Chapter 15:
Training With Books
Twilight and Luna stood across from each other. Twilight stood ready with her fists by her side and her eyes narrowed in determination.
"When you focus on Kung-Fu, Unicorn, when you concentrate…You stink," Luna said as she smirked at Twilight's hopeful grin.
Twilight's smile faded into disappointment. At first, she started to wonder if Luna was just going into another tirade about how bad she was. But then, she noticed the light in Luna's eyes was truly different. Almost kind and encouraging.
"But that is my fault. I cannot train you as I have trained the Five. I now see the way to get through to you… Is with these," Luna admitted, causing Twilight's eyes to widen as Luna pulled out three scrolls emblazoned with wax seals depicting Celestia's sigil.
Twilight gasped, covering her mouth, "Scrolls? From Celestia's private collection?! Oh, boy! I can't wait to read those!".
Luna nodded and held them out for her. Twilight inched forward, her fingers itching for the scrolls… only for her grin to turn to a frown as Luna held them back away from her. For a lover of books and Kung Fu, it was the ultimate tease.
"When you have been trained, you may read," Luna said, dangling another scroll before Twilight's eyes.
Twilight regarded the scroll with suspicion, but this one had the scent of ink on it. Could it be one of Celestia's scrolls? Or a trick? Either way, Luna wasn't about to let Twilight find out, walking away with the scroll trailing behind her like a treat for a hungry dog.
"Let's begin," Luna declared.
And begin they did. Starting with basic exercise, Twilight soon found herself dangling upside down with her legs around the branch of a tree. Luna sat above her with the scroll and a box of matches. Every time Twilight slowed down, Luna lit a match and brought it close to the scroll in her hands, smiling as the incentive got Twilight to push harder. Twilight hated the thought of scrolls burning.
Unfortunately, she pushed too hard. Pulled down by Twilight's rampant sit-ups, the branch began to creak and crack. Sensing danger, by years of training and instinct, Luna leaped onto a nearby rock formation, Twilight following suit as the branch gave way. The scroll had flown into the air in the leap to safety, but Twilight grabbed the tree branch stump with one hand and caught the scroll with the other. She had caught it!
"Safe and sound," Twilight declared happily. But before she could open it… another crack cut her off, "Oh…" She whimpered before the last of the branch snapped off, and she plummeted into the pond below, with Luna snatching the scroll from her grip.
Once Twilight dragged herself from the water below and dried off, Luna brought her deeper into the surrounding forest. Handing her a bound and locked book, the alicorn then drew a bo staff. Twilight soon found herself fleeing through the forest, desperately trying to unlock the book as Luna whacked her upside the head and downside the legs. Twilight valiantly tried to run, block, and unlock all at the same time, but it was merely the beginning of her training.
As the days wore on, Luna found more and more creative ways for books and scrolls to motivate Twilight. Playing keep-away with a scroll that she transitioned from hand to hand, Twilight's grabbing motions started to resemble kung-fu strikes. Allowing her to read, but only when she did push-ups over hot coals. Balancing several books on her head, arms, and even a knee as she teetered on a sharp rock at the top of a mountain.
But, slowly and surely, the training paid off. As Twilight's body accustomed to the physical training, she began matching Luna in push-ups. She began matching Luna's speed and strength. And the forms of kung-fu she had read about but failed to properly emulate began as easy to copy for her as breathing was.
Finally, the day came when Luna did not have another challenge waiting for Twilight. Instead, she saw before her, an entire table full of books and scrolls.
Luna motioned towards the pile of literature, "After you, pony," She invited.
But the long hours of training had made Twilight more than a little suspicious. Luna had never allowed Twilight near her precious books like this.
"That's it? Just like that? Not sit-ups? No… ten-mile hike?" Twilight asked suspiciously.
Luna's smile was disarming, "I vowed to train you, and you have been trained. So you are free to read," She replied, picking up a book for herself.
Twilight's glare didn't fade, even as she sat down. Or when she pulled one of the scrolls to her side.
"Enjoy," Luna replied, already – apparently – invested in her own book.
Slowly, Twilight unrolled her scroll, the wonderful scent of ink and paper almost intoxicating to her mind. She centered her eyes on the first paragraph.
The reign before Celestia was…
But she didn't get to read any further. With a flash of midnight blue, Twilight wailed in despair as the scroll was snatched from her within seconds. Whirling on Master Luna, Twilight found her… still invested in her book. Luna glanced up with confusion like Twilight had shouted for nothing.
"I said you are free to read. Try The Reign of Discord. As I recall, you were particularly invested in that particular adventure." Luna invited again, nudging a book toward Twilight.
Tensing at the memory of Luna finding her imitating the passages from that book, Twilight pulled the book to her side.
Suddenly, the table bounced!
Twilight's book flung out of her hands, and with another midnight blue flash, the book sailed over the horizon, down the mountain, and out of sight.
Twilight gagged in utter disbelief, before whirling on Luna. Her eyes lifted from her own book, sparkling with mischief… and a bit of challenging ferocity.
"You are free to read," Luna practically growled.
"Am I?!" Twilight demanded back.
"Are you?!" Luna demanded, throwing her book away and striking a kung-fu pose.
Growling, Twilight formed her own stance, before making a lung for the books. Luna, however, was faster, kicking the books and the table into the air before leaping among them and scattering them all over the mountain with kicks, punches, and swipes.
Desperately, Twilight leaped up to try and save at least one scroll, in slow motion. Only to wail again in despair as Luna snatched the scroll away from her hand.
Both fighters landed, Luna on the table holding the scroll in her hand, and Twilight on her stomach. However, before Luna could toss the scroll away, Twilight regained her feet and caught Luna by the wrist.
Luna laughed in glee as the two began struggling over the scroll. Wrists clashed against wrists, arms tangled like noodles in ramen. Twilight was definitely improving.
However, Luna broke free first as Twilight stood in her way, blocking her path. Luna began transferring the scroll from hand to hand, foot to foot. At one point she even balanced it on her tongue. But Twilight's eyes turned into a blur following the scroll's movements. And when she lashed out with her hand… she caught the scroll!
Back the two went to their grappling and struggling. Though Luna was bigger and stronger, with more experience, Twilight was faster and nimbler. When Luna tried to sweep her legs out from under her, Twilight leaped and spun. Her spin knocked the scroll out of their hands. But Luna jumped over Twilight and kicked the scroll into the tree.
Twilight tried to go for the tree, only for Luna to block her path. The two sparred back and forth, but Twilight's body had been honed from the training. And where Luna would have soundly trounced the purple mare before, now Twilight was able to keep up with the blue alicorn.
But the experience was still a significant factor, and it wasn't long before Luna got in a hit that knocked Twilight into the tree… and jarred the scroll from the branch.
Sensing the scroll falling, Twilight leaped up to grab it, only for Luna to yank her back down. But just as she reached up for the scroll, Twilight swept her legs out from under her. Adapting, Luna kicked the scroll, sending it flying down the hill.
But not at nearly the same speed as the other books. And as the scroll arced into the air, Twilight leaped over Luna and gave chase. Smiling at the ferocity of Twilight's fighting, Luna raced after her, seizing her bo staff along the way.
And so, the fight continued down the hill, the scroll bouncing off the two fighters as Twilight parried, blocked, and reflected Luna's attacks. All the while, her eyes never left the scroll for more than a second. But when Luna tried to take advantage of Twilight's apparent distraction, the purple mare managed to redirect Luna's staff into the ground, flip over her master, and…
Flew through the air after the Scroll!
Luna's smile widened as Twilight hit the ground, the scroll safely in her hand. Panting, but smiling in triumph, Twilight looked to Luna, awaiting her next move. Luna simply nodded and motioned for Twilight to enjoy her reading. She was happy Twilight had bested her.
Twilight gazed at the scroll for a moment… before tossing it back into Luna's hand. Luna's eyes shot open, staring at Twilight in shock and wonder. She knew the unicorn loved to read. Twilight just gave her a small grin.
"I don't need to read," Twilight replied.
Luna smirked and tossed the scroll aside as Twilight placed her fist into her palm and bowed.
"Master," She added quietly, as the two fighters bowed to each other.
Author's Note: Looks like Luna and Twilight are starting to get along and Luna is letting go of her 'Illusion Of Control'.
But how are the Furious Five doing with battling Tai Lung?
Find out soon when the next chapter comes out.
( Author's Heads-up Note: There's gonna be a twist in the next chapter, so prepare yourself )