//------------------------------// // Chapter Eleven // Story: Battle Ready: The Rising of Sin // by D101 Reviews //------------------------------// The injuries were minor. Nothing more than feeble scratches, incapable of leaving scars. Still Doctor Stables seemed adamant on keeping Battle in the hospital for twenty four hours. Not that Battle minded. He got a chance to check in on Rainbow and Pinkie. He was thankful that the two were now conscious. Dash wouldn't be out of bed for a while and Pinkie would have to stay in the hospital, but they were both relatively unharmed. Dash seemed a little rattled by the experience she had forgotten and Pinkie definitely seemed less chipper, but Battle had a feeling the two of them would bounce back. Applejack's injuries were just a few minor cuts where the handcuffs had dug into her wrists, and was already hard at work on the farm. Only time would tell how Rarity and Fluttershy would deal with the events of the previous night. His more insidious instincts had told him to also go see Gilda. The gryphon and her friends had been found in the late morning, and brought into accident and emergency. Antonio was awake when Battle had arrived, as was the unfortunate gryphon whom Battle had knocked out with the thumb jabs. Both looked petrified to see him. At least he took some satisfaction in that. When Doctor Stables did release him he found Mayor Mare waiting for him at the hospital entrance. "An interesting night?" she asked as she and Battle began to make their way to the library. "Just watching out for my friends," he replied as warmly as he could. Mayor Mare hummed slightly at that. "According to Applejack there was ten of them?" she said. "Ten of who?" Battle replied, trying to play innocent. "Ten gryphons," Mayor Mare explained. "Apparently Gilda was one of them." "I wouldn't know who that is," Battle replied. "You know Rarity told me everything don't you?" Battle said nothing for a few moments. "Does this mean I'm in trouble?" Mayor looked to him, raising an eyebrow. "So long as I don't hear about you looking for a fight I'm willing to forget about this. Gilda was a bit of a pest. She didn't exactly leave Ponyville with the town's favour." "And?" Battle said, knowing there was more. "There were a few... complaints," Mare said at last. "You mean crimes?" "Yes. A few thefts here and there, some property damage, and now this. Gilda's been on Ponyville's most wanted for a long time. As soon as she comes to, we'll be able to charge her, and cart her and her friends off to trial." Battle nodded. "So this worked out for all of us?" "Indeed. I just hope she doesn't come back for more. She does appear to have a vengeful streak does she not?" "She won't come back. I made sure of it." "I'll take your word for it. I took the liberty of seeing Doctor Stables about our guests. Impressive work might I say." She looked up at him. "Ex-military?" "Kind of," Battle replied. "I don't much like talking about it." "I understand." They stopped as the library came into view. Mayor Mare turned to Battle Ready and looked at him over the rim of her glasses. "I'm a trusting mare Battle. I like to think I have a good sense of character. And from what I can tell, you're not a bad egg. You may have been a little overzealous but your intentions were good." She turned and began to walk away. "Just, don't go looking for trouble okay?" "Why would I do that?" Battle called after her. "Trouble finds me!" She laughed and Battle turned back to the library. He reached the door and placed the key in the lock before he paused, slumped his shoulders and sighed looking to the bush next to him on his left. "'Shy I know you're there so I'm just gonna put the kettle on for when you decide to come inside," he said smiling and pushing into the library. He threw his coat off of his shoulders and onto the coat hanger, before striding over to the kitchen. He filled the kettle with water and placed over the hob to boil. He leaned against the counter and waited for the familiar clunk of the door as Fluttershy would walk in, meak and slightly embarrassed. Indeed as Battle reached for the mug he had claimed for himself and the one Fluttershy usually used, the library door closed and Fluttershy walked into the kitchen. "Hi," she mumbled and sat down. Battle bit his lip slightly and sat opposite her. "I assume that this is about last night?" he asked. She nodded and he sighed. "You wanna talk about it?" Fluttershy took a deep breath and looked at Battle. "What you did to Gilda last night..." Battle dropped his head and nodded slowly. "Right... yeah... look I'm sorry if I-" "I want you to teach me how you did that." Battle looked up sharply. Of all the reactions from all the ponies he'd met in Ponyville, this was the last one he'd expect from Fluttershy. Fluttershy herself turned red from embarrassment from what she'd just said just as the kettle began to boil. Battle, thankful for the distraction, got up to pour him and Fluttershy some tea. The silence filled the air for a few moments as Battle filled both mugs with tea leaves and hot water. "You... want me to teach you how to do what I did last night?" Battle asked eventually. "Not just that," Fluttershy muttered. "I... I think I recognised some of what you did. Sambo right? From Stalliongrad?" "How... how do you even know that?" Battle asked, setting Fluttershy's mug in front of her. She blushed. "I stumbled across it whilst looking for massage techniques to use on Harry," she explained briefly. "But that isn't the point. I want you to teach me everything you know about Sambo." Battle took a sip of his own tea, mulling it over. "Two things. One, it's not Sambo. It's a mixed martial arts form known as Omniform, specially constructed so that any pony could pick it up. Omniform can get more complicated in later stages of learning which branches off into Magiform, Monoform and Aviaform, for unicorns, earth ponies and pegasi respectively. Two, why?" "Why?" Fluttershy repeated confused. "Yeah, I mean you're the kindest sweetest mare alive. Why would you ever need to kick some ass?" Battle sipped his tea. Fluttershy held her mug with both hands and took a sip. before putting down. "Last night..." she said slowly. "I saw three of my friends get attacked and all three of them ended up going to hospital. Me and Rarity watched as they were attacked. What did she do... she went to go get help. She brought you. And what did I do? I just curled up in a ball. I didn't do anything. If Rarity hadn't been there..." "You're feeling guilty about last night?" Battle asked. "'Shy that wasn't your fault it couldn't possibly have been your fault." "I know it wasn't," Fluttershy snapped. "But what about next time? And the time after that? My friends are the first to jump into danger and I have to watch them get hurt, while I sit back and cry to myself because I can't even hurt a fly. I don't want to play that role anymore. I want to learn. The next time something happens I don't want to have to cower behind Rainbow Dash or Applejack!" Battle remained silent for a few seconds and took a sip of tea. Then he looked at Fluttershy. "You feel you aren't contributing is that it?" "My friends were in danger last night Battle," she responded. "I... I know I don't have to be stronger than them. We all do our part in our group." "But...?" "But I can't help but wonder," Fluttershy mumbled, "That if I had known something like what you do, whether or not things would have turned out differently." "Who knows?" Battle muttered. "They might have." "And I don't mean to say I would've ended up in hospital too," Fluttershy said sharply. "Never said that's what would have happened," Battle replied. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's say I did teach you Aviaform okay? You have to ask yourself if things would have turned out differently last night. Would you have been able to fight off Gilda with Applejack? Or would you have done the same thing you did last night?" "Are you saying I'm weak? That I couldn't handle it?" Fluttershy asked. "No, god no," Battle replied hastily. "It takes courage and character to admit to a flaw, strength to try and fix it. but as far as I can tell 'Shy, violence is not in your nature. I'm not saying you'd run away again, but you have to ask yourself about the possibility that you would. Would you be able to use what I taught you to help?" Fluttershy bit her lip and bowed her head. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm not sure," she whispered. "But... I want to try all the same. If I don't manage, then you're right and I'm just the one everypony protects. But... if you're wrong... then there's a chance if something like that happens again, I'll be able to stand up for myself." Battle sat back. He scratched the back of his neck and thought for a few seconds. "Okay," he said at last. Fluttershy looked up, amazed. "Really?" she cried. "Really really," Battle confirmed. "I'm not gonna say it'll be easy 'Shy. That's not an insult to your capabilities. It's a fact. Aviaform is difficult to master for everyone. But I have every confidence that you'll be able to buck up and power through." "You'll... you'll really teach me?" she whispered. "The way I see it 'Shy you're sick of everyone treating you like some delicate little flower that has to be protected. And I like to think every flower has their thorns."