//------------------------------// // Training Day // Story: It Runs In The Family // by Onomonopia //------------------------------// Now that Scootaloo knew that a pony she cared for was in danger, her time as Batmare almost doubled. She was out every night from sun down to sun up, hunting down the Demon Spawn and chasing any leads she had on them, even if they were an obvious trap. But despite her incredible tolerance for pain and her great skills, a week of all-nighters and constant fighting wore her into the ground to the point where she physically couldn't get out of her bed in the morning. That was where she found herself on a sunny morning, when a knock forced her to leave her bed and stagger to the door. "I'm coming, I'm coming," she muttered to herself as she navigated her home through half-closed eyes, running into a few of her walls. When she finally did manage to get to the door to open it, the sunlight that burst through blinded her to the point where she had to retreat into the shadows of her house. Fortunately for her, she didn't need to see to recognize the voice that spoke to her. "Woah there, little Sis, are you alright?" the pony standing in the blinding sun said as she stepped into Scootaloo's home. "You look like you got beat up and haven't slept in days." "That's because I haven't, Rainbow," Scootaloo said with a groan, as her eyes finally adjusted to the bright light and she could see the pony standing in front of her. The tough-looking Pegasus with the rainbow mane was a close friend of hers and almost like a sister to her. Scootaloo waved for Rainbow to enter her home as she walked into her living room and collapsed on her sofa, groaning into it as RD sat down across from her. "You haven't? Then what have you been...you've been out as Batmare again?" RD asked with hesitation in her voice. Unlike most of the Mane Six who disapproved of Scootaloo's crusading as a hero, RD was actually proud of her for doing it, but that still didn't make it any easier for her to have to see the pony she considered to be her little sister, looking like she got on the wrong end of a bat. "And this happened to you? Geez Sis, I'm used to seeing a bruise or two, but you look like-" "I got into a fight with ten ponies all armed with knives and sticks?" Scootaloo said in a muffled tone through her pillow, guessing what Rainbow was going to say. "I look like that, because that's what I had to fight the other night. And the night before that. And before that one as well." "Wait, you've been going out for three nights in a row?" RD asked in shock, Scootaloo did not bother to tell her it was a full week. "Scoots, I know you're tough, but your body has to have a limit. Odds are, you're going to kill yourself at this rate. Why are you-?" "The princesses told you what we discovered, didn't they?" Scootaloo said, cutting off Rainbow Dash off once again as she picked her head off the pillow and looked into her sister's eyes. "That Pumpkin Cake is one of the targets on the list of fillies that the Demon Spawn might try to foal nap to achieve their goals? She is my student and it's my job to keep her safe through any means necessary, even if it means pulling a bunch of all-nighters to find those who are trying to hurt her." "Scoots...I know you're doing what you think is right, but I can't stand to see you this way," Rainbow Dash said with sorrow in her voice. "I promised Batman that I would watch over you when he was gone, and even though it might not have been in the manner he meant, I will still protect you. I know it's pointless to try and talk you out of your crusade, but can't you at least let me help you?" "And if you die, who will the Wonderbolts call their captain?" Scootaloo asked her with a growl, her exhaustion making it hard for her to keep her emotions in check. "Sorry RD, I'm just tired. Thank you for your offer, but I need to do this. By myself." Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to respond, but found that she couldn't say anything. Scootaloo looked up at the clock on her wall and cursed when she saw what time it was. "I need to go. I promised the Cakes that I would train the both of them today, and they will never shut up about it if I'm late again." "I'll come with you," Rainbow said quickly as she jumped up off the couch, Scootaloo got up as well with a raised eyebrow. "Well, we never really do anything anymore, even though we're supposed to be sisters. And I figure since I taught you some of your fighting moves, I can see how my student teaches her students!" Scootaloo rolled her eyes, but figured that she at least owed RD this, considering how often she had to ignore her attempts to bond with her, considering her night job. So with a nod of her head, Scootaloo and RD both headed out the door and to where Scootaloo trained the two foals, a small field by the CMCC clubhouse, where she had been taught by the greatest martial arts master and her father. When the two of them arrived, they found a large number of foals already playing in the clubhouse. The other two formal members of the CMCC donated it to foals who didn't have their cutie marks yet. In the field were two foals who sat side by side; one was sitting in a meditative state, while the other was pacing back and forth with annoyance in her face. "Finally, you show up," Pumpkin said as Scootaloo and RD walked onto the field. The foals in the clubhouse all came running out of the tree house and surrounded Scootaloo, all of them asking her why she looked so terrible. She told them that she fell down the stairs even though it was a lie, but it was enough for the foals. "We've been here for ten minutes waiting for you!" "And it seems that one of you took advantage of the time," Scootaloo said as she looked over at Pound Cake, who still hadn't registered that either of them were there as he continued to meditate. "Alright you two, fall in. Class is in session." Pumpkin kicked her brother, who then opened his eyes and smiled at the two mares, standing up and stretching before walking over. "Hey teach. Why do you look like a-" "I get it, I look like crap," Scootaloo said to cut him off, tired of everypony pointing it out. "Today, one of my teachers will be joining us and will also be-" "Will you be showing that move you used to bust that ugly pony's head open?" Pumpkin interrupted, causing Scootaloo to growl in frustration. "No, that move is only for advanced students, which we are nowhere near at the moment. Now as I was saying, Rainbow Dash will be sitting in on us and-" "What do you mean I'm not ready?" Pumpkin asked with a frown. "I'm one of the best fighters in the class." "Yes, but there's more to the arts than fighting," Scootaloo said as she tried to keep her emptions in check. "There is the control aspect that you sorely lack. So if there are-" "Hey, I'm one of the most in controlled ponies there is. I can-" "Laps," Scootaloo said with a growl, tired of the filly interrupting her. "What did I do?" Pumpkin asked as her brother snickered at her. Scootaloo pointed to the field and told her to get running, watching as Pumpkin got up with a grumble and started to head to the field. "Stupid, no good..." "And for that you can run the entire field!" Scootaloo yelled out to her, hearing her groan as she started to run. "And keeping going until I tell you to stop." RD whistled with a chuckle as Pumpkin started to run, her brother chuckling to himself. "She's certainly got issues," RD said as Scootaloo let out a sigh. "I have never met a more stubborn pony in all my life," Scootaloo said with a growl as she started to control her breathing. "She back-talks everything I say, only wants to learn what she wants to learn and constantly abuses her skills, to either look cool or get revenge on somepony. I would kick her out of my class if her parents weren't so desperate to try and get her under control." "Why don't you hoof her over to me or Zecora?" Rainbow suggested. "I'm sure either of us could whip her into shape in no time and knock that sass right out of her. I know Zecora would enjoy it." "No, the only reason she even takes that class from me is because I was trained by Batman," Scootaloo said as she told Pound Cake to start doing stretches. "And even then she treats him and what he taught me like a joke. I don't know where this attitude of hers came from, but it really gets on my nerves." "She's upset about a lot of things," Pound Cake said as he started doing headstand pushups without the aid of his wings. "A lot of ponies make fun of her for the fact that she looks like a cupcake, which she does, and feels like she needs to defend herself every ten seconds. You think you have it bad, try living with her and see how bad it is." "Still, she shouldn't talk to you the way she does, especially considering what you're doing for her," RD said with a frown as she watched the unicorn run back and forth across the field. "With what you went through when you were her age, I'd say that you've more than earned respect from others." "I don't really care if I'm respected or not, but I am fed up," Scootaloo said before turning back to Pound Cake. "Alright, that's enough talking. Let's get class started." "Is Sis going to join us?" he asked as he flipped out of his headstand and landed in a sitting position. "No, if she wants to run her mouth she can run her legs as well. Alright, today I will be showing you some internal striking techniques. These are very advanced so pay close attention." Pound Cake nodded and watched closely as Scootaloo brought out the dummy that she had practiced on back when she was being trained, a small smile escaping her lips as she remembered how Batman had drilled the techniques into her. She closed her eyes and focused for a quick second before she struck out with her hoof to strike the dummy, stepping back as Pound looked at it in confusion. "Um, I didn't see-" "Wait for it." The second after she said that the dummy fell over with a loud crack, causing Pound Cake's jaw to hit the ground as RD smiled at the display. The brief wait for the impact wasn't necessary, but it was still a cool trick that she liked to do. "So, did you see what I did there?" "Nope." "Alright, the trick is to try and focus your energy into your opponent's internal organs instead of trying to break their exterior. The key to this is, of course, focus and concentration. Combine that with a lightning-fast strike and you should be able to preform it. Want to give it a try?" Pound hopped up to his hooves and walked over to the dummy, setting it back up before he began trying to imitate what Scootaloo had done. "Zecora teach you that one? I know I didn't," Rainbow asked as Scootaloo watched with a smile, while Pound got closer and closer with each hit. His sister might have been the better fighter, but Pound Cake was definitely a quick learner and a master of techniques. She wouldn't be surprised if one day his sister found herself unable to beat him in a sparring match. "Actually, this is one of the techniques that Batman showed to me, telling me that it would be helpful in bringing down ponies that were a lot tougher than me. It's saved my flank a few times." "Wait, this is a Batman move and you're not showing it to Pumpkin?" RD said with a smirk as she looked to the running filly, who was breathing heavily but still continued to run. "She's going to hate you for this." "She's not ready. This is a move that requires control and focus, two areas that she lacks considerably. When I feel that she's ready, I'll teach her, but until then we'll continue to focus on breathing and slow motion moves." Scootaloo waved Pumpkin over after deciding that she had run long enough, ignoring the look that the orange-maned pony gave her as she instructed her to start with controlled movements. Pumpkin started to ask why she couldn't do what her brother was doing, but a glare from Scootaloo silenced her. "You teach just like he does," RD said with a chuckle as she continued to watch. "What do you mean?" "Well, you are kind and tolerant, but you don't take any crap and give the same glare he does," RD said as she thought back. "Yep, I got the same glare from him that one day he showed you throws and takedowns. It was the same day that he mentally beat into me what it meant to be a respectable sister and how to get my act together. Speaking of that day, that was about ten years ago today, meaning your birthday is tomorrow. Are you making any special plans for it?" "I plan to wake up whenever I can after work, and visit my parents' grave. Then, I'll go see my Dad's grave and speak to him for a while as I try to avoid whatever Pinkie has thought up for me. Then, I might visit that foreign restaurant I like and sleep for a few hours before going crusading again." "What kind of birthday is that supposed to be? " RD asked with a look. "As your older sister, it is my job to make sure that you have fun on your birthday, not spend it like Batman would. Tomorrow, you and I are going to invite your friends over and we're going to go so something awesome. I don't care what the Wonderbolts think, my little sister comes first." Scootaloo didn't bother to argue, when RD got set on something like this, it was almost impossible to break her out of it. Which was a shame, because she had planned to spend the free time she had tomorrow talking with Batman. A few new points of interest had shown up in her case, and she wanted to speak with him, especially since she hadn't been able to during the week due to their different schedules. "Fine...but promise me that you won't have Pinkie throw me a massive surprise party and not tell me about it," Scootaloo made her promise. RD agreed and Scootaloo told the two foals to stop what they were doing to prepare for sparring. Pumpkin chuckled to herself as she rubbed her hooves together, while Pound simply closed his eyes and relaxed. The two faced each other and bowed as the orange mare raised her hoof and brought it down, telling them to begin. Just as she had predicted, Pumpkin charged right for her brother and threw herself at him. And also like she had predicted, Pound saw this coming and rolled with her attack, placing a hoof in her gut as he kicked her over his head. She struck the ground and rolled back up, resuming her attack with a more cautious stance. She threw punch after punch that was either dodged or deflected by Pound, who watched her eyes carefully as he took step after step back. "What's the matter Bro, too afraid to fight a girl?" Pumpkin asked with a smirk. "I'm fighting a girl?" Pound shot back with a smile, rolling out of the way of her next angry punch. She tackled her brother to the ground and went in for a punch, but an orange hoof stopped her. "That is enough," Scootaloo said coldly, breaking the two apart and helping Pound back up. "Pumpkin, what have I told you about fighting while you're angry?" "Hey, he's the one who insulted me! He-" "What did I say?" "...Anger can cloud your judgment and cause you to make mistakes that could cost you a fight or your life," Pumpkin muttered. "But I had him beat!" "Yeah, you had your brother beat, but that was probably because neither of you were really trying to hurt each other," Rainbow Dash said as she decided to enter the discussion. "But in real life, your opponents will never hold back and will fight to kill. You have to learn to control yourself or else you will put yourself and others at risk." Pumpkin grumbled to herself as Pound dusted himself off, going over in his head what he had done wrong during the match. "Alright you two, that's enough for today. You can both go home. Pumpkin, I want you tell your parents that I want to meet with them...again." Both the foals ran off while talking to each other about various things as RD walked in front of Scootaloo. "So, you're fine with tomorrow then?" "Yes, I suppose I can take a day off. Maybe Snowflake will finally fire me," she said with a smirk that was met with a look from Rainbow. "Also, I want you to take tonight off as well. I want you at one hundred percent tomorrow morning." Scootaloo didn't answer as RD flew off, knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep that promise. She was needed and there might be ponies who could die if she wasn't patrolling the cities. But she might be able to cut her routes a little shorter for tonight. Scootaloo shook her head and headed back home, already planning what gadgets to take with her as she went crusading tonight.