9 - Crossed Swords
Bon Bon gave a gesture that surprised Laud. She bowed as any other biped might, folding over in her two-legged stance. She fell to all fours immediately afterwards in a smooth transition. None of the motions were specifically for combat, but they spoke quite a bit to Laud. He returned the gesture, one hand folded over his chest as he did so, eyes never leaving her.
To the side, Lyra tilted her head. “You two were ready to tear each other (unknown) a (unknown, 2 words?), now you’re making nice?”
Bon Bon circled to the right. “He understands.”
Laud felt certain he did, turning with her and considering how to start the match properly. Chivalry was not what it once was, but the horse in front of him was, supposedly, a female candy maker? What life leads a candy maker to that of being a warrior? It was the wrong time to ponder that too deeply.
Bon Bon made the first move, lunging for him with hooves ready to bludgeon him as readily as two clubs. He dodged to the left and took hold of one of her legs as she went, trying to throw her off balance. She recovered athletically, performing a cartwheel as she hit the ground on one leg and coming down facing him, unhindered by his attempt. “Can you fight?” she asked.
Was that a mocking question? No, it was a goading one. She wanted him to make a move. He would not deny her. Her front seemed less dangerous than risking the buck of a horse, so he closed the distance, fists balled in readiness to attack or deflect. In a true battle, there were often other things that could distract one party or the other. It made things chaotic, gave opportunities to succeed or fail outside of raw skill. The arena they were in was mostly still. It was just them... and Spike? When had he arrived? Laud shook free the distraction before it became the factor in his defeat.
With a sudden lash, he did not attack with those fists. They were also a distraction. He kicked out at her. She didn’t expect it, her eyes fixed on his hands. He scored a satisfying thump against her side as she twisted away at the last second, but she did not crumple. She was forced back a step and winced, but seemed quite ready to continue.
Spike hissed at Lyra, calling her closer. When she came within quiet speaking range, he pointed at the two. “What happened?! Why are they fighting? Why aren’t you stopping them?!”
Lyra rolled her eyes. “You don’t know Bonnie like I know Bonnie. That look on her face, nope, no way I’m changing her mind. Besides, look at him.” She pointed at Laud’s determined expression as they circled. Bon Bon suddenly moved in, ducking under his swing to come up, hoof catching him on the chin. He gave a grunt of pain and staggered back, but recovered quickly, grim resolution returning. “They’re both into it.”
Spike shook his head slowly. “Did she say something bad? Did he? Why are they so mad at each other?”
“I’m not sure they are.” Lyra shrugged softly. “I think we’re watching the first pony versus human boxing match.”
“Wait huh?” Spike blinked softly, watching as Laud got a grip on Bon Bon from above and literally hurled her aside, but she came down on all fours and bounced back towards him. “You mean... it’s a game?”
“Yeah, I think?” Lyra’s horn glowed as the instrument on her rump came into being over her head and began to play a lively battle tune. “All I can do is be a good friend.”
“Twilight’s gonna kill me if I bring him back all beat up...” He hung his arms over the side of the fence dejectedly.
“Hey, that doesn’t look comfortable.” She lifted Spike with her magic and set him down beside herself. “May as well enjoy the show.”
Laud brought down his fists together in a haymaker, bashing Bon Bon’s exposed skull. She swayed a little, a trickle of blood seen from her mouth. Had she bit her tongue? She spun around in place all too quickly and struck with her back legs. It was just what he had been trying to avoid. He collapsed backwards under the tremendous power of those legs, breath knocked clear of him for a moment.
By the time he could move again, she was on him, one hoof raised high. “(unknown)?”
Give up? Hardly. He delivered a rapid series of strikes to her exposed belly, battering what he hoped were softer parts. He was rewarded with a startled cry of pain. She went limp, just a little, just enough for him to shove her off of himself and scramble back to his feet. Their exchange had been fierce. Both were starting to show signs of it, but neither wanted to give up yet.
Something dripped painfully into his left eye, forcing it closed. Blood? sweat? He didn’t have time to check. While she was still reeling, he went in for a brutal spinning kick. It was a flashy move. Too flashy. She was not nearly as dazed as she appeared. As he spun towards her, she ducked under the flying limb, grabbed it, both of her arms wrapped tight around it and wrenched it away from him and down. His balance could not dream of compensating. He fell towards her, at her mercy.
She let him fall. He hit the ground on all fours, and she jumped, pouncing on him. He felt her legs squeeze around his midsection as she put a forehoof at the top of his spine. “(unknown)!” She squeezed at him painfully.
It was then that he realized he had been mounted by a horse in a humiliating reversal of the usual process. She was probably telling him to get moving. He rolled over. She scrambled away before she could be pinned by him in turn and the two were soon on their feet, glaring at one another.
“You can fight,” she said, spitting a red mixture to the earth.
“You can fight,” he agreed.
Her posture softened. “(unknown)?” She extended a hoof, not in battle. It was too slow, and it just hung in the air.
Was she surrendering? Or... was she just calling it off? Would it matter which she was doing? The fight had taken a lot out of both of them. He reached out and clasped her hoof as he would a hand. She shook firmly, even if she couldn’t grasp him in return. Did the ponies have the gesture of a shake? How did that work?
Lyra came dancing over in a lively trot, her instrument left behind and Spike at her side. “All friends now?”
Bon Bon nodded. “I’m not (unknown) we’re friends, but close enough.” She shook her head. “He fights like a (unknown, a monster?).”
Spike approached Laud, looking him over. “Aw... There’s no way we’re hiding this.”
“Hide what?” asked Laud, wiping free his left eye. The motion tugged painfully on what felt like broken flesh. Red came away from the gesture. “It is not...” His limited vocabulary came to bite him again. “Thing not do because told not to.”
Lyra shook her head. “You mean a law? Nah. Two ponies want to tussle, that’s their business, mostly... Especially in their backyard.”
“Good, then nothing to hide.” Laud wanted to find a mirror to assess what damage he took in the match. He could only feel the aches and see what he had inflicted on Bon Bon, marring her pelt.
Bon Bon let out a slow breath, slumping a bit. “You made me work.”
Lyra suddenly punched Bon Bon in the shoulder. “You did that! I just wanted you two to meet and stuff. Laud, Bon Bon. Bon Bon, Laud. There. Now come on.” Her magic wrapped around Laud and tugged him towards the house. “You didn’t come here to fight my violent friend.”
“Please stop that,” he objected, trying to be polite. She released him, thankfully.The horses may wield their magic freely among themselves, that didn’t mean he wanted to be in the middle of it. “That what I want talk about.”
“What?” She looked over her shoulder. “Magic? I’m no (unknown, expert? master?), but I can try!”
They walked off together into the house, leaving Spike and Bon Bon. Bon Bon looked down at the dragon. “Hello, Spike.”
“Oh, uh... hey. So... that was... something.” He rubbed behind his head with a claw. “Could you not, uh, fight with him again?”
Bon Bon snorted, nostrils flaring. “It’s not up to you what two adults choose to do together, Spike. He’s living with you and Twilight, right?”
“Yeah. He’s kind of Twilight’s guest, you know, and she’s going to flip her lid when she hears he was in a fight.”
“Nopony was seriously hurt, in the end.” Bon Bon raised a hoof to her snout. “I’ll be sore for a while. So will he, I imagine. Is this the first fight he’s had?”
“Um, well, with us? Yeah?” He shrugged softly. “Actually, he did swing that big sword of his once.”
Bon Bon’s expression hardened into a scowl. “Was anypony hurt?”
“Nah.” He waved it off. “Maud’s tougher than that.”
That expression softened into confusion. “I know the Pies are tough, but she just shrugged off a sword?”
“Oh, not like she got sliced.” He winced at the idea of it. “She caught it.” He brought his clawhands togethers in a loud clap. “Pow, just like that.”
“And how did he react?” She circled the young dragon that had become a source of information. “Was he angry?”
He shook his head quickly and gestured where Laud and Lyra had gone. “Nah, more surprised than anything, then he put it away and that was the last time I saw it outside the thing at his belt.”
“Sheath. That is a sword sheath,” educated Bon Bon. “Good... So he isn’t... usually violent?”
“Naw.” He put up his hands placatingly. “He’s harmless. How did you even get him to fight?”
Bon Bon looked quite unconvinced at the idea of the human being harmless. “Look, Spike, be careful. If he wanted, he could hurt you, or Twilight, or anypony else really badly.”
Spike’s eyes widened a moment before they fell half-open. “Bon Bon, you realize Twilight could probably do terrible things at any moment, but she doesn’t, because that wouldn’t be her. I don’t think Laud’s a bad person. Hay, I saw how you were fighting. I bet you could do some painful things, but I’m hoping you’re not... up for that.”
Bon Bon reached up and pat him gently on the head. “I’m not going to hurt you, Spike,” she said in warm tones. “I’m sorry for scaring you. Just keep an eye open, that’s all I’m asking. We don’t know him, yet. Hopefully he’s just as good as you say.”
Lyra led her guest to her room. She set her instrument aside next to her cabinet before she hopped up onto her comfortable looking bed and turned to face Laud. “What did you want to ask? And sit down please.” She pointed to the carpet just beside the bed.
Laud sank down close to her. “What can unicorn do magic?”
“With it?”
“Yes, that.” He watched as a napkin approached, glowing with Lyra’s magic. He tried to bear her cleaning stoically, even if it stung as she dabbed and worked around his injuries. “What can unicorn do with magic?”
“Oh, (unknown, god? an expletive?), there are a lot of answers to that.” She pointed back at her rump. “Do you know what this is?”
He looked at it, the picture of a harp-like instrument. A ritual painting, a tattoo of sorts? He couldn’t say... “No.”
“This is a (unknown).” She saw his confusion and repeated the word. “Two words, (unknown) mark.” She saw some confusion remaining. “(unknown), like (unknown) with an extra ‘ee’.” She frowned then. “(unknown!) You know, something nice and... Like a kitten, or a foal?”
Oh. Cute? A cute mark? What a strange name.. “I understand.”
atreonStats
Page generated in 0.064 seconds
Total duration
1,043 users online
199,970 hits today, 2,561,572 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
The fight seemed to be of a good length. No issues there.
Acceptable.
Bon bon and Laaud get on like a collapsing barn on fire?
Had she bit - Had she bitten
damage he took - damage he’d taken
The pedant in me wants to say that it’s a scabbard when it’s sheathing a sword, but potato-potahto.
I thought the battle was described well enough in the limitations of a single chapter.
Overall a good chapter and an interesting tale. I want to see how they all avoid a tragic ending as the invading fleets of humans arrive, or not.
Before anyone else makes the silly joke...
8218033
I accept this as the canon song that was played.
I think Laud just made some friends, even if one of them won't admit it. And now it's time for a magic lecture in a language he barely understands devoid of the stigma he associates with the supernatural. This should be all kinds of interesting.
8217516
Not nearly as much property damage, though Spike certainly provided the screaming.
Remember when we didn't know that "arm" actually is a correct term for any vertebrate's forelimb? Good times. Had I known back then, I'd probably not called you on nearly as many of its uses.
Anyways, I'd probably go with "forelegs" there, but your mileage may vary since it is technically correct and she is using it in a very arm-like manner.
8218029
I looked up scabbard for fun. Its definition: a sheath for the blade of a sword or dagger, typically made of leather or metal.
So, yep, it's a sheath, a specific kind of sheath, AKA, the scabbard, but still a sheath.
Challenge met and withstood! BonBon evaluates the new ally!
I think it was better that you didn’t put too much description into the fight. Too many words can slow down the pace of the actions they are describing.