Pressure Shaker felt his chest ringing in pain as he picked himself up from the ground. He looked towards the school and saw the many students (and teachers) exiting the main lobby to see the fight. Then there was him...
With no signs of doubt, the boy slowly walked down the entrance stairs and straight towards where Mr Shaker was. Though Mr Shaker was taller by inches he could see it in Flash's face... rage and wrath that cannot be quelled through words... all focused on no one but him.
"Well now..." A disturbing smile appeared on Mr Shaker's face, "So you do know how to fight. Doesn't change you from being trash like your teacher..."
"Trash can pile up, and such overaccumulation is a dangerous issue we're facing today. It dirties the world we live in, people can slip on loose pieces, they are nauseating to the senses, and causes health problems to almost all living things." Flash answered, "So if you don't stop talking and start fighting, you'll be an example from such a danger."
"I don't give a shit!" Pressure spouted, "I'll do what I damn well want! All four goddesses can kiss my ass!"
A sudden front kick to the chest knocked the burly man back once again, closer to the Wondercolts statue.
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Flash growled, "If you talk instead of fight, it's pain that you'll invite!"
"Fuck you!" Mr Shaker retorted, swinging his arm forward for a direct punch to the face. Flash swiftly stepped to the side without a word. Without hesitating, the man continued his endless barrage of punches and haymakers, similar to what he did to Nagisa as perceived by the blue-haired guitarist... Or what used to be.
"How the hell did a guy like Brad omit the fact that he knows how to kick ass???" Thunderlane spoke,
"Full of surprises? Well... You didn't know about Flash till you joined the Club." Soarin laughed, "That's what superficial impressions get you!"
"I'm just as surprised how most of you aren't shocked that our most average student knows how to fight," Thunderlane grumbled,
"As friends, Flash has invited me, Sandal and Bulk to his house occasionally. There, I learned that he is a part of the Ho-Yong Taekwondo Dojo, just located near Canterlot Mall." Micro added,
"Remember when I talked about Martial Arts last Friday?" Soarin added, "That Martial Art was Taekwondo. This was where I first met Flash before we bumped into each other again in CHS."
"Figured out when we were fightin'." Big Mac shrugged, "As ah said, you learn lots about yer partner when fightin'."
"When Flash and I were still dating, we met up just outside the studio he practices in. Judging through the times we were together I assumed he'd start getting rough when pushed over the edge, given how chivalrous he is." Sunset added, "Though I'd never imagined him to be this rough. I guess having family members harmed gains more of his ire than seeing girls harmed."
"Knowing your students is extremely vital." Nagisa limped into the conversation, "Same as knowing the in's and out's of your teacher, whether you like it or not. It's how a teacher can be confident in what a student like him needs in order to progress in learning or taking a really tough exam or test... kinda like this one. Though not sanctioned by the school or any educational body."
"Oof!!!" Flash staggered back from a solid punch on his shoulder blade, followed with a firm and crushing grip on his other shoulder. Instinctively, Flash restrained that grip by using his own hands to grab the man's fingers and a far part of his arm. That, unfortunately, left him vulnerable to a devastating chop onto Flash's spine, forcing him to kneel on the ground.
"!!!" The students gasped,
But Flash wasn't going down that easy. He rolled quite a large distance after that blow and stood back up. Spotting a charging Mr Shaker, he quickly remembered that move... Judging from what he saw when Nagisa was fighting him... It was coming into place.
"Now I understand..." Flash mused to himself as he crouched into a side stance, his upper body leaning a bit back. Mr Shaker was almost on top of him, and now it was a perfect time to see how hard he can really hit. Within 2 seconds, he hopped into the air, turned his upper body behind him, bent his rear leg in the process, and combined all three (jump, pivot, and leg extension) to drive his foot directly into the man's head, returning that charging momentum right back to its sender.
The crowd gasped in awe once again as they saw Mr Shaker knocked off his feet, his face burning red. One could dread that such a kick could have caused a bad concussion or even a fractured skull. Such dreads were averted though, as the foul-mouthed man stood back up, with some more curse words to spout. Flash opened his mouth to compliment on such fortitude to an attack, but remembered what he said in the beginning and decided to save his energy for fighting.
Actually... No... He can do this...
Scooching over to the Wondercolts statue, he gave a firm whistle towards the cursing criminal. Once the man's infuriating eyes locked onto him, Flash stretched out an open palm facing upwards and beckoned him over with a cocky, shit-eating, grin. The crowd gasped and oohed at the action of a taunt, anyone but the teachers and some mature students.
Enraged from such a taunt, Mr Shaker charged forward with a roar, his hands up in a boxing stance. Flash jumped into a neutral fighting stance and focused on evasion. From practice and memory, Flash dodged every wind-whipping punch, hook, and even uppercut thrown at him, retaliating with a light jab to the face. With each punch he snuck through, the more Mr Shaker lost his cool. Flash, though stoic and serious, couldn't help but give another cocky grin (though small) on how such an intimidating criminal could be such a hopeless case when it comes to fighting. Of course, that's no excuse to hold back, especially after all that trash talk and actions.
"Flash has some clean fighting skills, not going to lie." Rainbow smiled,
"You can say that again," Soarin agreed, "That jumping back kick was flawless in execution! Flash's dedication to technique, discipline and philosophy is well known by the other students. I'm not surprised if he's still showing that today."
"By the way, can I ask what belt is he?" Rainbow asked,
"He's a Second Dan Black Belt." Soarin answered, "And that was when I visited the Dojo last Saturday."
The crowd went stared at Soarin, then back to their classmate... Out of all the students in their school, the goofy and dorky guitar-player of Flash Drive was the most skilful, yet borderline dangerous fighter.
"Oh, and what I mean by dedication to the Taekwondo philosophy, he's very tight on the tenets and oath, just like his love for the Friendship Goddess." Soarin added, "He would NEVER resort to fighting unless there were injustices and threats to peace that can never be quelled by words and debate. When it comes to being a champion of freedom and justice, however, he weighs heavily upon the latter, mostly because our master also weighs upon justice."
"So by that logic," Fleetfoot answered, "Is he the most skilled out of all the Club in both fighting and shooting?"
"I'd say yes." Flitter nodded,
"I agree." Noteworthy nodded,
"Me too! Me too!" Pinkie Pie jumped in agreement, "But I'm not giving up that easy!"
*Bzzt! Bzzt!* buzzed the phones of the Special Tutorship Club students.
"Oh! A message of the CHS club board!" Cheerilee exclaimed. She pulled out her phone and examined the message, followed by the other club members.
CHS Special Tutorship Club Message Board
Guys and Girls? Coach Justice and the Janitor is approaching the PA room where the two children are being held. They want to know, is Pressure Shaker fully distracted? - Roseluck
Cheerilee nodded to herself and typed it down.
Absolutely. Flash is keeping him very busy. - Cheerilee
A quick few seconds later...
Right. The two adults are breaking in now to rescue the kids... Creatively if I might add... - Roseluck
That's great! - Cheerilee
Oh and just in case, the Janitor said to let Flash concentrate on the fighting. Someone has to take him down after all... - Roseluck
Staying close to the Wondercolts Statue, Flash continued his streak of dodging and countering. About twenty-five punches to Mr Shaker's face for the past three minutes and there were definitely signs of bruises and blood. More importantly, Flash could see Mr Shaker was really feeling the exhaustion and fatigue from all that throwing and attacking.
"Time to end this." Flash thought to himself. Seeing Mr Shaker go for one more grab, Flash ducked below the hulking hands, and swept the floor with one graceful crouching spin, catching Mr Shaker's unsuspecting leg and pulling him down. Mr Shaker got one knee ready to stop himself from falling flat on the ground. Flash predicted that and leapt forward, tackling and pinning the criminal to the ground. Mr Shaker refused to give in, heaving his muscular body back upright to escape the pin. But Flash was not going to let him go. Twisting around to Mr Shaker's back, he pulled him to the ground again, caging his adversary's body with his legs, and one arm tightly around his adversary's neck.
"Gawww!!!" Mr Shaker's eyes widened with shock the moment he felt a strong force sealing his air passage.
"Alright, you bastard..." Flash spoke in his ear, "You'd better tap out and surrender if you want to get out of this."
"F--F!!!" Mr Shaker bitterly gritted his teeth. Flash saw his response with the mirror of the Wondercolts Statue and tightened his grip.
"I'm not giving you any more chances." Flash continued with his tone raised in anger, "If I were you, I'd tap out. You'll have many more opportunities to escape prison and use that money, rather than end your life here."
"You.." Mr Shaker choked, "... Think... You... Scare... Me!?!?"
"Fear is just a minor goal. What I really want is this..." Flash responded, then yelled out. "Hey! Can someone take the remote detonator from him!? I saw him put it in his left front pocket..."
"I will!" Yada approached the two fighters.
"What a horrendous man..." Yada thought to herself as she closed in on tank topped terror, "yet so pathetic that he falls..." Before getting close, Yada gripped her hands together as a gesture to Flash. Flash understood what she meant, and tightened his grip, close to the border of strangling.
"Erk..." Mr Shaker's eyes pulse rapidly and began to turn a bit purple, instinctively shifting his priority to pry Flash's grip loose and stay alive. Flash locked his grip harder, utilising technique and skill to make up for his inferior strength by comparison. Even so, Flash knew that he can only hold that strength for 5 seconds, but that was more than enough time needed.
"Got it!" Ms Yada filched the detonator from Mr Shaker's pocket and quickly sprung back to the safety of the crowd.
"Well?" Flash loosened his grip a little, "Looks like you have nothing left to hold me back."
"MMM!!! Okay!!! Okay!!!" Mr Shaker wimpily growled, repeatedly slamming his hand on the floor. "Let... Go!"
Flash released his grip. Mr Shaker crawled quickly to the mirror of the Wondercolts Statue, coughing and wheezing along the way and gasping for some merciful air.
"Well?" Flash approached him, "Do you have anything to say, Mr Eye-For-Trash?"
"Grr..." Mr Shaker rubbed his neck. He was filled with rage just like when Flash taunted him, but no longer the energy to carry it out.
"I told you how dangerous trash can be," Flash answered, a no-nonsense scowl on his face. "So be careful of who or what you call trash. I may be a follower of the Friendship Goddess, but there is such thing as... what was the name again? Oh yeah, 'Karma'."
"He did not just say that!" Nagisa jumped in surprise,
"Relax, we never told the students about him." Yada laughed, "I must admit. He may have a different personality and appearance, but the fighting smarts and confidence could have fooled me into thinking that he was our red devil himself."
"Please no..." Nagisa shook his head, "One Karma is enough."
"Nothing? Alrighty then, looks like it's my turn to trash talk." Flash started, "I honestly thought you were intimidating and scary, true to all the crimes you committed. But the moment we clashed, that changed entirely. All that knowledge and you chose brawn over brains when it comes to fighting. Do you think big muscles are just enough? Please... If sir wasn't occupied with school, he would have beat you himself, without a scratch even."
"Aww, he's standing up for you!" Pinkie laughed, pulling on Nagisa's cheeks.
"I... I have no idea what to say about this..." Noteworthy spoke, feeling very disturbed. "About what you're doing to Mr Shiota Pinkie..."
Mr Shaker bared his teeth, angry and embarrassed like no tomorrow. In secret, he rummaged for something hidden within...
"I can see I've touched a nerve... We all have nerves touched almost every single day in our lives. Have some humility." Flash continued, "Well, either way..."
Flash stretched his arms, and walked upright behind him, "... You say Martial arts is outdated, and yet it still does its job of what it's supposed to, carry out justice. Well, what does that say about you? Looks like you never could shake your way out a fistfight... unless..."
The moment Mr Shaker turned around, Flash acted way beforehand and swung his right leg forward. A swift and true roundhouse kick to knock a large handgun out of Mr Shaker's hand then used the same right leg to slide the gun to the crowd, away from its user.
"... You had a gun." Flash finished, "You are an even bigger idiot than I thought. I can use mirrors too you know. That's why I brought the fight around this exact location in the first place."
"Uh..." Mr Shaker looked at his hand where the gun used to be, then looked in the direction of where the gun went, now at the playful hands of a Pink, poofy, girl. He looked back to the student towering before him, the same rage and wrath he saw at the beginning of this fight. This time, however, a surge of fear swept over the criminal.
"P-P-Please!!!" Mr Shaker yelled, "P-Please forgive me! Have mercy!!!"
"Now you truly have nothing to fight back with. No threat, no technology, no firearm, and no skill. That's what it's like to feel despair... that's what it feels like to be under pressure." Flash glared,
"I-I'm sorry!!! I-I swear! I won't come near you, your brats, or your school ever again!!! C-Can you still give me mercy???"
"Mr Shaker..." Flash bent forward, staring ruthlessly into his eyes. "Did you forget what I just said? I WILL harm you for all the damn you've done... my teacher, my siblings, my friends, and given your life of crime... those lives you've taken to save your own hide!!!"
"Eaaahh!!!" Mr Shaker held his shielded his head with his hands and arms for one last feeble block.
"Welcome to the incinerator..." Flash growled, lifting his rear leg high in the air, "... And your execution!!!"
Flash brought his heel down upon Mr Shaker's shoulder and tore it in one mighty blow. Mr Shaker fell on his back, clutching his dislocated shoulder and howling in pain, yelling for salvation. The fight was finally over...
"Don't worry, your shoulder will heal over time, given the proper care." Flash ensured, "Of course... You're not getting out of prison ever again."
The crowd went silent once again, completely frozen in fear and shock...
"Oh come on!!!" Flash sighed to the crowd, returning to his goofy laid-back self, "This is nothing compared to what we've been through as a school!"
"Actually..." Rarity thought about it hard, "he's not wrong about that... but still... It's scary."
"Flash!!!" Scootaloo ran through the crowd,
"Big Bro!" First followed behind her,
"Scoots! First!" Flash laid eyes on his two siblings and lost his cool as he ran towards them. The siblings embraced each other with one big hug filled with sobs and laughter.
"Are you okay guys???" Flash spoke, "I'm so sorry that you had to go through all this!"
"It's not your fault Flash," First responded while bawling with tears, "But to go through with all this too? It's so crazy, just like papa..."
"I'm all fine, just got hit in the back. But, I'm... I'm so happy that you're alright and unharmed..." Flash blabbered,
"About that, it's a long story..." Scootaloo replied, "Now don't think about crying. Your friends are around! Besides... I... It's going to make me... Eh..." Scootaloo then burst into tears. "Okay! I was really scared! To be tied up next to a bomb...!"
"It's alright... He's down..." Flash comforted, "and you're free... Thanks to--"
"That would be us," Kimura walked forward, with the Janitor behind him. "It's my job as a teacher, and a police enforcer to ensure the safety of people and students alike."
"Coach Justice... Sir..." Flash looked up at to the two adults, tears now streaming down his face, "Th-Thank you so much... For saving my brother and sister... How c-can I ever repay you?"
"Just be considerate of your old Janitor and his job." The Janitor laughed, "Besides. I love toying with people regardless of age, but strapping bombs to young children and teenagers is too far for a mad coot like me."
Behind the Wondercolts statue, far from the students and teachers, Mystère was quietly applauding the small show going on.
"Well done Flash, I almost thought for a second you'd chicken out, but you didn't. Well then... Such selfless sacrifices will yield its own reward." The man laughed as he proceeded to lean on the mirror... Only to be swallowed by its white light.