//------------------------------//
// Training 
// Story: Backstory of Melody Song 
// by Melody Song 
//------------------------------//

"Again!" Tempest's voice rang out, and I folded my ears and lunged.

We were sparring. Yeah, we. Tempest and I had managed to recruit a few other students to join what she called "Self Defense Club." It's really just called that so Headmare Twilight doesn't get suspicious. The reason she would be? Tempest's been turning down offers to send recruits from Canterlot here to Ponyville to guard the castle and school. But she won't deny she needs the extra guards. So logically, the only way to get guards that she trusts is to pick creatures to train herself. Naturally not all of us are going to join her, I mean, I just want to learn how to fight. But some creatures might want to.

There's four of us total. Not a lot but more than I expected, honestly. But I digress. Gallus and Smolder joined right off the bat, they seemed interested. And this new student, a crystal pegasus named Crystal Wind, joined too. That's who I'm sparring with now. She's actually pretty good.

Right now, we're in a grassy area behind the Friendship Castle where Tempest trains. I dodged a thrusted spear from Crystal and pressed my weight onto my back legs. My magic is actually coming in handy, I'm using it to hold the spear. Tempest told me that holding it in my magic means I have to keep a firmer control over the spear, as there's more room for it to move off course in the magic's loose grip. But I think I'm getting the hang of it as I use my magic to catch my spear against Crystal's spear, forcing it out of her grip.

"Acceptable form, Melody." Tempest remarked as the spear clattered to the ground. She then looked up. "Smolder, disarm only! No killing blows!"

"Yes ma'am!" Smolder called back begrudgingly. "But so you know, in the Dragonlands this is a legal move! It's only meant to stun a dragon!"

"Your opponent is not a dragon! If you're going against a thief you want to be able to subdue them only, or they won't be able to be questioned!" Tempest shouted, stalking over to Smolder, who was sparring with Gallus.

As Tempest continued berating Smolder, I picked up my spear and began practicing my lunges again. I reared onto my hind legs and began throwing a few punches and kicks. I could only manage a couple before falling back down. I grunted slightly.

"Don't bother with it Melody." Tempest trotted over to me. "There are only two quadrupedal creatures in Equestria who've mastered the Bipedal Stance, and one of them is me."

"So who's the other one?" Gallus asked, he and Smolder flying over.

"Not important." Tempest dismissed

"I still don't understand the Bipedal Stance." Crystal Wind said, taking off. "Isn't it almost identical to the Wing Stance?"

"The Bipedal Stance is designed for creatures who don't have wings or whose wings are useless in a fight."

"Like Celly's wings?" Smolder asked

"Exactly." Tempest replied, rearing onto her hind legs for demonstration. "To do a proper Bipedal Stance, if you have wings they must be kept closed. Opening your wings and flapping them is an intimidation tactic only. If you kept them out while fighting they'd become targets. And they should only be used for balance when mastering the Wing Stance."

Tempest then pushed off with her hind legs and spun into a backflip, hitting the ground squarely. I gasped in awe along with the others. Tempest smirked slightly and trotted back to us.

"Now, Melody, try the Wing Stance and use it to do the same."

I nodded, unsure, but reared, flaring my wings wide to catch the air. I used the wind to give myself extra momentum as a flapped my wings down hard, pushed off my hooves, and ended up in a graceful enough twirl in midair. I hit the ground, stumbling slightly, then straightened up. Tempest nodded.

"Good. You see the difference?"

We all nodded.

"Alright, break into groups again, Gallus, try the Wing Stance, Smolder, Crystal, attack. Melody... you'll be with me."

I nodded. This was probably to be expected, I asked her for this. She reared up, taking the Bipedal Stance again. I rose up and flared my wings. I made sure to remember her advice, and though Wing Stance required using them to balance, I folded them halfway, so they were only slightly exposed. Tempest nodded in approval, then we began.

I lunged, swooping forwards and diving over and over. Tempest dodged all my attacks, then grabbed my shoulder with her hoof and flipped me over her. I landed on my side with a grunt.

"Concentrate, Melody." Tempest reprimanded.

I had to focus, obviously. I sat up, shaking my head. I looked over and saw Gallus swooping upwards and slashing at Smolder with his claws, and her retaliating by spinning around and whipping her tail. Ugh, if only I were a dragon or a griffon, then I'd be a bit more evenly matched against Tempest.

As soon as I thought the words, I was enveloped in a flash of violet light.

"Cool!" Gallus shouted behind me.

I looked down and gasped. I was a griffon! Well, I mean, I looked like one... but I had pitch black fur with golden talons, a purple tuft on my tail, and when I summoned a mirror, I could see that I had a white head with violet markings on my eyes.

"Oh wow..."

"Did you know you could do that?" Smolder asked

"N-No..." I stammered "I-I just was thinking I'd be a bit more matched up against Tempest if I had a griffon's claws or a dragon's whipping tail..."

"So your magic lets you shapeshift! That's awesome!" Gallus flew over to examine my new form. "Woah, you completely resemble a griffon!"

I nodded, sitting up. "Claws feel weird..."

"You'll get used to it." Gallus shrugged

I stood up, facing Tempest with a sly grin. "Want to try to pin me now?"

"Well, if you're so confident..." Tempest said, then reared.

I took off and flew to her, reaching out with my new talons. I felt powerful. I spread my now larger wings wider to catch myself and reached, gripping her shoulders and pulling her backwards. Tempest wrenched herself free and disappeared behind me. I was confused, then screeched as I was yanked backwards. Tempest had grabbed hold of my tail and tugged me down, pinning me easily.

"You got too confident." Tempest told me as I sat up, transforming back into a pegasus. "Concentrate, and don't ever assume you have the upper hoof because of what is a possible advantage."