//------------------------------//
// Fight Night in Las Pegasus: Round 2 
// Story: Rainbow 8 
// by Koiyuki 
//------------------------------//

	Not a moment after they touched gloves, Applejack charged like a bull at Twilight, every swing coming heavy and hard. Twilight tried to feel her way through with jabs, but those 2 inches Applejack had on her made pushing forward a dangerous proposition. As Twilight felt each  unforgiving straight and hook push her further back, she remembered the mantra Dash repeated during defensive drills: a calm mind creates clear vision, and clear vision always reveals the sure shot. In time, she took control of her breathing, feeling the weight of her body in that ring, the air flowing around her skin, and her breaths drawing into and out of her lungs with each moment. The roar of the crowd and the sounds in the ring began to meld as one, her focus zeroing in on how Applejack's  brute force was pushing her to and fro. In that moment, she thought, "Why should I allow her to hurt me more by trying to resist everything, when allowing her punches to flow away will let it pass safely by?"

Soon, Applejack felt her hooks slide away, and her straights fly past, even when they hit her right on the head. "Are these hits even hurtin' 'er?" she thought each time they made impact. Gold Mike saw how Twilight was leaning against the ropes while Applejack wailed away, asking, "Should she be soaking up all that punishment without dishing anything more than jabs and quick straights back?"

"Doesn't need to fire back, right now" Hoshikawa replied. "You see how her body's kinda riding out each punch? The way her neck twists a little with each head shot? How her body swerves with each blow? It's super risky, but if she's got the cardio, it's a sneaky way to save her gas while the other guy runs through theirs trying to hurt 'em. Classic strategy the greats used to burn out rock 'em sock 'em boxers, like AJ seems to be. I just hope Twily's cookin' up some O to go with that D"

"Twily?"

"What? That's the name on her boxing trunks, isn't it? Maybe if Applejack wises up, she'll be able to make Twily look as silly as that name sounds" After taking a few counter shots to the head, Applejack thought it time to change her approach, feinting a body blow into a cannon ball straight. Twilight dodged it right before impact. A cut formed on her left cheek. A smile crossed Applejack's lips, pressing the offense with double jabs and short combos. Cross, Upper. Jab, body hook. Overhead, underhand, step in jab. Twilight saw these combos and others come at her at a blistering pace, Dash screaming, "Nobody likes a punching bag, Twi! Get busy!" For the rest of the round Twilight couldn't get out of defense long enough to attack, a soft chuckle escaping as it entered the dying seconds.  So there is a method to the madness, she thought to herself. Now to see if I can dissect it


***


"Excellent, Applejack," Rarity told her as she toweled her off. "Now just ensure you smother her with power and leave no room for escape."

"Remember, though, that there's still 8 rounds to go." Fluttershy brought up. "Save some energy for the final leg, so you can finish this marathon"


***


Dash got right in Twilight's face as she worked on her cut. "You know this is a fight, right? You know that the busy boxer gets the decisions, right? You know she has one punch power, right?

Pinkie offered her the Team Twily branded water bottle. "I know you've got a plan, but waiting for the right time to execute it won't get you far, here. Fortune favors the bold, especially in this sport. If there's any perfect time to be bold, it's gotta be now!" The bell rung, and the two boxers once again touched gloves ring center, Twilight waiting for the right moment to push her plan into action