//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: By My Side // Story: Title Holder // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// “What were you thinking, Yona?!” “Yona couldn’t say no! Yona had to accept the challenge, it part of storyline!” Ocellus sighed as she sat on the bottom bunk in their dorm. The two had gone back to their dorm after the wrestling match and the night was growing late, but the whole ordeal was still ringing in their minds. “But I thought you were gonna quit? You can’t keep wrestling like this, it’s going to break you! Juggling both wrestling and school is already punishment enough, but if you become one of the A-show wrestlers….” “Yona know, Yona know….” her words were trailing off as she hid her mask away in one of her desk drawers. “So, what are you going to do?” Ocellus asked. The yak didn’t respond right away. Instead, she looked elsewhere in the dorm room. First around the lit up room at just about anything, and then out the window into the cold night. “Yona not know. Yona want to do both things.” “That’s just not feasible. You’re already starting to fall behind on your studies. And I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but you still have a big test coming up in mathematics.” With a frustrated grunt, Yona exclaimed, “Yona know!” She quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment at the volume. She then repeated herself in a quieter tone, “Yona know, but Yona just not want to think about it now….” Ocellus stood up from the bottom bunk. She trotted up to her friend and placed her hoof on her, “It’s been a long day, maybe we should just get some rest and figure out everything later?” A small smile appeared on Yona’s face, “Yona would like that right now.” Yona got in her bed as Ocellus turned off the lights and flew to her bed on the top bunk. Both of them were still awake in the darkness. “Ocellus?” “Yes?” “What do Ocellus think Yona should do?” The changeling didn’t answer right away, knowing her answer wouldn’t make Yona happy, “Personally, I think you should stop wrestling. It’s just too dangerous and I always worry about you in the ring. Even though you always win, it scares me of how much punishment you take.” “But Yona great wrestler.” “I know you are, but it doesn’t change how I feel about it,” Ocellus explained, “Also, if I’m being perfectly honest, I would be happy not having to change into you.” This surprised Yona, “Really? Why Ocellus want to stop?” “Because, I don’t like lying to our friends about this.” “But Yona needs to keep up disguise. Friends must not know about Yona wrestling,” she said. “It part of masked wrestling code.” “But what about you, Yona? Do you want to stop wrestling as a whole?” Ocellus changed the subject. “Yona not want to stop, but know Yona should.” “Perhaps you can wrestle on the weekends or something?” Ocellus suggested, “It could be like how Smolder and I have our tea parties on the weekends when we’re both free and no creature notices.” Yona was quiet. Her mind still racing, trying to figure out what would be her best option. Ocellus poked her head down from the top bunk and looked at Yona. Even in the dark, the yak could see her friend’s warm smile, “No matter what you do, Yona, I know we will all support you, and your alter ego Mastodon. But it’s a decision that only you can make.” Yona smiled at her friend’s remarks, “Thank you, Ocellus. Yona lucky to have Ocellus as friend.” The changeling moved back up to her bunk and settled in for the night. “Besides, I do want to see you slam Sonic Youth into the mat next week.” -------------------------------- The week went on at the school. Yona struggled to keep up with her classes and schoolwork. While she was able to finish her assignments, what stressed her most was her test at the end of the week. Despite her worry, she still kept up with her training and practices for the big match at the end of the week. If it wasn’t for some help from her friends, she most likely would have forgotten about studying for her mathematics test, or even attend the class on Friday. “You doing okay, Yona?” Sandbar asked across the cafeteria table. It was just the two of them seated at their usual table. “Yona okay,” she replied weakly, looking at her tray of half-eaten food. “I’m sure you’re worried about how you did on that test, but not eating isn’t going to change anything,” Sandbar half joked. He knew it wasn’t the only thing on Yona’s mind. Yona nodded as she resumed eating, “Yona know. It just been long week for Yona.” “I can imagine. I’m sure there’s a lot on your mind. But I’m going to make sure you at least eat properly and not follow Gallus’ horrible eating habits when it comes to studying.” This actually got the yak’s attention, “What Gallus do?” With a smirk, Sandbar recalled, “I remember during midterms, Gallus would gorge himself on nothing but sugary sodas, candy, and chips. Funnily enough, it worked at keeping him awake for studying, but right after the midterms, his sugar crash hit so hard that I think his body just shutdown from the lack of actual nutrients. I joked and said he should try eating cardboard since there was more nutritional value in it, and he almost did.” Yona had a smile on her face, “Yona remember that. Yona had to carry Gallus to doctor.” “Haha, yeah. We kept joking saying he was going to have to get his stomach pumped.” The two friends shared a laugh. “So what’s your plans now that the test is over?” Sandbar asked. “Yona gonna rest for the evening,” the yak said as she finished her food and finished the water in her glass. “Really? You don’t want to hang out with us? It feels pretty lonely without you lately.” Yona gave an unsure expression, not knowing how to reply. “At least stop on by?” the earth pony offered, “We miss you.” A warm smile grew on Yona’s face as she nodded, “Okay, Yona will join for a bit.” The two started walking out of the cafeteria. Sandbar was slowly leading the way to the common room where they usually hang out with each other. As they trotted, the pony noticed that Yona was very quiet. “Something on your mind?” Yona looked up at before giving a forced smile, “Yona just thinking!” “I’m sure there’s a lot on your mind right now, huh?” Sandbar asked, “Maybe, you want to talk about it?” “No, it okay,” Yona shook her head. Sandbar gave a puzzled look, knowing that there was a lot going on inside Yona’s mind. “You know, if you are having trouble deciding something, it’s sometimes best to just do what’s best for you.” Yona looked at her earth pony friend. “It might not make every creature happy, but what’s important is that it’s best for you and it makes you the happiest,” Sandbar continued. “It might not even seem to make you entirely happy right now, but it will pay off.” “But Yona is happy! Don’t Yona look happy?” Her expression was again of a forced smile that was not at all convincing. “You look tired,” Sandbar gave a small chuckle, “Sorry, that was rude of me. But I’m not telling you what to do, especially if you don't want to talk about it. Also, it would be even more rude of me to pry it out of you.” Before Yona could respond, Sandbar interjected, “Here we are.” Sandbar pushed open the doors of the common room, revealing Gallus, Ocellus, Silverstream, and Smolder sitting on the couches, all talking. They all stopped when they noticed the yak and pony enter the room. “Yona! There you are!” Silverstream called out. “We thought you would be taking a deep sleep again after that test,” Smolder added. Yona trotted up to one of the couches and took a seat between Ocellus and Gallus on a couch while Sandbar took a seat on the floor. “Yona okay,” she said with a tired smile, “What friends doing here?” “Oh, we’re talking about tomorrow’s wrestling match,” Gallus answered. “Yeah, especially the match between Sonic Youth and Mastodon!” Smolder added. The answer made Yona’s fur stand on end. Silverstream squeed, “I’m so excited for it! I can’t wait to see Mastodon win!” “Totally! Mastodon totally can beat Sonic Youth. She might be strong, but she’s nothing compared to that yak!” Gallus agreed. “Do you think Mastodon would be good in the A-show?” Ocellus asked. “Are you kidding?” Smolder was surprised that the question had to be asked, “Mastodon will crush it! She has the skills that some of the top wrestlers are lacking! I wouldn’t be surprised if Mastodon beats the whole A-show!” Yona was surprised and taken aback by her friend’s words, “Friends really like Mastodon?” “Of course! She’s so amazing in the ring!” Smolder said. “We think you would like her too if you could make it to the matches. In fact, she kinda looks likes you,” Silverstream said. Ocellus quickly interjected, “Nonsense! Yona’s fur is a darker shade of brown!” Yona didn’t panic or respond to Silverstream’s thought about Yona and Mastodon looking similar. Instead, she asked another question, “But, why friends like wrestling so much?” “Wrestling is just….amazing!” Gallus tried to answer with a better word, but could only think of what he said, “It’s just incredible to watch these creatures fight in the ring. They give us action, drama, comedy, and so much more! And watching it just keeps you on the edge of your seat! Watching your wrestler beat the heel, it just is amazing! Sometimes, watching it gives you the justice that you need in your life!” Smolder agreed with the griffon’s passionate statement, “Yeah! Like when Spinal Tap finally beat Sweet last week!” “Oh, Spinal Tap! I love their fighting style!” Sandbar spoke up, “Seeing her finish Sweet with her signature Stonehenge was so awesome!” “Not to mention when she comes out and shouts out ‘This is Spinal Tap!’ Ooo, I get chills just thinking about it!” Silverstream added. “More machine than mare, gah, Spinal Tap is so cool! It was so satisfying to see her get some revenge on Sweet after so long! Dropping that elbow down was so cool!” Smolder said excitedly. Ocellus also joined in, “I agree, especially after Sweet kept trying to cheat the whole match.” Yona was surprised to see that her changeling friend was also joining in the conversation. “That’s how Sweet fights,” Smolder said as she started to mock the mare’s voice, “‘Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!’ She’s so full of it, and she deserved to go down!” “Can’t deny that while she is arrogant and prideful, she does have a great finisher with the Ballroom Blitz,” Gallus stated, to which every creature agreed with. “I just don’t like how she’s willing to dismiss her opponents and not fight them because she thinks she’s better than them,” the changeling said. “Yeah, like Madness. That was so mean of her!” Silverstream spoke up. “I think it’s because Sweet was afraid to lose to Madness. Now that’s a crazy wrestler!” Smolder said pointing to the hippogriff. “Oh, totally! She looks like she broke out of a nuthouse with that mask and hair!” Gallus exclaimed, “and with moves like Razor Blade Alley and Cardiac Arrest, she’s crazy!” “And let’s not forget when she shoves that sock in her opponent’s mouth to finish them off!” Sandbar added. The whole group except Yona all clamored. Yona, however, was stunned in silence as her friends were praising the very sport her alter ego took part in. Ocellus spoke up, “Wait, but wasn’t Madness being used to do some wrestler’s dirty work?” “Oh yeah, for ‘the million bit mare’, Van Halen! Guh, I can’t stand them!” Smolder gave a disgusted look, “They think they can just buy their way around the ring, or even all of P.E.W.!” “But when they do the Atomic Punk, you can’t deny that they know how to fight,” Gallus pointed out. “Doesn’t mean I can’t hate them! Always saying that every creature has a price, and not to mention that evil laugh of hers!” Smolder retorted. “Must have been satisfying to see Madness turn on Van Halen a few weeks ago then, huh?” Silverstream asked. “With thanks to the true Equestrian hero, Fleetwood Mac!” Sandbar interjected. “Yeah, Fleetwood! A true hero for all!” Gallus started to gush. He then started mimicking the wrestler’s voice, “Stay in school, eat healthy, and train hard!’ She’s so cool! And her finisher, Tusk? Always awesome to watch!” “It just really stinks that almost every time she tries to get a fair fight, she gets the raw end of the deal,” Smolder gave a disappointed expression. “Like when Sweet smashed that handheld vanity mirror against her face, causing her to go down,” Ocellus recalled, “Or when Van Halen had Madness come in at the last minute for the pin.” Gallus tightened his talons and raised them up and annoyance, “I know Fleetwood Mac refuses to cheat and would rather lose, but come on!” “At least for the upcoming tag-team match, Fleetwood will have Heart backing them up,” Silverstream spoke up. Smolder gave an unsure expression, “I don’t know, Heart is a bit of a mystery. Who knows what’s behind that mask of hers.” “They don’t talk much and they do their own thing, but they are still amazing in their own right. That suplex of her’s is crazy. What’s it called again?” Gallus asked. “The Heartless! That suplex looks so painful!” Smolder winced at that thought. “And don’t forget about her finisher, Barracuda,” Ocellus added. “Who would have thought a masked wrestler with hearts on her mask and outfit would be such a threat,” Sandbar stated. “And she always refuses to do any luchas de apuestas where she might lose her mask. Wait, where is she billed from?” Gallus spoke. Silverstream shrugged, “I think she was billed from ‘parts unknown’, but I don’t know where that is. I looked on every map I could find.” Ocellus couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend’s response. As her friends continued to chat about the wrestlers, Yona couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s interest in wrestling. After all her worrying about her friend’s reaction if they ever found out she took part in wrestling, it was a huge relief for her knowing her friends enjoyed the sport. “Yona have question,” Yona interjected herself into the conversation, “Do friends think Mastodon will do well in A-show if Mastodon wins?” “What kind of question is that? Of course, she will!” Smolder exclaimed. “Mastodon should have started in the A-show! Can you imagine her coming in and disrupting all of Van Halen’s plans to win the championship?” Gallus said. Ocellus chimed in, “Or even bringing down Sweet with a backbreaker?” “I can already see her teaming up with a three-on-three with Spinal Tap and Fleetwood Mac! Ah, so cool!” Silverstream imagined. “Not even Heart would be able to stop Mastodon with her signature Blood And Thunder!” Sandbar praised the wrestler as he looked directly at the yak. Yona bashfully smiled as her friends praised her alter ego. “Yona wishes Yona could watch Mastodon wrestle with friends.” “Yeah, the tickets sold out almost the second they announced that Mastodon and Sonic Youth were doing a luchas de apuestas for tomorrow’s fight, so maybe next time? I’m sure she’s gonna win and join the A-show,” Smolder explained. “We were lucky to get our tickets when we did. Sorry we didn’t get you one, Yona,” Gallus apologized. With a smile, Yona brushed it off, “Friends no need apologize. Yona will go next time!” “Hey, I just thought of something. Is it me or do some of the wrestlers look like our professors?” Silverstream interjected with a completely different thought. “What do you mean?” Ocellus asked. “Well, Sweet and Professor Rarity do look kinda similar, Professor Pinkie Pie and Madness are both pink, Professor Rainbow Dash and Spinal Tap look alike if you take off the robotic parts, I could swear I heard Fleetwood Mac and Professor Applejack talk exactly the same, former-Headmare Twilight Sparkle and Van Halen both have that regal presence about them, and, I know she has a mask on, but Professor Fluttershy could be Heart if she had a mask on.” Every creature stared at Silverstream with a mixture of disbelief and confusion. “You can’t be serious, right?” Gallus asked. Smolder shared the skepticism, “There is no way our professors, and the current princess, are wrestlers.” The hippogriff giggled as she spoke, “Haha, yeah, I guess I’m just grasping at straws.”