I woke up that morning feeling more rested than I could ever remembered being before. It took me a moment to remember why I was in a purple metal room with a Talon insignia on the wall. Then I remembered the events of yesterday.

I yawned and stood up, stretching. I grabbed an outfit, black pants with a deep red long-sleeved shirt and pulled it on. Walking into the bathroom took care of morning essentials and just was pulling on my shoes, when there was a knock on my door.

"Come on in, Ace."

The door slid open and the Dark Ace stood in his normal attire. He glanced over the room, his eyes resting on the unmade bed. "You slept well I take."

I nodded, tying the last knot in my boot.

"Are you going to make you bed?"

I looked up at him, then glanced at the bed and looked back at him. "Nope."

He raised an eyebrow but let it go. "Are you ready to learn how to fight?"

"Yep," I said standing up.

He nodded, "then follow me."

We walked down the hall and entered a large arena style room. The walls had weapons hanging on them and the floor was scattered with mats, dummies, and obstacles. Here and there Talons were practicing different fighting styles, either on each other or on dummies; some of which looked like the Storm Hawks.

"We'll start with stretching," the Dark Ace said. He showed me stretched that would loosen different muscles. When we finished, he showed me stances and strikes, with both my fists and feet, correcting and showing how to make them more effective. He picked up punching pads that were placed on the hands. "Now that you understand the strikes let's see how you put them together." He held up his hands. "Remember the names of punches?"

I nodded, already in my fighting stance.

"Good. Now make sure not to drop your back hand. If you do I'm going to hit you in the head with these," he smacked the pads together. "Understand?"

I nodded again.

"Good. Now let's begin." He put up one hand, "jab."

I shot out my fist but dropped my back hand.

True to his word, he smacked me in the side of the head. "Keep that hand up!"

Gritting my teeth, I put it back up.

"Cross."

I launched out my left and this time I didn't drop my back hand.

The Dark Ace nodded and told me another punch.

We continued for about 30 minutes. In that time I got hit in the head 5 more times. After Ace put the pads away he tossed me a pair of grappling gloves, pulling on a pair himself.

"I'm going to teach you take downs and locks," he said, tugging the gloves tighter around his hands.

"Great," I said stretching my arms, "if I could still move my arms, that is."

"Yes Dark Ace," a soft slightly cold voice said from behind me, "let others have some time with her."

I grinned, I couldn't help it. When I turned around Cyclonis was standing there, dressed in her normal attire. "Cyclonis, come to save me from being unable to move for the rest of the day?"

She smiled, it was kinda creepy but it was nice to know she could smile at something that didn't include pain or suffering. "Yes actually I have. I hoped you would join me for breakfast."

My stomach suddenly growled loudly. "I believe my stomach spoke for me!"

"I suppose we can restart later tonight," Ace sighed.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Tonight?"

He nodded.

"Wonderful," my stomach growled again. "Let's go eat, before my stomach starts eating itself!"

Ace and Cyclonis started laughing, hard.

I stared at them, somewhat dumbfounded. "It wasn't that funny."

Ace put an arm around my shoulder, no longer laughing but grinning broadly. Cyclonis, still giggling, slid her arm into mine.

I looked from one to the other and allowed myself to be led out of the workout room and to breakfast.