~ The First Night ~
Babs stifled a groaned as Cold Star began their meeting by asking them to do rolling drills. She had been hoping that tonight would be the night they finally got past all the boring fitness stuff and got on with something more practical. Like, say, kicking ponies in the head. Next to her, she saw Misty's eyes roll as they lined up and began somersaulting and cartwheeling across the mats laid out on the cellar floor. A month of doing this stuff every weekend was starting to wear a little thin.
The only pony who seemed not to mind was Squall. Squall had been the worst roller at first, but at this point he was by far the best. He ran at the mat, leaped forward and tucked himself into a ball, his wings making a careful arc to absorb his momentum. He tumbled end over end all the way across the room, and at the last moment flicked his wings and twisted hard, coming out of the roll just as he was about to crashing into the wall. He used what was left of his momentum to jump up and kick off against the wall, gliding back to the starting point on outstretched wings. He made it look easy. Babs was still doing one roll at a time, and Misty ended up on her back more often then she ended up back on her hooves, the way they were supposed to do.
If someone had told Babs two months ago she'd be seeing Squall turn into some kind of gymnastics buff she'd have laughed in their face, but now she almost expected to see a gymnastics cutie mark showing up on his flank. She hadn't felt anything so much as a twitch on hers, so running and gymnastics were already being crossed off the list. Babs sighed and did another shoulder-roll. It was pretty good, and next to her Misty managed one that was almost equally good. They grinned at each other, then glanced over to see if Cold Star was watching.
Indeed she was. With her face set and here eyes searching intently for places to offer advice, Cold Star seemed to see everything that went on while they were training. So far tonight she hadn't offered any pointers, which was a bit unusual. Squall landed at the starting mark and she nodded to him, then stamped her hoof twice to signal that the drill was over. Babs and Misty both breathed a sigh of relief as they came back to their hooves, already sweating a bit just from being in almost-constant motion.
Cold Star continued to watch as they gathered around her. "Very good. I think we're finally ready to begin."
Babs perked up. "To begin what?"
"These past few weeks were necessary to get your bodies ready to do the work of real training. Your running is much better, your fitness has improved and you can all roll very well. So it's time to start learning about how to defend yourself from other ponies."
Babs was all but trotting in place with excitement. "So what're we gonna learn first?"
Cold Star's lip pulled back in a slight smile, revealing the points of her fangs. "In a way, you have already learned the first lesson - how to fall correctly when someone attacks you, and how to get up quickly. You didn't think I was making you do all this rolling just for fun, did you?"
"I never thought that even for a moment," Misty muttered. Babs gave her a light poke in the side, not wanting her to interrupt whatever was coming next.
Cold Star probably heard the sarcasm, but she ignored it if she did. "Rolling is one half of a very important equation. I wish to teach you self defence, but that means we must also practice other skills. In order to learn to defend against being hit, somepony must hit you. In order to learn how to fall safely, somepony must throw you. In order to defend ourselves, we must also learn to attack effectively. Tonight, that is what we are going to start learning to do. Babs, come here."
Babs hurried to the indicated position, and Cold Star moved to stand behind her, talking all the while. "What we are going to do is not a game. Please pay careful attention. Now, it is common for an attacker to approach their intended victim from behind. This gives them the element of surprise, and the ability to attack without resistance. Many such attackers will seek to control your movement. What is the best way to do that, do you think?"
"Magic," Misty piped up, a hint of sarcasm still present in her voice.
Cold Star nodded in Misty's direction. "Actually, that is true. But let us assume that our attacker is not a unicorn. What will they do to control us?"
Misty's nose wrinkled in irritation, and Squall put up a hoof instead. "Grab a hold of us?"
"Yes. How?"
Babs thought about it. "Around the neck?"
"Exactly right. Control the head, and the body moves with it. Control their breath, and they are at your mercy."
As if to illustrate the point, Babs suddenly felt a leg close around her neck, gripping gently but firmly. Babs could feel wiry muscle tense under her chin, and she instinctively reached one leg to pull down on the offending choke-hold.
"Excellent. Those are good instincts, Babs. Try to keep control of your airway. Tuck your chin towards my knee as much as you can. Now, what can you do to get me off of you?"
Babs shimmied back and forth a bit, trying to shake Cold Star loose. It didn't do much good, and she felt Cold Star move to straddle her back, making it even harder for her to manoeuvre. Both of Cold Star's front legs were resting their weight on her - one around her throat and the other bracing the choke - so her own legs were heavy from carrying part of the bigger pony's weight.
That gave her an idea. She crouched down, and Cold Star's weight slid slightly forward.
"Good. But that won't be enough. I can just rest on you, and if this was a real choke you'd already be fighting for breath. Instead, think about my balance. To keep this hold, I have two legs off the ground. That means I can't keep from falling forward without letting go. Use that."
Squall's eyes went wide. "Oh, I get it. Babs, put your front-right leg around her front-right leg." Babs did so. "Good. Now, do the first half of a shoulder roll over that shoulder."
Babs got it. She held on to the offending leg and dropped her weight as if she were about to roll, and suddenly Cold Star was flying over her. She landed on the mats with a tremendous "slap", and for a moment Babs was worried she might have hurt something, but the Bat-Pony was back on her hooves in an instant wearing the widest smile any of them had ever seen on her face.
"Excellent, both of you. That is what we call a 'shoulder throw'. It can be set up a number of ways, but this is a good basic self-defense technique. Squall, your turn. This time, watch what I do when he throws me. I'm going to roll in the direction I'm falling, so that I can land safely."
Squall accepted the choke, and then struggled to duplicate Babs' technique. Being an Earth-Pony had some perks when it came to this kind of thing, but Squall still managed to get the throw done. Cold Star kept her wings tightly tucked in and allowed the throw to happen, and gracefully rolled back to her feet as Squall levered her over his shoulder. Babs could see now why all the rolling practice had been so important.
Cold Star smiled as if reading her thoughts. "Imagine how much this could hurt a pony who doesn't know how to roll. Somepony who just lands on their flank is going to have a very sore back for a couple of days. To say nothing of their tail-bone or their wings, if they don't think to tuck them properly before they land. Attackers are often strong, but they are not often skilled. Use this to your advantage. Misty, your turn."
Having seen it twice, Misty was able to complete the throw without much difficulty. In fact, she seemed to take no small amount of satisfaction in attempting to dump Cold Star flat on her plot. They each threw Cold Star twice before they broke into teams - Misty and Squall on one set of mats, Cold Star and Babs on the other.
Babs had to fight to keep a giddy smile off of her face while Cold Star crouched down and let her apply the choke, feeling an incredible rush of excitement as she slowly slid down over her shoulder to land on the mat. Cold Star's next throw was much quicker; one moment she was holding on to the Bat-Mare's neck, and then she was suddenly sailing over Cold Star's shoulder, rolling, and coming back to her hooves. It felt dangerous and exhilarating. It was everything Babs had been waiting for.
After they had thrown each other a couple of times, Cold Star started explaining the finer points of the choke itself, teaching Babs how to apply it right under the chin, and to press her own head against the other pony's mane to avoid being struck in the face by a desperate hoof or wing. Babs soaked it up like a sponge, and soon Cold Star's breath came out in a wheeze the moment Babs snugged up on her choke.
While they practised, Cold Star kept them faced towards the other two, watching their progress. Squall seemed to do alright. He was obviously listening to Cold Star's instructions to Babs, because each time he applied his choke to Misty's neck she had a harder and harder time throwing him off. Babs could see she was getting frustrated, especially since Squall was able to throw her off each time seemingly without effort.
It was right about then that the accident happened.
Babs didn't see what went on. She was on Cold Star's back with her head strategically buried in Cold Star's mane when she heard someone hit the ground hard. Somewhere in front of them Squall let out muffled cry.
Cold Star tapped her legs. "Babs, let go."
Babs didn't have to be told twice. She dropped back to the floor and looked for Squall. He was lying on the mat in front of them, with one of his wings clutched to his chest. There were tears welling up in his eyes, and his teeth were clenched, his breath coming in heavy sobs.
Misty was standing over him, her mouth open and her face pale. "I... I didn't mean to...."
Cold Star was already crouching next to Squall, her steady hooves holding him still. "Squall, are you alright?"
Squall's eyes went wide. He scooted himself back and scrambled to his hooves. "It... it's fine. I just... I landed wrong. Bent my wing funny." He took another couple of deep breaths, and a tear fell down his cheek. "I'll... I'll just go flap it off. It's fine."
With that, he turned and ran for the stairs. Cold Star moved to catch him, but then seemed to think better of it, allowing Squall to make good his exit. The grate at the top of the cellar stairs rattled open and closed, then the clubhouse was silent for a long moment.
Cold Star looked at Misty, who still looked stunned. "Would you care to explain what happened?"
Misty seemed to come back to herself, and stared down at the floor. "Like he said. He landed wrong. Or maybe I threw him wrong. I don't know. I'm sorry."
For some reason, Cold Star didn't seem satisfied with that answer. She stepped forward and loomed over Misty, glaring down at her. "I doubt there is any maybe about it. You hurt him on purpose."
Misty looked up in shock. "No! It was an accident. He said he fell wrong..."
"He fell wrong because you cheated on the drill. I saw your horn flicker. You used a spell to compensate for your lack of technique. And now you have hurt Squall. Worse, you tried to blame him for it. Do you not feel ashamed?"
Tears began to pool in Misty's eyes. "It was an accident, I swear!"
Cold Star's reply was icy, and quiet. "Lies in the training hall are a crime against your master and your classmates, Misty Morning. And you have seen what I do to criminals. Is that what I must do, to have an honest answer from you?"
Misty's face went pale, and with good reason. Cold Star's wings were spreading, casting a black shadow across the little blue unicorn. Babs could see her fangs were bared, and she could see the terror in Misty's eyes as the Bat pony took a menacing step forward. Misty began backing away, but quickly found herself pressed up against the wall.
Cold Star showed no mercy. "Well? Have you nothing to say for yourself?"
But Misty seemed to have lost the ability to answer. She cowered by the wall, terrified beyond words, still staring up at Cold Star's fangs. Not knowing what else to do, Babs galloped over to place herself between them.
"Hey, what gives? She said she was sorry." Babs met Cold Star's chilling gaze with as much indignation as she could muster, and managed not to back down. "What's gotten into you?"
Cold Star scowled at her. "Misty has hurt Squall deliberately, and then compounded that mistake by lying about it. I will not tolerate such behaviour."
Babs looked down at Misty, who was shaking with fright, and then back up at Cold Star. "Don't you think you're bein' a little extreme?"
"She should be ashamed to cower so, in the face of a just accusation."
"She ain't afraid of justice. She's afraid of you."
Cold Star stopped her advance, looking down at Babs in confusion.
Babs held her ground, Cold Star's pause giving her a bit of courage. "Remember? Canterlot? Ease up with the fangs, will you?"
It took a moment for a look of realization to come over Cold Star's face. When it did, she abruptly turned away, heading towards the stairs herself. When she reached them, she looked over her shoulder. "It seems we have all done enough for one night. I need to go patrol. I will see you both next week."
She pulled her disguise from its peg as she passed, not pausing long enough for Babs to formulate a response. Cold Star was up the stairs and gone before Babs could call after her, and the words died in her throat as she heard the grate rattle closed behind the departing Crusader.
She heard Misty getting up, and she looked over her shoulder to find Misty wiping at her face and sniffling. Babs couldn't tell if she was more scared or more angry.
"You okay?"
Misty just glared at her for a moment, and then headed towards the door. "I don't want to talk about it. I'll see you at school."
And a moment later, Babs was standing alone in their cellar clubhouse. Not knowing what else to do, she stacked up the mats and went home, worrying all the while what this would mean for their meeting next week. It was a long walk, and she must have landed wrong because her flank was sore for most of the trip. Fortunately, by the time she got home she'd managed to walk it off. She hoped that whatever had happened to Squall, he'd been able to do the same.