise motion. Dark hardwood panelling along the back wall stretching to a high ceiling. The stage was one pony length in height. Doors around the stage presumably for entrances for actors in plays and access to a kitchen. Dark polished hardwood floorboards in perfect alignment. Pinkie Pie. Windows starting at chest height facing the river and hills. French doors in the centre of the wall opening to the veranda. Back to Luna and Grey standing a few lengths from the doors. 
Okay, the instructor is going to make a big entrance. A Royal Guard Pegasus will probably fly through the upper windows or be trumpeted before entering. Still waiting, Luna’s looking at me. 
“Here is your first lesson and your first challenge. You shall spar with Pinkamena and while you are sparing you will come up with the answer to this question. ‘For you your life has been a struggle, a battle. That is one half of it. What is the other half’?”
Grey had never seen Pinkie Pie stand so still and so quiet for so long.
“Your highness, I can’t hit a girl. Is that the answer?”
“It is not. All you have to do is knock Pinkie Pie over. You are both earth ponies I am certain she can take it. It has begun.”
All I have to do is give her a little nudge, knock her over and I can get a real instructor.
Grey trotted towards Pinkie Pie with the intention of giving her a bump on the shoulder and move her. What happened was just as Grey was about to hit Pinkie on the shoulder with his, she stepped forward and slightly away and tripped Grey with her two right legs. Grey stumbled but did not fall. Pinkie stood at a right angle to Grey staring at him and smiling her biggest smile. Grey ran at her with the intention of head butting her in the side, but when he got there she merely turned around and was behind him. Grey slid on the wood floor trying to break. 
Time to get serious. I’m a fast runner I can use all my speed and get her.
Grey galloped at her as fast as he could go his head down. Again she wasn’t there when he got there and he ran into the wall with a thud. Grey shook his head and mane and looked at Pinkie Pie. She was looking at the ceiling humming a song. 
Now! She’s not looking, as fast as you can!
Grey’s hooves clattered across the floor. Pinkie continued to stare at the ceiling; she lifted two legs slowly and was behind him again. Grey slid on the floor towards Luna. He spun around and faced Pinkie’s flank.
Less speed more quiet. She can’t see me coming if she’s looking away, just be quiet. 
The hardwood floor could not cooperate and he missed again.
Luna said, “Remind me pony never to place any wages on your challenges.”
Pinkie had her eyes closed and was singing to herself. Grey moved slowly sliding his hooves on the floor not lifting them. When he was in range of Pinkie she taped him on the muzzle with her hoof and said “Boop”. Grey dove for her legs; she bounced on his back and began bouncing around the hall. Grey saw a pattern. She was bouncing in a zigzag way around the hall Grey calculate where she would be in three bounces and ran as fast as he could and ran into the stage. Pinkie stood on the stage looking down at Grey in a heap and blew him a raspberry. She bounced down off of him and hopped to the center of the hall and started dancing the ‘Hop Skip and Jump’ song with her back to Grey. Grey was determined to keep his eyes on her this time. He ran to her determined to go the same way she did and track her and meet her and knock her over. Pinkie used the next step in her dance to launch herself in a back flip and land behind Grey. 
“Your highness you gave her magic I can’t beat her.”
“I did no such thing. You are making excuses.”
“Everypony knows Pinkie Pie can move around physics.”
“Pinkie Pie has not needed that skill in the least amount. The challenge is winnable and fair. ‘For you life is a struggle’, that is one side of it. What is the other side?”
Time to think. What do I know about Pinkie Pie? Element of Laughter, well she’s getting lots of laughs at my expense today. Works in a bakery, up early, party all night, not fair, life’s not fair. What is the other side of life?
Grey continued his attacks. Never getting close. He tried to deflect his attack by jumping off a wall only to land on the floor on his side. Pinkie looked down at him and giggled. After one attack Grey was splayed out on the floor with Pinkie standing on his head. She asked, “Princess Luna how many points do I get for this?”
“You shall receive one point. I will give you five points if you can knock some sense into that pony’s head.”
Pinkie tapped Grey on the forehead. 
“Knock knock anypony home? Knock knock…” 
Grey spun in a barrel roll to catch her. Pinkie used his momentum to fly away from him.
Grey tried running and never stopping. After missing he would break and slide across the floor, turn and run again. His hooves were getting hot from the friction. Several low attacks ended with him sliding across the floor on his belly. Patches of fur had worn off.
One of the rudest, most offensive things a pony can do is bite another pony. Grey nipped at Pinkie’s flank out of frustration. Pinkie slapped his face with her tail. “Naughty naughty.” Grey’s face was red from the shame of it not the slap.
“Anger makes me weak. Is that the answer?”
“That is a very good lesson but it is not today’s challenge.”
Think stupid, life is a battle. Well it’s not for Pinkie Pie she’s having a great time. Maybe she’s giving me clues in the songs she’s singing.
Pinkie was singing and acting out the ‘Laughter Song’.
Is she giggling at me because I’m the ghosty? That doesn't make sense. Why does life have to be so hard?
Pinkie was singing and trotting forward but she was actually moving backwards.
I’ve never seen that dance before. Dance! Life is not hard for her!
Grey trotted up to Pinkie Pie and bowed as a gentle colt. He picked up her front hooves in his and they danced and they laughed.
“Your Highness, life is a dance isn’t it? Life has always been a battle a struggle for me. It was for Pinkie too then she decided to make her life a dance or in her case a party. That’s the answer I got it didn't I?”
“Congratulations you have won the challenge. Pinkie Pie you have won the match and the day. You may ask me any prize. 
Pinkie snort laughed. “For my prize I would like to have the rest of this dance.”
The great hall filled with music. Acapulco music. Luna sang for the two earth ponies as they danced. 
When it was over Pinkie bowed to Grey and Luna and bounced through the French doors and disappeared. 
“I’m sorry I took so long to figure it out.”
“I did not place any time constraint on the challenge. You seemed a little disappointed when you saw that Pinkamena was going to be your instructor today. 
“I’m sorry I let myself imagine a completely different type of instructor.
Luna smiled.
“I must admit that I set you up a little. You do realize that my sister and I trained for years in secret before battling Discord. Then we began the process of rebuilding Equestria. We were the ones who trained the warriors who came after. Then they trained the next generation and so on. I chose Pinkie Pie to spar with you. I chose the challenge best suited for you. Now tell me who your instructor was today?”
Grey stared at Luna, his jaw dropped when he finally realized.
“My instructor was Princess Luna, princess of the moon, mistress of the night sky, princess of the dark and unknown, co-ruler of the realm of Equestria.  Can I say Nightmare Moon?”
“You may. I don’t mind the double meaning. Just don’t say it to me with any other pony around.” 
“I’m sorry; I’m still a little dizzy. There is a lot going on in my head right now.”
“You trained well today. Take the rest of the day off and go soak in the river. Meditate on what you have learned. Do more stretching and less strength training this week.