concoursec | Boxing Field Trip

Entry tags:

Boxing Field Trip

Character(s): Tom Bronson, Touma Norstein, Edward Elric, Billy Cranston, Chris Ramirez, Rainbow Dash, Damian Wayne, Sigyn, Espio, (+ any student/SeeD who signed up)
Location: Winhill
Rating: PG-13
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: Tom and Touma take kids on a field trip to discover new opponents and learn more about the wonderful world of Boxing! So far, so good... right? Backdated to Saturday afternoon.

[Friday had been uneventful, as far as field trips went. Tom and Touma had requested Espio's help with flying the Ragnarok to Winhill, where the Cadets got a tour of the old boxing studio before attempting a few rounds... as well as a good meal from one of the local inns and a few (tolerable) remarks from some of the townspeople.

Saturday, everyone'd woken up bright and early so that they could take in the sights before heading down to the same inn for lunch. Tom was more than thrilled that everything was going so well; after all, it was his first field trip that he was in charge of, and it was going along pretty well!

This afternoon, they'd meet one of Tom's acquaintances, who was schooled in this world's form of Boxing, and get to witness Touma going against him before attempting to learn a few new moves from this "master of Boxing."

But first? Lunch! Tom's more than grateful for the spread of sandwiches, salads, and various beverages. There's also home baked cookies, for those who believe in dessert before lunch, but Tom won't judge too harshly if someone does stack up on dessert.

It's a lull in the midst of activity, and honestly? Tom's kind of grateful as he takes a seat at one of the empty tables. He's needed some time to think about the (tight) schedule they're on - at Touma's insistence, of course.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Equestria?

[Of course, scrambling away makes it easy enough to see that she's simply floating in midair, her wings keeping her aloft effortlessly (and silently. So it's not AS bad as you thought, Ed.]

You know what I meant! [He shuffles round a little so he can glower at her properly and rests his arm on the table, conveniently covering most of the notebook.] Anyway, who said I was working?

You're looking at a notebook full of drawings that look straight out of a class. What do you call it?

[Because there's no way you could call it 'fun'.]

[He would... if he was making any headway with them at all. Which he isn't, so:] I don't know, how about "looking at a notebook full of drawings"? [He can't even keep his annoyance up long enough to carry on glaring; he's just staring off at nothing in particular.] Wish they were from a class - maybe then not all the books here would be useless, and I'd be out of here by now.

[Oh, there he goes again! She waves a hoof in front of his eyes.] So first it's rockets and now it's funny drawings? Why're you in such a hurry to get home anyway? It's not like we all don't miss where we're from, but you're a lot worse about it than anypony else I know.

[Okay, some more bristling is in order. He bats at that hoof with the back of his hand, trying to get it out of his face.] Hey, they're not just funny drawings! Don't you know what an array looks like when you see one? [Obviously not, but why acknowledge that when he can act indignant instead?]

Look, I was in the middle of something and I really need to get back to it. That's all there is to it. Can't think of a better reason.

[Well, there's another reason he's homesick right now instead of earlier or later, but how does he explain that without making it confusing and sounding whiny? Dammit, general.]

[She backs off a half-length or so, now that he's back to reality.]

You weren't in the middle of something. You were staring off into space. You weren't even looking at your 'array', whatever that is.

[Bristling is better than moping! Keep bristling if you gotta, Ed!]

[Nope. Though, hey, Rainbow, about how you suggested working on boxing would be a better idea just a moment ago? It's sounding increasingly appealing.]

I meant back where I'm from, okay? You know, somewhere normal where there aren't any talking ponies, and if anyone looks like someone I know it's because they actually are. Oh, wait, that's right, you wouldn't know. Nobody here would, 'cause they wouldn't know normal if it ran over them in a tank.

[Bring it, human!]

So what's wrong with talking ponies? Or anything else for that matter? Just because it's not NORMAL doesn't mean it's BAD.

[Keep badmouthing talking ponies and they WILL get in a big cartoon ball o' violence!]

C'mon, now you're just reaching. That's not what I said. Still doesn't change the fact that it's not normal.

[Yeah, screw it, he's going to vent. If she didn't want to listen, she could've left him alone.]

Let's say, I don't know, your purple friend showed up here for the first time, except she didn't remember any of the things you remember. Or even remember you, because she thought you were someone taller or some crap like that. It'd be weird, right? And you'd be stuck with her.

[She takes a moment to actually think about that, hoof to her chin and eyes rolled back.]

Yeah. That would be kind of weird and unpleasant.

But so long as she was still Twilight Sparkle, she'd still be my friend, even if she didn't remember me.

Okay, but how could you tell? She wouldn't even know what you expect her to be like. She'd just be a stranger with the same face. Last few times I met one of those, well, it didn't really work out for either of us. [It'll take a cartoon ball of violence to stop him spacing out again at this rate. Or a short joke, which amounts to the same thing.]

...If it helps, there's two of my friends here who aren't normal at all. Pinkie Pie is human, and doesn't seem to think that's anything weird, but she still remembers me. Applejack... well, it's a human with that name who's a lot like her, but she doesn't know ANYthing about ANYpony.

So I do get what you're saying.

[Actually? That does help.

He's not going to show it, of course.] See? It's weird. And honestly, the guy I know is a pain! I wouldn't want to see him around here anyway! But if I don't get a choice about putting up with his smug face, it could at least be the one that belongs to him.

[Sigh.]

So... how's your weekend going?

Sure it's weird, but this whole thing is weird, and if you let that get you down you're just going to be sad and miserable. And that's NO way to live.

That's why I'm enjoying this trip! [She puts on a few feet of height or so, to sweep her hooves over their surroundings.] We're out in a town, no homework, good food, and we've been seeing some cool sights! Makes a good weekend in my book.

Yeah, it's not bad. Could use less of the weird looks and whispering, though. [He'd understand if it was just the pony and the chameleon they had problems with, but seriously, wearing a coat and gloves in the middle of summer isn't that strange...]

Ignore 'em.

[Rainbow Dash is perfectly willing and able to furiously pretend she isn't bothered by those looks and whispers, despite the total hair-trigger she's developed even around Garden towards people who act like a talking pony is weird or unusual. (As opposed to just saying so but treating her normally, so Ed gets a pass there.)]

Hey, I could care less about them. You know, military dog, it comes with the territory. But it's kind of harsh on everyone else when we're not doing anything regular tourists wouldn't, isn't it? Hell, most of us aren't even freaky-looking to begin with. ...No offense. [Because he's probably closer to that end of the spectrum, if he's honest.]

[She briefly envisions 'military dog' along the lines of 'Diamond Dog'. But no, it HAS to be metaphorical.]

Kind of reminds me of flight school, honestly.

Thought you said you didn't have any normal people back there to eyeball you. [He grins. At least he's feeling well enough to be obtuse.] But seriously, you? You don't really seem like the type who'd get picked on much.

Me? Of course not, why would I be picked on? I meant other ponies.

[She says that entirely too fast and firmly to be believable.]

Yeah, why would they pick on you? [Sensitivity, what's that?] Can't be for breaking every law of mechanics there is if there're enough of you flying around to set up a school for it. Maybe it's just 'cause there aren't that many of you here, but you ponies all seem about as weird as each other to me.

...You probably don't want to hear that my best friend in school was a griffon, do you.

[He's giving her a look. There's not really enough room in this place to do a full-on face-fault without someone else's chair getting in the way, but the sentiment is there.]

Sure, I can buy that. And hey, guess what? My brother's a tin can.

[You said it like it's a joke, so Rainbow's gonna laugh at the joke.]

No, really! I don't hang out with her any more, but she was!

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