Boxing Gala [3/5duels]

>Club activities day in Canterlot High.
>Be Timothy Typhoon.
>Hanging out in the club room of Photography.
>Pinks just busted the door down, her usually bright smile twice wider than what you’ve come to know.
>There is something actually scary about that happiness…
>>”Mein door! PINKIE!!”
>“No time for turning knobs Finish! Look at these beauties!” shouts the maniac, thrusting a poster towards your face.
“Great News: Canterlot High Boxing Gala! Come Test your skills for charity! Brawl friendlishly against your fellow students for an incredible prize! Inscriptions are open! [technical shit]”
>“Principal Celestia finally agreed! This is like, the best day ever! If I didn’t have so many ex-aequo best days ever… Anyway! I gotta spread the news! We need at least 10 fighters for the greenlight! Tim’! Since I am second Club Leader, I volunteer you!”
“What if I have something planned on Friday?”
>“Is it a birthday, marriage, barmitsva?”
“… No?”
>“Then cancel it! And help me with those posters! Squadelaa! We’re off!”
>A pile of plasticized sheets is shoved in your arms and the Pink storm carries you away from the quiet of the clubroom.

…

Later:
>You were never so happy to cross Axel’s path as when he intervened to save you from the sugar addicted abductor…
>Still, with her in detention, you’re stuck with doing the advertisement for the Gala…
>It’s kinda like a tourney though…
>Maybe… it could be fun?
>There are a couple students who look like they can fight, Gilda would take the occasion, you could rope Soren in… There is Big-Macintosh as well…
>A cruel grin stretches your lips.
>A freshman seeing it runs away from you instead of picking the darn flyer!
>Oops…
>“Thank you.” chimes a voice as one of your poster is picked. “Good morning Timothy.”
“HeartStruck… ‘Morning to you.”
>“A Boxing Gala? Is it your idea?”
“Nah, Pinkie Pie is to blame. I… don’t think you’d be interested.”
>“I’ll come to see it, besides, it’s for charity! Should I get a word about it to Nol’ if I see him before you?”
“You could do that.”
>The musician starts to walk away before turning back and taking a stack of flyers with her.
>“I hope this helps! See you later!”
>Aannd~ she’s off… Welp, you do need all the assistance you can get.
>Darn, now you have to repay her kindness... No petty interruption of her next date with Nolan sounds good enough…

Later, you’re back in the photo club, Photo and Feather left to see if anyone had time to fix the door, and reinforce it...
>“Hi Timothy!”
“Pinks, how was detention?”
>”Boo~ring! I thought I was gonna die there! Not a single thing to pass time! Thankfully! I found my old rubik’s cube on the way there! … Still boring…”
>She pulls a plastic lunchbox from her dress and inside lays a mess of colorful cubes, broken remnants of the puzzle.
>You’re about to joke on the fact she had to cheat before realizing that the dices have all 6 faces painted with lines and colors.
>Then, she proceeds to repair the thing, jumbling it further and trying to match the road together to form a perfect network of paths and according colors.
>Are these additional pieces there?
>”So, any luck with the Gala?”
“More or less, some said ‘Friendishly’ isn’t a word, then I said you’re the organizer and they just say it sounds nice.”
>“Excellent! What about participants?”
“Dunno yet, waitin’ for someone to join the party…”
>The day ends quietly, you just have to wait if you get enough fighters for the event to take place…

…

>After 7 days of palpable tension where Pinkie was alternating between running around the campus trying to recruit enough participants, looking pumped and over-energetic and stuck in the clubroom muttering frightfully about not meeting the requirements or looking outright threatening towards anyone she deemed slacking off during this time of crisis… Liberation came when Celestia finally set the finale date for the Gala.
>And there was much rejoicing from the pink menace.

Gym.
>You’re chaining light jabs at a sandbag.
>It has been quite some time since you last practiced real boxing, time to shake off the rust.
>*clack* The door leading to the changing rooms just closed itself.
>”Care if I join?”
“Featherweight. I can’t really stop you from exercising y’know?”
>“Yeah… But I kinda wanted your advice on… stuff…”
“Dunno if I can help, but go ahead.”
>“Well… I’m taking part in the Gala.”
“Neat I guess, Pink will need as much help as she can to run things smoothly, right?”
>“Um, no, I’m not in the staff, I’m a fighter.”
>Point blank uppercut misses the punching bag.
“You?”
>”Yes! I told you didn’t I? I want to become stronger!”
“This is not a cartoon…”
>“I know! And that’s why I need you to teach me as much as you can before the event!”
“Even if we use all our free time to train you before next Friday, you’ll… You know what? I take this as a challenge, I’ll turn you into a passable boxer before the Gala.”
>“Really?”
“Yeah, but let me warn you, you’re gonna feel muscles you didn’t know you had burning slowly and painfully.”
>“Don’t look down on me! When the Gala come, you’ll see what I’m made of!”
“I’m sure… Let’s begin with some warming up exercises.”

…

>Sp: “Ladies and gentlemen! Live from the Gymnasium! Welcome to Canterlot High’s very 1st Boxing Gala! Soon to become a yearly event I’m sure! I am your host, Spike Sparkle! Junior Class! And with me is our Head Referee and Reference Teacher of all Sports Clubs! Iroonn~ WILL!”
>IW: “YEAH! Iron Will is really pleased to see so many spectators in his temple of physical activity! Here to take part in this contest of strength and smarts! Can you feel the excitation kid. *SNIFFFFFF~* HAhhhh, that’s the good stuff!”
>Sp: “Err… O-okay! Everyone, please, take a seat, grab a drink and some popcorn! The first match will begin shortly!”
>IW: “What?! Fat food and heavy on sugar drinks?! Not on my watch! Axel Jones! Arrest them immediately!”
>Sp: “T-there is no rule about food in the gym, sir!”
>IW: “But what if one of our athletes slips on a glob of butter?! What about-”
>Celestia’s voice cuts in: “We’ll be right back!”

>In a corner of the gym, you meet with a few friends.
“I can’t believe you forbode them to take part, boss. Dick, move.”
>Nol:  ”Sorry Tim’, but we know how worked you can get during a fight, we can’t risk attracting too much attention…”
>Soren: “Besides, it means more action for you, big man.”
“I suppose you’re right… What about Gilda?”
>Vinyl: “She managed to get arrested for drunk driving a couple hours ago.”
>Nol: “I’m gonna pay her fee later, let her sober up a little, she needs to understand that this kind of behavior stains the image of The Saints.”
>Sor: “So cold, boss.”
>Amy: “We’ll be rooting for you, do your best!”
>Naomi: “I expect you to bring back a medal, good luck!”
“Mph, I’ll bring back the trophy or nothing.”
>Nol: “Just don’t get too cocky, some might be hiding their game…”
>You follow your friend’s gaze towards a few of your soon to be opponents.
>You spot SweetLeaf and Roland seemingly giving an encouragement speech to Pete, who got roped in joining this by peer pressure, from the grimaces on your friend’s face, he’s not that confident about all this.
>Featherweigth is re-reading a small guide he wrote about the lessons you gave him, next to him stands is cousin, Caramel, occasionally giving a couple pointers on some details, from what your skinny student told you, the brown haired young man might know a thing or two about self-defence.
>Finally, the surprise of the evening: Ringo VanHalen himself… Rumors say he was seen in a brawl during a concert one day, got out victorious in a 5vs1…
>You smirk.
“I might have more fun than I first thought…”
>Sp: “Fighters, please proceed to the ring!”
>On it is standing Pinkie Pie, microphone in hand.
>Pi: “Alright Canterlot! The show is about to begin! But! I got one little surprise for everyone in stock! As you can see, we only have 5 manly men on this ring! And while they will give us some incredible fights, I betcha we can do better! So let me introduce you to… Their rivals!”
>Wait what?
>From the main entrance appear 5 hooded silhouettes…
>Pi: “The Boxing Gala isn’t a tourney! It is a team battle! 2 teams of 5! 5 duels! The one with the most wins is the victor! But enough chit-chat! I call to the ring… Petruchio Pastore! Versus… Rainbow DASH!!”
“A girl? Oh no…”
>And indeed, the first hooded figure runs towards the ring, before jumping from the ground on the ropes and using it like a springboard, somersaulting to the corner and throwing away the cloth hiding her identity.
>RD: “HELLO CANTERLOT!“
>And Canterlot answered.
>Feather: “Tim… Do you think Pete has a chance?”
“Nope… He would have if he was fighting anyone else and not as 1st match… Too much pressure… Shit! Pinkie you cheating spaz!”
>Pi: “Not cheating when there is no rules, Timmy! Did I forget to mention that all fighting styles are allowed? As long as you only use your body?”
>Somewhere in the crowd, a certain hall monitor almost had a heart attack.
“THIS IS A BOXING GALA! NOT THE KING OF FIGHTERS!”
>Pi: “First match! Begin!”
>RD: “Alright handsome, you’re gonna act like a gentleman, and I’m gonna punch you first, before falling on the ground for my sake. No hard feelings!”
>The blue skinned girl closed the distance in the blink of an eye, her direct crashing straight into Pete’s forearms.
>There was a moment of hesitation, RD didn’t think he would have had the time to guard, and almost got caught in his riposte.
>Sp: “Rainbow is so fast! Look at that! Punch, step, punch! Whoa!”
>IW: “But that’s all there is to her, straightforward like that, she can’t go through his guard… But he is wasting many opportunities to counter… His attacks are weighed down by hesitations… She just needs to go around his defense…”
>Sp: “Wh-what’s whith the serious face all of a sudden?”
>IW: “The battle, kid… It can change a man…”
>The steak of colors once again stepped away from the steadfast wall, then, in two more jumps, she was behind his right shoulder and struck!
>Missing!
>This time, using the momentum of his step forward, Pete spun and his own uppercut reached her body.
>Sp: “A solid hit! He’s pressing his advantage! What’s happening! It’s like Pete is a different man!”
>IW: “THE BATTLE IS CHANGING HIM!!”
>After a series of hooks, jabs and directs, Canterlot’s Star Athlete isn’t faring too well, pushed back to the corner, Pete goes for the last hit and a violent hit reaches!
>RD: ”Haa!”
>Pe: “S-sorry!”
>RD: “Watch out! I’m sensible there!” she exclaims, protecting her chest.
>Pe: “You mean… You’re not a trans?”
>…
>RD: “You’re dead.”
>What happened after went too fast.
>But everyone can tell you it involved a multicolored uppercut, two boxers defying gravity and someone yelling “I have boobs!”…

…

 “Is he alright?”
>Mary: “Nurse redHeart said he’s KO… Technically speaking… He’s fine…”
“Just what on Earth happened… When the fight started he was frozen in fear, then he almost won and… What the fuck was all that?!”
>Roland: “I blame SweetLeaf. She’s the one who said he should think his opponent was a trans.”
“Why would you advise that?”
>M: “I overheard Pinkie talking about a female fighter, so, to make sure Pete would fight with his all against a girl… I said there was only male participants… And a transsexual…”
“… It was almost a good plan…”
>R: "In retrospect, he did really well in front of that crowd..."

...

>PP: “Everybody! Thank you for your patience! The Infirmary just confirmed that Pete is fine! So, without further ado! Let’s start the second match of tonight! Spike! Hit the glowy button!”
>Sp: “The red one?”
>PP: “NO! Not the red one! The one with Duel2 written on it!”
>Sp: “Okay! … What’s the red one?”
>PP: “Just leave it alone okay? Promise me to not touch it!”
>IW: “Mmh… Now Iron Will wants to press it! Temptation!”
>As the teacher yells some more in his mic, the giant screen above the ring flashes the names and faces of the next fighters:
>Sp: “Ringo VanHalen Versus…”
>PP: “Elaine Sunflower!”
“Another girl?”
>VH: “What an honor to meet one of the school’s heroine here…” says the ginger-haired man, a menacing smile on his lips.
>L: “Save your flattery, ‘cuz I’m gonna break your nose like the badass I am!”
>VH: “Can you even fight?”
>L: “Babs, my girl taught me a couple handy tricks… Get ready!”
>VH: “Time for VanHalen to smack a bitch.”
>On the very second the bell rang, Laine was already striking, Ringo managing to block the assault easily.
>Until the punches stopped in favor of a sweeping kick that narrowly missed the rocker’s ankles.
>VH: “That’s not boxing!”
>L: “No shit Sherlock!”
“Basic street fighting moves… And not half bad…”
>Fw: “Isn’t he at a disadvantage if she can use her legs and he can’t?”
“Not sure… From what I heard he knows another style than box…”
>But as the fight goes on, Ringo is only able to guard or dodge, looking quite uncomfortable dealing with the unexpected moves of his opponent.
>VH: “Referee! Gimme a break! I wanna take these gloves off!”
>PP: “… Oh! I see! It’s a pun! Good one Ringo!”
>VH: “No it’s- Whoa! I’m a grappler!”
>PP: “And?”
>VH: “You dumb cunt! I can’t grab shit with these things on my hands!”
>PP: “Hey! Respect my authority! And watch your tongue! There are middle-schoolers in here!”
>VH: “You-!”
>The second of inattention is the opportunity Laine was looking for. Her spinning jump-kick hits VanHalen on the side of the head, effectively sending him over the railing!
>PP: “Out! Serves you right!”
>L: “But… I wanted a KO! Ring out is lame!”
>Sp: “Good prevails! Sunflower vanquished Ringo the thug!”
>In the blink of an eye, half the auditorium rushed to kick the loser of the fight while he was still on the ground… Elaine’s scream of frustration as she got called by her embarrassingly delicate full name and once again being held as a Hero…
>Fw: “Welp… I am sad to fall on 2losses… But I don’t feel bad for the dude…”
“This gala is already lost…”

>PP “Alright, so, Principal Celestia tasked me with this important message about not assaulting fellow students even if they asked for it and about respecting the beauty of the sport and yadda yadda, but it’s boring! So let’s continue this thing! Spike! The Button!”
>There is a *boing* like sound and the pink announcers is send airborne by a giant spring that was under her feet.
>PP: ”The other button!” *CRASH*
>SP: “M-my bad! Pinkie! Are you alright?”
>PP: “Yes yes, I’m okay, something soft cushioned my fall… Oh hi! Next fighter, how are you doing?”
>No answer…
>IW: “Pinkie Pie is the winner by K.O. !!”
>Sp: “H-hold-on! The bell didn’t ring! We can’t say she won a duel that didn’t start! Besides, Pinkie isn’t supposed to fight!”
>PP: “Okay… That’s embarrassing… Well, Caramel’s fight will be postponed for a moment… in the meantime! Let’s proceed with Duel 4! Spike!”
>Sp: “FeatherWeight Versus …”
>PP: “Bonnie Bon!”
>FW: “M-me?!”
“Looks like it…”
>FW: “But BonBon is gonna crush me!”
“No she won’t! Listen close! I taught you all I could in such short time, and you learned well, so you’ll have the experience advantage. She might be more physically strong, but if you dodge, you’ll win, finally, I need you to win this so our team will stay in the competition, if you lose now, even if Caramel and I win, we’ve already lost, right now, you’re the most important man on the team, on your shoulder rests our only chance to win this! … No pressure.”
FW: “… *Gulp* …”
“I… Fucked up my psych up speech didn’t I? Whatever, just get in and do your best…”
>Bb: ”Mph! Throwing a weakling against me?! Surely it’s to insult me since I am a woman!”
>FW: “A-all the other fought women and lost you know?”
>Bb: “Stop oppressing me!”
>FW: “Oh dear…”
>PP: “This is the tipping point! For the blue team, it’s now or never!”
>IW: “Make Iron Will proud, shrimp!”
*DING*
>The 2 fighters jump at each other at the speed of a snapping viper, but only one hits the other, the difference in speed between the two is glaring: Bonbon, can’t keep up!
>Her punches are slow and unpracticed, easily dodged by the slim boy, however, despite taking advantage of the many openings left unguarded after every missed attack, the jabs don’t seem to affect the girl in the slightest.
>Then, the tide turns!
>An excellent feint from Bonbon causes Feather to carelessly close-in, and her uppercut is merciless.
>The impact is strong enough for his feet to lose contact with the ground.
>Yet, FeatherWeight doesn’t fall…
>He staggers, almost trips on his feet, but stands and returns to his stance.
>Bb: “Give up.”
>FW: “No…”
>Bb: “You’re not cut for this. This isn’t your place and it won’t ever be.”
>FW: “No… Right now, I need to be here, to fight and win.”
>Bb: “You cannot win.”
>FW: “I’ll prove you wrong.”
>Bb: “Try.”
>And Feather does.
>The previous hit cost him all his stamina, his footing is unstable, his breathing heavy, but he walks forward and strikes at Bonbon who lowered her guard.
>She doesn’t even wince as the glove touches her face.
>She moves.
>Bb: “I give up!”
>FW: “Why?”
>Bb: “I’m not sure that you will understand… but you and I… We had a common point right there…  It’s certainly stupid from me to hope that a man will get it. But hey… Trust in the other is the 1st step for a good relationship…”
>FW: “Thank you very much… You know… You’re not as horrible as the other say.”
>Bb: “Don’t misunderstand…” the baker grabs him by the collar and brings his ear next to her mouth: “I also happen to love /ss/… Meet me Friday before closing at the girls’showers… If you’re man enough.”
>FW: “Oh dear…”
>…
>FW: “Sorry Timothy, I couldn’t defeat her…”
“It’s okay. You did well, for a first try… After that we’ll work on that limp noodle you call a muscle.”
>FW: “Haha… Okay… I suppose it’s your time to shine…”
“Just watch… (and despair).”
>PP: “I admit being a little disappointed… But! Can I get a round of applause for the fair-play! ALRIGHT Spike! Duel fiv-!”
>Sp: “GO! Wait… 5?”
>On the screen appear:
>Caramel VS FlutterShy.
>PP: ”You ruined the surprise!”
>The Blue man spots the trembling figure on the other side of the ring and remembers her from a couple of photo taken by Photo Finish.
>Not the fighting type, that was for sure.
“Welp, I know I’m gonna win this one.”
>“HOLD IT!”
“… That voice.”
>“Pink, I want to replace Caramel, is that alright?”
>PP: ”Uhh… *ahem* What a twist! Please everyone! Greet our new challenger!”
>Said greeting is a round of boos and disapproving whistles.
>The young man gets on the ring before throwing his too well known jacket at Pinkie and walking towards his opponent still hesitating to join him on stage.
>He offers his hand to help her.
>“Alright Yellow, it’s just like with my godmother, alright?”
>FS: “But there are… So many people…”
>“Bea is watching, you don’t want to disappoint her? She won’t let it pass if you chicken out…”
>FS: “Okay… Norman.”
“Normal Norman…”
>PP: “… Versus…”
>Sp: “Fluttershy! *DING* Fight!”