ToT - Ch. 1 Spring Forth: Part 5

Tip of his sword pointing to the heavens, Marth calmed his mind and steadied his body as he held Falchion vertically in front of him. With a light outtake of breath, he swung the honedge in a smooth arc, slashing a thick log with a red target in the center right in the middle. The blade cut through the wood like butter, cleanly cleaving the log in half. Marth relaxed his stance as the top half of the log fell to the ground with a resounding thud. Silently, he gazed to the side at around ten training blocks that had similarly been sliced and now lay on the ground.

After fleeing from the Scholars lab, Marth had come to the Trackers’ training grounds, deciding that the roguish guild would be the next he would investigate. However, if he was honest with himself, he was looking for somewhere to release his frustration…and a training field seemed just as good of a place as any. Marth was frustrated with himself for running out of the labs like he did. He had let his emotions get to him, let his memories overwhelm his mind. This mission he had taken up…everything rode upon it. His life, the lives of those in Elysion, perhaps even the lives of those here in Tabira. The evil of Grima could not be allowed to spread or even take root at all, if he could help it. But, he could not stop such darkness if he did not remain focused. He could not let the shadows of his past distract him. His resolve must remain strong.

Yet…barely half way into his first day, he had let his stoic mask slip, let loose information he had not originally intended to share. It had been the smallest of slip-ups, yes, and those he spoke to would likely think nothing of it. However, he did not like thinking about what it meant for his mission if he could not keep a cool head and a clear mind for even a day! If he could not maintain his composure at all times around strangers, what would happen if he ran into someone he recognized or worse, who recognized him? He could not allow his mask, physically and emotionally, to be seen through no matter what.

Be calm, Young One, an ancient presence echoed faintly through his mind. You are letting your emotions best you once again. Marth grit his teeth, biting off a sigh of frustration. Falchion was right, as it always was. The riolu took a deep breath and let it out slowly before moving to the next log with a crude target painted on it. Training was supposed to take his mind off all this. The Trackers’ official trainer, a female machoke named Marble, had been more than happy to put him to work as she did all new guild recruits who wished to join the Trackers. She worked them all quite rigorously, sending them through obstacle courses and sparring matches. He supposed this was to scare off any who weren’t tough enough to handle being in the Trackers. Not that he particularly cared. He wasn’t looking for membership, just a distraction ironically enough from the distraction of memories flooding unbidden into his mind. Running the obstacle course in the woods only brought to mind fleeing through the forest as a child from dark pursuers. Cutting up training dummies only reminded him of learning the way of the sword from his parents. Nothing was helping.

Shutting his eyes tight and trying to clear his mind, Marth returned to his original stance with Falchion pointing skyward. In a flash, he struck and another log fell in two. The action was mindless, automatic. Falchion guided his swing even as his eyes remained shut…not that anyone watching would be able to tell with his mask. He opened his eyes before turning his head upwards to the sky. Gracious Naga, give me strength… he prayed silently.

“Hey you!” a voice shouted from behind him. Mildly curious, Marth turned slightly to glance over his shoulder. The machoke, Marble, was advancing towards him. “Yeah, you! Riolu in the fancy get-up!” Said mon fully turned about to face the larger fighting type as she stopped in front of him. He waited patiently for her to state what she wanted with him. “You know, I’ve been watching you. You cleared the obstacle course pretty quick…for a rookie. Plus, you’ve got a great understanding of teamwork with that partner of yours,” she waved a hand at all the halved targets, “But, I’m still not convinced. You’re a fighting type yet I haven’t seen you fight at all yet. I wonder if that honedge has all the power and you just provide the fancy footwork.” Marth said nothing, taking the blunt comment unflinchingly. Marble folded her arms across her chest and gave the masked mon a harsh stare. “So, what I want to know is can you fight on your own without that honedge helping you?”

Marth met her gaze and nodded. “I can,” he said simply. Marble jabbed a finger at the nearby sparring area.

“Prove it, then! Right here, right now. One on one sparring match with me,” she said with a smirk, “I want to see your moves. I might even go easy on you!” The machoke marched over to the sparing area and got into a battle ready pose, gesturing with one hand “come and get me.”

Marth did not move at first before slowly placing Falchion back within its sheath at his hip. Maybe a sparring match with a tough opponent will be what I need to clear my head. He made his way over to the sparing area, standing opposite of Marble.

“Show me what you’ve got, rookie!” she challenged. Marth clenched one paw into a fist, a whitish blue mist collecting around it, before leaping at Marble. To his dismay though not quite his surprise, the machoke dodged out of the way of his attack, his Ice Punch connecting with the ground and sending a cloud of dirt and frost flying. Marble immediately counterattacked with a vertical chop, an indigo energy collecting around her hand. Being in such close quarters, Marth was just able to get out of the way. However, he wasn’t expecting his opponent to so quickly follow up with a horizontal chop which caught him right in the ribs. His mouth contorted into a grimace, but he uttered not a sound at the pain that blossomed in his side. The force of the attack had sent him flying back, but he had only tumbled once before returning solidly to his feet.

Dual Chop…I should have seen that coming. I need to focus! He silently berated himself. Marble wasn’t about to give him a chance to catch his breath as she charged at him with another vertical chop. He quickly sidestepped the first blow before ducking beneath the second chop which followed. The ground was cracked where Marble had hit it, and briefly Marth wondered if she had been joking about going easy on him. He put some distance between him and his opponent, knowing that his strength would never match up blow to blow with a mon of such immense power as a machoke. His sole advantage was being smaller, faster, and hopefully craftier.

A ball of flame collected in Marble’s hand before she pitched it at the masked riolu like a baseball. With practiced grace, he back-flipped out of the way which proved wise as a ring of intense fire exploded where he had stood just seconds ago. Landing away from the flames, he saw Marble preparing to lob another burst of fire at him. Deciding to switch from defensive to offensive, he charged straight at the machoke, dodging out of the way of the fireball flying at him. As he closed in, Marble did not move. Even as he leapt up to throw another Ice Punch, the evolved fighter did not budge. His fist connected with the machoke’s chest, ice crystals forming at the point of impact. He was disappointed that Marble barely staggered at the hit…then she smirked at him.

In hindsight, he should have been suspicious when Marble let him get in so close without opposition. His eyes went wide and his mouth parted slightly in shock as Marble grabbed his arm and swung him around before throwing him straight into the ground. Marth couldn’t stop a groan of pain from escaping his lips. His whole body ached as he pushed himself to his knees.

“That all you’ve got, rookie?” he heard Marble taunt as she towered over him. Instinctively, his paw flew to Falchion’s hilt. No! I must stand or fall under my own strength. This fight is mine alone, he internally shouted at himself. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fist, he dropped his paw away from the sword. He had to find another way to best Marble. She knew a way to counter all of his attacks and easily dish out even more damage in return. He doubted he could take another Vital Throw like that. In order to get past her defenses, he’d have to get creative.

Slowly, Marth rose up and planted his feet in a battle ready stance. Marble rose one brow, a mixture of surprise and the tiniest bit of respect in her eyes. “You want more?” she asked with a smirk. Marth said nothing as he pulled back a fist coated in icy energy then threw a punch at the machoke. The blow, while strong, was not particularly well-aimed and Marble caught the riolu’s paw in her fist, stopping the Ice Punch completely. Marble’s eyes narrowed in confusion as a small smirk appeared on the masked mon’s face. Suddenly the white mist around the riolu’s paw was replaced with a bright orange light. The energy travelled up the length of Marble’s arm, sapping away her strength. Her eyes widening as she realized what was happening, Marble grabbed Marth’s arm with her other hand and lifted him off the ground in preparation to spin him around for another Vital Throw. Before she could complete the technique, however, Marth’s eyes glowed with a blue light as he used Detect to slip out of her grip and flip over her shoulders swift as the wind. Without missing a beat, he landed behind the machoke and struck her in the back with Ice Punch.

Marble wasn’t finished yet, though, as she spun on her heel and viciously chopped down on the riolu. His eyes glowed again as Marth used Detect to dodge both strikes of Marble’s Dual Chop before he slid under her legs to stand behind her once again. He didn’t get a chance to strike as Marble quickly turned and flung a ball of fire at him. He jumped back, placing distance between them. The two fighting types stared each other down (though Marble couldn’t tell due to the riolu’s mask). Desperate to bring this spar to an end, Marth charged at Marble, an angry red aura surrounding his body as he pulled back one fist for a punch. The machoke charged as well, pulling back one arm in preparation for a vertical chop. The two attacks collided at the same time, throwing up a cloud of smoke and an explosive impact that sent both of the combatants flying.

As the dust began to settle and the smoke cleared, Marth was still standing. His chest was heaving, his breath coming out in short erratic gasps, and spikes of pain were shooting through his body especially his arm, but he was still standing. However, upon glancing up, he saw that Marble was as well. He felt some pride at seeing her clearly winded, but otherwise she appeared well and able to keep on fighting. He narrowed his eyes and tightened his defensive stance as he eyed the machoke with anticipation. He would not let her bring him to his knees again. I will not lose!

The was an almost tangible silence as the two fighting types stood still as statues, the dull roar of other guild recruits training fading into the background. Then Marble smirked at him and relaxed her stance. Had she been able to see past his mask, she would have seen Marth’s eyes fill with surprise and suspicion. He did not move, in case this was some sort of trick. “Not bad…not bad at all, rookie!” she said with a chuckle, “Watching you before I thought putting you in your place would be quick and easy, boring even! But, you’re tougher than you look.” She walked over to him and held up her hands to show she no longer had intentions to harm him. “That’s enough for now. We’re done here. Lighten up, will ya?” Very slowly, Marth dropped his battle stance, but still stood stiffly at attention as he looked up at the machoke silently. “I’ll admit it…I’m impressed by your power and skill for such a green guild member. That honedge partner of yours may pack all the power, but you definitely know your way around a battle,” she shrugged nonchalantly, “You might even have what it takes to be in the Trackers Guild. Maybe…Maybe I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“Thank you,” the riolu said with a slight nod of appreciation. He didn’t really care about getting any special recognition within the Trackers, but it was only polite to thank her…plus the spar had been a welcome distraction from his unwelcome thoughts. Marble returned his nod with a smile before turning as she noticed a plusle with a sapphire head scarf watching them from a distance, clearly waiting to speak with the machoke.

“So…uh, keep up the hard work and stuff,” Marble said as a sort of farewell before leaving to meet with the cream and magenta bunny.

Once again alone, Marth relaxed, letting just a little of his weariness from the spar show. He rubbed his arm which was still hurting a lot. Using Retaliate so recklessly like that had not been wise. Now, he would have to deal with the consequences. The masked mon gazed out over the training area, at the wooden targets he had previously been training with. His good arm went to the sword at his hip. I can’t wield Falchion properly like this, which means I can’t continue training as I was. There’s no reason for me to stay here any longer, he thought. Judging by the sun’s position in the sky, it was just past midday. Marth decided he’d leave investigating the last guild, the Artisans, for another day. While he still had plenty of time today, he was tired, both physically and mentally, from the day’s events.

Silently, he ran off into the trees, disappearing into the forest before any could notice he was gone.