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

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

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.]

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"There we go!"

Celestia nudged the final cloud into place, completing her obstacle course in the sky, as she called out to let know Trunks it was done and ready for a challenge. "Care to give it a whirl?"

Piccolo didn't know what to expect when he arrived at the temple of Caireen. He only vaguely knew the occupants of the temple from brief training sessions and meetings while at Bishamon's temple when it was set up for everyone. Maybe a few other brief moments that were fleeting and irrelevant. Piccolo was not much for small-talk or 'hanging out' as so many others were. He didn't understand the concepts.

It was odd to someone like him, who understood the ideas behind many typical things that people did or knew about, but felt foreign trying to mimic or partake in such things. Still, there were a few things that he could grasp easily and one such thing was training to become stronger, better. He couldn't resist a good sparring session either.

So however the case he ended up at Caireen's temple when the time came. He stood for a moment by himself, arms crossed in his familiar stance, and gazed out at the makeshift training grounds. His eyes were narrowed and it was clear as day that he was judging the sight before him.

Whether his thoughts on it were good or bad, though, was a completely different story; his expression was too hard to read beyond the fact that he was most definitely judging it one way or the other.

Trunks had been managing to hover closer to the ground, but enough up that he could see what Celestia was doing. It seemed like a good course, from what he could tell, and with her confirmation, he let himself float on up closer. "I'll have to, since I'm hosting after all. I appreciate your help though, any tips?"

Y'know--casual conversation, as if they weren't just however many hundred of feet up in the sky...

Caireen's temple was very simple--aside from the flats-of-wood and small structures set a bit a way and closer to the forest. Lots of open space with a good view of the sky, and the areas marked as 'off-limits' clear. Off-limits only to the training/any games played--not because they were dangerous or anything. Caireen was actually the Goddess of children, so having safe-spaces and clearly marked boundaries were a good thing, even as she was understanding of her shinki being more of a fighter. (Along with several of her, and his, friends...)

In any case, there is a good amount of open space, as well as a few things to hide in and around and on (or crash into). Some different terrain between the grass and the forest, as well as hints of a rocky-area closer to the sea. The sky has had cloud-rings and similar markers placed around as well for flyers, courtesy of Celestia.

Trunks's smile was small, but pleased, as he made enough noise that Piccolo would easily see and hear him coming. "It's good to see you again, Piccolo. I hope you're adjusting well?"

Trunks could have tried mimicking a cat's silent footsteps and Piccolo would have heard his approach. Whether he would have responded or not was another story entirely. The green-skinned shinki took his time gazing around before finally acknowledging the other's question. He glanced over almost as an after-thought.

"As well as can be expected." In other words, he was fine but he also considered the point moot as nothing would change the way things were here. He could spare to be a bit happier but those were the circumstances. Also known as: I don't do small talk so please forgo the formalities. Which the silence that followed probably hinted at as well, considering he didn't have the courtesy to ask anything in return.

"Well, do you know how to contact me, besides just coming to the temple, if you want a sparring partner or someone to work on things with?" Trunks isn't that bothered by the gruff-nature, and is fine without the small talk. He'd asked because of a genuine concern, as well as gladness to see the other shinki.

"Things are marked, in terms of what's off-limits. Mai's been very patient and understanding with my trying to relearn my skills, but I really don't want to test her patience by damaging things that I can't fix. Any questions about what you see, and what you'd like to work on?"

Well, being up here was certainly normal for her. And who was she to say it should be strange for him?

"Oh, I put in a couple of surprises for those who might try to go too fast," she said with a sly smile.

"Define too fast." Trunks was still learning himself just how fast he could go, both in the air or in a fight. But he was up for the challenge, and that sly smile of Celestia's invited the question well.

"I'd say we could race it, but you designed it--which might be a bit unfair."

Piccolo merely blinked at Trunks' question about contacting one another. The impression given was that he had no idea what the other was talking about. The more accurate explanation was that Piccolo didn't really care. He was aware of the network and, vaguely, how it worked despite never using it. But technology wasn't his forte and he would probably rather shun it than use it to contact others. Besides, he was used to being alone and without a form of easy contact. To say that he preferred that solitude over the idea of constantly (or even just rarely) being bothered by others through technology was definitely an understatement.

All of that, however, was readily glossed over in favor of the original reason he was here. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" he said, referring to the training grounds set up. Obstacle courses were obstacle courses and training equipment was training equipment. Like he said, it was all obvious to him. As for the other half of the question, "The usual. I could care less about the shinki abilities. I'm more interested in my old powers than anything new."

"Maybe, but I'm no racer to begin with. To be honest, I've flown more since coming to the Far Shore than I have in years in Equestria." And she was enjoying it phenomenally. No need for proper formal transport or restraint!

[ Did Caster get an invitation? Maybe. But the weird clouds gathering over the area are what prompted his curiosity to visit ]

What the-?

[ Those are not natural formations at all. Nope. And is there someone hovering there, or what? Sure, Caster can jump pretty high - definitely impossibly high for a normal human. Which is how he gets to the top of the highest tree. But flying is, uh, outside his area of expertise ]

[No, that is definitely not what clouds do normally. They had help from a friendly alicorn princess getting that way, in favor of making the sky course. That would be why they're also someone hovering there, looking things over. ~~Clearly Caster hasn't encountered Goten yet, since the kid is hardly ever on the ground.~~

It's only a little bit longer Caster would be observing, before that figure that is hovering is no longer hovering. Starting a controlled drop, and looking around while they do so, before there is a pause. Then that humanoid shape is waving, before heading towards that highest tree. Hopefully the wave conveyed 'friendly--don't fire or spook'.

Not long though before it resolves into Trunks; with an amused expression on his face. No hint of any animosity though, or any awkwardness or upset from their last conversation. Just amusement. ~~Remember you noticed he's a battery in terms of energy before, Cu?~~]

"I'm not sure if I'm a racer, honestly. I'm just trying anything that seems reasonable, hoping it'll help me relearn things." But he can hear the enjoyment in her voice, when she talks about how she's been more active. "Well, why don't you give me a tour of the course anyway, and you can stretch your wings more. It'll be nice to be flying with you when we're not dealing with a nightmare ayakashi."

Welp--the flat look on Piccolo's face, when 'contacting people' came up--meant either the other didn't know, or didn't care. The gruffness and brief answer also didn't phase Trunks either. "Alright. Have you made any progress since the energy burst? I know you found that easier to do while sparring, but it's probably something you can do without being in the middle of a fight too."

"Well, the beginning is over this way." She turned in midair, sweeping over towards the course start, clearly marked with a pair of cloud pillars and a long strand of cumulus for a starting line. Grace was one of her gifts, so the sweep of her wings and the motion of her body through the air was smooth and elegant even despite her professed lack of practice.

For someone who hadn't really 'known' he could fly until about a month before, there's a definite ease with it as Trunks moves with her. Not necessarily graceful or elegant the way Celestia was, but his movements through the air were just as smooth. Even if his mind was trying to relearn, clearly somewhere inside, along with muscle-memory and body-motions, flight had been something he was very familiar with.

And without wings too. If Celestia is able to, she can probably figure out how he's doing so as well--it's not magic, although it could seem so. She's seen him use Chi-blasts before, but those are flashy compared to this.

Humans flew in a way that was at once utterly unlike ponykind, and at the same time shared several similarities. Celestia might describe them more like bees, if she thought about it. It was very interesting.

Not bothering with formalities or details, Celestia breezed past the beginning and into the straightaway, where people could gain speed and test their limits (to a certain extent).

Wow, so more of you can do it?

[ On the contrary, he actually did meet Goten, and noticed his amazing flying skills. He gestures at those clouds because the friendly alicorn help is something he is unaware of ]

Is this a new artistic expression you're getting yourself into?

[ Some people paint, others sculpt, and then there is Trunks, sculpting clouds ]

The flying? Apparently so.

[Trunks's expression is a bit sheepish.] I didn't know I could though, until a bunch of us were dealing with a flying nightmare ayakashi. Mai got knocked off one of the platforms one of the other shinki made for us in the sky...and I just dove after her...

[Huh, that sounds familiar in some ways.]

Something in me kicked in, like with the chi blasting.

[Speaking off, Trunks sighs, and straightens up somewhat. No more sheepish.] I.... I owe you an apology.

[This is hard, but Trunks is determined, even if uncomfortable.] For the punch, because you are right--I wasn't there. I'm still upset by how many people you worried, including Mai, but I shouldn't have acted the way I did.

[Both because it's right, and because Caster IS a God...although that one had slightly less weight in Trunks' mind. Gods had shinki for reasons, right? not that they couldn't work together...

Then there's a blink, and the rest of what Caster said caught up with him. Artist...huh? OH!]

Oh, and I didn't do the clouds. Celestia did. She's who Mai and I were helping originally when I sort of learned I can fly. We'd talked before about a sky-based obstacle course too.

Most humans didn't fly really, so it was very interesting.

Trunks is observant enough, and following everything easily. She can see a type of gleam in his eye when she mentions testing limits, and speed. One she's probably seen in Rainbow Dash's eye, when a new challenge is placed before her. Asking for a pause, blue-eyes narrow in thought as he eyes the straight-away.

Before there is a small burst of energy and he's racing down it, focused, and alert. Gauging his own speed, but also trying to study how he's doing this. As it relates to using that chi to fly, and move through the air. It's...not the easiest thing, trying to relearn something that the body and mind clearly know how to do without thought.

[ Turns out not having a memory of acquiring your abilities doesn't make it impossible to use them. They will get their way back to you, sooner or later. In one way or another. Though he does wonder since they come from the same world, can Mai fly as well? But that's a question perhaps left for later. ]

Don't sweat it. [ There was an apology along there and he responds to it first. And it is with ensuring that one isn't even needed. ] It's all water over the dam now.

[ He's quick to anger but he's equally quick to forgive. The argument feels like something so long ago it doesn't require any kind of mention. The upset part, he can't help with, only accept it as a consequence. There's no way of undoing what happened and even if there was- he would still choose saving Zelda over everything else. ]

Celestia you say, so she can fly too? [ He haven't met her yet, that he's sure of. Maybe he should start watching the skies more. ]

Edited 2018-03-31 12:53 (UTC)

[Caster's acknowledgement does make his shoulders untense at least. He feels better for apologizing, even if not necessary.]

I still wanted to let you know, but thank you.

[Really Caster, the answer about Mai is obvious--if she could fly, why would Trunks have dove to save her, without thinking?]

Celestia, is also known as the Goddess Inti. She looks like a white winged horse with a horn on her head, and a multi-colored mane and tail. Except she's not a horse, she's a pony. Apparently on her world, most beings are--she's a Princess there, also in charge of raising the sun. Cloud shaping is something pegasi do, and she can do it as well.

"Yes," Piccolo replied. "I know now that I can manipulate my energy in a myriad of ways. The basic energy blast has become rather... easy." Piccolo paused and then opened his mouth to continue but closed it without speaking instead. Another beat of time went by and he did speak again though not in quite a continuation as he might have hinted at before. Instead, he elaborated on another skill. "I also discovered that I can fly. It's still technically energy manipulation but put to a different use."

[Alex hadn't come for training, but she thought this would be a good opportunity to thank Trunk's for helping in the search for Temeraire. She hoped to do it properly and in person. The thing is, she didn't know how he looked liked.

Spotting someone up ahead, she approaches him.]

Excuse me...do you know where I can find Trunks?

[It wasn't quite like the big events, mostly because--Caireen wasn't that well-known of a god yet, and Trunks less so. This had been thrown together to be casual, although Trunks had been playing with the idea in his mind for a while. Right then was a water-break, having been challenging himself with small races in and around the various obstacles on the ground and moving in the sky with the clouds. In between working with his friends and anyone else who'd wanted to show up.

The new arrival didn't surprise him, and he turned with the polite greeting.]

That would be me. Can I help you with something?

[With a small-but-friendly smile, and towel around his neck, water bottle in hand.]

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

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