> Punch-Out
>  by Poetic Justice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Training Room*
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The sun was quickly setting behind the castle walls. Although it was a gradual change from day to night, it was definitely a much quicker transition than what you were used to on Earth. It was around this time when Celestia's Royal Guard left their post, and Luna's Night Watch would take their place. From there, most of the Royal Guard would either return to the barracks in the castle, or would take the train to see their family. However, you noticed some would hang around their post for another hour to see their friends in the other guard, and you're pretty sure you saw one pair share a kiss; every day at dusk, you made your way from your home in the tower to the training room, where the same guard waited for you. Today, you had to quickly run from the train station to the castle. Although you weren't particularly late, Royal Guard members had a particular emphasis on being punctual.

"You're late." The guard said with arms folded as you burst through the door.

"I'm sorry. There was someone that was leaving that I wanted to say good-bye to."

"That mare you won't shut up about?"

"Shut up." You respond as you put your shoulder-bag on a bench against the wall of the room.

"You know she likes you, right?"

"Shut up." You really didn't like bringing the topic of relationships up. Even back on Earth, it's something you prefer to avoid talking about. It wasn't because you had problems with women, it just made you uncomfortable.

"Who knows, maybe if you ask her out before she goes into heat, you'll get lucky with-"

The guard was quickly cut off when you tossed, or threw, a small black rod in their direction. Much to your surprise, they were able to catch it. They looked at the rod, then back to you with an expression of confusion. 

"It's called a baton. Police from my world carried them all the time in case they needed to subdue someone." You went on to explain as you pulled your shirt off, tossing it to the side of the bag. Much like the gyms from Earth, there were large mirrors on the wall. Before tossing on a new shirt, you took a moment to take in how your appearance has changed since coming to Equestria.

Back on Earth, the only sports you really participated in were mixed martial arts. When you were eight years old, you decided to do it as a result of being bullied in elementary. Unfortunately, it didn't help with the bullying at all. In an ironic twist, your classmates actually started making fun of you for that, calling you names like "Naruto".  However, you stuck with it. It took about eleven years to reach black belt. Two months after that, you decided to quit. After that, your hobbies consisted of computers and art. You wouldn't call yourself "unhealthy", but there was major room for improvement. When you first arrived in Equestria, you weighed 150lbs. Now, after four months of going to the gym to train with your friend in the Royal Guard, you're now an impressive 151.  Deciding not to dwell on it, you threw the white t-shirt on and approached the guard.

"So, if this was common on your world, why are we training with it?" The guard said as you approached him.

"Would you rather use a knife?" You ask, stopping about two feet from the guard. You look at the baton from the corner of your eye. It appears that the guard didn't figure out how to extend it. 

"You have a point." The guard says, holding the baton in an underhand fashion.

"Now, try to stab me." You say, getting into a combat stance. Your body is sideways to his, the arm closer to him is bent in his direction, while the other arm covers your chest, but shares the same shape as the extended arm.

The guard wastes little time rushing toward you. You use the arm closer to him to try to keep him back. As you extend your hand, he uses his free arm to knock it to the outside, trying to get you to turn your chest closer to him. As your arm is pushed to the outside, you try to turn your entire body with it and mimic the stance you were in. As you're turning, you swing your back hand towards the guard's head. While the guard is focused on bringing the "knife" to your chest, he completely overlooks your oncoming fist. 

You punched so hard, you had to shake your fist.

He made a complete one-eighty as you resumed your stance, just mirrored on the other side. While he was turned around, you lunge forward to put him in a full-nelson. Your arms go under his, like you're about to hug him from behind, but your hands shift up to his head, and hold their place behind his neck. His arms are stuck in the air. He tries to stab the baton behind him, looking for your head.

"Drop the knife and I let go."

He desperately tries to escape the grab, swinging his arms all around and trying to kick you. He keeps it up for a while.

"Drop the knife." You deliberately leave off the last part.

Sighing in defeat, the guard drops the baton. You kick it behind you, but you didn't kick it very hard. Your grip tightened on the guard.

"You said you'd let go!"

"I also told you to stab me."

"Buck!" The guard shouts your name. "Let me go!"

You quickly break from the hold. You half step back and bring your leg up. Before the guard could turn around, you deliver a kick to his back. Although not nearly as big as an effect the punch had, the kick did throw him off balance and caused him to take a few steps forward. Taking your chance, you slide back to where you the baton was. There was now at least thirteen feet of distance between you two as the guard turned to face you. You held the baton in your hand similar to know the guard would hold a sword.

"You're not going to get far holding the knife like that." The guard stated, getting into his own combat stance. In the guard, they teach them to stand similar to how a boxer from Earth would stand in the ring. Hand-to-Hand combat is a very rushed topic in the guard, as it was standard to have a sword, knife, and some other kind of personal defense weapon. Also the fact that there were always at least ten other guards around when there was combat. The guard held his fists a few inches from his face. His elbows jetted out at a forty-five degree angle, completely revealing his chest and stomach. It took a lot of mental strength to not laugh at how absurdly bad he butchered the stance.

"I don't plan on using a knife." You state. The guard gave you a confused look. You flick your wrist and activate the baton. Going from 4 inches, the baton extended to a full foot. The guard's eyes widened and his muscles tensed as you, quite literally, sprinted towards the guard. 

You obviously knew that running towards your target is a stupid choice in any real-life scenario. However, you saw the fear in the guard's eyes, the uncertainty in his stance, and the tense arms locked in place. About three feet from him, you quickly turn your
body sideways. The hand that was empty was the side that faced him. You brought your far leg back and stepped behind the forward leg, trying to keep the momentum up from your run. Your unarmed hand circles from your chest to your head, ready to bring down on the guard's head. The guard sees the movement and brings both arms up, making an "X" over his head. You stop your hand	just before it makes contact with his block. You pull your armed hand back and deliver it, full force, to his stomach. Instead of using the baton, you decide to use your fist. 

You pull back from the punch and into your side-stance, bouncing on the balls of your feet in case he is ready to attack you again. However, you knew full well that the fight was over. The guard held his stomach and fought for breath. You're sure that, in actual combat. he would still be fighting for his life, but in the gym, against you, he's done. 

"Y-" The guard struggled desperately for air.

"Take a moment."

"Y-You win."

Out of habit from your mixed martial art days, you bow at the guard and make your way to the bag. An unfamiliar sound stops you half way. The sound is a constant sharp tapping. You look over to the door, and see a member of the Night Watch. Judging from the armor she were wearing, how it was much more decorative than the grunts that watched the walls, they were a high rank.

"Good evening." You say as you nod your head. 

"Do all humans fight like that?" She asked.

You couldn't help but laugh to yourself. The images of people on youtube using their $75 katanas to cut through bottles of 2L soda, and the famous "Star Wars Kid" flooded your mind when she asked that question.

"No, no." You regain your composure and return your look to her. "It takes a very long time to learn how to fight like that."

"So why not be more practical and just learn basic hand to hand?" She asked.

"Most people do." You stuff the baton in your bag, then sling it over your shoulder.

"Is he going to be okay?" She asked you, her eyes focusing on the guard curled in a ball on the ground.

"I think I caught him while he was exhaling." You couldn't help but smile. "He'll be fine in a second. He's just in shock."

"If you say so..." The Night Watch pony looked concerned. You felt like you needed to prove that it wasn't that bad.

"Lance! Are you going to die?" You shout.

"Buck......you......." He chokes out.

"He's fine." You look back to the Night Watch pony as you approach the door.

"Wait, human." Normally, her calling you "human" would bother you, but you've gotten used to it. They don't mean it as an insult, they just don't know your name, and it's not like they can call you a stallion. You were about to pass her when she said that. You stop in the doorway and face her. You notice that she is much shorter than the average guards. She has to look up to meet your eyes.

"I've actually watched you fight before. It's very interesting."

"Uh...thank you." You really didn't know how to respond to that statement.

"Do you like fighting?"

That question certainly caught you off guard. You enjoyed being able to fight with friends for practice, but you weren't the type to go out and try to find people to fight.

"If it's a sport. Yes. However I try to avoid fighting outside this training room."

"Ah, are you afraid of getting injured?"

Well, considering the fact you've only stayed in Canterlot where there are guards stationed on every street corner, she wasn't entirely wrong.

"No, I'll defend myself if I need to. Your question is just very vague...I don't want to sound like I go out looking for fights."

"I understand what you mean." The Night Watch pony smiled at you.

You felt a hand on your chest. It wasn't the Watch pony's. The hand came from the training room. You look over to see Lance, although standing, he had his left hand on his stomach and he was slouched over.

"I...I'm going to bed." He said, still breathing heavily. He used the hand on your chest to push himself forward.

"Need some help?" You sincerely ask.

"N-No. I can make it." He leans against the wall and tries his best to walk on his own. Eventually, he manages to disappear behind the darkness of the hallway.

"Looks like you've lost a partner." The Night Watch pony comments.

"He'll be back tomorrow night. He's been through worse." You look back to the Night Watch pony. "Is there a reason you came by tonight?"

"I wanted to see if that guard would finally win. I guess I was wrong."  You smiled at that comment. She said it in a way that made it seem like a compliment.

"Also, Nurse Redheart asked me to get you."

"That seems a little more important than watching me and a guard fight."

"Everypony has their own priorities." She shrugged. You smiled.

"I'll go see her right now. Is she in her office."

"She is."

"Okay, thank you." The Night Watch pony turned and started down the hall.

"You never told me your name." You say.

"Lullaby." She says without turning around. "Captain Lullaby."

You would have shouted your own name back, but she disappeared behind the carpet of darkness at the end of the hallway. Either way, chances are that you won't see her again for a long while. When Night Watch guards were on castle grounds, you were asleep. Looking back to ensure that no one was in the training room, you close the doors and make your way to the infirmary.

	

	
	
> The Nurse
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	You knock on the door of the infirmary. You knew it was stupid, knocking on the door of a public clinic, but habit got the best of you. "Come in?" Someone said behind the door. You knew that voice very well, it was the same nurse that had to shove your bones back in place after the fall you took when you first arrived in Equestria. 

-X-X-X-X-X-X-

There were bandages over your eyes, you assume because with the existence of Cockatrices, and other things that can harm ponies just by looking at them, they didn't want to take any chances. Even though you were in a hospital bed, you were very restrained for the first two weeks. You were strapped down by the waist, arms, and legs. The two weeks you spent were very quiet. The only voices you heard were guards taking places watching your room, and the occasional scientist coming in to either examine your body or ask the same questions as the last. 

"What are you."

"Where are you from?"

"Where are you now?"

"Do you mean harm?"

It became systematic, just giving them the same answers every time they came in. There were times you would hear one come in, and you just gave the answers to all the questions before they were able to ask them. If you had a firm grasp on time, you could swear that multiple came in the same day. 

One day, you heard the door open, and you heard something that you haven't heard anypony say before.

"Hello."

You had to mentally close your mouth. It just caught you off guard. You assume that it was new scientist that actually cared about the things they observed. You figured once you gave it time, they'll sound like everyone else.

"My name is Nurse Redheart. They transferred me here to take care of you."

"I-...Um...Thank you."

"So, they didn't tell me your name when I came in."

"They never really asked for it." You said, almost laughing.

"I see. I apologize for the lack of empathy the staff shows here. I'll be sure to fix that over time."

You're surprised with the determination in her voice. Maybe this pony was more than some poor intern who had this dumped on her. You ponder for a moment, you've heard some of them say each other's names. They seem to be adjectives or objects, rather than the kind of names you're used to on Earth. The silence lingered in the room for a few minutes, not that you were aware of this.

"May you please tell me your name?" The nurse asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just lost in thought." You tell her your last name, and only that. 

"That's an odd name."

"Yes, well. 'Redheard' or 'Starburst' isn't exactly common."

"What kind of names are common, then?"

"Oh, I don't know. Jesse, Luke, Marc, Chris."

"Those are very odd." The nurse says again. The nuse stayed and spoke with you for, what you assume was, an hour. Questions went back and forth. Since you black out almost instantly after the fall you took, you had no idea what the people looked like, what was normal, and how things worked. 

"All-right, I think I am done here." The nurse stated after the conversation died down.

"Done? With that?" You ask.

"I had to deliver a morphine shot in your arm. Within two days, we are going to re-locate the bone back into your arm."

"Wow...I-I really didn't feel anything."

"Because you weren't expecting it."

"Thank you, nurse." You hear the door creak open. "Nurse, wait."

"Was there something else you needed?"

You took in a deep breath. There was one question you didn't get to ask.

"Be honest...I'm different here, aren't I?"

"Very much so. Why do you ask?"

"Be honest. When I get out of here....if I do....will I be experimented on?"

You heard the nurse hold back a giggle at your question. "I assure you, that won't happen."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-


You opened the door to the main room of the clinic. Nurse Redheart was the only pony in the room. Either all of the other nurses were attending to patients, or it was that slow of a day. Her face lit up when she saw you. She stood up from behind the counter to greet you. You quickly saw the bags under her eyes. The assumption that it was a slow day quickly left your mind. You hold your hand up, non-verbally telling her to stop. She gets the hint and sits back down in her chair. She rubs her eyes in her hands and looks back up to you. 

"I just got out of a 24 hour long surgery." She says.

"Geez. What happened?"

"It was supposed to be a simple heart transplant." The nurse rubbed her fingers against her temples. "I-I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, I'm sorry to bring it up. Where are the other nurses?"

"It was only me and two others today. The two of them are asleep in the break room. After an hour. I wake one of them up and we swap places until sinrise, when we can go home."

"I'm sure the pony that was under surgery will kiss the ground you walk on when they find out."

The nurse actually smiled when you said that. "That's why I still do this." She said.

"Would you like me to get you some coffee or tea?" You ask, but she was quick to wave her hand in a dismissive way.

"I don't drink coffee, I don't handle caffeine very well. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay."

"If you say so. So, why did you need to see me?"

"Oh! Right! There was a physical examination done on you while you were here a few months back. It's finally been processed and you can read it whenever you like."

You're not sure why this mattered, but you figure you might as well look it over. "Where is it?"

"I gave it to Captain Shining Armor to compare with the health of the trainees that come in."

"Oh...joy...." You mumble. You don't think that Nurse Redheart picked up on what you said, or she was just too tired to press it. You thank the nurse and exit the clinic, trying to find an excuse to not go see Shining Armor.

You don't know what it is, but there has been friction between the two of you since you first met. He was the one who escorted you to the room Celestia provided for you in the castle. It was the top floor of one of the lesser busy wings. On the way there, when alone in a hallway, Shining Armor backed you into a wall and made it very clear that he will always see you as a threat. You shrugged it off at the time, remembering the saying, "People fear what they do not know". As you approach the door to the Captain's office, your heart grew heavy in your chest. You heard the voice of a woman in the office, they were talking about something personal. It was fairly obvious it was Shining Armor's significant other. You grew anxious. You had no idea how Shining Armor will treat you with his wife around. You hoped he wasn't the type to be overly-aggressive. There was already bad blood that didn't need to be boiled. Taking in a deep breath, you put your hand on the door and push it open.
> The Captain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	As the door is pushed open, you see none other than Princess Cadence sitting on the desk in the center of the room, facing away from the door. She was wearing a yellow tank top and jeans. Her wings were folded behind her, they were almost as large as her body. Shining Armor was sitting in his chair. He had the guard's plate-metal on, covering his shoulders and upper torso. The very familiar open-faced helmet was missing. Shining Armor was leaning on the desk, his arms resting on the desk and supporting his head. He had a large smile on his face as he spoke to his wife. The smile quickly left his face as his eyes went from his wife to you.

"What do you want?" Shining Armor quickly stood up, trying to present himself much larger than he actually is.

"Nurse Redheart said you had a file for me." You said. Cadence's eyes meet yours. She smiled at you. You smiled back and gave her a small wave.

"Show the princess some respect, human."  Shining Armor said as he dug through a large stack of papers from 

The way he said that. Human. Like it was meant to be an insult. Other than you, were weren't sure what he meant when he said "respect". You made it fairly clear that you didn't bow to any of the princesses. You weren't sure why, but you felt that bowing to an authority figure of another dimension that has done very little for you to this point wasn't right. Celestia and Luna accepted this. You never met Cadence, so maybe she did take offense to the lack of a bow. If she was, she didn't show it nearly as much as Shining Armor did.

Shining Armor pulled out a large file from the stack of papers and placed it on the far end of the desk. "You may take it."

Don't talk to me like I am one of your soldiers. You wanted to say something like that. You wanted to put this guard down. However, the princess still had her eyes on you. You didn't want to put her in the middle of a fight between you and her husband. You swallowed your pride, just this once, and approached the desk. You picked up the file, both Shining and the princess had their eyes fixed on you, both for very different reasons. You had to hold the file with both hands, it was so large.

You flipped through the file. There were many pages of side-notes, giving the math and how you measure up with the average stallion physique. Overall, you were above-averge in all fields. A smile grew on your face as your eyes looked through the numbers. You hear Shining Armor clear his throat.

"Are you done yet?" He asks you. Cadence quickly hit him on the shoulder. Not hard, but enough to make him flinch.

"Yea, I'm pretty satisfied." You say as you put the file back on Shining Armor's desk. He put his hand to his mouth, covering his laugh. "Something funny?" You ask.

"You're satisfied?" He asks in an amused tone. Your eyes quickly dart to Cadence's own. She had an expression of confusion, similar to the guard's when you pulled out the baton for the first time. "I don't see what's satisfying about being the inferior species."

You heard the sound of a glass vase shattering in your head. Cadence was quick to shout Shining's name and deliver another hit to his shoulder. Although you're sure she didn't mean to actually hurt him, Shining Armor winced in pain for a second. They went back and forth, you didn't know about what. That word just echoed in your head. inferior. Also meaning weak. Weak. Weak. That's what they used to call you. That's why you started Mixed Martial Arts. Inferior. Mentally inferior as well as physically. You turned around and headed for the door, still stuck in the loop of thoughts that plagued your mind from that word. You think you heard Cadence shout your name, but you paid no attention to it. Shining Armor also yelled something, but that's definitely something you would ignore, even if you weren't already pre-occupied with your own thoughts.

On your way to the tower, you came across the gym. The guard from earlier has, thankfully, left the gym. In the corner of your eye, you spot the large sandbag hanging by a chain. You never used it before, but there it was now, almost calling your name. You stared at it for a while. You've never seen it used, and could see the layer of dust from across the room. You step forward, but you're thrown back when you feel a hand on your shoulder.

"Hey." You turn around to see none other than Princes Cadence. You look behind her and down the hallway, expecting Shining Armor to be right behind her. Much to your surprise, he was nowhere to be found. "You know he didn't mean what he said, right?" She continued.

"Yea. I understand." In a way, you did. Shining Armor had to constantly put on a figure of power and intimidation so those below him, namely the Royal Guard, would respect him. Of course, you didn't know if that was the real reason, but it made you feel good to have some explanation. "Don't worry about it, Princess. I'm sure he's just stressed." You don't know what it was. Defending Shining Armor was something that you never thought you would do. There was just something about the princess that stopped you from doing anything hostile. 

"I'll talk to him." Cadence added.

"No, no. It's quite fine."

"But-"

"Princess. Trust me. It's fine." Your voice had a significant  spike in confidence at that statement.

"If you say so." With that, the princess turned and made her way back to Shining Armor's office. She did stop to say something over the shoulder. "Hearts and Hooves day is coming up." She said.

"Yea, I suppose it is." You knew it was a parallel to Valentine's day, but other than that, you were clueless on what it was you were supposed to do. You figured you'd take in the scenery and mimic what the ponies did next year.

"You should ask her on a date." Cadence smiled and made her way to Shining Armor's office.  Leaving you with dinner-plate eyes, and stunned silence. 
	 
> The Midnight Message**
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
 4 weeks later 


"Human! We desire to speak with you!" A loud, echoing voice, exploded into your room. You almost fell out of the bed from the shock. You looked around the room, trying to look for the source of the sound.When your head turns to the window, you notice the moon is still high in the sky. You didn't have any type of clock in your room, so you were unsure about the exact time. After a few seconds of you looking around the tower room with half closed eyes, you manage to collect your thoughts, just in time for the voice to fill your ears again.

"Human! Art thou awake?!" The voice called again.

Now you were able to tell who it was. Only one pony in all of Equestria spoke in that Olden English way. You make it to your feet and stretch your arms. You feel your back crack and your shoulders pop. The infirmary beds were much more comfortable than your own. Maybe you should convince Nurse Redheart to let you take one of the beds...

"Human! Wake up!" This time, the shouting was accompanied by banging on the door. You groaned and stood up. With one hand rubbing your eye, you use your other to open the door. You start off slowly pushing it open, but the pony on the other end quickly grabs it and swings it open. Even through mostly closed eyes, you know full well who it is that was so eager to speak to you.

"Ah! Finally, you're awake!" The princess of the night exclaimed. 

"Luna...what time is it?"

"Oh, it is about two hours until the sunrise!"

You swing your head back and groan in an over-exaggerated manner. "Why did you wake me up?" You ask.

"There is an important matter we must discuss!" You're sure she was trying to sound serious, like someone was in danger, but you couldn't help but hear something in her voice ... excitement? Her body language surely showed that, as she was bouncing on the balls of her feet. She didn't have a smile on her face though. Maybe it was just the fact she suddenly woke you up in the middle of the night, but you had a very hard time reading the usually transparent mare.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" It was not every night, thankfully, the princess of the night was banging on your door. You did feel a little anxious on what she wanted to talk about.

"Captain Lullaby of my Night Watch has spoken to me about your pretend fights with members of the guard after hours."

"..oh, that. Luna, I promise you that we are not trying to hurt each other."

"I am aware of that. I've been watching you two fight for the past two weeks."

"You have? Why?"

"Lullaby has nominated you to participate in an upcoming event."

"An event?" It was not uncommon for you to participate in events in Canterlot. Luna loved bringing you to every kind of event to show you the music, food, and just to meet the local ponies. To be fair, you did meet all two of your friends at events Luna brought you to. 

"Yes! And this one takes place in Ponyville! You'll be able to see-"

"What kind of event?" You deliberately cut her off before she can say the mare's name. You didn't want the conversation to end up with Luna talking about her, just like Cadence does. 

"It's a fighting tournament."

"Fighting? What kind of fighting?"

"It's called 'Ring Fighting'" Luna explains. "Two fighters must wear large, cushioned gloved and they are only allowed to punch. There are three rounds, each lasting three minutes. The first one to knock the other out before the end of the third round wins!"

"Oh. Boxing." You say.

"Box-ing? What does fighting have to do with boxes?" Luna asks. You slap your palm to your forehead. Not because she didn't understand why it was called Box-ing, but because you should have expected a response like that from her.

"It's because..." You stop for a moment. You could explain that it is because the fighting area is a box, but you're sure that it'll lead to more questions and less sleep for you. "-I, uh, actually don't know."

"See, it does not make any sense." Luna says. You're thankful she leaves it at that.

"So, Captain Lullaby told you to sign me up for a boxi-I mean 'Ring Fighting'-tournament in Ponyville?"

"Yes! Both she and I have seen you train with the guard. Although you do not fight the way expected in the sport, it shall be fairly quick to show you the techniques."

"How long until the first fight?"

"Two weeks. If you accept this, we leave for Ponyville tommorrow. You shall train with Lance and Lullaby when we get there."

"Lance is comming too?"

"Yes, Lance has personally trained with you. Lullaby thinks it will be wise to bring him as well."

You can understand that line of reasoning. "So, if I say yes, everything is in place and we leave tommorrow?"

"Yes. I shall also accompany you there. However, once the train reaches the station in Ponyville, I must attend to personal matters. You, along with Lance and Lullaby, will make your way to the local inn, where a room will be reserved for you. Once there, you are free to spend time in Ponyville however you see fit. The only requirement is you actually show up to the tournament."

If you spend at least three hours training with Lullaby and Lance, you feel you'll be able to grasp the technique fairly quickly. It would just take a lot of focus and mental energy to get through it. Also, if you win this tournament, that will be a great eye-opener for Shining Armor.

"All-right, I'll do it."

"Oh, joy! Be ready to leave by noon." Luna exclaims. You quickly look back to your room. You only had three sets of clothes, and a few miscellaneous items. Everything else was just furniture.

"I'll meet you at the station."

"Sleep well, human!" She said. You wave her goodbye and go back to bed. 
> Mile Long Club
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 	"There is nothing else we require." Princess Luna said as she dismissed the waitress. 

The waitress bowed her head and shut the door to the train cart. You were looking out the window since the train departed the station. It was great to see everything you've been told about unfolding before you. You were particularly interested in seeing the pegasi manipulate the weather. Canterlot always had clear weather, so you were unable to see how it worked first hand. However, seeing the occasional pegasus fly by the train holding large clouds was just so mesmerizing. 

"We should tell the weather factory to cancel any weather plans on the day of the fight. We wouldn't want you to get distracted while fighting." Lullaby said as she nudged your shoulder. You forgot that you shared a car with Luna, and two others.

"I agree." Lance spoke up. Lance was sitting across from you, next to Luna. Lullaby was gracious enough to save your the seat next to her when you first boarded the train.

"I can't help it. It's just really cool to see." You go back to looking out the window. 

"How does weather work on Earth?" Lance asked, you could barely understand him as he stuffed the food the waitress brought into his mouth.

"It’s kinda hard to explain exactly how it does." Maybe if you paid more attention in school, it'd be easier to. "Basically, the weather just works by itself."

Lance almost spit his food out from the shock. 

“Is something wrong?” You ask. You look over to Lullaby; she was still her calm self. 

“It’s just-” Lance took in a breath. “I never knew Earth was so dangerous.”

“Because of the weather?” You ask.

“Well, you see, there’s only one place in Equestra that the weather is controlled by itself-” He described that there is a large forest near Ponyville that is the home to many dangerous creatures. You ask if the creatures and weather have a connection, but both Lance and Lullaby were unsure. You looked over to Luna to see if she had anything to add, but she had her eyes closed as she levitated her cup of tea to her lips.

The estimated time for the ride was four hours, which gave you more than enough time to relax. You spent the majority of the train ride taking in the scenery outside the window. You were in your own world for the most part, thinking about seeing your friend in Ponyville. When you told her goodbye a few weeks ago at the train station, she said that she will be in Ponyville for at least three months, and will be unable to write until she gets to Manehatten. Now reflecting on that conversation, maybe Cadence was onto something when she told you to ask her out. You were pulled from your daydream when Lullaby elbowed you in the ribs. “What?!” You jump from reflex.

“Sweet Celestia, calm down.” Lance commented, making Luna pop an eye open.

“Sorry, I just don’t like being hit in the ribs.” You comment while rubbing your side. It didn’t hurt, but it was uncomfortable.

“You better hope somepony doesn’t let that slip before the fights begin.” Lullaby wore a smug look on her face as her eyes shifted to Luna. Luna’s eyes met hers and she cracked a smile.

“Do not worry, I shall not be meeting any of the participants before the tournament begins.” She closed her eyes again and levitated her tea to her lips.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Lullaby returned her eyes to you. “Lance and I were just discussing what we need to do before the fights begin.

“When we get to the station-” Lance cut in, “-Lullaby will go to the local tailor and get you an outfit. I will get you some gloves and check out the kind of gym you’ll be training in.”

“So, I should go with Lullaby?” You comment.

“That won’t be necessary.” Answered Lullaby the moment after you asked.

“You should check in at the place you will be staying.” Lance said.

“Then what?” You ask.

“You’ll be occupied for the next two hours or so. Then you’ll meet us at the gym.”

“What do you mean I’ll be occupied?” You ask.

“Oh, unpacking, getting organized, and figuring out your way around the city. Normal tourist stuff.” Lance said as he waved a hand in a dismissing manner.

Before you could open your mouth to press him on the subject, Lullaby spoke up.

“What colors do you want your outfit to be? I’m thinking white and gold, for Canterlot.”

“Maybe he should get an outfit that matches his marefriend’s eyes and mane.” Lance said with a wide grin.

“Awe, that’s cute!” Lullaby commented. 

Luna almost had a spit-take with her tea when she heard Lullaby say that.

“We could make the pants white.” Lullaby said.

“Why white?” Lance’s eyes went to the upper-right as he thought about it.

“Because of what she wears!”

“That’s...kind of pushing it.”

“Okay, maybe p-”

“Green and Black!” You shout before Lullaby could finish the color.

“Green…?” Lance asked.

“...and Black?” Lullaby finished.

“Yes. Green and Black. It’s the colors of a fighter I knew back on Earth.” You return your gaze to the window, certain that it was painted red from them talking about her.

“If you say so.” Lance shrugged, looking over to Lullaby.

“Rarity is going to hate that color choice….” Lullaby mumbled under her breath.

The ride lasted for another half hour before the waitress came back to their cabin.

“Princess Luna, we are three minutes from Ponyville.”

“Excellent.” Luna placed her cup of tea on the table. As she stood up, she looked over her shoulder to you. “Best of luck, I shall see you in the fights.”

“Thank you, Luna.” You say, sitting up in your seat. She gives you a smile as she passes the waitress and leaves the cabin.

“I wonder what she is up to.” Lance said, eyeing the door as the waitress closed it.

“I wonder that all the time, Sunshine.” Lullaby chimed in. “Alright, everypony get your junk. I’m not getting stuck behind the crowd at the station.” She said as she reached under her seat for her luggage. You and Lance meet eyes and shrug. You reach in the cargo hatch above you for your bags as Lance did the same.


“I strongly dislike you two.” Lullaby grunted as you three finally made it out of the station. 

Something fell out of Lance’s bag while you were making your way out of the train door. Although it was only for a few seconds, you and Lullaby were trapped behind a flood of ponies. It was only made worse when large groups of them would stop in the middle of it all to stare at you. Lance fought his way back to you, only to be met with a stare from Lullaby that struck fear into you. 

“Oh, c’mon! That was kind of fun.” Lance said as a large smile grew on his face.

“You and I have very different definitions of the word ‘fun.’ ” 

“I kind of liked the attention.” You added.

Lance extended a fist to you, but slowly lowered it before you could meet it with your own fist. Lullaby had an intense stare on her face, but not nearly as bad as the one from earlier though.

“Why are you so edgy?” Lance’s mood changed from carefree to intense in less than a second.

“Ponies here aren’t used to seeing Thestrals.” She stopped moving and took in a deep breath. “I just don’t like the staring.”

“Must be hard.” You add, darting your eyes to three fillies with their eyes focused on you.

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t complain.”  She shook her head rapidly. “This is where we should split up.”

“Where is the inn?” You ask.

“Over that way.” Lullaby pointed down a path that was to the left. “Just follow that path and you’ll know it when you see it.”

“Want me to take your bags?”

“Please do.” Lullaby was quick to toss her duffle bag at you. You manage to catch it by the straps.

“Thanks, man. I’ll see you at the gym at sunset.” Lance said as he walked past you, tossing his bag on top of Lullaby’s. 

“Yea, I’ll try to stay ‘occupied’.” You stress that last word, hoping either Lance or Lullaby will explain what they meant by that.

The walk to the inn was difficult. Ponies hid behind their wooden stalls, fillies ran away, and you’re sure that you saw one or two run into a building and slam the door. However, you kept your eyes forward and kept walking, dragging your bag with your left hand and holding Lullaby’s and Lance’s bags in your right. You would occasionally glance over at some of the more colorful buildings. One that caught your eye was one that looked like a large cake. As you passed the front door, you look across the street to see an orange mare next to an apple stall.

“Bit of an odd place to sell apples.” You comment. 

“You’d be surprised, mister.” She said with a smile on her face.

You stop for a moment, processing that the mare spoke to you.

“Somethin’ tha matter?” She asks.

“No, sorry.” You shake your head. “Just didn’t expect you to comment.”

“You’re not from around here, are ya?” She asks.

“What gave it away?”

“Besides tha obvious?” The orange mare smirked and crossed her arms as she said that.

“Yes, besides the obvious.”

“Everypony in this town likes mah apples, and you commenting that I won’t sell well proves that you’re not from ‘round here.”

“Not bad, detective.” You take a moment to fully process what she said. “Everybody in town likes your apples?”

“Yep. Every single one.”

“I highly doubt that.” You say as you walk over to her stand.

“Try me.” The orange mare grabbed an apple from her stand and tossed it to you. You had to abandon your bag to catch the apple, but you did manage to catch it.

“Nice catch.”

“Shut up.” You look at the apple for a second. It didn’t look any different from the apples back on Earth. You glance up to see the orange mare, arms still folded, having an expectant look on her face.

“It won’t fly away.” She comments.

“I’m well aware.” You say as you raise the apple to your mouth. As you bite down on it, a huge smile grows on the mare’s face. It was amazing. Even though it does not look any different than the apples on Earth, the apple you bit down on tasted exponentially better. You couldn’t place your finger on what exactly made it better. Sweeter? There was more than that, but that’s all you could think of to describe the taste.

You tried to keep a straight face as you looked back at the orange mare.

“As good as you remember?” The orange mare asked, extending a fist.

“Better.” You make your own fist and bump hers. “Thanks Applejack, I was starving.”

“So, what brings ya to Ponyville? Finally got over all the ponies starin at ya?”

You glance over your shoulder just in time to see a stallion slam his windows shut.

“I’m here to sign up for a fighting tournament.” You say, turning your head back to her.

“Really now?” Applejack laughed through her teeth. “I have a few friends entering that tournament.”

“Does this mean I lost a potential cheerleader?” 

“Oh, I’ll cheer for ya, till you go up against B-” Applejack covered her mouth before she could finish saying 

“Something wrong?”

“Nuthin’, just lost my thoughts for a second.”

“Well, I should get going. These bags are getting heavy. It was good seeing you again.”

“No problem, just be sure to come see me at the next Canterlot event.”

“Will you have apples?”

“Well duh.”

“Then I might stop by.”

“You better. Also, be sure to visit Twilight. I’m sure she’d love to corner ya for another few hours and ask you about where ya came from.”

You sigh and bring your hand to your face. You remember that. Twilight stood between you and the door the last time the elements attended an event at the castle. At least they didn’t run away from you, but you’re sure Celestia and Luna had a lot to do with that. 

You approach the front desk of the inn. It was empty. You were not sure if the ponies around were hiding or if it was just slow. You were relieved when the stallion at the front desk was too distracted by a book to see you approach.

“Hello?” The stallion kept his eyes focused on the book.

“I have a room reserved.” You say.

“Name?”

You give him your last name. He barely lifts his head as he flips through a notebook that was next to the book he was reading.

“Somepony already picked up the keys to the room. Room 301. He went back to his book. 

You guess Lullaby or Lance finished what they were doing and made it to the room before you. Or, more likely, Lullaby got fed up with the crowds of ponies and made Lance get a uniform and her just go to the room to blow off some steam.

“Thank you.” You say as you make your way to the elevator.

“Broken.”

Crap….

You look over to the side and see the door for the stairwell. With a sudden burst of energy, you run through the door and make your way up the stairs as quickly as you can. You realise how bad of a mistake that was. Unlike Earth, where room 301 would be on the third floor; Room 301 was on the sixth floor. Each floor between the floors the rooms were on were service floors. By the time you reached the door for the sixth floor, you were out of breath and nearly crawling. You whispered “Thank you!” several times when you saw that 301 was directly next to the stairwell. 

You try for the doorknob, but it is locked.

“Lullaby! It’s me! Please open the door.” 

You shout as you knock on the door. You waited for a few seconds, but there was no answer. “Lullaby! I ran up six flights of stairs! I need to lay down before practice.” Still no answer.  “Are you still mad?!” You shout again. 

“I could never be mad at you.” You hear her voice come from the other side of the door. More importantly, you heard the lock click and the door open. 

“Thank you, Lullabyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy~!” You were shocked when you felt something large hit you in the chest. You had to take a few steps back to not fall over. Your vision went completely black from whatever was covering your face. The large force on your chest pushed against you, and you felt it cover your back as well. 

“Lullaby?! What are-”

“I thought you’d be more happy to see me.” The strong upper-class accent pierced your ears. You regained your vision as the force against your chest backed away. The blackness you saw was her mane, and as her mane left your face, you were met with two large purple orbs. You cover your mouth with your hand, you’re sure that it was wide open. She giggled as your eyes grew wide.

“What are you doing here?!” You exclaim.

“Lance sent a letter last night.”

You smile and threw your head back. You couldn’t believe he would do that.

“He also said we only have two hours before you begin training, and I have my own tasks to attend to as the week progresses.” She glanced down to the floor.

“Did he tell you why I was here?” You ask.

“Oh yes. He said you were visiting to see me.” 

You’re sure that your face, neck, and even chest turned red when she said that. “He didn’t…” You say.

The mare let out a huge laugh that she seemed to be suppressing the whole time. 

“Will you deny it if he didn’t say that?”

“I...uh….” Brain, work. Please.

“He did write that, but I am aware of why you’re actually here.” The smile faded from her lips as she spoke that sentence.

“Something wrong?” You ask.

“I will not be able to watch you compete.” She said.

“That’s fine. You have your own thing to do.”

“Yes. A schedule conflict. I apologize.” She said.

“No need to be sorry. You won’t miss much.”

“That’s good to hear.” She brought her eyes back to yours.

“S-So, what would you like to do?”

“Lance promised me a date.”

The red color returns to your face.

“Shocked?” She asked. 

“Honestly, no.” You muster.

“Will you deny me my promise?” She put her hands behind her back and drug her hoof on the floor.

You were honestly concerned. The ponies around town hid from you, the only one who spoke to you was one that has seen you multiple times in Canterlot at events, and you’re sure that was because either Celestia or Luna spoke to her, and the other elements, about you before hand. A million thoughts raced through your head, and you’re unsure which one prompted you to speak.

“Sure. I’ll take you up on that promise, Octavia.”



-X-X-X-



"Okay, Rookie. Ready to get started?" 

You weren’t even halfway through the door when you heard Lullaby’s voice. You took a second to take in the area you will be training in. It wouldn’t surprise you if you were told that the place has been abandoned for a decade. Half of the lights didn’t work, and the ones that did were on their last few hours of life. You start walking to the other side of the room where Lullaby and Lance were. 

Getting a closer look at the boxing ring, you could see that there was a fine layer of dust on the mat, as well as cobwebs between the ropes. That wasn’t the only place there were cobwebs though; you also spotted them on the punching bag, speed bag, the stairs, pretty much everywhere around you.

“Nice place you picked out.” You comment as you place your bag on the bench next to where Lullaby and Lance were standing. 

“Some Wonderbolt pulled rank and got the last functioning gym.” Lance said. 

“What do you mean by ‘functioning’?” You ask, shooting Lullaby a questioning expression.

“He simply means that this was the last place we could practice in private.”

“Why private?” You ask.

“Because other stallions will just get in the way. Now, lets get started.”

Lullaby made that point it clear when she started by tossing a small grocery bag to you. Surprisingly, you manage to catch it. Taking a look in the bag, you spot black and green fabric.

“You actually listened.” You said with disbelief in your voice.

“You wouldn’t believe the headache Rarity gave me for that.” Lullaby said, rubbing her fingers against her forehead.

“She told me all about it. You’re not allowed to pick a style without second opinion anymore.” Lance cut in.

“I think I can live…” You scan the room. “Where do I change?”

You didn’t notice that both Lance and Lullaby turned their backs to you. They shoot each other a quick glance before looking away.

“You’re kidding...right?” You ask only to receive no answer.

Taking in a deep breath, you quickly pull your pants down and swap them out for the green gym shorts. Your head stays up, just to ensure that neither Lullaby nor Lance get any ideas. With the shorts on, you move on to the shirt. It was a tight black sleeveless shirt. You never thought you would be wearing one of those.  

“Are you done yet?” Lullaby said.

“Almost.” You answer as you finish tying your shoe. 

Both Lance and Lullaby turn around. Lance hands you a large pair of boxing gloves, matching the color of your shorts. While you slip them on, you notice Lullaby’s eyes running up and down your body.

“See something you like?” You say, hoping it would fluster Lullaby.

“Just how ridiculous green and black looks on you.” She immediately answered, unphased by your comment.

“Give it a rest. I think it looks fine.” 

With the gloves fully on, you swing a few times in front of you. The gloves are a lot heavier than you expected, but that wasn’t the only problem.

“They are too big.” Lance said as he observed your swing.

“What!?” Lullaby actually let some emotion slip into that word. However, it was never a good thing when Lullaby was shocked. 

“He’s right. The gloves are too big.” You add.

“Dammit, Lance! We don’t have time for this!” Lullaby shouted.

“Look, that was the only pair that-” Lance tried to defend himself.

“Where did you check?!” Lullaby pressed.

“The gym!” Lance was quick to answer.

“Where else?”  Lullaby wasn’t about to accept defeat.

“W-Where else?” Lance asked.

“Buck me! Lance! You stupid-” Lullaby raised a hand, as if to hit Lance. Despite his position as a guard, Lance flinched from the anticipated hit. You quickly bring your hand up and grab Lullaby’s wrist. She turns her face to you. 

“Breathe.” You say.

It probably was not the smartest thing to say, but it was all that came to mind. Lullaby took in a breath….then another….then another. Over time, she is able to calm down. You nod your head, and she nods hers in return. When you let go of her wrist, she hugs herself, looking on the verge of tears.

“Lullaby, are you okay?” Lance asked, taking a step toward her.

“S-stop.” She says. 

Lance freezes in his tracks. He looks over to you, silently pleading for help. All you can do is shrug. You’ve never seen Lullaby act like this before.

“I-I’m sorry. I need to go.” Lullaby walked past you to grab her bag.

“Lance, I trust you will go over everything.” She slung the bag over her shoulder.

“Y-Yeah. I got it. He’ll be ready.”

“Good. I...I’ll be in my room. It’s across from yours.” She says as she nudges you on the shoulder. With that, she left the gym leaving both of you to train without her.

“What was that about?” You ask Lance as his eyes were focused on the door.

“I’d rather not talk about it.” Lance said, bringing his attention back to you. “Can you work with those gloves?”

“I’ll make due.” You answer.

“Good. Now. Let’s get started.”

You and  Lance walk to the center of the large boxing ring. It almost feels slick from the layer of dust, but it wasn’t unmanageable. You stretch out your arms and legs as Lance grabs two pads from the far side of the ring. Once Lance put each one on his hands, you notice how large they were. Each pad was slightly larger than your head. You also take notice of the crudely painted targets on each cushion. Lance walks back over to you and holds his arms up, facing the pads toward you. Knowing that it’s a sign to start, you hit the two pads and get into a combat stance.

“You’ll want to stay low. Obviously, we cannot get you to match a stallion’s strength in two weeks, but the good news is that you have an advantage. Your size. Also, your speed. You’ll want to keep moving, much like in our fights. Keep your fists between your face and your opponent… … … No, don’t block your face that much, put your arms down a bit. … … Okay, now I’m going to swing at you. A few basic jabs and hooks. Focus on dodging the punches. Blocking will only drain your energy. … … … … … … … … … … … Good. … … … Keep it up. … … … …”

POW

“Woah! You okay? … … How many fingers? … … Okay, you’re fine. C’mon, back on your feet. … ... You have to be careful. Keep your eyes focused on my fists. Don’t worry about offense just yet.. … … … Good. … … Good. … …”

POW

“Buck! Oww! I thought I said don’t worry about offense yet. … ..Ha, you’re right. Okay, okay. Next lesson.”
> Ponyville Fight-Round 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	You have gotten used to waking up to the sound of an alarm clock at 7am over the course of the past week. You’re not sure what it was. Maybe it was the fact that the bed accommodated for your height. It also could have been that you could look forward to seeing Octavia the next day. Whatever it was, you found yourself waking up full of energy.

Except, this morning, it wasn’t you that was full of energy.

You almost fall out of the bed when you hear a loud pounding at the door. In a confused haze, you dart your head around the room, trying to get your bearings. It took a few seconds, but you remember that you are not in your castle tower room, but at an inn in Ponyville, but that doesn’t explain why somepony is banging on your door like Luna.

“Let’s go, rookie! First fight in three hours!” A familiar, almost hissing, voice shouts through the door. You rub your eyes, trying to fully wake up. Glancing over to your clock, you see that it reads 7:55. Maybe those 5 extra minutes actually do count.

“I’ll be out in a second!” You shout back.

“We’ll be waiting in the lobby!” A more masculine voice called from behind the door. You could instantly tell it was Lance. Over the past week, Lance and Lullaby were inseparable. If you saw one, the other was with them.

You look over to the clock again and see an envelope. The purple treble clef sticker on  the flap instantly gave away who it was from. You suppose she dropped it there when you two said your goodbyes last night. You peel the sticker from the flap and pull out the contents of the letter.

“Dear Rookie,
I can only hope that you accept my apology for not having the time to see your performance (You notice a few words have been erased before the word performance was written.) today. I do want you to know that I shall be cheering you on in spirit, and that I shall be returning to Canterlot in one week’s time. I do hope to see you there.
Please do not get hurt.
Sincerely, Octavia Melody.”

You were never good with reading cursive, but there was something about Octavia’s overly exaggerated style that made reading it very fluent. You read the letter two or three times. You would have read it more, but the alarm on your clock went off. If you weren’t in the lobby in the next sixty seconds, it wouldn’t be the other fighters that would hurt you.


 -X-X-X-X-


“About time, Rookie.” Lance said as he saw you swing the door open and exit the stairwell. Those stairs gave you as much of a workout as the actual training at the gym did. You recall a few days ago that Lullaby was cruel enough to make you run up and down them a few times for laps.

“You ready?” You could hear the nervousness in Lullaby’s words.

“Are you?” You ask Lullaby, giving her a concerned look.

“Why do you ask?” Lance added in.

“Lullaby sounds nervous.” You tell him as you motion your hand towards Lullaby.

“I’m just thinking about what everyone will think when they see your ridiculous color choice.” There was Lullaby’s usual tone.

“Let’s just go.” You add. You could hear Lance holding back a giggle and high-fiving Lullaby.


-X-X-X-X-

Even though it wasn’t starting for another two hours, Ponyville Town Square was flooded with ponies. Through the crowd, you can spot the large boxing ring. It looks identical to the ones from Earth. The actual box is plain white. At least, it used to be white. Now it holds a more yellow tone, you guess that is the result from it being used so much. There is no icon in the center of the ring. You thought it looked odd at first, but as you study it, it clicks. The box is only raised by a few inches. You can walk onto the stage of it like it was a step on a staircase.

No. No more thinking about stairs.

The next thing you notice are the three ropes around the stage. All of the boxing rings you have seen before had the red, white, and blue color scheme. However, in Equestria, those colors would be trivial. Instead, the top rope is white, followed by blue, and then brown. You’ve never seen some sort of official flag for Equestria. The only thing you can think of is the insignia of the two alicorns. However, that still does not explain the brown color. You turn around to ask Lance, but he is nowhere to be seen. Turning back around, you notice that Lullaby has also left your side. You were not afraid of being left alone in a crowd of people, but there was just something about the way the ponies that were not used to you would stare at you. Those unblinking eyes fixated on you. You snap out of your daze when you feel a hand grab the back of your shirt and pull you away.

“Honestly, I can’t look away from you without you getting lost.” Lullaby mumbled as she dragged you to the registration table. You notice two stallions and a mare at the table. On the far left, a white pegasus that looks like he eats steroids for breakfast. In the middle, another white pegasus. This one was much more modest. He wore a button down shirt with dress pants. His brown mane was neatly combed back, and his golden eyes were fixated on the paperwork before him. Lastly, there was a blue mare on the right. Normally, the first thing you would notice would be her bright rainbow mane. However, since you already knew this mare, something else caught your attention about her.

“You’re not competing?” You speak up to her, drawing her attention from the papers in front of her to you.

“What are you doing here?!” She screams. You’re afraid she’ll jump over the table to tackle you.

“I’m competing.” You say. You notice an expression of shock in her eyes.

“Oh! So you’re ‘Rookie’ on this chart.”

“…Rookie?” You ask, looking over to Lance.

“Oh yea, see, we wanted to keep the fact you were human a secret. So we put a nickname for you.” Lullaby said.

“You didn’t seem concerned with secrets when you made me run around Ponyville this week.”

“Yea…you’re right.” Lullaby went back to filling out a few papers on the table.

“Well, good luck out there!” The blue mare held her fist out, and you met hers with yours.

“All-right, you’ll be fighting Riptide in half an hour.” The more slender white pegasus told you.

“Excellent. I’ll go get ready.” You say.

Lullaby pulled you away to show you where you could get ready.

“Do you know her?” She asked.

“Rainbow Dash? Yea, I’ve ran into her a handful of times when she’s visited the castle.”

“I would’ve never guessed.” She commented.


-X-X-X-X-X-


”PONYVILLE! LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM!”
The bulky white pegasus was in the center of the stage, basking in the sounds of ponies cheering from all directions.

”WE HAVE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU TONIGHT! ALL THE WAY FROM CANTERLOT, I’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TOOOOOOOOOOO…”

You duck under the ropes and stand at the corner of the stage.

”TTTTTTHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEE RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!”

Is that my official nickname now? It doesn’t matter. For the first time, instead of staring, there was applause. Ponies who didn’t even know your name applauded and screamed. Maybe Lullaby threatened all of them. Whatever the reason, it felt nice. As they cheered you on, you take your stance and bounce on your feet. You’re ready to fight, the sounds of cheering fueling your adrenaline.

“WHO PICKED OUT YOUR OUTFIT?!” Somepony shouted from the audience. 

You look over to see, who else, Lullaby. To your surprise, she looked like she was having a good time. She had a huge smile on her face. For the first time this week, Lullaby looked like she was having a lot of fun. She was sitting next to Lance, who was also cheering.



”NOW PONYVILE! YOU’VE MET YOUR CHALLENGER, NOW LETS MEET HIS FIRST OPPONENT!”

That’s right, you’ve yet to meet your opponent. You see a grey figure duck under the ropes and stand at the opposite end of the stage. Muscular would not be the word to describe him, but he was big. However, he wasn’t fat. His dark blue mane was messily parted behind his head. Taking in his figure, you notice he opted for the “no shirt” option. He wore white gym shorts with some sort of blue design on it. His gloves matched the blue color on his shorts. He stood there like a stone statue. Muscular or not, this stallion will be a challenge.

” STALLIONS AND MARES, RRRRRIIIIIIPPPPPPTTTTTTIIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEEEEE!”

He shot his fist up and waved at the crowd. As intimidating as his figure was, he had a smile on his face. He was someone who enjoyed this sport.

You and him make your way to the center of the stage. You put your fists in front of your stomach, pointing them at Riptide. He shoots you a confused look, and the pegasus announcer does the same. You raise your eyebrows and shake your fists, seeing if he takes the hint. He and the announcer look at each other, asking a dozen voiceless questions. Your opponent looks back to you, raises his fists, and meets yours with them.

“Keep it clean.” You say as his fists make contact.

“Y-Yea…Keep it clean.” He responds.


 DING DING DING 


You can’t recall a time you’ve ever had something twice your size come at you, so this was definitely a first. Another first was his glove making contact with the left side of your face, you recall spinning twice before hitting the ground. The ref counted to five before you were able to remember that you were supposed to be fighting. You shake your head and get back on your feet.

You bounce on the balls of your feet, this time you’re ready. The bell rings and he comes at you again, same fist. You duck below it and step back. When he turns around, you deliver two punches to his stomach. On the third punch, he raises his left arm and pushes yours to the outside, leaving you exposed. He gives one hard punch to the stomach, and you are back on the ground. The ref makes it to six seconds before you are able to breath again, and eight seconds before you can get on your feet.

You have it figured out now. Strength. If he connects one time, it’s more than likely it’ll put you on the ground. The bell rings, and you brace yourself. Instead of dodging, you let his fist connect with your block. As you expected, he does not follow with a second punch, and his hand lingers for a second. Using that time, you deliver two blows of your own to the chest. You step back just before he can counter with an uppercut. You feel some hairs on your head react from the wind from the speed of his fist. While he is exposed, you hit him once in the face and step back.

You find the strength again to bounce on your feet. Riptide wipes his mouth with his glove and comes back at you. He throws a hook to your head, which you easily duck below. However, he connects an uppercut with your jaw as you duck. You’re sure you felt some of your teeth crack. You manage to stay on your feet for the two seconds until the bell rang, ending the round.

You go to your corner and reach for the water. No one is there for you. Lance and Lullaby are in the crowd, neither of them registered to be your manager. You sit on the floor and drink some water, watching your opponent on the other end. He laughs with his coach, they look like they do not care much about the fight. A mare or two approaches him, he signs something. You suppose that he is well known as a fighter, and it’s just your luck that he’s your first opponent. 

The bell rings, time for round two. You quickly grab a towel and put it on your mouth. It’s clean when you pull it out.  No blood, that’s good.  You put the water back on the ground and go to the center of the ring. When you meet Riptide, he holds his fists out. “Keep it clean, yes?” He says. You tap your gloves against his, and you find yourself smiling. You are able to get in one deep breath before the bell rings.

Like clockwork, left hook to the face. You duck. He uppercuts. You dodge to the left. He meets you with a left hook. One more hug with the ground, and it’s considered TKO, so you try your hardest to stay on your feet. That seems like his game winning pattern. He does it every time, however, he always seems to have a plan B. If you dodge a different direction, he is ready for it. If you try to counter, he will take two or, if you are lucky, three before he counters with a strong hook or uppercut. All of your energy is put into sidestepping him, trying to find some kind of weak point. Before you know it, the bell rings, ending round two. You almost crawl back to your corner.

“This is impossible.” You mumble to yourself.

You pour some water on the towel and wipe your face with it. When the bell rings, you try to drink more water. However, you poured the rest on your towel. Great…
You walk up, he is already there, gloves out. “Keep it clean.” He says. You barely have the strength to lift your gloves to meet his. You bring your fists up. You can muster up the strength for one punch or one dodge. Dodging will only postpone the inevitable, so you decide to go with one final punch. The bell rings, luckily for you, he goes for the left hook once again. You go for a right straight jab to the face. You feel his fist connect at the same time yours does. You start to spin, you move your feet, trying to stay up. It’s funny, you didn’t think you had the strength to scream that loudly, it’s also taking him a while to deliver the second blow. You hear the bell ring, and immediately you feel somepony’s hands on your shoulders. Once you are stabilized, you see Riptide on the ground, hands on his jaw, along with his coach and a blue mare unicorn. “What….happened?” You ask whoever may be around. 

“Riptide has a bad teeth problem, you managed to crack open some of his teeth with that jab.” The blue unicorn mare answers your question. 
“So...I win?” You are still swaying back and forth.
“You sure did.” A familiar voice answers from behind you. When you turn around, you see Princess Luna with her hands on your shoulder. You can’t even muster her name before collapsing to the ground from exhaustion.