Fight!
Crimson Luminance admired the scents of fresh produce, baked goods, and wilderness that permeated the atmosphere of this small town called Ponyville. The soft glow of the setting sun added a hue of golden light to everything, making this place seem like an idealistic paradise.
The dirt road under his hooves was far more comfortable to trod on compared to the hard, unyielding stone pathways of Canterlot. His mission had taken him on a tour all over the country town for the past three hours searching for a certain somepony.
The crimson red stallion continued on through the town, the gentle breeze of the coming night passing through his dark mane and tail, gently swaying them in the air.
Now sir Goldie, where could you be?
Crimson had already been to the champion fighter's house, and found it to be vacant at the time. He has since been seeking out the stallion Golden Horseshoes by inquiring to the town's populace in regards to his whereabouts, with no success.
As Crimson was passing through the town square for the fifth or so time, he decided to try entering one of the shops in hopes of finding somepony who was knowledgeable about Golden's current location.
The wondrous aroma of baked sweets graced Crimson's nostrils as he approached a... gingerbread house? What, how does somepony manage to build a giant gingerbread house? More importantly, why hasn't it been eaten yet?
Crimson halted his tangential thoughts as he entered the baked bakery, taking a moment to inhale the celestial scent of pure bliss. Feeling his saliva production increase, and his tongue ache for the taste of sugar, he approached the vacant counter to his left, intending to ring the service bell that sat atop the polished glass.
Just as he was reaching his hoof out to press down on the bell, a high pitched mare's voice called down from upstairs, "Be there in a sec!"
Crimson was rather confused as to how she knew he had entered. Perhaps there was a string that ran from the door to a bell or something upstairs? Anyways, he stood there patiently in the empty store place and waited for the salesmare to show herself.
He began to wonder what Golden might be like, how he would move and if he was experienced with fighting on the ground.
"Hi! My name's Pinkie Pie and you're new so I don't know your name so you should tell meotherwiseI'lljustcallyoumynewfriendwho'snameIdon'tknow." The spontaneous and fast paced question arose unexpectedly from behind him, and he reflexively strafed to his right, turning around to meet muzzle-to-muzzle with a bright pink mare. Wide, bright blue eyes gazed excitedly intsomethin-orange ones. Her wide and friendly smile made her seem like she was already his best friend in all of existence.
"Um, I'm Crimson Luminance, but you can call me whatever you want." He answered, his nose still pressed up against hers.
Mmh, you smell like cotton candy. I wonder what you might taste like if we kissed?
The pink mare interrupted Crimson's lascivious lamentations.
"So, Crrrrimson, what do ya want?" Pinkie's high-pitched voice pierced his ears at this range, but he rather liked the tonality of this exuberant pony, she seemed like a lot of fun to be around.
"Well, I was hoping to get two things. First, a small treat. And second, to see if you know where a pony named Golden Horseshoes is." Crimson felt the little hairs of Pinkie's muzzle tickle his own, and he fought the urge to pull away and scratch at his nose.
"He-he, that tickles. He-he-he, it tickled again! Okay, we have tons of sweets, including me! And I think Goldie is at Berry's bar. Why do you ask? Hey! Are you a friend of his!?" The excited mare pressed her muzzled further into Crimson's, their lips coming dangerously close.
"Um, not really, but I hope to be soon! Or become an acquaintance at least." He replied, trying so desperately to not press back into her and kiss the soft pink lips that were so near...
"Oh, that sounds great!" She pulled back, leaving Crimson's nose feeling cold and abandoned. "So, what kinda sweet were you looking for? Cookies? Cakes? Ice cream? Fudge? Oh, what about a cookie ice cream fudge cake? That would be amazing!"
Crimson began to chuckle merrily at the prismatic mare's rambling antics that are in line with many of his own internal ones. "While that does sound perfect and awesome, I think I just want a single cookie. What kind do ya have?"
"Okey dokey, we have chocolate, peanut butter, snickerdoodle... isn't that fun to say? Snickerdoodle! Go on, say it." She whined and added a pouting look that made her adorably cute to the point of a heart attack.
With a small smirk, Crimson complied. "...Snickerdoodle. Yeah, that is fun. But do you have any cookies with cinnamon?"
Pinkie's grin widened further, showing a set of brilliantly white and well maintained teeth. "We sure do! There's chocolate cinnamon, plain cinnamon, white chocolate cinnamon, honey cinnamon, cinnamon and nutmeg, and coconut cinnamon." She moved over to the glass display case against the wall and pointed out each variety of cookie.
"I'll try the white chocolate cinnamon, how much?" He asked as his hoof reached into the saddlebag slung over his barrel.
"Hm... How about a deal?" She asked, her eyebrow raised over her shining blue eye in an inquisitive manner.
Crimson's own eyebrow mimicked hers, "Ooookay, what is it?"
Pinkie's smile increased in all directions as she said, "Hug me. And say that I'm your new best friend."
"Really?"
"Well, you don't have to say-"
"Okay." Crimson interrupted as he closed the small distance between them and swept his forehooves up under Pinkie's. He stood up on his hind legs as he did this, bringing the surprised mare with him. His hooves wrapped around her back and barrel, holding her close as he reached his full height on his hind hooves, lifting her completely off of the floor.
"Wwwhhheeeeee!" She squealed as he squeezed her and spun around, setting her back down as they completed a single turn. They stayed in the embrace, appreciating the close presence of each other.
Crimson closed his eyes and rested the side of his head against Pinkie's neck, his muzzle buried in her shoulder. The aroma of cotton candy once again assaulted his smell, and he savored the moment and all its solace.
Pinkie's hooves were wrapped around Crimson's neck, holding his head against her. She inhaled his cinnamon-like scent, musing about what kind of party she was going to throw for him.
"So how long do we have to hug, bestest best friend forever and evers?" Crimson coyly questioned, smirking into Pinkie's shoulder.
"Oh, twenty more minutes?" She replied. "...Or all night. Both are good."
Crimson grins as he picks up on her implication, but he had a goal that he had set out to accomplish, and he was determined to see it through. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't flirt a bit longer...
"But one is soooo much better than the other." He answered, still grinning like a foal.
Pinkie was beginning to get excited at the possibility of where this was heading, and she loved that Crimson was playful just like she was. "So, yes to the night-long hugging?" She asked, stroking his mane with a forehoof as she buried her muzzle into the top of his spiky, yet soft onyx hair.
Crimson let out a sigh as he said, "But unfortunately, I have business to attend to. But once I'm done with that, I would be more than happy to come back and hug you for as long as possible. Are you free tomorrow?"
"I am now." She replied, slightly dejected, but not too downtrodden. "Aw, are you sure that you can't stay? Pllllleeeaaasssse?" She whined, her pouting reminding him of a small foal begging for some candy before dinner.
Crimson pulled back a bit, just enough to look into her two shimmering pools of bright azure. "Sorry, I wish I could, I really want to. But I've got to meet up with Golden. Hey, at least we can get together tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, of course." Her exuberance was seeping back into her demeanor, which Crimson was happy about.
"Good..." He took a moment to hold the eye contact with her, before he pressed his lips against hers. The soft skin of her mouth gently locked with his own, sending warm chills coursing down both of their spines. A deep warmth began to spread in both ponies' chests, and across their cheeks. Both felt and smelled the other's breaths seep out of their nostrils, grazing lightly across their muzzles.
Just as Pinkie began to ghost her tongue across his lips, Crimson pulled away and broke the affectionate connection. He was aching to continue this, but he resolved to cease this affair before he became too enraptured to escape.
"Sorry, but I do have to go. I'll swing by at... eleven in the morning. Does that work?"
"Aw, okay. But you better be here at eleven, not a millisecond later. Otherwise, I'll have to track you down and show you what I do to those who don't follow through with their promises." She said with a coy grin, her eyes shimmering with a joyful glint.
"Got it, Eleven sharp. It was nice meeting you Pinkie, my new best friend." Crimson said, his own smile fueled by this enigmatic mare's jesting threat.
"Oh, we almost forgot about your cookie!" She exclaimed, her energy showing once again.
"I'll pick it up tomorrow. Besides, I already got a sweet treat today." He intoned, with a sly smirk.
"Oh, you silly charmer, you." She replied before quickly darting her muzzle forward, and stealing a kiss from Crimson.
He chuckled and let her slip back down to all fours as she pulled back, and he did the same.
"Okay, I'll see you in the morning." He said.
"You'd better, mister. Otherwise I will cry, and find you and hug you and cry some more just to make you see what you've done." She replied, still wearing a beaming smile.
"Sure thing, I'll do my best to not make you cry, because then I would cry. A lot" He talked as he walked backwards to the door. "Well, Pinkie. Good night and sleep tight without fright so as to enjoy Luna's light, for it is quite a sight in its own right."
"And don't let Celestia bite or you might not feel quite right tonight." She replied, creating her own add on to his bedtime poetry.
They both cracked up, chuckling and giggling like idiots and enjoying every second of it.
With one last, long, look, Crimson bid her farewell.
"Bye."
"Bye!"
He turned and walked out of the shop. Letting the door swing closed behind him. The sun's light was nothing more than a grey ghost as the final stages of twilight were setting in.
Now, where did I see that bar sign?
Golden Horseshoes
Berry's bar was unusually vacant, excluding the three customers and two bartenders, no one else was at the establishment.
Seeing as this was the start of the weekend, a place like this should be filled with patrons and staff. However this evening was apparently divergent from the norm. Golden Horseshoes sat at the bar, killing his time as there was nothing interesting to do today. He had already trained his mandatory eight hours, and was now relaxing at Berry Punch's bar to pass the night away.
Damn, if only Dash weren't too busy training for the Wonderbolts. She's a pretty good fighter.
Golden lifted his glass of slushed mango strawberry, the icy chill of the fruity drink cooled his maw and throat, almost numbing his ability to taste the sweet beverage.
He heard the front door open, and a set of hoofsteps that were deliberately heading towards his position at the end of the bar.
The newcomer paused right beside Golden's barstool, "Hey, mind if I join you?"
The stranger's voice was young, even when compared to Golden's who was only twenty years old. Without looking towards the new pony, Golden responded "Sure, knock yourself out."
The new barmate chuckled as he slipped onto the stool. Berry Punch came over to take his order. Once she left, he turned to Golden and asked, "So, how do you feel about fighting?"
It was then that Golden finally looked over to the stranger. He was surprisingly a thestral, a pretty uncommon type of pony around here. Despite his youthful voice, he looked far older than what Golden had originally speculated. He was riddled with scars and even had some rips and tears in his bat-like wings. Golden noticed a rather large, straight scar on this pony's left forehoof, with stitching scars on either side of it.
He regarded the crimson coated, black maned colt with newfound interest.
Maybe he can hold his own...
"Without combat, I wouldn't really have a reason to live. Fighting is everything. And I'm pretty sure that you're a fighter, if your injuries are anything to go by. Now, why do you ask?" Golden continued to stare into this combatant's red orange eyes, taking note of the deep scar that ran over his left one.
The crimson thestral smiled, "Yeah, I am a fighter. And I've heard from some reputable sources that you are one of the up and rising stars who plans on competing for the world title. Well, so am I. And I always welcome a new and interesting challenge. So I was wondering if you might be up for a little exhibition?"
Golden smirked as he heard this, his internal fire already igniting and preparing to be stoked into a full inferno. "Sure, you got a name?"
"Yeah, it's Crimson Luminance."
Crimson Luminance
"Yeah, it's Crimson Luminance." Crimson informed the blue coated, dark maned stallion beside him.
Yes! A new sparring partner. I wonder when we can get together to fight?
"Very well, prepare yourself Crimson."
Wait, what?
"Wait, what-" Crimson was cut off as Golden flicked out a left jab with blinding speed.
The thestral just barely managed to to parry the boxer's strike, smacking it to the inside as he slid off the stool. "Woah, I didn't mean-"
"Stop talking and concentrate." Golden warned as he too dismounted his seat, and adopted a classic offensive hoofboxer's stance. Only a split moment passed before he flicked out another left jab, connecting the punch with Crimson's face, directly into his nose, which prompted his eyes to fill with tears as the stinging pain spread across his muzzle.
Golden didn't cease there, another left quickly followed in succession, taking him on the cheek right under his left eye, snapping Crimson's head back viciously. Golden continued his combination by driving forward with a straight right. Propelling himself forward with his rear hooves, driving his mass behind the strike.
However Crimson responded by raising his left forehoof to the side of his head, angling his elbow towards the inside angle of Golden's punch. The boxer's strike glanced off of the triangular defense, and he quickly found his right hoof wrapped up by Crimson, who's left forehoof was snaked over-and-under his own.
Crimson held Golden's hoof close to his body, trapping the blue stallion's limb. Crimson proceeded to pull the boxer into him, while bringing up his right elbow to drive into his opponent's windpipe.
Golden answered by holding his own free hoof at a perpendicular angle to Crimson's strike, stopping it cold.
Golden shoved Crimson's forehoof out to the side, and came in with an uppercut, aiming for the point where his jaw met his neck.
Golden felt his blow connect perfectly, feeling the satisfying rebound force travel through his hoof and back.
Crimson's vision was peppered with stars as most of what he saw turned dark for a moment. He fought with all he had to keep the hold he had on Golden's hoof. Crimson covered his right side with his free hoof, holding the back of his mane so his arm made a defensive triangle that covered most of his head and face. He drove forward as Golden threw a left cross, attempting to get around Crimson's defense.
The defensive shape of Crimson's forehoof caught the strike, and absorbed the impact as he darted closer towards Golden, driving the point of his elbow towards the boxer's face.
Golden's reflexes caused him to lean his head to left, slipping Crimson's attack. Golden cocked his hoof back, preparing to deliver a devastating liver strike to his opponent. However, he felt a sharp, painful pressure in the side of his neck as Crimson drove his elbow into it.
Golden's strike glanced off of Crimson's barrel as he was forced down and to the side by the pressure. Crimson wrapped his right forehoof over and under the blue stallion's neck, securing him in a one armed head lock.
He then proceeded to stand up on his hind legs, bringing the wrapped up boxer with him as he drove his right knee into Golden's solar plexus. However Golden managed to intercept his strike on his free left forehoof.
Crimson took this opportunity to reverse his hold on Golden's right hoof, transitioning into an under-over hold that pinned his hoof against his neck instead of his body.
Just as the thestral's right back hoof returned to the floor, he drove his left knee into the newly exposed left side of Golden's body. Crimson felt his opponent's ribcage flex as his strike landed full on, causing Golden to grunt from the impact.
Crimson brought his back leg down, and repeated the attack with his right knee. Golden's attempted block failed to intercept Crimson's strike as it passed his forehoof, and drove into the boxer's solar plexus just under his sternum, causing his diaphragm to spasm, expelling the air from his lungs.
Golden brought his free hoof to his chest, curling it up to provide a wide defense of his body. He concentrated on trying to regain his breath.
Crimson took this chance to sink his left shoulder into Golden's armpit, while keeping the boxer's head wrapped under his other hoof. He stepped his left rear hoof across both of Golden's, and turned towards his right, tossing Golden over his left hip.
Golden felt the effect of weightlessness for a split second as he sailed through the air, before he found himself slammed down to floor, hard. Crimson landed his full weight on top of Golden's prone form, making a cross with their bodies that were connected chest to chest. If Golden didn't already have all the air expelled from his lungs, it would've happened now.
Crimson wasted no time as he spun around, using his chest to bear his weight down on the stallion below him, pinning him to the floor as the thestral transitioned into full mount, resting his haunches down on Golden's hips, holding him to the ground as his front hooves went to wrap around Golden's shoulders in a double underhook.
The grounded boxer regained his breath, taking in large gulps of precious air as his diaphragm returned to functioning properly. As he felt Crimson's hooves reach under his shoulders and back, he began to squirm and thrash about, throwing repeated strikes to Crimson's head. However, due to his current position, his hits carried little power and only served as annoying distractions to the thestral.
Crimson brought his right hoof out from under his opponent's shoulder, and pressed his elbow into the front of Golden's left shoulder, using the vicious point to light up the painful nerve cluster that resides in between the muscles.
Golden grunted in pain as he felt the hard point drive into his shoulder joint, rocketing pain signals throughout his shoulder and chest. He frantically shoved Crimson's elbow upwards, letting it slip to the floor. Golden saw the open opportunity to deliver some vengeful strikes to his opponent's exposed ribs. He rapid fired a series of short, but powerful punches into Crimson's bottom, or 'false' ribs that weren't connected to the strong, flexible cage that protected all of the vital organs. These two bones were only attached to the spine, making them an ideal target for pain.
Crimson cried out in surprised agony, quickly sitting up to move his vulnerable side out of the line of fire.
Golden took this moment of space to change his strikes to his opponent's face. His first connected with Crimson's right eye, causing the thestral to jerk his head back further and away from the pain.
Crimson's vision was blocked by a bright flash of pain as he felt Golden's hoof impact with his eye. Still keeping Golden's right hoof wrapped against his neck, Crimson scooted his haunches up to Golden's chest. Wrapping both hooves around Golden's outstretched right one, Crimson swung his left hind leg around and over the boxer's face, falling to his back with Golden's entire arm in between his back legs, the straightened elbow joint pressed against Crimson's pelvis.
Golden tried to lean into Crimson to avoid the straightening of his vulnerable limb, but the thestral's rear legs were powerful and they kept him on his back. Crimson began to crank the arm, thrusting his hips into the air as his hooves held Golden's against his red chest, causing the elbow joint to begin bending in reverse.
"Come on, tap out. I don't wanna break your arm dude." Crimson pleaded.
Golden managed to use his free hoof to push Crimson's left leg up and over his head, slipping in between the bat pony's legs. Golden drew from his anger at having almost been beaten, and drove his left hoof towards Crimson's face, intending to break his face.
Crimson saw this and released the boxer's right hoof to intercept the incoming attack. Crimson swept his right hoof in a small circle, redirecting the strike to the floor beside his face. As he did this, he rolled back onto his shoulders as he slid his hips up Golden's chest, and with his left hind leg bent and curled, he slipped it under the blue stallion's right hoof and wrapped it over the right side of his neck, and across his back. He locked in the hold by crossing his rear hooves at the ankles and straightening out his legs, constricting Golden's blood flow to his brain in a triangle choke.
Crimson pulled Golden's left hoof across his body, further cutting off his cerebral circulation. When applied properly, a blood choke like this takes about eight to twelve seconds to make a pony pass out from cerebral anemia.
Golden felt his airway constriction to a painful degree, and his head pounded with a painful pressure. He could feel his strength begin to fade as he remained wrapped up.
Buck this!
Golden unleashed his fury and rage as he brought his hind legs underneath himself, and used his free forehoof to latch around Crimson's hind leg.
With a barbaric growl, the infuriated boxer began to lift Crimson up off of the ground.
Crimson felt himself rising into the air, and reacted instantly. He released Golden's hoof, and twisted his upper body around so that he was standing on his forehooves in a front hoof stand. He also released the lock of his legs, but Golden held onto the bat pony's left hind hoof. Crimson twisted his hips and curled up his right back leg like a spring. He launched his leg into a straight back kick, putting all of his force that he could muster into pushing Golden away and off of his leg.
The blow landed squarely in Golden's exposed gut, driving him back and toppling him over due to his precarious balance.
Crimson took this opportunity to gather himself and study his opponent as he picked himself off of the floor. Golden looked pissed, and Crimson knew he had to be careful to not get hurt, or hurt his sparring partner.
No matter how serious Golden got into this fight, Crimson just couldn't bring himself to severely injure his new training partner.
Golden wasted no time once he was up on all fours. He immediately drove forward, throwing complex combinations as he backed Crimson up towards the middle of the floor. Since the bar was mostly open space for dancing events, the duo had plenty of space to maneuver without worrying about obstacles like tables and chairs.
Golden threw a stiff jab, followed by a straight right that was superseded by a left hook, and continued by a vicious right uppercut.
Crimson parried the jab, slipped the straight, got caught on the chin by the hook, which sent him reeling back and away from the uppercut.
Just as Crimson recovered from the hook, he turned his body towards the left, twisting his hips in the same direction as he planted his forehooves securely on the ground. He snapped out his right back leg as his lower body turned into the roundhouse kick that was aimed at Golden's head.
Golden saw this maneuver and slipped back, causing Crimson's hoof to pass mere inches in front of his muzzle.
As Crimson's rear hooves returned to the ground, leaving his left side exposed and facing the boxer, Golden darted forwards and went for a body shot to the thestral's kidney.
But as he closed in, Crimson's left wing unfurled and struck at his face. Golden's quick reflexes made him duck under the surprise attack.
But Crimson continued his spinning momentum, bringing up his right forehoof in a devastating uppercut as Golden brought his head down into the powerful strike. Crimson's hoof only managed to clip the boxer's chin, saving Golden from the full force of the attack.
As Golden jumped back to gather himself, crimson continued his upward movement and used his wings to launch himself into the air, landing a number of feet behind his original position.
The two fighters regarded each other for a moment, before Golden began to strafe closer towards Crimson.
The bat pony lowered his stance, and kept his wings at half furl. As the boxer danced just outside of bucking range, Crimson drove all four hooves into the ground, thrusting his wings downwards to help aid in his strafe to the left side of Golden Horseshoes.
Crimson advanced at a sixty degree angle, slipping to the side of Golden's line of attack. As his hooves touched down on the wooden floor, he immediately darted towards the boxer's prone side, lashing out his rear left hoof as he sailed through the air.
Golden reacted swiftly, jumping towards Crimson, just barely slipping past his kick as he raised his upper body off of the ground, and brought his weight down in a single left straight aimed at Crimson's face.
It landed right on his temple, driving the thestral into the ground. Crimson's head pounded with severe pain and disorientation. He curled up, using his hooves to cover his head as he tried to recover from the blow.
Golden wasted no time in raining down strike after strike on his prone opponent. Most of the hits landed on Crimson's hooves, but a few slipped through his guard.
Crimson managed to curl his hind legs up to his chest, and like a coiled spring launched them into Golden's chest.
Both hooves connected squarely, driving forcefully into the boxer's body. Golden was lifted up off of the ground, and thrown through the air by the hit. He landed a few feet away, directly on his back.
Both fighters got up on all fours, albeit rather slowly compared to their original speeds at the start of the fight.
"Wow, you're pretty-" as Crimson was talking, Golden rushed forward, unleashing a flurry of punches out at the thestral.
Crimson jumped back out of range, aided by his wings. And as Golden advanced again, Crimson circled around him, and Golden followed suit.
Crimson flicked out a jab of his own once they were close enough, catching the boxer fully on the muzzle, activating his biological tear reaction. As Golden covered up, Crimson spun his hindquarters around in a powerful two legged buck. With his forehooves securely planted against the floor, he drove his strong legs towards his opponent.
Even though Golden's guard caught the blow, the force continued on through his defense, making his own hoof slam into the side of his head.
Stars and lights exploded into Golden's teary vision as he reeled back from the strike. He felt that sense of weightlessness and numbness as he fell to his side. Through his mostly obscured vision, Golden saw that Crimson was darting towards him.
I can't let him get me tangled up on the ground again. Golden's determination was ignited further as he saw the end coming. He resorted to using his last ditch technique, his Golden Strike.
He poured all of his strength, magic, and rage into this one punch aimed at Crimson's chest. His right hoof was surrounded by a golden light as he unleashed his powerful strike, intending to knock his opponent to the moon.
Crimson saw the brilliant light around Golden's hoof, and desperately flapped his wings in a downward stroke, sending him slightly to the side.
Golden's hoof passed mere centimeters to the left of Crimson's body, sending a shockwave that continued behind the thestral, and severely dented and cracked the ceiling of Berry's bar.
Crimson landed squarely on his now exhausted opponent. He transitioned into full mount and slipped his right hoof around and behind Golden's neck, lining up his spine in the crook of his elbow. He then wrapped his left forehoof around his right wrist, and pressed his arm into Golden's carotid arteries. This was called a front naked choke.
Golden feebly attempted to push Crimson off as he lost consciousness, but ultimately succumbed to the impending void.
Fin