Ocellus glared daggers at her roommate, “Where were you, Yona?”
The yak came up with a lie, “Yona was out….doing extracaric-....” she paused and tried to pronounce the work again, “extracoric-....“
“Extracurricular activities?” the changeling raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, those! Yona was doing those!”
“That’s not true. No such extracurricular activity goes this late,” the changeling blantly pointed out.
Yona came up with something else, “Cheerleading practice?”
“There was no cheerleading practice today.”
“Studying with Ocellus?”
“I’m Ocellus!” she said loudly before covering her mouth as she caught herself raising her voice.
Yona let out a small laugh at her own silliness.
Ocellus removed the hooves from in front of her mouth, “Yona, what’s going on? You’ve been away spending quite a bit of time away for a bit and making all of us worry.”
Looking Ocellus in the eyes, Yona could tell that her friend was concerned for her. “Ocellus promise not to tell other friends Yona’s secret?”
The changeling nodded. “O-Okay, I promise.”
Reaching into her mane on top of her head, Yona pulled out a red and gold mask. It was the very same mask that Mastodon used in the wrestling ring barely a few hours ago. “Yona wrestles against ponies.”
This surprised Ocellus as she saw the mask’s fabric light up from the desk lamp. “Wrestling? Like, in the ring against those strong and scary ponies with masks and with painful looking attacks?”
“Ocellus knows wrestling?” Yona asked excitedly.
She nodded, “Yeah, and I don’t really like it. The way those ponies and other creatures fight just looks….so scary that I couldn’t imagine watching all that much. But, you actually took part in all of that?”
Yona proudly nodded, “Yona wrestled tonight and Yona won! In the ring, Yona called Mastodon and crowd loves to see Mastodon perform moves!”
“But it’s not safe! You are actually fighting another creature, and in front of an audience at that!”
“But Yona loves it! When Yona in ring, Yona feels at top of the world. When crowd cheers, Yona feels incredible!” Yona started to hop up and down within their dorm room, causing the ground to shake.
Quickly placing the mask aside, Ocellus did her best to get Yona to stop jumping up and down, “Careful, we don’t want to wake anycreature up!” After calming her friend down, she continued, “Yona, I’m just worried that you might get hurt in there. If something were to happen to you, I know all of us would be heartbroken.” Trotting up to Yona, Ocellus raised a hoof up to move one of the yak’s braids. Hiding below the braid were a few bruises. “Yona, you’re hurt!”
“Body might be hurt, but Yona’s pride is strong!” she proclaimed as she flinched away from Ocellus’ hoof.
“Yona, you really shouldn’t be doing this.”
“But Yona love it! Yona does friendship school work, cheerleading, and other stuff, so why Yona not allowed wrestling fun?”
“Because….Because it’s dangerous! And it’s making you more and more exhausted! You fell asleep during Headmare Starlight Glimmer’s lecture yesterday!”
“Yona knows what Yona doing. Yona have been training with fellow wrestlers,” the yak explained as she trotted towards the bottom half of the bunk bed, “Also, Yona thinks Headmare Starlight Glimmer’s lecture already boring.”
Neither remark sat well with the changeling. “I’m just worried about your safety.”
“Yona know. But Ocellus must keep Yona’s secret a secret.”
Ocellus sighed, “Of course. I did promise.”
Yona smiled at her friend, “Thank you, Ocellus. Now Yona need sleep after victory,” Yona managed to say the last part just before falling right onto her bed.
“This isn’t over though. We’re still going to talk about this more later, okay?”
“Yona take Ocellus to wrestling gym tomorrow so friend can see what Yona do,” the yak said an almost mumbling like state as her mouth was against her pillow.
The changeling nodded as she turned off the desk lamp and started to climb up the ladder to her bunk, “That would put me a little more at ease, to see what exactly you do in the wrestling ring. But can I ask you something else; what’s it like being in that wrestling ring?”
The brown yak moved her body to face upwards. A smile appeared on her face as she began to muse, “When Yona have mask on and standing in wrestling ring, Yona feel invincible. With crowd cheering, Yona feel like nothing can stop Yona.”
“But aren’t you scared?” Ocellus asked as she settled into her bed.
“Of course Yona scared. That why when Yona about to enter ring, Yona touch hallway wall. It remind Yona of what around her and what Yona doing,” the yak explained, “Yona also whistle, because Ocellus shared that whistling helps friend when scared.”
Ocellus was silent as she listened.
“Fear is not enemy. Fear makes Yona want to move, and fear gives Yona strength. Yona want to be best Yona possible.”
---------------------------------------------------
The next morning, the entire Friendship School was getting ready for the day the best way they knew how, with a healthy breakfast before classes. The cafeteria was busy with wide awake creatures getting their morning meal. However, there was one yak that seemed like she was more sleeptrotting than anything else. Thankfully, she had Ocellus there to act as a guide for the tired Yona.
“Come on, Yona. You’re almost at the table,” Ocellus said, leading the way.
“Everything hurt on Yona,” she mumbled as she tried to do complete what seemed like an impossible task; trotting and balancing her tray.
Ocellus gave a sarcastic look to her half-awake friend that could be translated as ‘I can’t imagine why’.
The two made it to their usual table for six. Yona took a middle seat on a side with Ocellus next to her to help her survive the first few hours of the day. Three of their fellow friends were not far behind.
“Oh, no way, Professor Applejack’s little sister could totally beat up Spike the dragon,” the hippogriff Silverstream commented as she placed her tray on the table, taking the middle seat opposite of Yona and Ocellus.
“Sure, sure, but, I mean, no one was talking about either of those two before you said that,” the earth pony Sandbar replied with a raised eyebrow as he took the free seat next to Yona.
The griffon Gallus took a seat next to Silverstream, “Yeah, but you should know by now to just roll with it when it comes to Silverstream here,” he gave a light jab at the hippogriff with his limb and a smile as he sat down.
The table all had a laugh except for Yona, who seemed to be struggling to keep her head above her food and her eyelids open.
“Whoa, what happened to Yona?” Sandbar asked.
Silverstream also made a comment, “Yeah, she looks like she just dug all of Professor Rockhoof’s trenches and then some!”
Before Yona could give an attempt at an answer, Ocellus stepped in, “Yona was studying last night! She’s a bit worried about her math grade right now!” She had a very nervous smile that she could feel that was see-through.
“Math, huh? I’m in that same boat, so don’t think I could help ya there,” Gallus stated as he took a bite of his muffin.
“Huh, with Yona being so good at science, I thought math would come naturally?” Silverstream placed an elbow of her limb on the table and rested her head as she pondered, “Or is it science and poetry that go together?”
“Wait, we’re missing Smolder. Where is she?” Sandbar pointed out.
Just as the earth pony finished speaking, an orange dragon was rushing into the cafeteria with a newspaper in her claws. At the top of her lungs, she was shouting, “Guys! You guys!!!”
“Speak of the devil and she shall appear,” Gallus snarked.
Arriving at the table, Smolder stopped and placed a hand on the table to catch her breath. As she was still panting, she placed the newspaper on the surface. “Guys, I got the newspaper!”
“Ooo! Dibs on the comics!” Silverstream reached for the paper.
“Comics, huh? Does Equestria carry Moomin?” Gallus genuinely asked.
Sandbar expressed some interest as well, “It should have ‘Cashews’, it’s one of the longest running comics with everypony’s favorite character Clydesdale Brown.”
“No, it’s not about the comics!” Smolder finally was able to breathe properly, “In the entertainment section! Thin Lizzy actually beat De La Soul last night in the ring!”
“Thin Lizzy?” Silverstream asked.
“De La Soul?” Sandbar also asked.
“Who?” Gallus was also puzzled.
“It’s professional wrestling! Don’t you guys follow it?” Smolder asked in disbelief.
Ocellus’ attention was grabbed at the dragon’s words. She looked to see that Yona was also now more or less awake.
“I never knew you liked professional wrestling, Smolder,” Gallus admitted.
Smolder raised her claws up, almost as if she would flip the table at the griffon’s comment, “I have a life outside of you guys, and it's professional wrestling!” She opened up the newspaper to show the full article, “Look! Last night was a crazy night for P.E.W.!”
“P.E.W.?” Ocellus asked.
“It stands for ‘Ponyville Extreme Wrestling, with emphasis on the extreme! Look here!” Smolder laid out the newspaper more and pointed with her claw, “So Thin Lizzy was able to beat De La Soul last night, Queen held on to her title against Minor Threat, Wolfmother lost to Silversun, and that was just the main matches!”
“How do wrestlers come up with their names?” Silverstream thought aloud as Smolder listed off the different match outcomes.
Smolder continued, “There were some other crazy matches, too. Apparently a nobody came out of nowhere and actually beat the infamous Slipknot! I think it says their name was Mastodon!”
Yona finally spoke up and leaned in, “Any pictures?”
“Oh, so she is awake!” Gallus jeered.
“Nah, just of Queen hanging on to their belt. But with a name like Mastodon, I bet they are some sort of epic beast! They would have to be to put on that great show they did to defeat Slipknot! I heard they’re a natural.” Smolder mused.
Yona closed her eyes and smiled at the welcomed comment.
“The way you’re saying all of this makes me want to see it with my own eyes!” Silverstream said excitably.
Gallus agreed, “Yeah, I’d be down to see some wrestling. I’m up for trying new things.”
Ocellus quickly spoke up, “Oh, I don’t know about all of that! Our studies do come first and foremost after all. Isn’t that right, Yona?”
The whole table looked to Yona who had fallen asleep and started to lean upon Sandbar. Most of the weight of her head resting upon his own head, and even a little drool was starting to form on the outside of her mouth.
Sandbar nervously asked for help, “Could someone lend me a hoof?” Gallus, Smolder, and Silverstream gave a laugh.
“So, who’s gonna wake Yona up?” Gallus asked with a smirk.
“Whoever does it, please hurry!” Sandbar requested as he tried to use both his neck and front limbs to move Yona’s body off of him.
-------------------------------------
“Thank you for letting me come with you to your practice, Yona,” Ocellus said as she trotted next to her friend, “I just….will feel better knowing that you know what you are doing in the ring.”
“Yona happy to have Ocellus watch wrestling practice!” Yona smiled happily.
“But don’t think this means I am completely okay with you wrestling. All of it seems just….too wild and crazy,” the changeling looked down at her hooves as she continued, “It just seems like you’re going to get hurt in there, and I’m going to be so scared that my closest friend got hurt when I could have helped them “
“Ocellus has nothing to worry about! Yona strong and yak knows what yak doing in ring!” Yona proclaimed as they neared the wrestling gym.
The yak’s blostierous claim didn’t do much to sway Ocellus, but she gave a half-hearted smile to Yona as they entered the gym.
The doors opened to show the interior, which included a few wrestling rings as well as a number of different training equipment scattered throughout the room. Numerous of ponies and other creatures were already there making use of the facilities. First and foremost that caught Ocellus’ eyes were a pair of ponies wrestling in the ring right in front of them. The two ponies seemed to be practicing for something, as they repeatedly practiced a move that seemed to both inspire fear and wonderment to the changeling. With one pony in the down on their knees, the other pony stepped onto one of their limbs and bucked them with their free hind limb.
“Oh goodness! What are they doing?” Ocellus called out in surprise as she watched them trade off on their attacks.
“That there is what we call a ‘shining wizard’!” a voice answered, “It’s a powerful strike that can easily get the crowd goin’!”
Both Yona and Ocellus looked to see who had answered. It was a large stallion with a large cowboy hat. Yona was quick to respond, “Hello, JR!”
“G’afternoon to ya, Yona. Got here just in time, yer practicin’ over in ring three,” JR pointed in the general direction.
Yona gave a salute to JR as she trotted over to the ring. Ocellus and JR slowly followed behind.
“So, what ‘bout ya, you interested in the wrestlin’ game?” JR asked Ocellus as they trotted over.
“Oh, goodness no,” the changeling was quick to deny any interest, “It’s just that Yona told me last night that she had been wrestling and I was worried about her hurting herself, so I came to watch.”
“The mighty Mastodon gettin’ hurt?” JR asked before giving a hearty laugh, “You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about that wall of muscle gettin’ hurt. Rather, it’s her opponents that might need the stretcher.”
“But mister….”
“Everycreature just calls me JR.”
“Mister JR, Yona is still a growing yak. And while I don’t know much about yak biology, I’m sure like all growing organisms it wouldn’t be wise to but such a strain on her body so much.”
JR was quiet for a moment before he pointed back to the first ring, “Ya see those to ponies dukin’ it out over there?” The two ponies in question were now performing an attack that had one wrestler on the mat while another jumped from the turnbuckle and landing with their back legs upon the other. “They’re practicin’ those drops over and over for two reasons. The first is to make sure it looks good. And the second is to make sure they don’t get hurt doin’ so.”
This confused Ocellus, “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
“You study books back at that school of yours?” JR asked, “Basically it’s how practicin’ makes perfect and all that, but also it’s about trustin’ your fellow wrestler. The fightin’ done in the ring isn’t about hurtin’ the other, but rather puttin’ on a good show for the audience.”
Ocellus looked back at Yona who was now in the ring. She had a huge smile on her face as she started to stretch her body out with the help of her sparring partner.
“When it comes to professional wrestlin’, there’s a magic in the show we put on. Like, how for Yona, we call her Mastodon, but she ain’t no beast, and you know that too. Like how for the pony she slammed into the mat last night, Slipknot, they might look like some killer out of some slasher picture, but they’re just a normal pony. Also, our reignin’ champ might be called Queen, but they certainly ain’t royalty!”
“So, it’s all just a show?”
“Exactly! Think of it like one of them soap operas ya might see from time to time. However, mixed in with the drama and the moral conflict, there’s dropkicks and powerbombs.” JR explained, “But it comes with a price. Everycreature in here has to train themselves to not only deliver the blows, but also take ‘em, and with stride. The more a wrestler can soak up punishment, the better it’ll look for the audience. There’s a lot that goes into this that most don’t exactly know about. The wrestlers here are supposed to sell the show to the audience. They have to make the whole crowd care about a fight they might or might not be staged. We all want to put on a good show, but above all we want to do it safely.”
“I see. I never thought of it that way before,” Ocellus admitted.
JR smiled, “No need to fret, youngin’. Bein’ concerned for your friend is completely natural. I see ya’ll learnin' that just fine at there Friendship School. It’s also why Yona didn’t want to tell ya’ll.”
“She didn’t?”
“Not a first. She felt that ya’ll would view her differently because she takes part all of this. I still think she might have some reservations ‘bout it, but she felt guilty for hiding it.”
Ocellus didn’t say anything as she watched Yona and her partner started sparring. The two of them seemed to be performing a choreographed dance that mixed strikes and grabs.
“But if I’m gonna be perfectly honest, Yona has the makins’ of a great wrestler. She might just be in the B-show right now, but give her a little time and polish her style, she’ll be part of the big time in our A-show, and maybe even elsewhere.”
“Is she really that good?”
“She’s got a natural, Celestia-given talent. I might dare and say actually might be her true callin’.”
“Her true calling, huh?”
“It ain’t easy trying to give an impressive and believable fight every single time. But Yona here gives the fans exactly what they want.”
The two continued to watch Yona practice in the ring, both on the giving and receiving ends of blows and grabs.
------------------------------
Later that evening, Yona and Ocellus were walking back from the gym. While Ocellus was educated on professional wrestling as a whole from both chatting with JR and watching her friend practice in the ring, Yona was educated about the piledriver by both giving and receiving the move from her sparing partner.
“Yona, I want to say thank you for taking me to see you practice,” Ocellus said.
The yak beamed with pride, “Yona happy to share with friend! Though Yona wish it was on day that didn’t involve piledriver.” She placed a hoof on her head as if it would help all of Equestria from spinning around her.
Ocellus couldn’t help but laugh a little, “You certainly impressed me though. I never knew you had such a talent in the ring! JR was singing praises about your abilities.”
Yona smiled before she spoke again, “Yona do have question for Ocellus. Since Ocellus now knows Yona’s secret, Yona needs Ocellus’ help.”
“Help? What do you need help with?”
“Yona needs to keep wrestling secret, so Yona hopes that Ocellus could….maybe change into Yona when Yona wrestling?”
“What?!” Ocellus was taken aback at what Yona had asked of her, stopping in her tracks.
“It not be for long, just when Yona wrestling as Mastodon so no one know Yona is Mastodon,” Yona explained.
“But Yona, that’s….that’s asking so much! I don’t feel comfortable changing into others like that anymore, much less my best friend, and to deceive our friends!”
Yona stopped trotting as well and turned around. She got down and started to plead with her friend, holding her hooves together, “Please Ocellus? I don’t want friends to get suspicious.”
Ocellus didn’t say anything for a few moments. Within, she was literally weighing the options in her head as well the ethical aspects of turning into her friend. Finally, she spoke with a sigh, “Okay, I will, on the condition you don’t abuse me doing this. It just feels wrong, but I know how important this is to you, Yona.”
“Thank you, Ocellus! Yona promise not to ask too much of Ocellus for this!” Yona said with glee.
Ocellus braced herself for a large, spine-breaking hug from her friend, but when she opened her eyes, she still saw the yak on the ground. “Huh, I was actually expecting you to give me a hug that would break all my bones.”
“Yona still sore.”