The remainder of that monday, Aj was worrying over her match with Shade. She had bitten the end of her pencil hard enough to bite clean through it, pushed hard enough on the lead that it broke an inch off, and nearly walked into the wall with her shoulder. When it came to the last bell, she was relieved. That whole time, she was working out her attack plan in her head and on paper, but without a source of reference, she would be fighting blind.
Finally, at the track field, Shade stood there alone in its center. Rainbow and the others showed up at different times, while Sunset walked with Aj, trying to ease her troubled mind. After all, Sunset was in full empath mode, and hearing Aj's every thought.
"Alright. Ah'm here. An' your first match is with me."
"I know. Which is why..." He raised both his hands to his side. "Which is why..." The stands became full of people, a boxing ring came up from the ground, and stadium lights shone down on the canvas. "Everyone has come to watch."
Everyone looked around them at the marvel of his power. The stands cheered for Aj and Shade. Some even sported orange or black shirts to show their favorite to win. When they looked back at Shade, he was in the middle of the ring. A mic was wired to speakers in the stands. "Ladies and Gentlemen... Today at Canterlot Hall, we bring you today's main event! Aj, the Heaviest Hitter, versus Shade the Champion! Will the challenger give him a run for his money, or will she be just another star on his trunks?"
Shade, the one off stage, looked at Aj. "Cool, huh? Don't worry. Your room is just behind you. There's trunks, wraps, shoes and gloves. 8 ounce. I'll go prepare and meet you in the ring in say... ten minutes?" He smiled and walked off toward the red corner's hallway.
Aj and her friends retreated to the blue hall, and got to the changing room. "Aj, I don't like this at all. He's baiting you, you know that?" Sunset asked.
"He wants to box. He wants to challenge me at my strongest sport."
"Ever ask why? He knows you're strong, so why fight you in a test of strength?" Rainbow set up her recorder. "While I'm at it..." She cleared her throat. "We're here with the challenger Applejack, minutes before her debut match in Canterlot Hall. Any words for the champ?"
Aj also cleared her throat. "Shade. Ah'm gonna hang your belt on the wall after I rip it off your waist. You wanna test these guns?" She held up her arms. "Ain't enough kevlar in the world to protect you from these!"
"Powerful words from the challenger! Back to you, Ace." She closed the camcorder and laughed. "That was awesome!"
Outside the hall, she heard a response. "Those were bold words from the challenger. Champ, your reply?"
"Well, I've defended my title a couple times now, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of power this one has. If you ask me, she's the most threatening fighter at this school."
"Are you saying that you're scared, Champ?"
"No Ace. Not scared. Just purely excited, is all."
Rainbow looked at her camcorder. "Huh... how 'bout that. He can do some amazing things... Make no mistake, he's still a force we have to stop, but if he can do all this, then what chance do we have?"
"Thanks for the confidence, Dash. Can't wait to see your face when he beats you in a race." Aj folded her arms.
"Girls. If Aj doesn't prepare, she won't be in form enough to win this match." Twilight held out the pair of red boxing gloves.
Rainbow took them from her grip and moved her hands over Aj's, covering them in wraps first. "Alright, Aj. Boxing. Looks like he gave you a sports bra to wear." Aj took it and went to the curtain. After she changed, she looked at the trunks Dash had set over the curtain. "He's got style." When Aj stepped out, she was wearing deep orange trunks with a similar colored sports bra. Her hair was tied back into the ponytail she always wore. Shoes were set up and Dash helped with speed lacing them before equipping the gloves. "I almost envy you, Aj," she said, putting in the mouth guard. "You get to go toe to toe with the guy."
"You can have your bout tomorrow if you want.. Twilight, what did you find?"
"He's a ghost. There's no record of him anywhere. Not even in the school's registry. I looked in last year's yearbook, and he's there, but there's no record of him ever enrolling. Maybe he's a case like mine?"
"Well, he's real, an' he's here. Pickin' fights with us out in the open like that." Aj hit her gloves together. "But Ah can do this. Right? Tell me Ah can do this..."
The others were quiet, except for Fluttershy. "Watch him in the first round..." The others looked at her in curiosity. "I mean... that's how you can learn to beat your opponent with no prior knowledge, right?"
Rainbow patted Aj on the shoulder. "Stand up. Lemme see your six attacks." She picked up a pair of pads and put them on and up. "Jab." Aj delivered a hard left to the mitt, blowing back Dash's hand. "Nice one! Cross." The right was more powerful, sending her hand up and behind her. "Don't forget to put your hips into your rights, and return to their position when you throw lefts." Holy cow, she's got power. She could stand to be faster though... "Hooks." With each hit, Dash's hands got blown sideways. "Uppers." Again, her mitt-covered hands went up and back. "Dig your feet in when you throw a serious one. Your power should come from the feet, then travel all the way through your punch." Dash took off the mitts and put some bags of ice on them. "You hit like a truck, you know that?"
"Yeah. Ah know... But can Ah tag him's the question..."
"Let him wear himself out. Title matches are 12 rounds at three minutes each, with a minute of rest in between each round. Which reminds me... Fluttershy, how'd you like to be a cornerman with me?"
"What's that?" Fluttershy responded.
"Cornermen are there to provide advice in the rest periods, clean up wounds, and throw in the towel if things get unwinnable." Applejack adjusted her gloves. "You knew to just watch in the first round, so Ah'd like you there."
"Alright... I'll do it..." she replied slowly.
"Don't worry, we'll be watching from the stands. At the giant tv he has set up." Twilight pushed up her glasses. "And we'll also be watching for any funny business."
Aj headed for the door. "Alright. Ah'm counting on you all to have my back."
A version of Shade knocked on the door. "Challenger, you're on in just under a minute."
"Alright. Here I go. Dash, Flutters, don't forget the spit bucket, the towel, and the tube, and the water bottle, and the bowl for my mouth guard." After collecting the items, she headed out.
Announcer Shade, dressed in a suit and tie, stood in the middle of the ring. Cheers erupted from the stands as Aj made her way to the ring, doing some warm-up swings to get in the groove. Dash held the ropes apart for her and stood in front of the seated Aj beside Fluttershy.
Music began playing as Shade entered the arena. Up on the screen, it played various fights he'd been in, showcasing a handful of his attacks that resulted in K.O.'s. Shade walked in with his black robe and red gloves. Beside him were two others: an old man, and a middle-aged man.
When he entered the ring, the music stopped and the announcer began his intros. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Your main event. In the red corner, the Champion, weighing in at 150 pounds, Shade "The Archer" Walker!" Thunderous applause from the stands. "And in the blue corner, the Challenger. Weighing in at-" Aj gave the announcer man a sharp glare. "Uhh, undisclosed weight in pounds, hailing from Canterlot High... Applejack!" More cheering.
The referee walked to the middle of the ring. "Boxers, to me." Both fighters approached. "I want a clean match. Nothing below the belt, no biting, no kicking, no head-butting. Punches and clinches only."
Shade asked, "Oh, before we start, I should ask: do you want to use your stone? If you do, then I'll use my power as well. If not, then neither will I."
Aj turned back to Rainbow. "Uhh... Can Ah ask mah coach?" Shade nodded. She walked to Rainbow and asked her the same question.
"Honestly, you shouldn't use your geode. If he's asking you, he's probably got some nasty trick up his sleeve if you do use it. After all, he is an illusionist. He could make many of himself and hit you from anywhere. Don't worry, I'll hold onto it." Aj removed it and handed it over. "You still feeling strong?"
"You bet." She walked back to Shade. "No charms, no nothin'. Jus ' me an' mah guns. You?"
Shade walked to his corner and took off his robe. "No charms, no nothing. Just me and my guns."
"Both combatants are set," The announcer said as he left the canvas.
The ref took over the wireless mic. "Touch gloves." Shade held out his glove for Aj, who gave it a forceful thrust with her own. "Back to your corners."
Aj retreated to her corner and removed the stool. Dash and Fluttershy left the ring and stood by the corner on the floor. "remember to watch him in the first round. See what he's all about. And don't forget to guard."
Shade went to his own as well. The ref crossed his hands as the bell rang. "Now box!"
Aj put up her guard and advanced, as did the champion.
The first round went as well as expected. Aj kept her guard and didn't attack. Shade broke himself over her strong defending arms, and only got a couple body shots in. When the bell rang, Aj sighed in relief as she walked back to her corner. Dash had the stool ready and Aj took the seat.
"Nice work out there, Aj. It might have looked like you took a beating, but you're doing well. And you know what? He's leaving himself open in a couple places. Every once in a while, he'll throw his right out there. When he does, and means it, duck left and drill him in the side. Don't forget to reset your position afterward. If you see he's open on his left after the first shot, hit him again. Body shots slow him down over time, but the real effective method is getting him to drop his guard and nailing him in the jaw with an upper. Remember: power from the ground is your best strength.
"He's moving pretty fast out there... If you decide to stay up and dodge outside, throw out a counter to his face. Only do that with his right though. If his right hits you in the exchange, your right trumps his and it'll set the pace for your follow up."
Aj nodded her head and heard the bell. "Seconds out!" Dash and Fluttershy left the canvas.
"Remember: watch his waist for the strong rights!"
"Box!" the ref called.
Round two went just as planned. Aj took a few hits to her guard before Shade threw his hip into his right. Seeing it come at her, she ducked to the side and threw her right into his gut, making contact. Shade stumbled back and swung down with his left, missing Aj completely. The stands cheered for her first successful punch. Shade shook it off and upped his guard. He hit her with a jab and cross before throwing a left hook. Easily, Aj slipped under and gave him a one-two to his unguarded face, sending him back a ways. Aj didn't let up as she advanced on him and gave him a few combos of her own. Before she knew it, the bell rang for the end of the round.
"Break! To your corners," the ref called.
The two split and went to their own corners. Shade had to spit out his mouth piece and have it cleaned real quick. Aj was still in good shape, considering. "Alright," Dash said," you're working him. That's good. We'll keep it going in this round. Guard up, watch for openings, and strike fast this time. Don't worry about your hips. You're strong enough to do damage with a love tap, and he knows it. Odds are he's gonna fight like an out-boxer this round, so try your darndest to get in close. Don't let him get away or he'll just tap at you from a distance."
"Out-boxer?" Fluttershy asked.
"He's gonna keep his distance from me an' use his reach," Aj clarified. "It's strange... He's not even trying to hit me hard at all."
"As your cornerman, I'm telling you to be careful. This guy's an illusionist; he'll use whatever tricks he wants, power or no. Your strong game is in-fighting. Remember that." Dash hit Aj's shoulder. "Go get 'im."
"Seconds out!" Dash and Fluttershy got out of the ring. "Box!" Shade put his mouthguard back in and upped his guard, stepping carefully to the middle.
Aj dashed in and hit his guard with a strong right. Shade backed up and used footwork to make his way around Aj's reach. Every step he took he threw a left, connecting with her guard. When she finally threw one of her own, Shade got in close and got her right in the stomach. She bent over forward and opened her chin. With his right, Shade lay into her, sending her hurtling to the canvas.
"Down! Go to your neutral corner!" Shade walked to the white corner and breathed. "One!" the ref started counting.
"Stay down, Aj. Wait for the 8th count. Get some energy back, and think. I was wrong to say he'd stay outside."
"Four!" Aj sat upright and fixed her mouthguard. "Five!"
"On your feet, Aj! And guard up!"
"Six!" ... "Seven!" Aj finally stood and upped her guard. "Can you continue?"
"Sure can, ref. Lemme at 'im."
"Alright." He backed away and crossed his forearms. "Box!"
Aj took another breath and waited. So, he's a counterer. Alright... Let's try this... Aj walked toward him and stopped mid-ring. Shade advanced and tried his strategy again, getting her guard with each left. Again, Aj threw out her left, and just as before, Shade ducked in. This time, she was ready for it. She brought her left foot around behind her and brought her right glove down over Shade's face, sending him down.
"Down! Go to your neutral corner!" Aj took a few breaths and walked to a white corner.
"Nice job, Aj! You got him good!"
Shade heard the count start. Slowly, he moved and stood up by the fifth count. When asked if he could continue, he nodded and put up his fists. "Box!" Soon as the two got close to each other, they each threw out their lefts, each connecting with the other's face as the bell rang. "Break! To your corners!"
Aj and Shade retreated to their own territory. Fluttershy held up the bowl for Aj's guard and got to work cleaning it. "Good work out there. You learned after just one counter. Fast fighters are usually counterers. Strong ones are aggressors. But that's where the good news ends. Counterers are usually more skilled than aggressors, in-fights aside. You put him down, yeah, and I was hoping that'd be it. But he's caught on to your speed. Watch for openings, and when they show up, don't take them. He'll try and bait you into attacking, which he'll just counter anyway. "
"If ah could jus' take the hit an' give him one, Ah'd win the exchange, but Ah don't think he's that dumb to try it."
"He might be..." Fluttershy said. "If you do something he's not ready for, you could just win."
"Good idea, flutters. But think about his actions in this next round, and just watch him this time. Guard up, learn what he's doing. If you feel like it, test the waters, but don't get pulled in. Got it?"
Aj nodded as the ref called, "Seconds out!"
The others backed off and watched as round four started. As instructed, Aj watched his movements and remembered them, putting them in her visual memory. She didn't have the time to attack, so she just ended up guarding the whole round.
Back in the corner after the break, Aj started showing signs of exhaustion. Dash offered water. "Just gargle, don't swallow. Trust me." She did as she was told, and spat it out in the bowl, along with her mouth guard. How's your arms doing?"
"They hurt, that's for sure. Never used these muscles for punchin' like this."
"What did you learn? Don't actually tell me, you think faster than you talk. Just run through what you remember, and work it in to your flow. It's his fight for now, but you'll take it back."
"Be honest... what are my odds?"
Dash was quiet. Then, she replied. "I believe in you."
"Seconds out!" the ref called.
Thanks for your input, Dash...
The two fighters squared up and countered each other, neither of them getting any heavy punches in at all. Fifth round came to a close with both fighters showing tiredness. At the end of the sixth round, Aj's hits got lighter, and Dash gave her some advice on not clenching until just before contact. The seventh round went in her favor, and the look on Shade's face was priceless at having an opponent last this long.
Then, the eighth round started. Shade got up from his seat and put his arms up in the air The crowd went wild. "What's that mean?" Aj asked.
"He's looking to K.O. you this round. Watch yourself out there. It's gonna be a big swing."
The round began and Aj swung first. Shade dodged to the side and kept moving his upper body. Aj just kept throwing her lefts out there, hitting nothing but air. When she returned to her guard, Shade threw out a left hook powered by his weaving. It hit her guard and blew it sideways. On his return trip, he launched a right hook, sending it the other way. After 7 more of these power hooks, her defense fell and opened her face. "Get off the ropes!" With his right hook at the end, he flattened her, connecting with the side of her face and knocking her clean off her feet toward the corner.
Aj stayed very still, not moving a muscle. What... what was that move just then? she thought. After the seventh count, she stood up, a little unbalanced, and got her mitts up. That was scary....
"Unbelieveable!" the announcer called. "After getting pummeled with his signature combo, the challenger is still willing to go on! This is truly a title match with two very capable fighters!"
"Can you fight?" the ref asked her.
"Y-yeah. Ah'm good." She looked at Shade. What was it... what was that combo...
"Box!"
Shade dashed in and got real close, delivering body hook after body hook. Through her guard, he launched an upper that sent her flying backward. "And again, the champ lays into her! Not relenting after her down just a few moments ago!"
On her back, she breathed heavily. Still conscious, the count began from the ref who stood over her. "Get up, Aj! We're not beaten yet! Show the crowd you can win!"
Meanwhile, Shade was in the neutral corner watching in shock as Aj started to move her legs. How is she still willing to go on?! I have to put her down again. Applejack, her strength returning to her arms after Shade's first combo, pushed herself up and on her feet before the count of nine.
"One more down and I'm calling the match. Are you able to continue?" Aj nodded. The ref backed up and said, "Box!"
Just as before, Shade ran in and struck her stomach, unguarded. His fist was stuck there for a moment too long as Aj brought her heavy glove down over his head. Reeling from the attack, he stumbled, allowing her to advance. She put her all into the shots she gave, only for them to miss. After all that effort, Shade still managed to get in his hits before the bell rang.
"After declaring a K.O., the champ fails to deliver. Not for lack of trying; he really seemed to give his all in that round. And the challenger had enough raw stamina to get up, and push back as well."
Rainbow stood in front of Aj and asked, "How do you feel?"
"Scared. That combination he hit me with is a powerful thing."
"How do you think he feels?" Aj tilted her head as Fluttershy helped her with her mouthguard and water. "He's scared too. Desperate almost. You took both beatings, and you're still standing. Ask me? You're the scary one."
Fluttershy gave he mouthguard back. "Your mouth is bleeding a lot..."
"Ah know. Ah can taste it."
"Well, ninth round. Easier said than done, but knock him down. Down-town, up-town." Rainbow pointed to Aj's liver, then her face. "Go down-town until he drops his guard. And don't give him time to counter. When he finally does, your punch should land for sure. Legs, hips, shoulder, arm. That's gonna be your knock out punch. Doesn't matter if it's a hook, upper or cross, just make sure to hit his face."
"Seconds out!"
"As we go into the last third of the title match, the crowd can barely contain themselves! Both fighters have taken damage, but it looks like the challenger comes out ahead in stamina."
Dash stood in the ring a few moments longer. "Aj... I will throw in the towel if you get knock down twice again..."
"Seconds out!" the ref called again. She did as she was told.
"Ah trust you to have my back." Aj stood up and stared at Shade. "Ah'mma go finish this match in this round."
"Round nine. Box!"
Aj put her hands up to guard as she stepped forward. Soon as Shade threw his left jab, Aj slipped under and aimed for his ribs. Shade saw it coming and used his right fist to push the punch away from himself. Surprised, Aj stumbled forward and got hit with another left before dodging the following right. No rib shots from you.
Shade lowered his right arm in wait. Aj's punch came out far more compact than it had previously, and with more power than usual. When he blocked it, his left fist went up and behind him. In a panic, he threw out his right without much force, and missed entirely due to Aj's step-in. With that, she put her weight into a rib shot, connecting easily. And again with her right, then another left before Shade dropped his arms to his sides. With one more push, she wound up and aimed for his face, allowing the strength to come from her stance as she delivered a huge straight right to Shade's face. He flew back and fell to the mat.
The crowd went nuts with cheers and shouting. "Down goes the champion! What a massive punch from the challenger!"
As the count started, Shade didn't move at all. He waited until the fifth count before getting to his feet. That one hurt...
"Can you continue?"
"You bet I can. The challenger goes down for good this round."
"Box!"
Shade got his guard up and walked in. Eager to finish things, he punched weakly at her, and watched her duck under again. Wrong move. When she punched like before, he stepped back, then dashed in after the punch and delivered a quick one-two to her crouched form. Soon as she stood up, he got her with an upper left, then a right hook sending her down to the mat herself.
"Down! To your corner!" Shade backed off and went to his corner.
That's one down... Rainbow thought, taking the towel from around her neck. I know this is only an illusion, but the whole atmosphere makes it feel real. Rainbow looked at Applejack, clearly running out of energy. "C'mon... Stand up... just one more time. Don't give up."
Aj just lay there, breathing quickly looking at the sky. Ah'm done... He's jus' too good. Too strong...
"Four!"
Stay down, Applejack... I don't want to knock you out for real. Let the count hit ten...
"Six!"
"Giving up already?" a voice called to Applejack alone. "Come on, Applejack. I thought you were stronger than that."
"Eight!"
"This might be it for the challenger, folks!"
Aj suddenly got to her feet and raised her fists, a strange glow about her. "Can you continue?" Wordlessly, she nodded. "Box!"
Shade charged forward and stopped just short of her. Aj didn't move at all. Slowly, he put his fist on Aj's forehead and watched as she didn't respond, aside from scowling. Easily, Shade put his weight behind the right he threw, and knocked her down again. Rainbow didn't hesitate and threw in the towel before running in and picking up Aj's shoulders.
The bell sounded multiple times. "And that's the match! And what a match it turned out to be!" The ref held up Shade's right arm. "The winner, and still your title holder... Shade "The Archer" Walker!" His theme music played while up on the tv replayed his knock out punch.
Dash glared at Shade, who went and put on his boxing robe and hood. "Oh, don't give me that look. She knew what she was getting into when she put her gloves on." Shade raised his arms and slowly lowered them, dissolving the arena and the stands and the TV and everything else. "On the bright side, you did make me worry. I thought for sure I was going to lose." He dug into his pocket and tossed Rainbow a flash drive. "This is yours. A video of the match and pre-fight interviews. Put that up on your channel."
She caught it and looked at it. "I don't understand... If you're this strong, why let us come to you?" She looked back up at him and saw he was gone. Rainbow helped Aj to her feet and watched as the others ran over to her. "Wasn't this a bit much?"
Sunset nodded. "Actually, yeah. He's not your run-of-the-mill guy. He has power outside of what Equestria gave him. Which I will be looking into tonight. Rainbow, you better be fueled up for tomorrow; I have a feeling he's coming after you next."
"Thanks for your prediction. I gotta get her inside and to the nurse. She's still here, right?" The others nodded. "Good. Soon as you know what he's got, let me know Sunset."
"You got it."