Quoth the Raven: Into the Light

by LordLycaon


Vengeful Thunder, Ducking Shadows, Part 1

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except the ones that sang the best.” - Henry van Dyke

-o-

It took a real effort for Swirling to pull herself out of bed this morning. She couldn’t bring herself to go to sleep after her nightly rounds, so she spent a good chunk of time working on her art. With ‘Rebirth’ finished, she was finally able to focus on other works. If she had any, that is. If she had done her math right (and she wasn’t really the greatest at math, if she was being honest), she got exactly zero hours of sleep last night.

To make matters worse, Summer had apparently decided to take a day off from work, so now she had to cover for her unicorn friend, leading to a double shift. That meant twice the yelling from Lou, and less time to herself.

So when she finally stumbled through her apartment doorway, all she wanted to do was flop onto her bed and try to catch up on all of that loveable sleep she’d been missing out on. Tossing her saddlebags onto the small coffee table, she lurched into her bedroom and smiled wide at the cushiony goodness that was her bed.

‘You know, we should head—’ Nevermore started.

“Not for all the art supplies in the world, Nevermore,” Swirling said as she undid the hair tie in her mane. “I’m laying on my bed and forgetting this day ever happened. I never want to see another basket of cheesy celery sticks again in my life.”

‘Or until you go to work tomorrow.’

“Don’t remind me!” She flopped onto her bed, the  furniture creaking under her weight. She reached up and grabbed one of her pillows and nuzzled deeply into it. “Mm, pillow, how I’ve missed you so.”

‘I feel nauseous…’

Ignoring him, she gave a content sigh. There was nothing that was going to get her out of bed now she was in it.

Except for the knock at her door.

“Swirl! Are you home? It’s me, Summer.” The knock came again, louder this time. “Come on, open up!”

Swirling gave the flattest, most hostile glare she could possibly give.

‘Summer Streams… why?’

Nevermore’s derisive snickering only made her grumble that much more as she rolled out of bed and headed for the door, grumbling to herself all the way. When she opened the door, she glared at a surprised Summer Streams and said, “What?”

Summer looked at her friend’s disheveled state before giving her a faint smile. “I wanted to apologize for having my shift dropped on you. Page and I went to see a show and have lunch at this really nice, super authentic Chineighse restaurant, and…” She trailed off as Swirling’s glare steadily intensified, then cleared her throat. “Right. Look, I’m sorry. I owe you. Is there anything I could do to pay you back?”

“You could let me get some sleep,” the pegasus grunted irritably.

Giggling, the unicorn said, “Seriously, Swirl, if there’s anything you need, just let me know. I’d even model for a painting, if you wanted.”

Swirling sighed, her shoulders slumping. She was too tired to argue at this point. “Maybe some other time, Summer. But right now, all I want is some sleep.”

Summer smiled wider as she levitated a couple of paper bags from her saddlebags. That was when the smell of sauteed greens hit Swirling’s nostrils and caused her stomach to rumble. “Then what am I supposed to do with all of this extra food from the restaurant Page took me to? I can’t very well eat all of it all by myself.”

“Is that… Chineighse food?” Swirling asked in a whisper of a voice.

Summer’s smile beamed. “You know it. And I even got some extra of that General Hoof’s asparagus you like so much.”

The eternal debate of food versus sleep ran through her mind, but a louder grumble from her stomach settled it. ‘Sleep is for the weak,’ she told herself. “Fine, come on in. And you’d better have brought me an extra fortune cookie!”

Staying up to eat take out with Summer proved to be a worthwhile experience. Her best friend knew exactly what she liked, and had made sure there was plenty to go around. While she had been irritated with her when she took this day off without her initial knowledge, she knew her friend hadn’t done it out of spite or anything. Even so, sixteen hours with Lou and that grease hole he called a restaurant warranted at least some teasing in return.

“So, when’s he gonna pop the big question?” she asked just as Summer was taking a sip from her cup of soda. The unicorn spit out her drink, coughing and pounding her chest with a hoof while Swirling laughed.

“W-w-well, I, uh…” Summer’s stammering only made Swirling laugh even harder. “That’s a really huge question to ask, don’t you think? Besides, I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of commitment just yet. Page, either.”

Her laughter dying slightly, Swirling wiped her eye with a hoof. “Relax. I’m just messing with you. It’s not like I expect to hear wedding bells anytime soon.”

Summer hummed before floating a paper towel over to clean up her spilled soda. “So, are you ready to start our classes tomorrow?”

Swirling blinked. “Classes? What classes?”

“Our self-defense classes, Swirl,” Summer said as she tossed the paper towel into the nearby trash can. “Don’t you remember? We were going to take them after that mugging we went through in the park.”

Swirling lowered her head. She vaguely remembered Summer mentioning something like that, but she’d blown it off as just another thing that Summer would start and forget about the next day. The memory of when they got mugged flashed through her mind. It was one of those days where she wished she could’ve used the Raven form to beat the snot out of those thugs, but explaining it (and asking Summer to keep it a secret) wouldn’t have been easy.

“I think I remember you saying something about that,” she finally said, looking at her friend again. “I guess I just forgot about it.”

A wide smile spread across Summer’s face. “Well, lucky for you, I remembered. And I signed you up, too. Just think! We can learn to protect ourselves and show those no-good bullies who’s boss!”

‘And be more efficient at your night job,’ Nevermore added.

An eyebrow shot up as she regarded her friend. “I never really pictured you as the fighting type, Summer. Are you sure you want to do it?”

Summer nodded once. “Yes, I definitely do. I don’t want to feel that hopeless and helpless ever again, Swirl.” She averted her gaze. “I was so scared that we could’ve been hurt. I don’t want to be in that situation more than once if I can help it.” She looked back up and her smile returned. “And we get to learn together! That’ll make it so much more fun!”

Swirling stifled a yawn that threatened to overtake her. “When does it start?”

“Tomorrow, after work. I made sure to take the classes where we both can be there.” She looked over at her saddlebags and a sheet of paper floated over to Swirling. “Master Kyoshi said he could work around our job schedules and everything.”

“Kyoshi?” Swirling asked.

“He’s the instructor,” Summer explained. “And he’s old. Seriously, he’s, like, the oldest pegasus I’ve ever met, but when I saw him before I introduced myself, he was breaking cinderblocks with his wing!”

Swirling blinked at that. “Wait, his wing?” Summer nodded, and Swirling glanced her own wings, fluttering them lightly and briefly wondering if she could possibly do the same thing without her Raven powers.

‘Probably not,’ said Nevermore.

Rolling her eyes without Summer noticing, Swirling said, “I think I’ll believe when I see it. This does sound promising, though.”

Summer harrumphed, turning her nose. “Always so cynical.” She gave her friend a wink. “Just you wait. You’ll be just as excited as I am, Swirl. Trust me, we’ll never have to worry about thugs like those guys in the park ever again!”

-o-

The sunlight briefly blinded Jolt’s eyes as he was escorted outside of the jail he’d been locked up in for the past two months. He had no idea why he’d been released. One of the guards had mentioned something about his bail being paid, but he hadn’t really been paying attention. All he really cared about was getting back at that freak nag that got him thrown in there in the first place.

As he passed the last gate to freedom, one of the guards gave him a final shove, knocking him a few feet forward. Jolt turned back for a moment, giving the guards a glare before turning away from them.

‘All right, first thing’s first,’ he told himself. ‘Gotta get to the nearest Red hideout. Get some gear, then go on a bird hunt.’ He nodded, starting down the road toward the city of Manehattan.

Behind him, however, he heard the sound of hooves hitting the ground, and spun to see a closed, black carriage being pulled by a pair of stallions. They stopped after just passing him, and the door to the carriage opened.

“Jolt, I presume?” came a voice that would’ve been comparable to a snake’s if a snake could talk.

Reluctantly, Jolt said, “Who wants to know?”

“The stallion who paid your bail,” the voice answered. “Come inside. I want to talk with you.”

Jolt blinked at the revelation given to him. “You paid my bail? Why’d you do that?”

“Step inside, and I’ll explain everything.”

For a moment, the stallion considered just walking away. It’d probably be for the better. He had no idea what to expect from this stranger. For all he knew, this guy could be some wannabe crime boss looking to thin the competition. Then again, Jolt was already in prison; why pay bail for a pony who wouldn’t have been in the way just to kill him off?

Hesitant at first, Jolt climbed into the dark carriage, closing the door behind him and taking a seat. As soon as he made himself comfortable, the ponies out front moved, pulling the carriage along.

“So,” Jolt began, looking at the stallion sitting across from him. “What’s this all about?”

The stallion sitting opposite to Jolt was quiet for a several moments. His expression was unreadable, hidden behind a cloth mask that had only a small slit for his eyes. He was fairly fit, though not particularly muscular. After a few seconds, he finally spoke: “We have a common enemy, Jolt. The mare who’s ruining my organization is the same one who put you behind bars.”

A scowl quickly formed on the gray stallion’s face. “The Raven,” he bitterly muttered.

The masked stallion nodded. “That’s right. None of my subordinates have the gumption or the sheer luck to take her out of the picture, but you have potential.” He reached under his seat, pulling out a large duffel bag and unzipping it for Jolt to see its contents. The white-maned stallion’s jaw lowered slightly at what he saw.

“With these,” said the masked pony, “the Raven won’t stand a chance. I’m even willing to pay you for your troubles if necessary.”

Jolt looked back at the stallion again. “How much?”

The masked stallion’s eyes narrowed. “Twenty thousand up front. A hundred grand if you kill her, and an extra thirty if you bring her in alive for me to finish her myself.”

Jolt’s hooves shook as he lifted the items from the duffel bag. He had heard about these things before, they were supposed to be the latest thing in magically enhanced weapons for earth ponies. But since they were a recent innovation, they were unfairly expensive, and usually reserved for the military or especially important ponies’ bodyguards.

“Consider these a gift in good faith,” the unnamed stallion stated.

Jolt glanced back up at his mysterious new acquaintance, somewhat suspicious, but no longer caring to ask questions, save for one: “Who are you, by the way?”

The stallion was quiet again for a number of seconds before saying, “For now, just call me the Benefactor.”

-o-

Swirling followed behind Summer as the unicorn lead her down the path towards one of the strangest buildings she had ever seen. While she had seen pictures of Neighponese buildings before, she hadn’t thought to visit one herself. The oddly slanting roof and thick shingles, combined with the thin walls and painted designs was so out of place for the metropolitan city of Manehatten that she almost felt she had stepped out of Equestria itself.

“You’re sure this is the place, Summer?” she asked, shifting her gym bag on her back.

Summer glanced over her shoulder at her. “Of course it is, Swirl. I don’t get lost.” The unicorn adjusted the sweatband on her brow and flipped her mane as it hung loosely behind her head in a ponytail. “Come on already, we’re almost late for our first class.”

Swirling grumbled and flapped her wings to catch up with the cantering Summer Streams. “So you’re really dead set on learning how to fight?” She shook her head, and pushed her own sweatband back up as it fell over her eyes. “It just kind of a surprise coming from you.”

“I told you my reasons, Swirl,” Summer said as she pushed open the small gate to the property. “And yes, I do want to learn.”

‘Now if only you would take a hint from her enthusiasm and act the same way. Maybe you wouldn’t mess up as often as you do if you got practical lessons.’

Swirling shut him out as she looked over the lawn in front of the building. Her eyes drifted to the cherry blossom tree; it was in full bloom, pink petals blanketing its branches as it stood over a carefully made rock garden. There was a collection of bonsai trees off to the right as well, each one clipped uniquely and set with the utmost care. The whole area had a calming air about it, with a cool breeze coming through as well.

“Wow,” Swirling said to herself as she took in her surroundings. “Who knew a place like this was in Manehattan?”

Summer beamed. “I know, right? It’s amazing.” She grabbed ahold of Swirling’s foreleg and tugged her towards the building. “Come on, come on! We can enjoy the scenery during our break.”

Swirling nearly stumbled as she was pulled along. To make matters worse, Summer ignored her protests that she could walk on her own. How she managed to not trip over the wooden stairs and faceplant into the boards was a complete mystery.

The thin door was slid aside by Summer’s magic, and Swirling was treated to a sight of the dojo’s interior. Along the walls were many signs with artwork depicting warriors fighting monsters and scenes of nature (waves, mountains, and the like) on them, the floors were covered in training mats, and there were even a few training dummies standing silently along the wall.

Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath as she caught sight of a large painting along the far wall. Bursting past Summer, she ran to the wall and studied the painting.

“Ohmygosh, ohmygosh! This is Neighponese watercoloring!” Her eyes sparkled as she looked over the image of a tall mountain overlooking a picturesque lake during a gorgeous sunset. “I’ve only seen a few of these, and this one is so marvelously detailed that only a master could’ve painted it!”

“Uh… Swirling, we are here to learn how to defend ourselves, remember?” Suddenly, Summer felt something whack the back of her head, making her hiss in pain as she rubbed where she’d been struck.

“There is no reason one cannot appreciate the liberal arts,” said an old pegasus stallion, a wooden sword held in his hoof, undoubtedly the item that had hit Summer on the head. He had a fairly strong accent, though his mastery of Equestrian seemed spot on. His coat was a dark shade of orange, with a silvery gray mane and a cutie mark of a Neighponese sword. He had a long beard on his chin, accompanied by a thin mustache above his upper lip and the most monstrous-looking eyebrows Swirling Line had ever seen in her life.

Swirling felt somewhat unnerved as the old stallion’s dark, aged eyes fell on her. He approached her, eyeing her analytically before looking up at the painting. “You appreciate art, I assume?”

“Er, y-yes,” she answered. “I’m looking to be a career artist at some point.”

“I see,” the stallion said in a cool tone. “Perhaps, if you are willing to stay after classes, I can teach you the art of watercolor.”

“Wait, teach me?” Swirling blinked as a thought clicked in her mind. “Did you make this painting?” At the stallion’s nod, she beamed excitedly. “Ohmygosh, that would be amazing! I’ve always wanted to learn how to do Neighponese watercolor! When can we—” A wooden sword quickly fell on her head, making her squeal as she backed off to rub at where the stallion had whacked her.

“First lesson of self-defense,” he said, his voice much more stern than before. “You must learn self-control. You have already failed the first test.”

“I… what?”

Another whack on her head. “Do not question your sensei unless asked to!”

“Um… excuse me, Kyoshi?” Summer said, tapping the stallion’s shoulder. “Could you please stop hitting my friend? She’s just a little enthusiastic about art.”

The stallion, Kyoshi, scoffed. “That is no excuse. She must learn discipline as all my students shall. If she cannot control herself, my teachings will mean nothing to her, and I will have wasted my time!”

‘I like his practicality,’ Nevermore confessed.

Swirling rolled her eyes at her partner’s comment. She wanted to say something, but didn’t want to risk getting smacked by the old stallion’s wooden sword again. This Kyoshi guy was certainly not going to make this easy for her. He probably even lied about those watercolor lessons, too. Would this whole “learning karate” thing even be worth it in the end?

Summer’s gaze darted to Swirling before she looked back at the old stallion. “Your flyer said you can teach us how to defend ourselves. Are you just gonna hit us with sticks if we don’t do as you say?”

He turned a disapproving frown her way. “Of course not! My teachings are to instill confidence. They are for those who would seek to better themselves, to rise above the mire of the everyday and improve their Self.”

Swirling tilted her head and dared a question. “Their Self?”

“A lesson if you are to become my students.” He looked between them for a moment, scrutinizing them rather coldly. “And who are the two of you who have sought me out?”

Summer gave him a bring smile. “I’m Summer Streams, a waitress and aspiring actress.”

“I’m Swirling Line, a waitress and an aspiring artist.”

“Hmph. That much I have reasoned, child.” Again, he looked at them, and his eyes narrowed some. “And why have you sought me out? To learn my ways so that you can use them to further your own ambitions?”

The two shook their heads but Swirling spoke up, “No. We just want to learn to defend ourselves.” She flinched as Kyoshi moved, fearing the prospect of getting whacked on the head again. Instead, he simply turned and sat down on the floor beneath the watercolor painting.

Summer lowered her gaze. “We were mugged not long ago, and I don’t want to go through that again.”

The old pegasus nodded in understanding, though he didn’t lose his stern glare. “Many have already come for my lessons,” he said. “I have taken many students in my life. Few can stand to last through my training. Do you believe you have what it takes to endure?”

‘He’s bluffing,’ came Nevermore’s inevitable two bits.

Resisting the urge to groan in response, Swirling stepped forward. “We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we could handle it.” She jabbed lightly at Summer’s side. “Besides, this was her idea. Someone has to make sure she doesn’t goof it up or chicken out.”

“Speak for yourself, Swirl,” Summer replied with a smirk. “I plan to see this thing through. You’re welcome to call it quits anytime, though.”

Swirling grinned at the unicorn. “Well, now that you’ve said that, I simply can’t back down from this, can I?”

Kyoshi stroked at his beard thoughtfully as he regarded the two. “A pair of close friends? Something to be admired and nurtured.” He rested his hoof to the floor again before his visage turned stern once more. “I would like to see what the two of you are capable of.”

“W-what do you want us to do?” Swirling stuttered. There was something in his tone that set her hackles to rising.

“I would have you spar against me.”

The two mares blinked at his statement and glanced at each other, Summer appearing considerably more nervous than Swirling. He clearly didn’t stutter, but…

“Really?” Swirling asked. “I mean, I get that you’re a karate master and all, but you’re… well…”

“Old?” Kyoshi finished for her. “True. But looks can be deceptive. Do not let your eyes fool you.”

Again the two mares shared a look before Summer sighed and stood. “I’ll go first.”

Swirling blinked and looked at her friend. She never once thought that the unicorn would be so bold as to willingly step up to fight.

‘Again, you could learn something from her.’

‘If I could, I would slap you.’

Kyoshi looked the unicorn over a moment before he stood and adopted an upright stance. Standing on his hind legs, he made a motion with a forehoof.

Sweating, Summer gulped. “C-can I use my magic?”

“You are a unicorn, are you not?”

She spread her forelegs in a stance, and her horn started to glow with its blue-tinted aura. The two stood staring at each other, Summer sweating and clearly on edge, while Kyoshi watched her with a calm gaze. Swirling saw her friend tense up before Summer shot a ray of energy from her horn.

Kyoshi dodged to the side and leaped ahead, bringing his wooden sword out in a slash. Summer yelped and dived out of the way and turned back to blast him again… only to find he was gone.

“Huh?”

Swirling winced as the wooden sword smacked her friend on the back of the head, as the pegasus had leaped with Summer and landed behind her. With a grunt, Summer fell to the floor and rubbed at her head.

“A unicorn who relies solely upon their magical abilities is a foe easily predicted. You, child, must learn to use all of what you were born with.” He tapped his sword against her legs and barrel. “Your body is as much a weapon as your magic, and, sadly, you have not developed either.”

Summer lowered her head. “I want to learn…”

“That is good.” He turned his gaze to Swirling. “And now you, child. As a pegasus, I expect agility and precision.” He again took his stance, his wooden sword held behind him.

“Well, I am an artist,” she joked. “I’m pretty good with that precision thing.”

Kyoshi only scoffed in response. “We shall see, child.” Without warning, he lunged at her.

Yelping in surprise, Swirling managed to jump in the air, avoiding a swing from the stallion’s practice weapon, only for him to follow her with a rising, vertical swipe. She flew to the side, but the sword clipped her wing, throwing her balance off and making her tumble into the floor, landing upside-down with a groan.

“Ouch…” she moaned as she pulled herself up into a sitting position, but was quickly faced with the tip of Kyoshi’s wooden weapon. “Uh… best two out of three?”

“You deflect a loss with humor,” Kyoshi commented as he put his weapon away. “A sign of one who has faced failure many times before. And you move as though you have fought previously, though without discipline or training.”

Swirling gave a nervous chuckle at that. “R-really? That so?”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow at her stammered question, but didn’t press the subject, much to Swirling’s immense relief. The last thing she needed was this guy piecing together just how she knew how to fight.

‘Less like fighting, more like… flailing helplessly and getting a lucky hit in once or twice.’

‘I hate you.’

“I will take the two of you on as my students,” Kyoshi announced. “I expect you both to take all of my teachings as seriously as you regard your own chosen professions.” He reached into a chest in the corner of the room, and pulled out a pair of well-folded karate uniforms. “Take these gis. You are to wear them whenever you come to this dojo. Do not enter unless you have them on. Am I understood?”

Taking the uniforms, both mares nodded. ‘A gi, huh?’ Swirling thought. ‘I was wondering what these things were actually called.’

A giggle caused her to turn to see Summer Streams already wiggling into her gi, the clean, white outfit seeming to make her vibrant green mane that much brighter. When she got it on and tied the white belt in place with her magic, she immediately struck a pose that might’ve been ripped from some movie she must’ve seen.

“How do I look?” the unicorn asked as she performed several faux kicks, which Kyoshi rolled his eyes at, though he made no attempt to stop her.

“Like someone from a cheap chop-chop movie.” Swirling deadpanned.

Summer glowered at her. “You’re not funny, Swirling!” She gave her mane an indignant toss. “I make this look good.”

Swirling gave a good-humored laugh. “Come on, Bruce Neigh. I think we’ve taken up enough of Kyoshi’s time for—”

“Nonsense! Your training begins now!”

Both mares blinked before giving each other a nervous glance. “Uh, what do you want us to do?”

He turned without a word into the next room and came back shortly with two cans of paint. Two old paintbrushes sticking out from under the caps. “You both will begin your training by—” He flicked the lids off. “—painting the fence that surrounds my property. Remember to do so in even strokes, both upward and downward.” He turned a stern look at Summer. “No magic either.”

“B-but…” Summer stammered out. “What does this have to do with—” She was answered with a whack to the head.

“If you wish to learn, then do as I instruct you!” he ordered with no uncertainty in his tone.

Swirling watched Summer rub at her head with a nervous look.  “So… when do you want us to start?”

He turned his glance to her and gave his wooden sword a bounce. “Why are you still here? Go!”

With matching squeaks, the two grabbed the buckets of paint and dashed out of the dojo, nearly tripping over each other in their haste.

As the two ran, Kyoshi watched them from his doorway, eyeing the two while softly rubbing at his beard. Swirling Line did seem to have experience fighting, although minimal, and her friend even less. Still, there was potential in them both. His eyes settled on Swirling as she began working almost frantically on the fence.

“A most interesting encounter.” He rubbed at his beard again, humming to himself. “Yes, they will make excellent pupils.”

-o-

Hours had passed at a dismal crawl while Swirling and Summer worked on the fence, the sun having set about a half an hour ago. Summer occasionally crinkled her nose at the smell of the paint, which got a small laugh out of Swirling, though the novelty of it wore out rather quickly. Boredom had begun to take root in both of them. Even Swirling, the one who enjoyed painting more than anything else, couldn’t ignore the mind-numbing tedium that they were being forced to work through.

With a groan, the pegasus lowered her brush into the paint bucket and looked around. To her dismay, they still had at least half the fence to paint completely. It was enough to make her want to slam her head into a wall in hope something entertaining would happen as a result.

She glanced back at Kyoshi, who sat by the koi pond drinking what might’ve been herbal tea or something. She fought off the desire to yell at him to paint his own damn fence, but dared not risk another smack with that accursed sword of his. When he looked at her, she quickly turned her attention back to the fence and continued painting.

“We are officially learning nothing,” Summer complained, though she didn’t stop her own painting. “I’m starting to think this was a bad idea after all.”

“You’re telling me.” Swirling stretched her back, which gave off a series of wince-inducing pops. “Ow… my back.”

Summer cringed. “That hurt me, Swirling.”

Swirling groaned, looking around the property, lit by a number of paper lanterns. “I just wish I knew the point of this! I thought we came here to learn how to fight, and all we’re doing is chores. Next thing he’s going to ask us to do is his laundry.”

“Which you will not get to if that fence is not done!” Kyoshi yelled from his comfortable seat. “Remember, even strokes upwards and downwards.”

An eye twitching, Swirling growled. “I do not like this guy.”

Summer gulped and picked up her brush again. “Come on, Swirling. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can take a break. Maybe this is just part of the payment for his classes?”

Swirling scoffed, but said nothing else as she got back to work. The very instant her brush touched the fence, however, an explosion rang out from what was certainly not too far away. Both mares jumped back in surprise, while Kyoshi gave little to no response whatsoever, only continuing to sip his tea with a mildly annoyed sigh.

“Wh-wh-what was that!?” Summer sputtered out in shock.

‘Definitely trouble,’ Nevermore stated.

Swirling gave a slight nod. “I’m gonna go see what happened.”

“Wait, what!? Swirl, there could be trouble!”

“Well… someone has to tell the police what’s happening! Stay here, Summer. I’m just taking a peek!”

Not waiting to hear her friend’s protest, she took wing and flew above and past the fence. When she was out of sight, she shed her gi and hid it on a rooftop by a vent, then immediately shifted into Raven form before once again taking flight towards the source of the explosion. There, she spotted numerous ponies fleeing the scene, with one earth pony apparently laughing as a hole in a building burned.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” the stallion cackled. “Who wants some, huh!?”

Landing on a lamppost in a pose she’d seen in a comic book once, she said, “No one likes a pony who picks fights, you know.” The stallion spun to face her, his messy white mane briefly obscuring his face. His gray coat and lightning bolt cutie mark struck the mare as vaguely familiar.

“You!” he growled venomously.

“That’s me,” she answered as she tilted her head to the side. “Have we met before?”

His eyes widened before a deep scowl erupted across his face. “Wha… yes! We have!”

The Raven blinked in mild confusion.

“I’m a Red!”

She tilted her head to the other side. “You’re gonna have to be a lot more specific. I’ve beaten up a ton of you guys.” She stopped a moment. “Which is probably really literal by now.”

He choked back a growl. “You interrogated me about that racket we had on 10th Street!”

It took a moment for it to click, but when she did, she conked herself on the forehead. “Oh, now I remember you!”

The white-maned stallion grinned. “Finally, we’re getting some—”

“You were the guy who cried when I finished interrogating you!”

He cringed, snarling under his breath and glaring spitefully at the mare. “Oh, I’m gonna kill the living crap outta you!”

She smirked widely, lifting her chin at him. “I don’t think that worked out so well for you the last time you tried it.”

With an enraged yell, the stallion threw out a punch. What flew out at the Raven caught her off guard enough that probably would’ve killed her if the stallion’s aim was better. A beam of lightning-like energy blasted out of one of the gauntlets on his front hooves, which she only now took notice of. She felt the heat from the blast as it flew past her, striking a building and shattering the wall like a hammer to glass.

‘Move!’ she heard Nevermore scream at her, getting her to leap upwards just in time to avoid another blast.

“What in the heck is that!?” she shouted as she landed roughly on the ground.

The stallion smirked. “Like ‘em? They’re my new toys. They use the wearer’s internal magic to fire bolts of lightning. These babies are military grade to boot! Way better than my old ones!”

‘Line, I’d suggest taking this one seriously. I’ll work on building a defense against those weapons, but in the meantime, don’t get hit!’

‘Like I need to be told that!’ She let out a gasp as she dived beneath another zap, and ducking into the nearest shadow, hoping that she could sneak up on the lightning-throwing stallion and catch him by surprise. That plan was foiled when he tossed another bolt, brightening the area enough to force her out of what was once a shadow on the ground.

“Ha! Ain’t escaping that way again!” He smashed his hooves together and punched the ground, the arc of electricity splitting the pavement as it made its way towards her.

With another startled gasp, she dove to the side, the energy singing off the bare tip of her tail. Scrambling like a cat out of water, she dove ahead of another blast as it soared past her.

“Quit runnin’, ya wimp! Why don’t you fight me like a stallion?” He rushed in, apparently tiring of trying to hit her at range, and swung a hoof for her face.

With a high yelp, she ducked under the attack. “I’m a mare, genius!” she proclaimed as she sent her own hoof towards his face. He had no chance to dodge she landed the blow, knocking him away several feet, but he didn’t go down. The stallion glared at her with the utmost venom as he wiped a gloved hoof across his mouth.

“Tch, you even hit like one.” He sneered after spitting. “Let me tell ya somethin’, this is how you hit a stallion!” When he lunged forward again with a brutal haymaker, Swirling brought her own hoof back, and the two punches collided.

Swirling felt a tingle of pain run up her foreleg, and even with the Raven’s protection, the force of their punches was enough for her to grit her teeth to keep from outright yelling.

‘Gah! Earth ponies and their stupid super muscles! It’s not fair!’

‘You have wings, don’t you? Use them!’

‘Why am I having trouble fighting him, Nevermore!? I thought you said your magic makes me stronger!’

‘Because I’m using most of that magic to keep you safe from those gloves! Duck!’

Her eyes widened as she just barely managed to dive under a heavy swing. She sprung out from her duck and head-butted the stallion in the barrel, launching him through a nearby cart’s door.

It only took a second for him to retaliate, sending out another blast from one of his gauntlets, which struck the Raven right in the chest, forcing her off her hooves and into the concrete wall of a nearby building, collapsing the loosened bricks around her.

She felt her legs shake underneath her and her jaw clench tightly. ‘Sweet Celestia, that hurts. Nevermore, are you okay?’

The spirit groaned inside her mind. ‘Oh, sure, never better. I love the feeling of bricks raining down on me. I think I’ve had enough of this. He might have new tricks, but so do you. Use them.’

“Roger that,” Swirling muttered as she got back onto her hooves. Across the street, the stallion (whose name still managed to escape her) snarled as he pulled himself out of the wrecked cart, glowering at her spitefully. “By the way, think you can tell me your name? I can’t quite recall.”

“Wha- My name is Jolt!” he screamed furiously. “How in the hell could you forget that!? It’s only one syllable!”

“Well, you’re apparently a very forgettable pony.” She smirked. “At least you’re not the Frog.”

He blinked. “Who?”

With a flap of her wings, she closed the distance on him during that moment of confusion and slugged him across the muzzle—sending him bouncing away into a dumpster.

“Way too easy,” she said with no small amount of cockiness.

Jolt growled as he got back to his hooves, and the two turned sharply at the sounds of sirens approaching. With a scowl, he shot her a vehement glare. “This ain’t over, birdbrain! Not by a long shot!”

Smashing his front hooves together, he struck the ground and caused a brilliant explosion of light. Hissing at the sudden flash, Swirling averted her eyes, a quick surge of pain rearing up all over her body and vanishing just as quickly. When the glow subsided, she found Jolt was nowhere to be found.

“He really likes those new toys of his.” Her ears swiveled as she heard the approaching sirens and hoofsteps of the police force. “Uh-oh. Better high-tail it out of here.”

Taking off, she soared through the alleyways until she came upon the building where she’d hidden her gi. She looked around to make sure no one was watching and dropped her Raven form to return to her natural violet and white coloring. She quickly slipped into her uniform and galloped back for Kyoshi’s dojo.

“I hope Summer’s not worried about me. I did say I would be right back.”

‘I’d worry more about Kyoshi’s reaction. He never did give you permission to drop what you were doing.’

‘Oh please.  He’s my instructor, not my master. He won’t complain too much.’

-o-

Bright lights swirled around her eyes as Kyoshi sheathed his wooden sword again. “You left without permission, and left your partner to tend to the task on her own. This shows a lack of discipline that you are in desperate need of, child.”

Swirling groaned as she rubbed her hooves over the slowly developing welt on top of her head. Summer had left a few minutes ago, per Kyoshi’s request, leaving the pegasus to the questionable mercy of the old stallion, who showed more disappointment than outright frustration. All Swirling wanted right now was to go home as rest her poor head before this crazy old coot split it open like a watermelon, but no such freedom was bestowed upon her.

“As punishment,” Kyoshi said sternly, “you are to scrub the floors of the dojo until they are completely and utterly spotless. I do not want to see a single speck of dust, dirt, or grime. Am I clear?”

“B-but I have work tomorrow!” she cried in near desperation.

“You should have thought of that before sneaking off the way you did,” he retorted, pointing toward door to the hallway. “The bucket and scrub brush are in the closet down the hall. You’d best get started soon.” And with that, he turned and left her to her devices.

‘Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ said Nevermore.

‘Oh, shut up.’

-o-

Jolt growled as he tossed his gauntlets to the wall in frustration. He was so close! If the cops hadn’t shown up when they did, he would’ve had the Raven’s head on a plate by now! Not to mention he’d be rolling in cash!

“Damn bird-freak!” he howled in spite, completely assured that no one would hear him. He’d taken refuge in an old building that the Reds had once used as a hideout, assuming no one would think to look for him here. “Next time! Next time, I’ll break her in two! With my bare hooves if I have to!” Trotting over to his briefly discarded gauntlets and slipping them back on, he sneered. “And I’ll make it slow…” Sparks jumped from his gauntlets as his sneer became venomous grin.  “And I know just what to do.”

He’d have his win yet.

First, though, he’d have to find him some help.