"Hard-core" Training. [Open-to-all.]

[light_of_willpower]

Who: (Future) Trunks and whoever is interested! Open to all.
When: October 22nd.
Where: Open Grounds (and Sky) near Caireen's Temple.
What: An open area and invitation for some harder-training than is usually done during the intro-events.



Bishamon was always kind enough every month to open part of her temple and its grounds for new shinki and gods, and Trunks was grateful for that. But he was also pretty sure he, and a few others he could think of, would appreciate a training session or two that wasn't geared towards most of the new arrivals. (Not that there was anything wrong with new arrivals, or those who weren't as skilled as others. They all had to learn.) Fortunately, he also had an understanding Goddess, who had decent space around her temple-grounds, and who knew he'd take care of clean-up and everything else.

Especially since some of the platforms and structure's they'd used from the game of hide-and-seek were still placed around. Celestia'd been kind enough to help Trunks with forming clouds into various loops and shapes to provide some obstacles there too. Clearly marking the space closest to Caireen's temple as off-limits, just in case as well.

It still left them lots of open ground on the edge of the forest, the beach-area, and the sky. Perfect, as far as he was concerned. Word-of-mouth, mostly making sure to stop by and visit friends he knew would be interested (like Snow and Goten) the date he was planning this, and then just setting things up.

He didn't have animated straw-dummies, but then--most of the people he was expecting were far beyond straw-dummy level.]

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

Good, because he's gradually speeding up and could probably give most racers a good run for their money. The faintest of a hint of shimmer (almost like heat-haze) was around him too, as his Chi acted as buffer as well as kept him flying. Blue eyes narrowed, studying the curve of the clouds and while he could've gone over or under the grey-cloudwall...

He stopped, quickly but efficiently and just waited instead, turning towards Celestia.

[letteropener]

Who breezed straight past him, putting on just enough height that she shot over the cloud with her hooves skimming it. "Why did you stop?" she called out over her shoulder, playfully.

[light_of_willpower]

That brought a smirk as he joined her easily. "Because I thought it'd be rude to leave you behind." The hint of cocksure nature was new, but also in some ways--a sign of just how comfortable Trunks was with Celestia. If he could tease like that.

[letteropener]

"I'm not the flyer you are." Celestia had wisdom over pride, and could admit that without hesitation or reservation as she banked into the broad turn the cloud-track took.

[light_of_willpower]

"You're not a lot of things I am, Celestia." Trunks replied good-naturedly, keeping pace with her easily. "I mean, I could go find out what other surprises you have planned, but I do like talking with you too."

[letteropener]

"If you can talk and race, I should have made this more challenging."

Celestia pulled ahead slightly with a flap of her wings as the path opened up into a broad maze of horizontal and vertical lines. She dove into the thick of it without hesitation, weaving deftly around and through the cloud-pillars.

[light_of_willpower]

"This just means we'll have to do this again then, right?"

Please say yes--because this is fun. Her pulling ahead, graceful as ever, makes him chuckle. Then he's catching up again and weaving through and around the pillars just as easily. No hesitation on his part, and he'll even speed up again to pass her. Waving as he does so, before focusing on whatever's coming next.

[letteropener]

Emerging from the aerial obstacle course took him right between two narrow pairs of grey clouds, long lines that practically crackled with electrical charge. Lightning rumbled in their depths, ready to jump out at a moment's notice.

[light_of_willpower]

If it gave him pause, Trunks wasn't showing it. Instead, blue-eyes are narrowing in focus and he's diving between those narrow pairs without hesitation. It's a very good test of his reflexes and speed; Trunks trying to pay just enough attention to what he's doing while not actively thinking, so he knows how he's doing it.

Especially when he almost seems to teleport away from one sudden strike to reappear out of that zone, then dive to avoid another. He's not, but moving fast enough to look like a teleport is still something he's getting relearning. Once he's out of the storm clouds though, he'll stop and wait for Celestia again. A bit of a relieved expression as he looks back, but not tired yet.

[letteropener]

"That was very impressive flying!" Celestia said brightly -- from behind him. She'd chosen to dodge the obstacles through her own abilities... in this case, teleporting. She was very good at it, after all.

[light_of_willpower]

True teleportation is not something he can do; but moving fast and seeming to mimic it? It's come up at least once or twice before, which is why he's trying to get handle on how he does it. A little duck of his head at the praise, and a smile. "I'm trying to...react, but also analyze how I react? If that makes sense? It's part of why I'm glad you made a course. So I can test myself."

It wasn't 'magic'--at least not like Celestia used, or even shinki spells. It was energy; Chi is what Hakkai called it, and that made sense to Trunks. It fluctuated at various times depending on what he was doing and how he was using it--at the higher speeds of his plain flight it was almost like a shimmery haze that was visible around him.

[letteropener]

"So far it doesn't seem to be testing you very hard," Celestia chuckled. She wasn't sure HOW she could test Trunks, to be honest.

[light_of_willpower]

"It's better than just open sky for now, so I'm still glad to have it." Trunks responded with genuine sincerity. Honestly Celestia, you could probably treat him like Rainbow Dash for purposes of testing...

[letteropener]

As if Celestia had any idea how to test Rainbow Dash!

Turning, she accelerates back into the next section -- a wide-open one, for flyers to catch their breath or enjoy the energy in their bodies after all that for a moment. No acrobatics from Celestia, though, more's the pity.

[light_of_willpower]

She could always start throwing obstacles at him...

Trunks kept pace, but was also looking around at the open stretch. Studying, before stopping and turning back to look at the course they'd traversed so far. "Are these the kinds of things Pegasi deal with back in Equestria? I mean, you probably have some kind of organized air-squad of some kind? How do they train?" Did Celestia know, being a princess?

This is all kind of new to Trunks, but he's already trying to think of ways to potentially improve.

[letteropener]

She'd set this up with obstacles! He'd handled them neatly.

"In Equestria, fancy flying is primarily done by an aerial troupe known as the Wonderbolts. Rather than focus on obstacles or hazardous courses, they emphasize both speed and skilled performances."

[light_of_willpower]

"So does Equestria have an organized defense force? I mean, I know there are threats--like the changelings." But Trunks is bringing himself closer, and reaching out to rest his hand against Celestia's neck where he won't interfere with her own flying. "I also really am still glad you did this. Those storm clouds and the lightening were something. I'm hoping maybe to find out just who among us CAN fly. Besides those I know, and see if we can't get together to do this kind of thing more often. Practice, as most people aren't as comfortable in the air."

[letteropener]

"The Wonderbolts do sometimes respond to trouble as needed, and we of course have the Guard. But Equestria has been peaceful for the most part for a very long time, and those threats we do face are not ones that such a defense force could handle."

Celestia smiled at his second sentiment. "I do agree. It's wonderful to stretch my wings."

[light_of_willpower]

That made him stop short, hovering and blinking for a moment. Wondering about why his brain had responded to her statement. The idea of a land at peace for so long... Shaking himself from it a second later with a genuine smile. "First, I enjoy your company so anytime you want to fly, we can go exploring. Secondly, I hope your land stays at peace, and I hope that no threat comes that you can't handle."

Ever the protective type, apparently.

[letteropener]

Celestia couldn't help but giggle into a hoof. "I haven't handled any of the threats that have come up lately at all. My days of doing that are done, I think. But thank you."

[light_of_willpower]

Hey, he's glad he can make her smile (and giggle) apparently. "I don't know--you don't strike me as the type to not be aware, if not involved. Just in case, of course." With a deliberate and obvious wink to make his point (and tease her too).

"So what else can you throw at me, with this flight course?"

[letteropener]

"I'm not sure the next part will be a challenge for you at all," she said, turning back to the race with a beat of her wings. Up ahead, a large cloud looked like a solid wall -- right up till Celestia lifted her wings up and back, then dove sharply right before it.

[light_of_willpower]

"Challenge or not, it's still fun!" Trunks called back with a grin, before keeping pace with her. Admittedly, he paused as he watched her with the sudden stop and dive, for a second. Then was right at pace with her again, diving too; and applauding.

Her maneuvering had been nice to see--graceful and without losing speed and practiced. (Like a Princess should be.)

[letteropener]

It wasn't over yet. The two of them appeared to be heading straight for yet another cloud wall -- and again, at about the last moment, Celestia pulled up out of her dive, arcing beneath the vertical cloud to begin rising on its other side. Not an easy task for a creature that flies with wings, but likely less challenging for Trunks.