Fluttershy woke up from the sound of table tapping and wing flapping. There was no dream she could recall, or anything boggling her mind. With the urge to get ready for school, she hopped out of bed and tidied it. Then she turned her attention to her 'alarm clock' - her rabbit and falcon attempting to intimidate each other... again.

"Good Morning Angel. Good Morning Hana." Fluttershy greeted her rabbit and falcon respectively before grabbing her bath towel and a fresh set of outdoor clothes. After a few minutes, she returned to her room refreshed and began packing her school bag. As she picked up her pencil case, exercise books, textbooks, water bottle, and other school necessities, her eyes paused at an exotic parchment rolled out on the desk. The girl thought back to the day she received the letter from her unknown guardian angel. When she read it through, she couldn't find any word to describe how she felt. Rather, she felt the need to relay this message to her friends in the club, her Neighponese Teacher (who had access to view the group chat), and her decision on what to do. Fluttershy shook off any hesitation in her mind and added the letter into her schoolbag.

"Take care you two!" Fluttershy smiled at the two animals as she left. Once she did, both Angel and Hana stopped fighting and turned to the open door, then back at each other. The two of them felt something building in Fluttershy. No doubt was it their former master's letter that sparked it.

"Good Morning Fluttershy!" Mr Shy waved, smiling back. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Hey!" A pale greyish aquamarine teen with pale light greyish gold blonde hair casually walked out of the kitchen with a hot tray of something... actually, there wasn't a distinct smell. "Good morning Big Sis!"

"Zephyr!!!" Fluttershy exclaimed, seeing her brother in that same sleeveless shirt and hairstyle a year ago when he departed for boarding school. His hair tried to replicate a popular hairstyle but somehow had slumped, making it look like an unkempt version of the original. "G-Good morning. I didn't see you yesterday..."

"I texted Dad that I would be arriving at Canterlot Station in the dead of the night." Zephyr explained, "He agreed to pick me up and drive me home. Wouldn't want to wake you, since you were sleeping and all. Anyway, it's oatmeal! My own special!"

"Your own special?" Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, "I find that hard to believe, given that anyone can make oatmeal..."

"I knew you'd say that! But I followed a special recipe this time!" Zephyr cheerfully responded as he filled three bowls with his oatmeal, "Vanilla, honey, blueberries, strawberries..."

"It definitely sounds like you put in a good effort this time! Thanks for making breakfast!" Mr Shy smiled as he picked up the spoon and began eating. Fluttershy looked at her own bowl. There was indeed strawberries and blueberries as he mentioned. Slowly, she took a spoonful of Zephyr's oatmeal and gave it a taste.

"Blueberries and strawberries are obvious, but not the first two ingredients... don't tell me you gave up halfway again?"

"Zephyr, anyone can make oatmeal." Fluttershy sighed, "But to think that you'd even give up making just a simple breakfast... is it too much to ask for you to just see a simple task through?"

"Fluttershy, it's okay." Mr Shy chimed in, "It's just oatmeal. That being said, Fluttershy is right. I can't taste anything but the fruits and oatmeal."

"Sorry for being harsh Zephyr, but this is important since you're still a boarding student. If you do something half-hearted when just preparing food, you may not have enough energy to go through school." Fluttershy reasoned,

"I've been through many boarding schools, little sis." Zephyr frowned, "I can take care of myself!"

"Yeah, only to get kicked out of boarding school a month after you enrol!" Fluttershy countered, "How will staying in the Koro Gardens be any different?"

When his words reach Fluttershy's ears, everything seemed to slow down for a moment. His voice, combined with his facial expression, tone, his hesitation when speaking... there was something he was desperate to cling to, just as how birds frantically dig at the dirt or venture near humans for the desperation of food. There was something he wanted, but he's trying desperately to hide it.

"Look..." Fluttershy dismissed, "Even if you may not be living here, I assure you that the caretakers of the Koro Gardens are really diligent people who will help assist you with whatever problems you have trying to take care of yourself. I know them personally. You have my word."

"Okay then..." Zephyr shrugged, "I'll be moving into the dorm on the weekend and starting school next week. I assume you'll help me?"

"Of course," Fluttershy smiled, "And thanks for making breakfast. I've got to go now. School calls!"

"Take care!" Mr Shy and Zephyr waved as Fluttershy made for the front door, put on her boots, and hurried off. As she did so, Hana and Angel watched her leave from her bedroom window. They cannot leave her be today, they need to see what she will do. Angel leapt up to the window handle and grabbed it, prying the window open. As he let go, Hana caught him on his way down. With a flap of her wings, Hana and her bunny passenger took off, pursuing the pink-haired girl from an unsuspicious distance.

As Fluttershy reached the school gates, someone had been tailing her from the shadows. Before her prey could react, the shadowy predator charged forward and pounced on the unsuspecting girl, taking her down.

"Smiling as usual," Pinkie got up, pulling Fluttershy with her, "Ready for today's tussle?"

"Pinkie! Shhh!" Fluttershy shushed, "Don't yell that out loud! Other students can hear!"

Pinkie stopped and looked around. She saw numerous adults walking down the road - most of them had their eyes glued to their phone. Then she spotted fellow students entering the school, also having their eyes peering down on the phone. None of them seemed to turn their head towards the two girls.

"Nope!" Pinkie deduced, "They did not! And now that I think about it, it's a good thing our girls aren't here either! If they see us like this, they'll definitely think the club's doing some nasty stuff, which we are, and make us fess up! And you know what Bonnie Bon Bon said if we tell anyone else not in the club!"

"Right... just us two..." Fluttershy took a deep breath, "First, let's find Bon Bon."

Fluttershy wasn't so familiar with all the students and their respective lockers, so it was nice to know that Pinkie was very attentive to classmates and their locker locations. Turning two corners to the left and one to the right, they arrived at the location of where Bon Bon's locker would be. As if luck would have it, Bon Bon was present, sorting out her textbooks for the day, like an everyday student.

"Oh! Fluttershy!" Bon Bon greeted with a warm smile, "Good Morning! Is there something you need?"

"Just a small little note to give you!" Fluttershy returned the warm smile and pulled a tightly folded page with her cutie mark showing. "So I guess I'll see you at lunchtime at the tutorship club?"

"May the smartest girl win!" Pinkie waved as Fluttershy dragged her away. Once the two disappeared around the corner, Bon Bon peered at the folded page and started to unfold it without any ado. Once the A3 paper was fully unwrapped the first thing she saw was a long arrow pointing to Fluttershy's cutie mark on the bottom right corner of the page. On the base of the arrow was a message written in neat penmanship.

The bearer of this cutie mark shall be your opponent for lunchtime. You'd better keep your side of the deal - Fluttershy

"I knew it," Bon Bon nonchalantly scrunched up the note and tossed it perfectly into the bin ten metres away from her. "She was the one who has the closest connection to Mr Shiota, and was one of the first members of the club. Now the next question is... how is she going to beat me?"

Fluttershy sat through the first and second period of class, worrying only about the fight she was going to take part in, and nothing else.

"Fluttershy?" Mrs Blade noticed and kindly pointed out, "You look spaced out. Are you alright?"

"It's... nothing Mrs Blade." Fluttershy meekly smiled, "It's something outside of studying."

"Regardless of what it is, it's still something big enough to distract you from learning." Mrs Blade pushed,

"Keeping secrets? I understand..." Mrs Blade sighed, "But if you can't tell an adult, then surely you could tell your friends."

"Well... I sorta can't either." Fluttershy tensed up, "Look... I'll be fine. I'll go back to work."

"Well, it's a good thing I came up to you with this. In my previous period, Flash and Thunderlane told me to give you this message: 'We believe in you'. Honestly, it's really nice to see that they trust me with giving messages to you."

Fluttershy paused and looked into her religious studies teacher's eye. Not a lick of doubt or any discerning tell of a lie.

"I-I see," Fluttershy stammered, "I'll give my thanks, the next time I see them."

The support didn't stop there. At recess, when it was the perfect opportunity to check her phone, she found multiple notifications of new messages on the Special Tutorship Club Message Board, all directed towards her.

So many messages from her club members. Or rather... is it possible that she can confidently call them friends? They may not have been acquainted a lot compared to her best friends. However, all the things that they have gone through as a club made it difficult for her to take their comments as a passing remark of praise or hope. She looked out for them, and the same they did to her.

She was the one who volunteered to step in, but she knows that even in this one-on-one, her clubmates have all got their back. It may increase the burden, but it does increase the motivation to succeed. That being said... there was something inside her... something that she sort of wished would happen. She's gotten a lot of support from her clubmates, old and recent, and yet there was one who could do just a bit more...

"Flash." Fluttershy turned to see the spiky blue-haired orange teen, "I got your message from Mrs Blade. Thanks for putting your faith in me."

"Honestly, I've done that ever since you first saved us that Friday. This term was really rocky. Definitely not like other school terms." Flash laughed,

"But there's something I'd like to ask you." Flash turned serious, "Look, I'm not trying to doubt your ability to fight. But there's just this plaguing worry that you could get hurt more than you should. I fear you may have forgotten about the skills Vice-Principal Luna taught you back then, so uh... I don't know if I should say this in the case someone may call me sexist. I asked Scoots if it was okay and she said 'go for it' but I--"

"Flash." Fluttershy interrupted with a laugh, "I know you're already a kind guy at heart, and I know you look out for me just as you do with the club and your siblings. No need for virtue signalling. Just tell me what you want."

"No kidding?" Flash perked up then sighed with relief, "In that case... would you like to learn a little bit of Taekwondo? I still don't think I'm qualified to teach, but it's better than nothing!"

"There's nothing I would like better." Fluttershy beamed, "I still remember the Vice-Principal's lessons, but I can definitely learn yours!"

"Excellent! Then why don't we do this in the courtyard?" Flash suggested, "We'll go through the basics of Taekwondo, but only that till the end of recess. Remember, even if its a basic move, practising it a hundred or a thousand times is what turns such a move to be formidable against even the most competitive martial artists."

"You're the teacher Flash, I trust you. Better not break that." Fluttershy teased as she closed her locker door.

"There is one more thing I'd like to know though." Fluttershy remembered, "Do you recall how you were affected by Sensei's Clap Stun?"

As promised by Flash, Fluttershy went through a small but interesting first-time experience of learning to fight from a fellow student rather than a teacher. Though the basics seemed 'too' basic at the start, Fluttershy kept true to Flash's instructions and his reasoning of why.

"A stable stance is one of the most important things when fighting. It acts as your station to attack as well as defend. If it's not stable, a nudge can push you over. And when you're pushed over, you'll be left vulnerable as you fall. Did Vice-Principal Luna teach you that?"

"Let's start with the straight punch. In the front (or horse) stance, you place your arms and hands as down as your hips with the palm facing towards the direction of the air. And you need to place it in a way where you can thrust it forward as swift as possible. Like a bullet fired from a gun, you need to 'chamber' that fist, and fire it forward. The points where you make contact on your opponent when you punch are your two big knuckles on your index and middle finger. But more importantly, think about how you punch. If you punch and you feel more pain than your opponent, then I would question your way of punching. Happened to me before."

"Now... drive your arm out straight, rotate your wrist, and remember your knuckles. Then quickly bring it back to the position you started in."

"Hah!" Fluttershy grunted and punched the air. She could feel a small strain on her arm muscles.

"Remember, you need to exert force when you drive your fist forward. Use your arm, your shoulders. No force equals no damage." Flash reminded, "Now..."

He pulled out a blue-coloured kick pad specialised for Taekwondo. His own personal one for training.

"Normally this is meant for kicks, but you can use this as a target for punching. 10 sets of straight punches. Your left, then your right hand." Flash instructed, "Then we go to the next training."

"Hah! Hah! Hah!" Fluttershy grunted with each punch. It took a considerable amount of time alternating between left and right, Flash observed. However, he could feel that with each punch, it grew stronger and stronger. And from her face, it showed little to no signs of severe pain.

"Next, low blocking." Flash continued. "This particular movement in Taekwondo stops a low kick from hitting you. Depending on which arm you use, raise your fist to your opposite side of your collar but don't touch it, then you want to sweep it down to your pelvis with your arm straight, but stop near the hip on the same side of your blocking arm. Your other arm also has movement: It starts in front of your body with the palm facing down. As you sweep down your blocking arm, your other arm should pull back to your side, twisted to where your palm is facing up. You can do this in two steps. Allow me to demonstrate..."

"One!" He raised his left fist towards this right collar and his right arm out front.

"Two!" He swung his left fist down to his left side of his pelvis, his arm firm and out straight with his palm facing down. Simultaneously, he drew back his off-arm to the side of his waist with the palm facing up. Flash went back and forth through the two steps while chanting 'one, two' with every change. Sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

"When you twist your fists, it should be done near the end of the second step. The movement normally comes in a snap."

Fluttershy practised the movements, slowly feeling her movement, then picked up her speed with every block performed.

"Remember, don't twist your fists early. And that both your arms must start and end together." Flash observed, "Any questions?"

"Hmm..." Flash pondered, "If you can see how she strikes, you can try and move out of the way. Or just deflect it with your elbows. It will hurt, but it's better than getting hit in the chest. That being said you can also try a forearm block. You use your forearm to divert an attack from your opponent's fist or foot to the side. To do that, you need to put your arms in front of the body like so. Wrist-to-wrist."

Going back to his front stance, Flash crossed his arms by the wrist and held it in front of his body.

"Depending on whether you want to block with your left or your right depends on which arm is in front. Your left arm for a left block, and right arm for right."

"Your other arm should have the palm facing outward towards your opponent. So when you execute the move..."

He moved his blocking arm away and rolled it out, his palm facing outwards and fist just outside the line of his body. His off-arm shifted downwards and chambered next to his waist, with his palm facing up again.

"This should be your end pose. Remember to keep a good posture and stable stance."

"Hmm..." Fluttershy thought as she tried it a few times, "So when my off-hand is like this at the end, I can deliver a straight punch as a counter?"

"Yeah." Flash nodded, "You can definitely do that! Now, I think we can squeeze in one more move that you can practice on your own - the front kick. This one you don't have to take a stance for. One leg to kick, one leg for stability, BOTH important. As is the position of your arms and torso for further balance."

"The front kick can be done in three steps, but you need to heed these steps if you don't want to overstrain your legs. First off, you need to lift your knee of your kicking leg and aim it at the target. Your ankle and foot should come with, but make sure they are in-line with the leg like this. Gravity can help."

Flash lifted his right knee and stretched his ankle and foot downwards. His left leg was rotated a little to a side as he balanced himself on the balls of his foot.

"The second step is the kick," Flash instructed and straightened his kicking leg up to the air. As he did so, his off-leg bent a little as his torso bent back a little as well. Fluttershy was a little amazed on how Flash could straighten his leg like that. Pinkie or Rarity were the ones who were able to stretch their leg that high and that straight.

"Even if we're wearing shoes, it's important on what part of the foot you strike with. I've been taught to bend your toes upwards so the bottom part of the balls does the hitting." Flash pointed,

"As for three..." Flash bent his kicking leg, returning to the first step while moving his foot in a circle to grab her attention. "Return to step one. Make sure you're still pointing your knee forward as you lower your leg, then lower it back down to your stance." Then demonstrated like so. "Okay? One, two, three. One, two, three." Like a slideshow, he demonstrated the steps in succession for a few times.

"Your turn." Flash gestured, "For first times, you won't be able to fully straighten your leg, and you'll feel some pulls on your hamstrings. Maybe some pins and needles in your toes too. Remember, make sure you're balanced on your off-leg before you kick. And don't try to do it slowly. Like the block, it needs to be snappy."

Fluttershy lifted her right knee and began to balance her weight on her left leg. The moment she was confident in her balance, she lashed the lower part forward. True to Flash, she could feel a quick but uncomfortable stretch throughout her lower leg, and indeed that little fizzy P&N feeling.

"Try a few more. Front kicking is quite common throughout various martial practices. Even used for cardio. Great way to warm up your legs and hamstrings. That way you'll be able to straighten your legs a little more against gravity when you kick." Flash suggested, "Do the same for your other leg too."

Fluttershy sharpened her brows, took a deep breath, and snapped her kick while also maintaining a strong balance. After ten kicks, she swapped to her other leg and performed the same kick ten times. Once it was over and Fluttershy returned to standing on her two legs, Flash was about to say something until the bell for recess rang.

"Welp, that's all the time." Flash grumbled, "Before we go to the club, can you meet me by my locker? I'll see if I can remember how Sir's clap worked."

"You're..." Flash let out a long breath and bowed, "You're a really quick and determined learner compared to new students I see. It's very impressive."

"Thanks," Fluttershy gave a small smile and bowed back, "But what can I say? We're facing something that's definitely not what you and I faced."

"True." Flash agreed as they hurried back into the building. They were unaware, however, that two different parties had been watching their entire training from a secret spot.

"Well wasn't that cute?" Nagisa chuckled from the Neighponese classroom window, and Kimura nodded while Yada giggled.

Lunchtime came. All members gathered in the Neighponese classroom the moment they were dismissed from their class. They didn't even stop by their lockers to put their books away. Once again, the club set the desks into a square ring, but without the middle two desks; this was a real fight.

"Fluttershy's looks like she's trained hard for this," Cheerilee noted, with everyone watching her practice front kicks. "And now that I think about it... I've never seen her learn any form of fighting... does she normally fight, Pinkie?"

"Only with magic, and talking to animals!" Pinkie answered, "It's also the first time for me seeing her fight with melee instead of magic!"

"Flash?" Soarin tapped his childhood buddy on his shoulder, "Fluttershy's practising front kicks. Did you teach her?"

"Dunno what you mean..." Flash's voice warbled as he was in the middle of drinking from a water bottle.

"Be honest. Do you think Fluttershy has a chance of winning?" Timber Spruce asked in another conversation,

"If Bon Bon is a secret agent, there's no doubt that she has gone through a lot of training as a fighter." Redheart deduced, "Fluttershy though? None of her hobbies involved fighting or training. She may be outmatched. However, there is Fluttershy's stare. Now that I've learnt more of it, Bon Bon may fall susceptible to her influence unless she fights with her eyes closed. I guess it comes down to who's faster."

"One who fights for the security of Equestria, and the other fights to defend an outsider who has solid evidence that something rotten is happening inside Equestria's borders. Both aim for the same goal, and yet they cannot accept each other's choices and methods. How will this battle unfurl?" Noteworthy spoke to himself as he leaned on the window.

"Huh?" Noteworthy turned around. "Oh... a rabbit and a falcon... you must be Fluttershy's pets. I take it you're here to watch?"

"You want me to lift the window huh? You really are smart if you can communicate. Here..." Noteworthy smiled and opened up the window for the two to have a better view.

Hana hissed again and bent low, ready to pounce and unleash her talons on him. Angel violently shook his head. He pointed at Fluttershy's direction and formed an 'X' with his small arms and paws.

"... You don't want to let her know you're here?" Noteworthy deduced. Angel and Hana nodded simultaneously.

Five minutes after everyone has set up, Bon Bon knocked on the door and Nagisa let her in. Just like yesterday, she had her bitter cold expression and her dull merciless eyes like before. The entire class stood still and silent, with only their eyes watching her move.

"Mr Shiota. Class." Bon Bon greeted without any sense of emotion in her words. "Shall we begin?"

"The ring is yours..." Nagisa answered, showing her the ring. With a nod, Bon Bon slipped through the desks and entered the ring. Fluttershy did the same. As she did so, however, she placed her hands behind her neck and unclipped something. When she brought it back into view, she had a necklet in each hand. Pulling it up, it revealed a yellow gem with pink crystal butterflies hanging on both necklets; the Geode of fauna. Clipping the back ends of the necklets together, Fluttershy pocketed the geode in a pocket hidden in her dress.

"Now, let me reclarify the rules of this fight." Nagisa announced, "No weapons are allowed and it should be blatantly obvious. Do. Not. Kill. Either of you." He glared. "I'd also like to add that harming any spectator, be it the class or the teachers, is a disqualification. Second of all, there are two ways to achieve victory. One, your opponent must be down for three seconds, though you are not allowed to harm them when they are on the ground. Two, your opponent surrenders the match by yelling out that they surrender. Also, no false surrender or perfidy. Once you say surrender, you immediately surrender the match. Is that clear to both of you?"

"Yes." Fluttershy nodded and stood ready for battle; one leg in front, one leg at the back. Bon Bon paused, looked at Fluttershy, then back towards Mr Shiota.

"Yes." Bon Bon nodded and did the same with one leg in front and back. However, she slightly bent her knees, put her fists near her face, and the heel of her back leg lifted a little, having the ball part on the ground.

"Okay." Kimura held out a timer and raised his hand, "When I say go, the battle begins. Ready..."

As soon as he swiped his hand down, Bon Bon pushed down on the balls of her back foot and zipped forward. In just two quick steps, Bon Bon was right in front of Fluttershy's chest.

With her right hand winded back and chambered during the advance, Bon Bon slammed her fist directly onto Fluttershy's stomach.

"Awkk!!!" Fluttershy's eyes widened as she spat out saliva. She took two steps back and fell to her knees. The entire class gasped in horror.

"It was like she teleported!" Soarin gasped. Even Kimura stared blankly at the fight. The moment he said 'go' and threw his hand down, it was only a second did Bon Bon bring Fluttershy down with a single punch.

"Taekwondo vs Boxing." Nagisa analysed to himself, "Or rather someone who's only introduced to Taekwondo versus a Secret Agent who's undoubtedly well experienced in Boxing. Even then, knowing Bon Bon, her main directive is to neutralise her opponents without any hesitation or delay. She's taking it seriously. That being said, Fluttershy could be forced to use 'that'..."

"She..." Fluttershy thought as she continued coughing while watching Bon Bon briskly trot back to her side, "She's definitely serious. The moment I get up and Coach Justice tells us to go again... she's going to punch me down. I don't know what's worse. The pain, or the shock. Alright then... plan B."

Fluttershy regained the strength in her legs and stood up. Kimura stopped counting and raised his hand once again.

Fluttershy readied her legs and raised her hands, her eyes locked onto Bon Bon. Bon Bon stretched her neck from side to side, returned to her boxing stance, and locked her emotionless gaze right onto Fluttershy's eyes in response.

Bon Bon pushed down on the balls of her back foot a second time, ready to perform the same move. It was successful in the first round, so she'll be sure to stay the course. After all, what can Fluttershy do when she's barely learned a martial art? Even so, there is no quarter for anyone, not even a classmate of hers.

But just as Kimura said 'Go', Fluttershy's eyebrows pinched together, and her iris and pupils began to grow, warp, and change. Since both opponents had their eyes locked on each other, Bon Bon noticed it, and her back foot suddenly turned heavy.

"Woah!" Bon Bon slipped and stumbled once she launched forward. Completely disorganized, she took more than two steps and slowed down significantly just to keep herself from tripping over. That was more than enough for the glaring Fluttershy to react. Fluttershy crossed her wrists and held it in front of her body. When Bon Bon recovered and tried to aim for Fluttershy's stomach once again, the shy girl rolled her blocking arm out, knocking the Bon Bon's punch to the side. In retaliation, Fluttershy's other arm, chambered to her hip after the block, launched out in the blink of an eye, making a rock-solid blow to Bon Bon's stomach.

"Ghh!" Bon Bon stumbled back, clutching her stomach with one hand. The class gasped once again,

"Alright Flash." Soarin frowned, "That block definitely has you highlighted all over it!"

But even if the spectators were cheering for her, Fluttershy knew that her attacks would be futile.

"That punch may have blown her back a bit, but it was mostly with shock." Fluttershy thought to herself, "Her body was definitely trained for this. She didn't fall over when getting punched in the stomach unlike me. Even if I learned a lot from Vice-Principal Luna and Flash, I do not have the physical power to back it up. In that case..." She looked to her panting opponent and began approaching her. "I'll just have to make her surrender!"

"Uhh..." Bon Bon grimaced in her mind as she kept an unfazed expression, "What the hell was that!? My foot all of a sudden felt like stone! I've never felt that sort of sensation or pain, at all! Did someone slip any muscle relaxer? No that's not possible... this sudden feeling only happened now. No never mind..." Though hunched over, she could hear her opponents approaching footsteps, "She's coming close. Once she's at least a metre away from me, I need to strike her, and make sure she's still standing!"

"Yraaah!!!!" Bon Bon yelled in interruption, lifting her upper body, placing a firm leg down, and swung her left fist from the side. At the same time, she also lifted her head, right into Fluttershy's terrifying eyes.

This time, Bon Bon felt every muscle and nerve within her foot petrified within milliseconds. Then the same happened to her other foot. Then suddenly, the petrification snaked up her legs, its trail leaving the body stone cold. When it fully enveloped her legs, her hips and waist were the next to solidify. Then it swallowed the movement of her pelvis, continuing to rise to her upper torso.

"No...!" Was all Bon Bon could think by the time her entire chest was petrified, to which the feeling began to spill into her arms. But in a turn of fate, Bon Bon's hook made contact with Fluttershy's face before it was completely frozen. That successful contact instantly freed her body from the 'stone'-like sensation.

"Argh!" Fluttershy clutched her face. Bon Bon acted at the opportune moment. She performed a left jab to her opponent's stomach once again, then followed up with a fearsome right cross. The force pierced right through Fluttershy's hands that covered her face and straight into the girl's head, sending her flying over. Fluttershy hit the ground and slid across the ring, stopping with a gentle bump on one of the desk legs.

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy. But don't take this personally." Bon Bon sighed, "I know how serious you and everyone else are on keeping Mr Shiota and this entire club. But I'm serious too; As a part of the CIA, and as someone living in Equestria, I will hunt down anyone who dares threaten our home."

"One!" Kimura started counting, and the spectators starting booing or encouraging Fluttershy to stand back up.

"You think taking in the only person who can deal with a nation-wide threat and interrogating him would save Equestria!? You fucking hypocrite!" Thunderlane cursed,

"I hope you're happy, Bon Bon!" Flitter growled. But amidst all the yelling and encouraging, the entire feeling that Bon Bon felt during that round caused her to sweat. She knew now where this sudden stone-like sensation came from. But, the fact that she knew HOW it happened instilled fear.

"Her eyes..." Bon Bon whispered to herself, "If I only look at her with just a second in her eyes, my body would have been frozen completely! That connection... I really did act faster than her! Had I waited a lot longer... I would have been motionless!"

The agent's inner conflict and reflection reached the ears and eyes of the Azure-eyed assassin. And boy was he surprised.

"She's panicking." Nagisa analysed, "And I don't think it would take a secret agent like her to know what caused it. What's worse, it will be hard to approach Fluttershy from now on thanks to the stare. But... if Fluttershy doesn't get up, it's over."

"She just needs to stay down until Coach counts to three..." Bon Bon uttered, a single drop of sweat rolled down her face "And then this battle is over!" That little drop fell from her face and landed on the floor with a small 'fwip'. Though it was drowned out by the spectators jeering or cheering.

"What!? No way!!!" Bon Bon jumped, perspiring even more, and quickly took a battle stance again. The gallery went silent as they watched their club member moving once again.

"Urrrrrrgh..." Fluttershy moaned as she used the hand she raised to push herself up.

Fluttershy's other hand was still covering her face. Once Fluttershy moved it away, she noticed the smudge of thick red liquid upon her palm. Immediately, she placed her fingers to her nose, then below her nostrils. There was something down there. Something thick and gooey. Looking back at her fingers, she found them coated with the same red liquid on her palm. Her eyes widened for a while, then glared at her opponent across the ring. Though Bon Bon may look in perfect condition. Fluttershy could tell that the agent's mind was anything but chaotic, confused, and desperate.

"She's afraid." Fluttershy discerned, "Afraid of my stare... in that case... all I just need to do is to keep my gaze on her." She lowered her arms, stood up straight, and advanced once again.

Bon Bon's hands began to tremble as she saw her opponent trotting forward. She needed to find a way to get around her stare... but how? HOW!?

"It's time to... eh?" Fluttershy was about to unleash her stare once again, that was until she noticed that her opponent remained where she was with her eyes tight shut.

"Hmm..." Fluttershy noticed. "A rather interesting tactic to avoid the stare. Close your eyes and stand your ground. To minimise the drawback of losing sight, you need to rely on your ears for any footsteps and your hairs to perceive any change of the wind. That being said... it makes you extremely distracted... and susceptible..."

"So... sir's clap stunner." Flash spoke with Fluttershy in the corner of the Neighponese Classroom just at the start of lunchtime. "If I recall correctly with our discussion on lunchtime that Monday, Sir said it involves making a clapping sound right into one's face... that is before the magic of Equestria influenced it. That being said, I don't think it would stun me if you clapped at my face right now."

"I think that would work. In a fight, when your attention is on something else instead of your opponent. The lack of awareness should make one more susceptible to a loud clap." Flash analysed, "Even so, I think there's even more for it to work."

"If it's only just to temporarily stun someone, then I can follow it up with the stare." Fluttershy offered,

"Okay then, but just remember. An opponent has all the time they need to hit you if you get close enough to clap." Flash warned, "To distract her, you'll need something to draw her attention."

"I'm afraid I'll have to keep that a secret." Fluttershy smiled before returning to front kick practice, much to Flash's dismay.

Even with her eyes closed, Bon Bon could still perceive Fluttershy's movement thanks to the floor. Fluttershy took a few tiny steps towards Bon Bon, and the agent tightened the grip on her hands. If Fluttershy got any closer, she knew her opponent would swing forward. Fluttershy could consider tiptoeing... but there was no need of that. Fluttershy had a plan, and she was going to execute it.

Fluttershy jumped to her left, and Bon Bon lashed out with a jab towards Fluttershy's direction. Fluttershy quickly swatted it away. Bon Bon followed up with a high right hook, but Fluttershy ducked under that, strafing to the right.

Without giving up, Bon Bon quickly turned to her left, and swung her fist low, hoping to catch Fluttershy's legs. Anticipating it, Fluttershy slid her legs out of its range and stepped back, rapidly stomping the ground as she did so.

"I may look idiotic..." Fluttershy breathed, "But only because I'm preparing my distraction!"

Within her loud stomping, her hand quickly reached for her secret dress pocket and pulled out the geode of fauna.

Stomping back close, Fluttershy continued grabbing Bon Bon's attention and attacks with every step and stomp. A stomp to the left, and a stomp to the right. When it was time, Fluttershy tossed the geode right between the agent's legs, where it landed in the ground with a large 'chink!'

"Rrrah!!!" Bon Bon roared and swung backward in a clothesline attack, only to swing at air. Bon Bon growled, silently cursing at herself for not discovering the one single but fatal trait of her opponent before the battle.

And then she froze. That sound behind her... that wasn't a footstep! That was--!

But just after she turned her head back forward to react or even think about anything else, her head, eyes, and mind, exploded into white. As if a live flash grenade was shoved into each of her ears.

Fluttershy watched as the agent teetered back. With that geode taking her attention, Fluttershy flew forward like a shadow... or rather... like an assassin with the intent to kill... and slammed her hands together as hard and loud as she could right in front of Bon Bon's face. It was only a split second between success and failure when performing the move. But now that it was successful, what was next to follow will ensure Fluttershy her victory. As she readied her second move, the letter from her guardian angel sprang to mind.

I hope you have grown a bond with Hana as you did with Angel when you were a child. Then again, Hana is a free bird, as well as a very smart one. As you can probably tell, she can fly between Neighpon and Equestria when I so call her. How can I call her? Well... let's just say I can form strong bonds with animals!

Speaking about myself, I think it is time I should reveal, piece by piece, who I am. I wish I could disclose how and why I am indebted to you and your mother, but I'm afraid that it may bring unwanted strife and grief that may plague your mind. You should live a life that shouldn't embellish you with the anguish suffered as a child. Perhaps I should speak of this in a little tale. That way it wouldn't sound so uncomfortable.

Fluttershy inched closer and placed a leg behind Bon Bon's, tripping her over. The agent fell to the floor, her head hitting the ground first. Fluttershy knew that if her own strength can't harm her, she could always use the environment to her advantage.

In the feudal lands of Neighpon, people sometimes live in peace and harmony, even within times of war. People would normally think that it was the brave men who would devote their lives to defend their homes and land, but little did they know that their true protectors are people that live within the shadows through time. Clans, families, invisible sects that carry out the orders of their Ruler, Emperor, the Shogun, and each other. They go through hell without even a rest granted by heaven, to become the ultimate protectors of their country that they so wished. Of course, the duties of these protectors are considered the darkest of crimes outside the shadows, with their existence, only made known through rumours and hearsay.

There was one family who yielded impeccable warriors unique to their blood. Regardless of gender, members of the family were called equal to powerful and fearsome spirits fueled by vengeance in Neighponese folklore, with their skills and abilities ranging to just that. A deep sense of communication with the animals of the world. A true aim, even within the worst of conditions and obstructions, and even more. But there was one ability that stands among one of their most dangerous. It was referred to in a poem created to lull or scare children to sleep:

From hitting the head on the ground, the agent opened her eyes in an attempt to grasp and understand her surroundings. But all she saw was her opponent bending over, locking eyes. Again, Bon Bon could feel all her senses petrifying. Starting from her feet, then up her legs, her chest, and this time to her arms and shoulders. Every single part of her body save for her mouth and tongue were frozen. As much as the agent tried to cover her eyes, she could not push her eyelids down. Motionless, captured by her stare, the agent could do nothing else to defend herself but scream.

"Surrender. Now." Fluttershy commanded with a voice warped and corrupted beyond recognition. "Otherwise..."

beware the black 蝶の目 (eyes of the butterfly)

A surge of darkness enveloped the shy girl, enlarging and transforming her into some pink-coloured humanoid, ironclad in black with claws for fingers, and butterfly wings of pink and black. The figure lunged its claws forward and stopped only a few millimetres away from the agent's eye, and declared...

"You'd better not use this as an opportunity to strike me!" The figure threatened,

Hearing her assurance, the creature retracted its claws and began to dissolve, leaving behind the pink-haired girl as its body scattered in the wind. Once every trace of it was gone, Bon Bon regained control of her body. The spectators fell silent, completely speechless at the agent's words.

"T-The match is over!" Kimura announced with a little stutter, "Bon Bon has lost by admitting surrender. The winner is Fluttershy!"

Hearing that the match was over, Fluttershy blinked as if she had returned to reality. She looked down at her opponent, who was gazing back at her with fear and... tears?

"Bon Bon..." Fluttershy gasped, her voice returned to normal. "A-Are you okay? I'm so sorry. Let me help you up..."

"Hey. It's okay..." Yada entered the ring and knelt down with her hand out, "Do you want me to take you somewhere peaceful? Nurse Redheart can come along too."

Bon Bon continued muttering or blabbering inaudible words but accepted the teacher's aid with trembling hands. Yada helped her up to her feet and guided her out of the room with Nurse Redheart in tow. The shattered Bon Bon took one last look at her victorious opponent, unfazed by her injuries, and cried once again before Yada closed the door between them.

As for Angel and Hana, who watched from the windows. They nodded at each other with satisfaction and flew away. For they had seen everything.

"Today's tutor club is cancelled." Nagisa announced, "You are free to do whatever you need today. However, no one is to speak of what transpired to the teachers. If you need to tell your closest friends, then make sure they know how to keep a secret."

Sorry about the change to Neighponese. But you know, it wouldn't fit the haiku if I kept it in English. Anyway, this is all I can say for now. If you want to hear more of the story, then please write back! Just tie a letter to Hana's foot, and she'll know to send it to me! Nothing would be more special if we started writing to each other.

With Loving Regards

C.B.B.

P.S. I have a slight feeling that you may be in trouble, so perhaps this letter may help you motivate what you plan to achieve! Oh, and one more motivational message from me. You are a lot stronger than you think, Fluttershy. Even more so than standing alongside friends. Not that I'm telling you to ditch such an important part of life.

"Ma'am... my cover has been compromised by the target. And most of the civilian classmates."

"We went through the CCTV recordings of the warehouse you were captured in yesterday. After checking that there were no signs of tampering, it is clear that what happened in there was not only just a lucky break, but it also contained some extremely important information that you should have reported."

"Why did you omit the fact that Azure Flyer saved you that night? If you told us that, we would not have issued the order for you to bring him in."

"Had I reported everything, it would complicate matters. His skills and abilities as an assassin warrants immediate action to detain or neutralise him. His history and motives are irrelevant to me. I'm responsible for taking or killing suspects, nothing else."

"Listen here, Agent 194. Azure Flyer knew of your identity as a Secret Agent, and yet he STILL went out of his way to save you despite you tailing him. The EIA isn't made of stone not to acknowledge that he rescued not just you, but even the late agent 102. We looked further into the woman who assisted his exfil in Manehattan, and it turns out that she is an associate of Azure Flyer, working in the same school that you are attending as per your cover. Now, I can wager a guess how your cover has been blown to a few of the students. Do you know?"

"Azure Flyer runs an extracurricular club in the school. The students who are a part of it told them about my identity... and he also told them about his history of being an assassin."

"... You are not wrong, 194, that this would complicate the situation. However, the fact that he and his associates had saved two members of the EIA, and had told his students to withhold your secret identity, is something that we cannot treat with hostility. Plus..."

"Do you remember the A.I. that we mentioned on Monday? Well... it made its presence known again, but this time adding information into our database. Top secret information straight from Neighpon's equivalent of our Intelligence office. It links heavily to the Korosensei incident, which also links to Azure Flyer. Neighpon's priority of ceasing such undocumented and unethical research within the nation has been accepted by all governmental bodies and its Prime Minister."

"It is likely, that Azure Flyer and his associates are here to secretly investigate Equestria because it was our nation that discovered the possibility of neutralising antimatter without allowing it to cause mass destruction. Whilst this may be a breach of privacy within countries, he has done nothing of the sort. Rather, they have protected innocents. In addition to saving both you and 102, they have more than earned the right to be heard without someone taking them in by force."

"Or bother him either. We'll have someone... less forceful to reach out to Azure Flyer. Your mission is now scrapped due to those circumstances. You are to continue maintaining your cover... or what's left of it. If news really spread across the school, we would have pulled you out. Fortunately, that is not the case. That's an order... understand?"

Assassination Club

by Tythen

Week 7 Friday: The students' choice