Knights of Harmony, Episode I: Rise of the Elements

by bahatumay

Chapter 10

Twilight nodded as she watched Applejack deflect Pinkie’s (much more controlled) swing, and then quickly return one of her own (which Pinkie dodged with a little spin on the ball of her foot). Although ‘competent’ may have been a bit generous a description, they certainly had improved a lot in these past couple weeks. Right now, both participants were still fairly ‘rooted’ to the ground and definitely not as light on their feet as they should have been, but really, it was a difference of night and day from their first matches together.

In fact, this time, their fight ended not by injury, lightsaber to the eye, or accidental kick to a sensitive area, but by Spike’s whistle; they had managed to last the entire allotted time.

“Good! You’re improving, getting to know your weapons better. Good.” She glanced back at her other students. “Rainbow Dash, and… Fluttershy.”

“Eep!”

Rainbow Dash hopped from foot to foot on her starting line, eager to get started. Fluttershy, in contrast, shuffled forwards, holding her lightsaber handle in front of her as if trying to hide herself behind it.

Twilight pursed her lips. Still? Come to think of it, had she ever struck with her lightsaber?

Either way, both players were soon put in the ring, with Spike between them. At his signal, both ignited their lightsabers; and with a sharp whistle, the match started.

Rainbow bounced around, swinging her shoto every so often as if she were jabbing for distance. Fluttershy seemed to be getting better at shuffling her feet, but that was about it. And, to be perfectly honest, she was already pretty good at that to begin with. Twilight really wasn’t sure what to expect from her now.

Rainbow batted away Fluttershy’s lightsaber. She quickly brought it back up, but Rainbow batted it away to the other side. She chuckled.

Twilight scratched the back of her neck. Yes, they were friends; but couldn’t Rainbow take training a little bit more seriously? If she’d tried that on Applejack or Rarity, it would have been different; but she was sparring Fluttershy, so she could get away with much more.

Rainbow seemed to want to demonstrate this by swinging almost lazily, making Fluttershy retreat anyway. She feinted to one side, and when Fluttershy stepped to the other, skipped forward and clenched sabers. With a flick of her wrist, she disarmed her, sending Fluttershy’s lightsaber flying.

And, as much as Twilight was loathe to admit it, it was nice to see someone was picking up some of the techniques she was trying to teach. “If there’s an opportunity to, end the fight!” Twilight called.

Rainbow flipped her lightsaber around and grinned. She swung her lightsaber forward for the ‘killing’ blow…

But her hand wouldn’t move.

Fluttershy’s left hand was up, holding Rainbow’s lightsaber in place with the power of Harmony. Rainbow scowled and tried to force her hand forward, and Fluttershy suddenly pulled, tipping Rainbow off balance. She fell forwards, and caught herself with her hands, with her lightsaber rolling. Fluttershy snatched it up and pointed it at her. Unlit, but still.

Twilight pursed her lips. Impressive.

---

Training was over for the day, so Twilight and Spike slid into their usual seats around their table. Twilight crossed her arms and nodded. “It’s been going really well,” she said. She paused. “Well, mostly well,” she amended.

Spike hissed questioningly.

“Yeah, it’s Rainbow.” Twilight sighed, placing her right hand on her temple. “She’s getting frustrated. She’s got it in her, and she’s a good fighter—she really is; it’s just… not coming naturally to her, and I think that’s really frustrating her.”

Spike hissed.

“Anger,” Twilight corrected gently. “Anger leads to the Dark Side. But you’re right. I need to do something to help her, but what? She’s just so different. She knows how to fight. She basically has to relearn everything.”

Spike drew himself up, closed his eyes, lifted his head as if looking dramatically off into the distance, and placed a claw on his chest in a passable impression of Master Celestia.

“Right, right. ‘We all have much to learn’.” Twilight inhaled, held her breath for a few moments, then slowly exhaled. “So is it something I’m doing wrong?” she asked.

Spike shrugged.

“She's got the drive, she's got the intensity; I just…” Twilight sighed and conceded defeat. She folded her hands and placed them on her lap. “I’ll meditate on the others. It’ll come to me eventually.” She inhaled, held it, and let her mind drift. “And then there’s Fluttershy. She’s so defensive and hesitant on the attack that I’m debating teaching her Soresu so…” Her voice trailed off, and she slammed a palm into her forehead. “By Harmony, I’m an idiot.”

---

Rainbow paced like a caged animal in front of the door. When Twilight had asked to see her alone, she knew what it would be about. Really, anyone could have seen it coming; but it still kinda stung to be told you weren’t good enough. What did Twilight know, anyway? Some crazy girl from Canterlot, practicing some hokey religion and moving things with her hands.

As if hearing her name, Twilight opened the door and started. “Oh. Rainbow. You got here quicker than I was expecting.”

“Yeah, speed’s a special talent of mine. You wanted to see me?” Rainbow said snippily.

“Yes,” Twilight said, remaining calm. “It’s about your training. You’re frustrated. You feel like you’re not progressing, like you’re not learning.”

Rainbow scowled. She turned and placed her hands on her hips, expecting an argument.

One didn’t come. Instead, Twilight bowed her head. “It’s my fault.”

Rainbow had not been expecting that. “What?” she said dumbly.

“It’s my fault,” Twilight repeated. “I’m trying to teach you my style, Niman, because I know it best. But that means it plays to my strengths, and not yours.”

“Hey, I’m strong,” Rainbow defended herself.

“Yes, you are, Rainbow,” Twilight said placatingly. “But Niman is more or less the jack-of-all-trades style. It doesn’t have any particular strengths, but it doesn’t have any particular weaknesses, either. It’s a safe, balanced, steady, middle-of-the-lane adapting-to-what-you-get style; and that’s the kind of person I am. But that’s not you, is it?”

Rainbow wryly shook her head.

“You’re fast. You’re quick. You’re strong. You’re a bit shorter than average.”

“I am not!” Rainbow protested.

“You’re naturally athletic,” Twilight continued as if she hadn’t heard. “You can’t win with my style. It’s not you at all.” She stood up, and motioned Rainbow to follow her. “You use a shoto not because it’s convenient, but because it’s meant for you.”

Rainbow was mildly taken aback. She shrugged. “Well, I did just find it,” she said dismissively. “It was just, you know, a coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Twilight said firmly. “You are the kind of person who would willingly sacrifice reach for speed. You would strike fast and dodge rather than block. You would use your whole body as a weapon. I need to teach you how to use your shoto properly.” She grinned. “I’m going to teach you Ataru.”

---

“Ataru is aggressive,” Twilight instructed. “Ataru is flashy. Ataru is speed. Power. Quickness. It requires quick thinking and even quicker reflexes. In other words, it’s everything you stand for.” She ignited her lightsaber (which, of course, had been reduced to training level) and spread her arms wide. “Come at me, Rainbow.”

Rainbow ignited her own lightsaber, and looked up from her position on the ground floor. “You’re on the second floor, Twilight,” she said.

Twilight shrugged. “Come at me, Rainbow,” she repeated, twirling her lightsaber once around her hand.

Rainbow shrugged and headed for the stairs, but found herself Harmony-pulled back to her original position.

“Come. At. Me,” Twilight repeated.

Rainbow scowled. “What, you expect me to just jump up there or something?”

Twilight smiled. “I do.”

Rainbow blinked. “You what?”

“Ataru relies heavily upon a Harmonist’s ability to run, jump, and spin using Harmony. You know Harmony. You know what you feel and how you feel it. You know your body. Combine them. You've got Harmony in you. You’re fast, Rainbow; I know you are. But using Harmony, you can be faster. Quicker. More acrobatic. Let it flow through you and let it lift you. Let it carry you where you want to go.” She made a beckoning gesture. “Now. Come at me.”

Rainbow looked down at herself, and then looked up. Her eyes narrowed in determination. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then charged.

As she ran, she felt the Harmony inside her. She could increase her jump if she just tapped into it. It was part of her, wasn’t it? It was in her. She just needed to give it a little nudge. With a mighty roar, she jumped.

That roar rapidly raised in pitch and turned into a slight scream of terror as she overshot the jump, arced high over Twilight, and slammed into the wall.

Twilight grimaced even as she caught Rainbow with Harmony, regretting deeply that she was not faster. “That’s… good!” She let Rainbow down gently. “You definitely had a little help from Harmony there. How does it feel?”

Rainbow slumped to the ground. “Like I just got into a fight with a vodran,” she answered weakly. “Does learning always have to be this painful?”

“Not quite. Lesson two.” Twilight stood up, clipped her lightsaber back onto her belt, then fell backwards off the second story balcony. She landed in a perfect three-point stance. “See? There I used Harmony to slow my fall. Try it. Get used to how your body reacts, how Harmony affects you. We’ll have you flipping and cartwheeling in no time.”

Rainbow pushed herself up. She looked down and nodded. If Twilight could do this, so could she. She jumped off.

And though she made a valiant effort to keep the ground at bay, she landed, hard.

Twilight winced. “Ok, lesson one point five: how to physically break your fall in case you can't catch yourself in time. I’m sorry! I really should have started with that one.”

“Is’all good,” Rainbow slurred. “Really.”

Comments

[badninja]

Well I see a breakthrough has been found for Rainbow. I bet Rarity will be learning the second form, the dueling one.