//------------------------------// // Fathery Advice // Story: League of Bronies // by darkironpony //------------------------------// Author's Note: I want to issue a thank you to Subtle Rampage for editing this chapter. You rock man. [Golden Horseshoes's P.O.V.] "One more time," I panted, hitting the heavy bag in a gym right by where the tournament was being held. "Goldie, why are you still here?" I heard someone say from behind me. "I need to make sure I am ready for my match, Bass", I replied continuing to pound the bag. "Why are you training so much?" he asked confused by my training schedule. "Long story," I replied quickly. "I got time," Bass said stubbornly. I realized he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. "Just let me finish here. I promise I will tell you after," I said never taking my eyes off the heavy bag. I wanted him to go, to leave me alone. "Fine. I’ll be waiting outside," Bass said exiting the area. "Now, where was I?" I said to myself trying to refocus on my quick training. [Ten minutes Outside.] "I learned later he always had dreamed to win the tournament. My mother told me years back. The day I found out I vowed I would take his dream as my own and make it a reality," I explained, awaiting Bass's response. "Wow. So your dad, huh?" he asked dumbfounded. He didn’t expect a response like that from a somepony like me. "Wow? That's it?" I asked equally dumbfounded by his response. "Wow. I don't know how else to say it," he responded breathlessly. Before I could press the matter further I heard the announcer call for the unarmed division to begin. "We better get going," Bass said smiling. I was placed in the last match of the day. Bass fought and won his match. After Bass was finished he sat with me to pass the time. [Thirty minutes later.] "Wish me luck," I told Bass, as I headed for the ring. Bass gave me a fake look of disappointment,"But that would be unfair for the other guy." "See you after I win," I tell Bass over my shoulder not bothering to turn around to face him. I headed to the ring to find my opponent is bigger than me. He has a bright yellow coat. His mane is white and two streaks of his mane fall down in front of his face. They are parellel to one another. His eyes were a pale brown. His face held a blank expression. He saw me, yet didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I felt irked. He can’t THAT good...can he? "Alright folks. It is time for the final bout of the evening!" the announcer tried to pump up the crowd. "Who will move on to the next round? the great boxing stallion from Fillydelphia?" the announcer said gesturing towards me. "Or the Deadly Dancer himself Dawn Sundial?" the announcer continued now pointing to my opponent. We locked eyes ignoring the announcer's words to us until we heard our signal. "Go!" [Sorry I couldn't resist!] I swung a quick right jab to his head to start the match. He evaded me by sliding his entire body to the left of my blow. This guy is going to be slippery. I threw a quick right hook only to realize my opponent was up in the air attacking my head with his left hind leg. My head and his leg collided with a *crack*. By the time I realized it, I was already on the floor reeling in pain. I close my eyes in agony holding my head. My eyes being closed didn’t prevent my opponent from continuing his attack. I didn’t see his attacks but I felt my body being attacked by a barrage of blows. I felt my hooves leave the ground. My body was ravaged by a series of hoofblows right to my ribcage. I got pulled forward only to be hit back down, slamming into the ring’s floor. I feel my chest slowly rise and fall. I no longer felt an attack. "Seven!" I hear the announcer yell. When I heard this, I attempted to drag myself out of the crater made by my impact, and I could tell some of my ribs were broken "Eight!" he calls. I begin to push force into my hooves starting to force my body to rise. I ignored the pain as I continued pushing. "Nine!" he says as my body finallymanages to rise. As it finishs its ascension back to the world of the standing I open my eyes. I see my opponent isn' five feet away. He wanted to make sure he finished the job this time. Too bad I won't give you the chance. I spring forward swinging quick jabs to the head and body. His body makes unfamiliar shapes of itself. He manages to evade each blow and counter with a soft blow of his own. Damn it! He evades all attacks, and he doesn't have any weakness! What do I do? That is when I heard my father's voice talks to me; Just because your opponent doesn't seem like they have a weakness doesn't mean they don't . That’s when I noticed something. My opponent was beginning to sweat. And I saw his chest rise and fall roughly. He was tired. That is his weakness. I just have to tire him out. But I am already banged up I can't afford to get hit. I'll just have to make sure I hit him harder. It is not about how hard you hit. It is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. ow much you can take and keep moving forward. That is how winning is done. I tightened my hooves and focused on my opponent. ‘I'll win dad. I promise you I will win!’ I go forward and try attacking Dawn but he dodges my blows again and lands many of his own. It feels like hours we repeat this same routine. I felt his attacks slowly but surely lose their strength and speed. I couldn’t take many more hits...my bones were all starting to shatter. My chance arose after a few minutes of painstakingly long minutes. Dawn attempted his knock out kick to my head, I ducked. Dawn raised his brows in surprise as I rose with a right uppercut to his chin. I witnessed Dawn's eyes go blank as he flew through the air and connected with the ring's floor. "I did it," I mutter happily. I hear the announced declare me the winner and then I feel myself join my former opponent on the floor. Well done. I am so proud of you son.