//------------------------------// // part 1 chapter 3 practice // Story: Like a dragon equestria // by Jade Copperfield //------------------------------// The back of Fluttershy's cottage Dragon was behind the cottage where all the outdoor animals are, ranging from chicken and roosters to a few birds that can't stand enclosed spaces. He was leaning on one of the tree's thinking about what why he told that stuff to Akiyama after all he never really talked about his issues except to people he trust but what confused him was the answer. Akiyama said" I'm not a teacher but I will give you a few pointers but you will answer my questions if I have any understood". To be honest Dragon didn't truly what Akiyama meant by questions. It could be questions about Equestria and general stuff like what animals live here and what things you should avoid. But Dragon had a sinking feeling it had to do with more personal information and general stuff about changelings. Dragon stopped contemplating when he heard the back cottage door open and see Akiyama walk out along with discord and fluttershy, which was no longer wearing pajamas and instead was wearing jeans and sweater top. Fluttershy went over and started to give the now annoyingly loud squawking birds food, while discord and Akiyama continued to walk toward Dragon who was visibly flinching due to the noise. Akiyama said when he got to Dragon" So you want to start now"? raising his voice a little to be heard over the birds. Dragon replied" Yeah but not here and why is Discord with you"? Dragon was curious why he was there after all he did bring Akiyama here away from his home and besides how could the god of chaos help. " Hey am I not allowed to help, after all there's nothing chaotic or interesting happening and I did bring him here I could at least try to help". Discord said. Dragon replied" Ok fine you can come but only if you can help". Discord suddenly started contorting into a spring and began bouncing his way into the forest with little care in the world. While Dragon and Akiyama stared after him with blank expressions. Akiyama said after a good moment" Well that looked... interesting". Dragon replied" Yeah I never seen this guy but that was pretty silly and we should probably catch up". Then Dragon ran into the forest hoping not to lose Discord. While Akiyama slowly walked behind. Dragon and Akiyama found Discord in a remote clearing with odd statues around, the statues look like they are completely made out of crystal, and were faceless that had no gender or signifying marks. Discord was sitting in a tree with a angry impatient look on his as he eyed the changeling and human. Which didn't notice him due to the creepy statues in the clearing. Discord coughed under his breath which got the human and changelings attention and yelled" What took you so long"! Dragon replied" Well we kind of didn't know were you went and you move really quickly". While Dragon said this Akiyama was looking over one of the four statues fairly closely. But he stopped when the statue slowly turned it's head at Akiyama which promptly made him slowly move his head back and walk away. Discord said in a disinterested tone" Well you should have followed immediately or my signs". Dragon replied in a confused manor" What signs"? " You know those ants wearing top hats, and tuxedos drinking tea and having picnics." Discord said as he turned on the tree branch. Dragon was staring at him like he was crazy" Ok then and one question why are there creepy statues all over the place and why does Akiyama taste like fear"? Akiyama responded quickly" Because these statues move and.... wait a moment you can taste fear"? Dragon turned around and stared at Akiyama like he asked a stupid question" Yes I can taste every emotion from love to an unquenchable thirst for vengeance". And then all the statues looked at him at once and no one moved or said anything for a minute until. "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH you should look at your faces its priceless HAHAHA". Discord was laughing like a madmen, he laughed so much he didn't notice he fell from the branch. And it continued for a little longer as Dragon and Akiyama just gave each other the "You believe this look". After a while discord stopped laughing and proceeded to explain some stuff" Ok the statues are here to be training dummies that can be your sparing partner or a target, they will also hurt you if you fight them but they wont be able to cause injury and since Akiyama agreed to this he can tell them to stop to". At the end of the explanation Akiyama decided to test it" Ok can you stop staring at us". All the statues then proceeded to look everywhere but them. Dragon said" Ok that seems nice but why after all we could just spar each other". Discord replied" But dear Dragon that just wont be any fun having him hold back and this way he can give pointers as you fight". As he said this he grabbed dragon face and started messing with it similarly like a aunt messing with a baby. Dragon waved him off and said" Stop that and that does seem nice". "See everyone agrees now lets start this show on the road". Akiyama looked at them both and said" Hey I didn't get to this yet". Discord replied with" Well I don't care and besides it starts now". Right at the end Discord teleports Akiyama and himself to the edge of the clearing leaving Dragon alone with a statue moving. Dragon says" What starts no...". He didn't get the chance to finish before he felt a deep sizeable pain in his pelvic Region and him losing all his breath at once. He clutched his groin region and fell over to the ground repeatedly saying "ooooohhh". Akiyama and discord both visibly cringed and covered there eyes at dragon getting kicked in man's greatest weak spot. "Ok I think I can continue now". It has been a short time since Dragon got kicked in mans greatest weak spot, and has finally stopped clutching them along with standing up. Discord was scolded by Akiyama about having Dragon getting kicked in such a sensitive and painful area. So he made sure the statues didn't attack in that area specifically. Akiyama replied" Ok just be careful and first tip always be aware of your surroundings". Dragon got into a boxing stance and waited for the fight to start which was indicated by discord looking like a old Chinese man with a gong. Discord hit the gong, and the fight started with the statue that kicked Dragon in between the legs getting into a similar stance to Dragon and they proceeded to circle each other. Then the fight began with Dragon closing the distance with a forward dash and hit it in the stomach, he then gave it a left and right hook to the head before backing off. The statue retaliated by dashing forward with a straight punch to the face but Dragon managed to dash to the right and start pounding the statue with weak unpracticed strikes. The statue grabbed Dragon by the collar of his clothes and proceeded to through him over it's head and back first to the dirt and then finish with a mighty stomp to the chest. Dragon got up from the strikes and proceeded to wail on the statue with rapid punches that made the statue unable to retaliate instead it focused on defense and managed to block some strikes but after a few hits it's block failed and he got hit by three more punches and got hit by a powerful straight that knocked it on the floor. Dragon looked like he was glowing with a blue fire and proceeded to stomp on the statue's face along with a kick to the side of the head. The fire dissipated and the statue remained on the ground. Dragon didn't know exactly what happened he never was that good in hand to hand or really fighting in general. At least not a real fight but that fight felt real, not sparing, not training it was none of those. It was a fight for approval or acceptance and judging by the smile Akiyama has on his face it's safe to say he passed. " Congratulations it seems you know how to fight". Akiyama said with a smile on his face. Dragon catching his breath from the fight responded" Well I was a soldier I had to at least be able to fight". " I figured that but you do need improvements specifically because you don't hit that hard and you seem to have a problem with stamina". " I figured that but is there anything else that might be useful". Akiyama thought about what to say about him and told him" You need to move your legs more, block and to break out of grapples and those I would be happy to teach you". Dragon said with much relief" Thank you". Discord who wasn't butting in decided to but in and brought the beat up statue with him in his arms similarly to hold a dying friend. Discord cried" Why how could you do this to Randal he just wanted to be your friend". Dragon and Akiyama gave discord a what are you doing face simultaneously which was a blank expression. " You want to continue for a while" said Akiyama to Dragon. "Sure and besides I have nothing to do". and they proceeded to spend the rest of the day helping Dragon, but Discord had plans for tomorrow. Tomorrow Morning Dragon awoke from the couch wearing his white under shirt and black pants. He remembered when they were coming back to the cottage last night that he had some trouble breathing but that didn't affect him currently. Instead there was a bunny that Fluttershy told them about called angel and he was on Dragons chest sleeping peacefully. Dragon proceeded to do what he did last time and left couch with the bunny now on it seemingly slightly agitated as it kicked its foot a few times. Dragon went outside to see Akiyama outside smoking again. "Hello". said Dragon in a tired but generally happier mood. "Hi". said Akiyama and he added" want a smoke"? He emphasized with bringing the box closer. "No I might find myself coughing like last night". He said politely and pushed the, away. It was a few minutes of just simply standing there enjoying the sun slowly rise into the air when Dragon decided to say something. "So i guess it's goodbye". Akiyama responded with a huh until he remembered" Oh yeah i forgot he was sending me back today". "Well it was nice meeting you". Dragon reached out his hand about to do a hand shake until. Fluttershy ran outside and screamed" WHERE ARE YOU DISCORD"!