Chapter Sixty Three: Moving Forward
"Come on Tarble, it isn't that heavy!"
Tarble was running along a path set by his brother, as part of their next training exercise. Another way to help improve himself was by wearing weighted clothing, something that Goku and his friends had done way back when. Tarble had on a heavy set of gloves and boots, in addition to the weighted armor. It had been tough getting used to it at first, as Vegito had deliberately made it challenging, but he was managing. Luckily his brother was moving at a slower pace, well slow by Vegito's standards anyway. It still quite a workout, but it was much less painful than sparing... although Tarble knew they weren't done with that part of the training.
As Vegito was leading his brother an idea popped into his head, a way to add some additional challenge. He suddenly flew up into the air, surprising his brother but not enough to make him stop running. After spreading his arms apart slightly his palms started glowing, and he could see Tarble was getting a little nervous. Without warning he thrust his left hand forward, unleashing an energy blast aimed right at Tarble. Instinctively his brother moved out of the way, albeit a bit sluggishly due to the weighted clothing. With a satisfied smirk he repeated the motion with the other hand, which yielded a similar result.
"What are you doing?!" Tarble yelled out.
"Testing your reflexes, as well as intensifying the training. Just focus on evading while still following after me."
While the idea seemed crazy Tarble had no choice but to trust his brother. "Right..."
"Don't worry, I won't overdo it."
With a nervous nod Tarble did as instructed, and barely dodged the oncoming blast. He took in a deep breath as he continued to chase after Vegito, all the while trying not to get hit. Of course the added weight made it tougher, but he was still managing. Fortunately it seemed his brother was starting off easy, although that surely wouldn't last long. At a certain point he got into a good rhythm despite the challenge, and he just had to keep reminding himself it would all be worth it in the end.
Vegito meanwhile was keeping up his own pace, finding enjoyment in training his brother. It was nice training someone who wasn't a Pony again, as it had been a while since he had done so. Of course some of his previous battles could be considered training, but only in a sense, as there had been no friendliness between himself and his opponent. It also made him excited for when he and his brother could spar, without him needing to hold back so much. He knew it would take time, but that didn't matter too much. A couple of intense sparing sessions would go a long way to help speed up the process a bit.
Several minutes passed and the pair of Saiyans were both keeping their pace, which had been easy due to the open fields they had been in. Vegito then noticed they were fast approaching a forest, a densely filled one at that. A sudden burst of inspiration hit him, and he slowly ascended higher into the air. He stopped ascending when he was above the treeline, still flying backwards to keep an eye on his brother. He saw Tarble flying up to approach him, but that wasn't what Vegito intended. And so he proceeded to give his brother a hard kick, sending him back into the forest.
Tarble hit the ground with a thud, nearly leaving a crater behind. "Ugh, what was that for?"
"You'll be going through the forest, navigating through the trees will help sharpen your reflexes."
"Well at least you won't be shooting energy blasts at me." Tarble said as he stood back up.
Vegito smirked. "Oh I didn't say anything about letting up on those."
With no hesitation Tarble got to running, all the while hearing the sound of a tree falling behind him.
After making their plan Twilight and her friends went to gather supplies, getting whatever decorations from their homes and bringing them back to the castle. Of course Twilight and Spike had to look elsewhere, and so they took a trip around town to find anything they might want. There wasn't much of interest aside from getting some new mattresses, which took a little while as they decided to try out everything the store had to offer. After finding the right mattresses, as well as a few extra to fill some of the spare rooms, Twilight and Spike were ready to head back to the castle.
"I can't wait to try out my new bed tonight, I'm gonna sleep like a baby!"
"I'm sure it'll also be nice to stretch out a little." Twilight added.
"Yeah my new bed is way bigger than my old one, sort like how our new home is way bigger than our old home."
Twilight frowned, as that remark made her think of the library.
Spike noticed her change in expression, and then he too frowned. "Ya know, I am gonna miss that old tree. We had a lot of good times there."
"Yeah, from the first day we came to Ponyville, all the way up to Tirek destroying it... sorry I wasn't able to save it."
"Hey don't worry about it, we still have each other. And besides, those memories aren't going anywhere."
"I guess you're right, and now we have a new place to make more memories in." Twilight said, her smile returning.
Spike smiled in turn. "Exactly!"
That was when Twilight stopped walking, having spotted the subject of their conversation. What was once a library was now nothing more than a glorified stump, and it seemed to have been left untouched since its destruction. She saw Spike staring as well, and the two had a moment of silence for their old home. Twilight felt the urge to honor the library in some way, but wasn't sure how to go about doing so. That's when an idea came into her head, it was a little crazy but with her friends help it could work.
After several moments Spike let out a sigh. "Well, goodbye old tree."
"This doesn't have to be goodbye Spike."
"What do you mean?"
Twilight smirked. "I have a plan for that."
Tarble was sweating hard as he continuously weaved through the forest, while also dodging the energy blasts exploding around him. Not only did he have to avoid crashing into a tree, but also watch out for the ones falling over from the blasts. It was getting very intense, and dangerous, but it was also pretty exhilarating. Even without the falling trees and explosions it would still be a good work out, and he was making mental notes of everything Vegito was having him do. While it was nice having an instructor he knew he would have to train solo at some point, and having something work off of was going to make the process easier.
That being said Tarble was nearing the edge of the forest, and let out a sigh of relief. There would be nothing more to dodge, and hopefully a break would follow. Unfortunately no such reprieve would come, as the moment Tarble was out in the open he was kicked in the back. He went flying forward and landed face first in the dirt, and took a few seconds to get himself up. After doing so he turned his head, barely having time to see the oncoming fist. Thankfully he ducked underneath it, but then another one came in. It was surely another test of reflexes, and was surely going to lead to more pain.
Speaking of which, one of Vegito's punches broke though Tarble's defense, hitting him in the rib. He did his best to not yell out, but that fist had struck hard. Tarble tried to retaliate, but his punch missed by a mile. Before he knew it he was kneed in his gut, leaving him stunned. He was helpless to defend himself from a kick to the face, and found himself skidding across the ground. His eyes widened as he saw an energy sphere coming straight for him, and he used as much power as he could to jump out of the way.
Vegito saw where his brother was going to land, and at the right moment unleashed another blast. His attack had struck Tarble, who had been too worn out to dodge another, creating a big explosion that shook the landscape. He saw Tarble's body flying limply away, and so Vegito went in to strike. In the blink of an eye he was hovering above his brother, and a double hammer punch sent him crashing into the grassy field below. Vegito stayed in the air and waited to see if Tarble would pull himself back up, but that wasn't happening. That's when he flew down with his feet placed together, and made a hard landing on his brother's stomach eliciting a strong yell.
A few seconds later Vegito stepped off his brother and offered him a Senzu Bean. "Great job in the forest, your reflexes are getting there."
After eating the bean Tarble felt as good as new, and could feel the increase in his power. "This is actually becoming kind of fun, and it'll be nice being able to defend myself properly."
"We'll work on your combat skills, but I think first I'll work on making you a Super Saiyan."
"A Super Saiyan... are you sure I'm ready?"
Vegito placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know you are, and no matter what it takes you're going to become one!"
Tarble merely nodded. "So how do we go about doing that?"
"It may be a little difficult, but you'll be thanking me when its over. Now I want you to close your eyes and think, really think, about what makes you angry."
With his eyes closed Tarble let out a deep breath, all the while trying to focus his thoughts on what made him angry. He was trying hard, but he had never really felt much anger in his life. He then searched far back in his memories, figuring some self-reflection might help. His first thought was of his exile from Planet Vegeta, and how ashamed their father was of him. In retrospect he had been spared from Frieza's wrath, but he would always be a disgrace in their father's eyes. That feeling of being weak would only grow stronger when Abo and Cado showed up, proving just how helpless he truly was.
A sudden rage started swelling up inside of Tarble, as everything had been true. He was a coward, who ran at the first sign of trouble. Who was he kidding, he was no Saiyan. His brother was the embodiment of their race, and Tarble was nothing. Sadness soon started washing over him, and his frustrations were released with a big sigh. If he couldn't even be fit to be called a Saiyan, then why bother even try and become a Super Saiyan? He noticed the look Vegito was giving him, and the clear disappointment made him frown.
"I'm sorry but I can't do it, I'm just not good enough. I'm not like you, and no amount of training will change that."
Vegito slowly approached his brother and stopped several inches away, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do. "I see..."
Tarble was about to say more but a punch to the cheek stopped him, but before he could question Vegito he was kicked in the stomach. He went tumbling across the ground, finally stopping after rolling over a rather large rock. His body was already feeling sore, and as he lay there on his back he noticed a shadow looming over him. That was when Vegito stomped on Tarble's chest, eliciting a loud scream. Another followed, just as painful as the last, and then several more. Eventually he was hoisted up into the air, only to be given a nasty headbutt.
"Come on, I want you to get angry!"
Tarble didn't respond, being in too much pain.
"Did you hear me, I said get angry! I want you to become furious!"
As he stared into Vegito's eyes Tarble couldn't help but feel a little worried, as his brother was taking it a little too far. A knee to the jaw sent him flying backwards, but instead of hitting the ground he hit his brother's foot. He was launched high into the air, only to the brought back down by a hard right hook. Upon landing he coughed up a bit of blood, and struggled to get up. His brother landed in front of him, having no interest in helping him to his feet. As much as Tarble tried he just couldn't get up.
Vegito scoffed. "I guess you were right, you aren't good enough. You'll never be a Super Saiyan, and you'll never have the strength to protect yourself or your wife. You're nothing but a weakling..."
A nerve had been struck, and Tarble's eyes widened slightly. He thought about loosing his wife, and it was horrifying. He couldn't imagine having to deal with that, or how he would forgive himself if he let it happen. Yet that's exactly what would happen, because he was a weakling. No... he wasn't weak, he wasn't the same little boy who had been exiled. He had grown stronger since that day, and was only continuing to do so. There was no way Tarble would let his wife, or anyone else important to him die!
That was when he slowly stood up, in spite of the pain in his legs. Tarble stood there for a moment, his whole body trembling from the rising anger. His fists were clenched so tight his hands were beginning to bleed, with the blood leaving behind stains on his white gloves. The ground soon started shaking, and dark clouds formed around them. Tarble's hair began swaying lightly as a breeze picked up, which intensified as his power started surging up from inside. He then titled his head up, now looking his brother in the eye.
Only a few seconds passed before Tarble's pent up anger exploded, with an accompanying yell that could've deafened normal ears. The very ground beneath his feet shattered like fine glass, and what was once a mild breeze was now nearly a hurricane. The screaming didn't stop, and that was when a golden aura erupted from his body. Tarble's hair and eyebrows had become golden, and although his eyes were closed at the moment the color of them had changed to green. He then dropped to his knees, mostly due to weariness, and pounded on the rocks beneath him. Tears could be seen streaking down his cheeks, with the ensuing droplets hitting the ground.
Vegito slowly approached his brother, all the while smiling softly. "Tarble..."
Hearing his name caused Tarble to stop, and when he looked up he saw Vegito standing over him again.
"You did it, you've become a Super Saiyan!"
Tarble noticed his golden aura, and although he hadn't seen a Super Saiyan before he knew it wasn't normal. He then saw Vegito power up, with a similar aura around his body. Vegito's hair and eye color had changed, and Tarble assumed his had as well. The sight was mesmerizing, and the amount of energy flowing from his brother was incredible. Rage quickly turned to calm, and before he knew it Tarble had returned to normal. His adrenaline was starting to wear off, and he found himself exhausted.
Seeing this Vegito let his Super Saiyan strength fade, and then reached into his pocket for a Senzu. "I'm proud of you Tarble, you've learned to tap into your true power."
After swallowing the bean Tarble stood back up, all the while wiping the tears from his face. "...So you don't think I'm a weakling?"
"Of course not, I just said that to provoke you. Just keep at it, I know you'll be as strong as I am someday."
"Well I don't know about that, but I do intend to continue with the lessons after you leave."
"Good to hear. Now how about we take a little break, and then we can get back at it?"
Twilight looked over her personal bedroom, and smiled brightly at how it turned out. "Thanks for all of your help Fluttershy, and also for the stuffed animals."
"It was no problem, and you're never too old to snuggle with a cuddly teddy bear." Fluttershy smiled while hugging one of the bears for emphasis.
"I'm sure Spike will appreciate it too. Anyway, since we're done in here, let's go check on the rest of the castle."
Fluttershy nodded as she set the stuffed animal down on the bed near the others, and then followed after Twilight.
They walked down the hallway and headed toward the main part of the castle, passing by several rooms along the way. Some were still empty, but others had been furnished a bit. One such room was a dining room, which now looked like it belonged in the fanciest restaurant in the world. Of course Rarity spared no expense in design, although Twilight told her not to go too overboard. That was a message she relayed to all of her friends, not that she expected them to just throw everything together, she just felt that less would be more.
A little further down was the library, and Twilight noticed some Daring Do posters on the walls. A nice addition from Rainbow Dash, and it also gave her the idea to find more posters to potentially hang up. There was plenty of space to do so, not to mention all of the available floor space. She noticed some potted plants and decorative vases here and there, but a few more couldn't hurt. When all was said and done she would decide if she wanted more, although she was very pleased with how it was coming along. Sometimes the littlest touches make the biggest difference.
They soon entered the map room, and quickly spotted Rarity and Rainbow Dash. "Hey girls."
"Hey Twilight, Fluttershy. So, what do you think of the castle so far."
"It's wonderful, you've all done a great job!" Twilight smiled.
Rarity smiled in turn. "This luxurious castle really does bring out my creativity, but I respected your wish to not overdo it."
Rainbow nodded in agreement. "Yeah and if you think we did just let us know, although my offer still stands on those trophies."
"Weren't those your trophies?" Fluttershy questioned.
"I told you, there everyponies' trophies... just with my name permanently engraved on them."
"Still I think I'll pass, again, but thank you anyway."
"Suit yourself, but if you ever do win any trophies let me know and we can make you a case." Rainbow Dash said.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Applejack then walked into the room, and upon seeing her friends she smiled and waved. "Hey y'all. Well Twilight, ya have plenty of cookware and baking supplies, and a couple o' quilts."
"Those quilts your family makes are always lovely, any one of those could be used for a nice tablecloth or blanket." Rarity said.
"Or for a picnic!" Pinkie Pie added as she came bouncing into the room.
"Where have ya been, one moment you're followin' me and then you were gone."
Pinkie giggled. "Oh sorry, I had just had to go set up some hidden confetti cannons."
Twilight turned toward her friend in bewilderment. "Why did you set up confetti cannons in the castle?"
"Why wouldn't I? There's always room for confetti cannons!" Pinkie said, all the while the sounds of a party explosion could be heard in the distance. "See?"
Everypony broke out into a fit of laughter.
After a few moments Rainbow spoke up. "So what was that special project you wanted to tell us about?"
"Well, and I know it might seem a little silly, but I thought we could take the remains of the library and put it up in the castle. We've had a lot of good times there, and I want to honor its memory."
"I think it's a lovely idea." Fluttershy said.
"We could hoist it up over the map, that should be a big enough space for it." Applejack stated.
"How do you suppose we get it up there, it's not like Vegito's around to just pick it up out of the ground?" Rarity questioned.
Rainbow Dash smirked. "I've been training under him remember, I could probably lift that thing easy peasy."
Applejack chuckled and shook her head lightly. "Well ah don't know about that, but if I can raise a barn I can help pull a stump out of the ground."
"We can all pitch in, make it another group project." Twilight suggested.
"Hooray for group projects!" Pinkie exclaimed.
As her friends were getting excited, Twilight figured now was a good time to add on more good news. "After we're done with this I'm taking all of us out for some food, and dessert, as a way of thanking you for all of your help."
"Sounds wonderful." Fluttershy smiled.
"I'm sure we'll all be a little tired after this, so a nice meal seems marvelous!" Rarity added.
"Ooh we should totally have a slumber party here tonight! What better way to feel at home then having a fun night with all of your friends?"
Everypony nodded in agreement.
"It's settled then, now come on girls we have a tree to uproot!"
Vegito was standing outside of Tarble's house, waiting for his brother to come out. They had just finished eating lunch not too long ago, and after clearing his plate Vegito had been ready to resume training. Naturally his brother was helping clean up, and while he offered to help Tarble assured him it wasn't necessary. As he was waiting he thought of more ways to spice up the training, and maybe add some extra challenge as well. Having a sparing partner would help, but he wasn't planning on sticking around forever. That was when he remembered a certain someone back in Equestria, who would be the perfect partner to fight against his brother.
Speaking of Tarble, he came outside a few moments later. "I'm back, and ready to continue my training!"
"Good, but before we do an idea came to mind. How would you feel about having someone else join us, and then when I leave you'll be able to train against them?"
"Who is it?"
"A friend of mine, his name's Tapion. His power is a little lower than yours, but he'll still make a good partner. There's a technique I want to show him, it'll help him keep up with you especially as a Super Saiyan."
Tarble nodded. "I look forward to meeting him."
Vegito smiled in response. "Great, I'll be right back."
After a few moments of concentration Vegito found Equestria, and in an instant he vanished. He soon found himself standing near a bunch of trees, which he figured had to be the White Tail Woods. Now in Equestria he began searching for Tapion's ki, and it wasn't long before he had located it. In another instant he was gone, and the next he was on the outskirts of a town. It was still daytime and the Ponies were out and about, but he wasn't here for them... although he did notice a certain Unicorn he hadn't seen in a while, and made a mental note to check up on her soon. Traveling in the opposite direction though was the person of interest, and Vegito got moving.
It wasn't difficult to tell Vegito had appeared near him, as that big power was hard to miss, and so he merely turned around and waited.
"Hey, good to see you again Tapion."
"Likewise, although I must admit I'm a little surprised. You had left the castle so suddenly, not to mention how you acted after your fight."
Vegito let out a sigh. "Yeah that fight didn't exactly end well, and I'd rather not get into that right now. Anyway, I came to find you because I had an idea."
Tapion raised a brow.
"Before coming here I was visiting my brother Tarble, and after some training I realized you would be a great sparring partner for him."
"So you want me to fight your brother?"
"Well I'll be sticking around for a little while longer, to get you two setup. Also there's a special technique I'll be teaching you, it might be tough to learn, and even more difficult to master, but when you finally do it'll be a great help in battle. Of course such training will take time, and you'll have to stay on his planet for a while. Don't worry, I'll make sure you have a home and everything you'll need. So, what do you say?"
Thinking it over for a few moments, Tapion quickly came to a decision. "I'll do it! Truth be told it's been tough trying to train on my own, but I've been doing my best to stick to your regiment."
Vegito smirked lightly. "I've been noticing your improvements, and I think you're time with Tarble will be a great help."
"Anything to get stronger... oh, back in town I ran into this Unicorn named Trixie, she said to say hi to you the next time I see you."
"I felt her presence already, and I'll be sure to stop by after I'm done with you two."
Tapion nodded. "Well, I'm ready to go if you are."
Placing his hand onto his friend's shoulder, and with two fingers already on his forehead, Vegito teleported them back to Tarble's location. His brother hadn't moved since his departure, not that he was expecting him to. His plan was brilliant if he said so himself, and it gave him more time to train his students back in Equestria. Obviously he was going to check up on Tarble and Tapion every once in a while, to see their progress and if they need any additional supplies for their training. It would also be good to see them more regularly, even if it's only in brief intervals.
"It's nice to meet you Tapion." Tarble said as he approached the warrior.
As he watched Vegito's brother approach Tapion couldn't help but think of his own brother, as the smile on Tarble's face reminded him of Minotia. "Likewise Tarble, I look forward to training with you."
"Alright now before we begin we're going to start off with some meditation. A clear mind is key for battle, and it can also help temper your ki. It will be especially crucial for you to have good control of your ki Tapion, as it will help you with the technique you'll be learning."
"If you don't mine me asking, what is this new technique?"
"It's called the Kaio-ken, a move I picked up a while back. It'll give you a quick burst of energy, increasing your power and heightening your senses for a brief period of time."
"Really? That's amazing!"
Vegito decided it was best to demonstrate. "Kaio-ken!"
Both Tarble and Tapion were left awestruck at the display, as Vegito's entire body had turned crimson with a flaring aura. They had only caught glimpses of Vegito's true power, and despite having seen him become a Super Saiyan the Kaio-ken was still very impressive. Tapion could feel the raw power on display, and it gave him even more of a reason to learn the technique. It would certainly help keep up with a Super Saiyan, and while he didn't know if Tarble could transform, it would still be nice being able to boost his power as well.
Several moments later the crimson aura faded and Vegito was back to normal. "While it can give you a great boost just be aware of your body's limit, as if you push it too far you could severely injure yourself. Of course as you grow stronger you can push it further, but it's best to take it easy to start."
Tapion nodded, still willing to learn in spite of the risk involved.
"Now then, let's get to meditating."
For what seemed like hours the trio had been sitting in silence, with nothing but the breeze and far off birds for company. They hadn't moved since the start, and each of them had gotten lost within their own thoughts. Vegito still had lingering thoughts about what happened on the other side, but was starting to accept what had happened and move on. He couldn't change what he had done, and could only try and not make a mistake like that again. If that Twilight had managed to survive, he only hoped that she finds peace and happiness.
Tapion meanwhile was focusing on his ki, as well as keeping a calm mind. He needed to learn the Kaio-ken, not just for himself but for the new friends he had made. Regret still plagued his mind over loosing Minotia, even when he reminded himself there was nothing he could've done. Hoi probably reached his brother's Music Box first, and must've found someone or something to open it. If it had been the other way around then perhaps his brother could've have been saved, assuming Hoi still went searching for Vegito. Regardless, he just wanted to be strong enough to never lose anyone important to him ever again!
Similarly Tarble was also deep in thought, but he was more so reflecting on what had just happened to him. He had become a Super Saiyan, a feat even his father hadn't even achieved. It was still amazing that it had happened, and he wasn't about to let it go to waste. That being said though, he didn't necessarily want to be angry just to use that power. Naturally it was bound to happen during a fight, but he didn't want to have to rely on it. He remembered how easily Vegito had transformed, and probably learned how to control it. That was something he would ask about, or more likely come up in a future lesson, but for now he would simply keep meditating.
Some more time passed before Vegito let out one final exhale, all the while opening his eyes. "I think that's enough for right now."
One after the other Tapion and Tarble opened their eyes as well, feeling a lot calmer than they had been before.
"You both did great, and now we can get to the fun part. You two are now going to spar, and I'll be taking note of your fighting skills. I do plan to teach what I've learned about martial arts, but consider this a trial run. Now before you start I want you to each be at full power, don't hold anything back... oh but don't go Super Saiyan yet Tarble, it wouldn't be close otherwise."
Nodding, Tarble focused on his ki and raised it as high as it could go in his base form, which soon caused a purple aura to envelop his body.
Tapion did the same, although his aura was more blue. He figured since it was going to be a fair fight his sword wasn't allowed, and as such he removed it from his back and tossed it toward Vegito. Not a second after he dashed forward, hoping to catch Tarble off guard with a punch. Before he could make contact Tarble had jumped high into the air, with no intention of coming back down. As Tapion went to pursue he swatted away the energy blasts coming at him, but at a certain point he he found it hard to continue and so he let his body fall. At the right moment he zoomed straight ahead, placing himself behind his opponent. Building up energy within his hands for a few seconds, Tapion then thrust the newly formed sphere straight at Tarble.
Turning around at the noise, Tarble saw the oncoming projectile. Placing both hands together, he hit the energy sphere and knocked it off course, causing a small explosion upon impact with the ground. That was when Tapion came flying in, hitting Tarble in the mid-section with a kick. Withstanding the pain Tarble retaliated by swinging his right arm, smacking his opponent in the side of the head with his forearm. His aura then flared as he went to chase after Tapion, reaching him in a mere moment. Taking a move from his brother, Tarble cupped his hands together and swung them downward full force.
With no time to react Tapion took the blow to his chest, and he was sent crashing into the ground. He laid there for a moment before his eyes went wide, just now noticing Tarble coming in for another strike. Pressing his hands against the ground, focusing his energy, Tapion propelled himself backward nearly avoiding getting stomped on. As he was flying back he fired off an energy blast, which struck Tarble with a boom. Not a moment later Tarble came barreling through the smoke, having been undeterred by that blast.
Roaring as loudly as he could, Tarble pulled his left fist back and then propelled it forward. His attack quickly met Tapion's defense, but had enough strength to break it. As such his knuckles struck his opponent's cheek, which dragged across it causing pain. He went to throw another punch, but he swung his arm a little too wide, allowing Tapion time to duck underneath it. It also left him open for a counter, which came in the form of an uppercut. Now reeling back Tarble swung his left leg, hitting Tapion in the rib and preventing another punch. To his surprise though his leg was seized, caught in Tapion's grip. He was then tossed over the other man's shoulder, now flying face first toward the ground.
Before actually hitting the ground Tarble managed to stabilize himself, but as he was turning around Tapion's boot came toward his face. With no time to block or dodge, he had no choice but to take the hit. The heel of the boot grazed Tarble's cheek and nose, making his head turn slightly as a result. A knee then struck his gut, with a punch already coming in for another strike. Gritting his teeth, Tarble quickly retaliated with a punch of his own, which hit Tapion with enough force to stun him in place. A second fist launched his opponent backwards, and not a moment after he brought both hands up closer to his chest.
Tarble's aura flared as he built up his energy, and several seconds later he thrust his hands forward. "Galick Gun!"
From the sidelines Vegito smirked as the Galick Gun soared across the sky, bathing the landscape in its rich purple light. "That's gonna hurt."
A loud boom resounded throughout the area as Tapion was struck with the blast, with a large cloud of dust and smoke left behind. Suddenly Tapion's body could be seen falling from the sky, which then hit the ground rather gracefully. There were no signs of movement except for the wind blowing through his hair, and it appeared that Tapion was down for the count. He was still awake, but his body was in a lot of pain. Up until that point he had done well, but it seemed he still had much to learn.
Vegito was now standing over the fallen warrior, a Senzu Bean in hand. "You did well out there, I'm impressed."
Upon chewing and swallowing the bean Tapion was back to full strength, and then got back to his feet.
Tarble landed next to them and held out his hand. "That was a good fight, you have some good moves."
Smiling, Tapion shook his hand. "Likewise, and I look forward to our rematch."
"There's still a lot you two have to learn, but you're making good progress. Now then let's get to work on your form."
"Alright, on three. One, two, three!"
With their plan in mind Twilight and her friends set out to uproot the remains of the library, which wasn't as difficult as it sounded. Applejack had quickly been able to get a winch going, and along with Twilight and Rarity's magic, plus Rainbow's newfound strength, they were able to lift it no problem. Getting it back to the castle wasn't an issue either, as Twilight was able to carry it the whole way. Once inside it was a simple matter of placing it where they wanted it, which the group decided should go in the main room above the map.
While Twilight could've done it herself she still had her friends helping out, with Rainbow and Fluttershy helping move the tree, and Rarity and Applejack deciding the perfect placement. Pinkie Pie was content to cheer her friends on, as well as get the gemstones ready for the next part. In addition to the grabbing the tree Rarity had also gathered an assortment of gems, with each one depicting a memory from the library. It was a lovely decoration which also doubled as a tribute, the perfect two for one in her eyes.
When all was said and done Twilight let the moment soak in. "You know, this turned out even better than I imagined."
"It does look really nice." Fluuttershy commented.
"Yeah and every time we come to the map we'll get to look at it!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"It certainly is gorgeous; almost makes you forget it used to be a full grown tree." Rarity added.
Applejack nodded in agreement. "Those gemstones were a nice touch. Boy, ah wish Vegito was here to see this."
"He'll get to see it when he comes home, whenever that is." Rainbow Dash stated with confidence.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon, after he finishes clearing his head." Twilight said.
"And when he does we'll throw a big party, with all kinds of food and fun!"
"Well knowin' Vegito he'll be very hungry when he returns." Applejack noted.
"Speaking of, I do believe it's time for a well deserved meal." Rarity said.
Twilight nodded. "Yep, and we can talk more about this party along the way."
And so with the tribute completed Twilight and her friends went out to start their night of fun.
