"No, no, no. It calls for two TEAspoons of vanilla not tablespoons" Antithesis said holding up the correct measuring utensil.

"Oh, my bad" Trella said, taking the spoon, "So, just two right?"

"Yeah," Antithesis answered, measuring his flour. He looked at the handout reading "Two cups of flour, leveled. Got it. Here ya go."

"Thanks" she responded, taking the measuring cup. She picked up the list of ingredients reading them aloud, "Sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, salt, butter, baking powder. Oh we forgot the milk!"

"No, we put that in second you just didn't mark it down." Antithesis said holding the used milk container. "Do you want to mix it or should I?"

"I'll do it" Trella responded looking back and forth, "Uh, where is the wisk," she smiled sheepishly.

"Hey dish is pretty gud" Shure said with a mouthful. He took another bite of the pink cupcake. "Where'd you get it?"

"Me and Thees made it." Trella smiled proudly.

"Well all I did was pass you ingredients, you did all the work." Antithesis nodded, walking passed her.

"No way, T made something that's goo-" he caught a wing to the face. "Hey!"

"Shut up and let's go, we're gonna be late for the first practice." Trella said flying to the door, "See you later" she winked at Shure before continuing with Astra in tow.

"Guess we better head out too" Shure said walking out the doors.

Walking past him a grey mare who instantly recognized Antithesis. "Antithesis!" she said approaching him, "So you decided to show up".

"Yeup", he smiled, "Figured I'd give it a shot". He looked back and forth and leaned down "Where do we go for practice?" he whispered.

Giggling she said "Follow me", she led him to the gym where a series of circular mats were being placed by ponies already inside the gym. Antithesis looked around at the variety of different ponies, a good mix between Earth ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns, as well as mares and colts.

"What do you think?" the mare said, getting a little too close.

Pulling his head back he responded, "About what, exactly?". He turned his head a little red in the face.

"The feeling, the air, I love it, I can't wait to get in the ring" she said with a spark in her eye. "Want to give it a go?" she asked, dropping her bag off along the wall.

"Uhhh, well I kinda forgot to... look at the rules. So I don't really know what I'm doing" he shrugged. Rolling her eyes she faintly smiled "You're hopeless", motioning for him to follow as she walked to a mat that was being used.

"Alright pay attention" she said, pointing towards the ponies in the circle.

The two stepped to the center placing a hoof on one of two lines, then shook hooves. A whistle was blown and the two took a crouched position, moving slowly around the ring. "What is happening?" Antithesis whispered.

Not taking her eyes off the mat, she whispered back, "They took neutral positions and are waiting for the other to make a move. Like that". One of the ponies had stood on their back legs and caught the other in a grip from the side as the other rose up in response he pulled the first to the ground attempting to pin him.

Taking a mental note Antithesis watched as one of the other ponies began to count. Only making it to one the bottom pony rolled the other to the outside of the ring. A whistle was blown and the two ponies let go of eachother.

"What was that for?" Antithesis whispered, as the ponies got in a strange position.

"They went out of bounds'' she replied. The ponies continued knocking each other out of bound until their time on the mat was up. "Good round," she congratulated them as they got off the mat.

"Thanks" the two of them blushed and rubbed their heads. She explained most of the rules while they waited for their turn on the mat.

In the distance Antithesis noticed somepony staring at them, making eye contact as the pony approached them. "Hey Attività" a red and black stallion said, (like a total asshole).

"Oh, hey there Páli" she said "I said just call me Tiv", she grew a nervous smile.

"Hmmm, who is this?". Páli asked, looking Antithesis in the eye.

"Uh he's just somepony who was interested in joining" she hesitated, "He's new so I figured I.."

"He looks tough, how about a round?" Páli asked with a wicked smile.

"Uh wel-" Tiv was cut off

"I don't think so, I'm kinda new to all this" Antithesis interrupted, stepping forward and holding out a hoof. "Antithesis by the way".

Páli looked down at the hoof and back up "So you're the famed freshmen that caught everypony’s eye" he turned around waking to the mat that was in use. "Get off now" he boomed. The ponies scrambled mid wrestle. "Come on, I just want to see what you got."

"Antithesis you don't have too" Tiv grasped his shoulder.

"No, he has too," Páli announced, "If he doesn't, Anypony that tries to practice with him is going to have to face me in a match!"

"Well I guess I have too now don't I" Antithesis shrugged going forward.

"Hold on, I'll practice with you, just don't go up there." Tiv pleaded, It was too late Antithesis had reached the ring and took his spot across from Páli.

"Attività could you ref" Páli said taking his position.

Antithesis reached out his hoof again for a shake before the match, but Páli motioneed Tiv to start. She blew a whistle and Páli rushed Antithesis, getting under him and forcing him up and onto the ground.

Antithesis' breath was knocked out of him as he hit the ground, he heard some pony say "Two points take down". Slowly getting up he felt his back crack while he stretched himself out. "Caught me by surprise there, Again?" Antithesis smirked.

"Hm", Páli got into position once again, "You're not getting up this time". The whistle blew again, Páli circled halfway around the ring, rushing at Antithesis’ legs, seeing the opportunity Antithesis went forward and grabbed Páli's underside. However he was pulled to the side and thrown to the ground.

Tiv blew the whistle calling "Two points take down". Antithesis stood once more rotating his shoulder that hit the ground.

"One more time," Antithesis demanded, now with a serious face.

"Ha, you want to get hurt again." Páli looked around "I'm surprised you can stand". He took the same position and readied himself.

As the whistle blew, Antithesis rushed forward much faster than before catching Páli off guard. He placed Páli in a choke hold with his front left foreleg and pulled him to the ground. Páli yelped as he hit the ground under Antithesis, not letting go antithesis tightened his grip and leaned down showing his teeth, "I hate jack asses like you". He let go and stepped off the ring.

Struggling to get up Páli called out "Hey wait we're not fini-" he stopped, seeing Antithesis' look as he turned, soaking him in fear.

In the hall Antithesis sat on the ground rubbing his bruises. Tiv walked up to him with a guilty look, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have let you go up there" she looked down.

"It's all good," he replied, waving his hoof. "Just a few bruises I'll be fine by tomorrow"

"It's not 'all good' you could've been hurt and... are your eye's ok?" she asked, getting too close for comfort again.

"My eye's?" he looked over at the window to see his once dark brown eyes were now a glowing amber with slitted pupils.

"I see" he got closer to the window examining his eyes then checking his teeth, seeing them Tiv gasped. "What?"

"Your teeth, what the hell did you do?" she asked, backing up.

He licked his teeth saying "They just grew like this- Ow '' he bumped his shoulder while sitting down again.

Seeing him flinch she approached, "Come on I'll take you to the nurse",

"Alright," he said, "But give me a second".

She huffed then sat next to him, "I can't believe you took down our team's number one wrestler.

"What!" Antithesis shouted, turning to her, "He was your number one!"

"Yeah well, I guess he is number two now" she said, as he began to pout again "You'll still show up for practice though, right?"

He reached over and tousled her mane, "I'm not going anywhere".

She shoed away his hoof, "Stop it, I'm a senior you can't treat me like a filly".

"Wait, you're a Senior!" Antithesis said surprised. "But you're so.."

"Cute," she finished, "And yes,"

Antithesis laughed, "Well, i was gonna say small but, you are pretty cute." he said standing up.

Getting home Antithesis sprawled out on the couch, waiting for his mom he laid there until she walked in. "Hey mom" he said sitting up.

"Oh, hey there" Taupe replied walking past him, "Where were you at?" she asked, sitting on the chair across from him.

"I thought I told you, I joined the wrestling team." he said sitting up.

"Oh how'd that go?" she questioned, tilting her head.

He rolled his head, "Uhh, it was ok" he lied.

Raising an eyebrow, she looked at him "I know that look", she got up and sat next to him. He told her what had happened at practice, to his surprise she wasn't all that upset. "So you got him in the end, right?", he nodded in response. "Alright so tell me about this mare, that's so curious about my colt."

"Mom, stop it she just wanted to introduce me to wrestling" he deflected, "Plus she is a senior"

"That doesn't mean Maple is like three years younger than Acrux," Taupe said, putting a hoof on his back.

"Ya, ya, ya. Oh wait, that reminds me mom, do you know anything about this" he pointed to his eyes, opening them as much as possible.

"No, when did that happen?" she asked, moving his head to the side. "I have just as many questions as you do".

Taupe examined him for other changes. "So you're freakishly tall, you've got sharp teeth, and now your eyes. I couldn't of had a normal kid." Taupe joked.

"HM, most parents would be overjoyed to have a colt like me" he responded, getting a hug from his mom.

"I am, you're just weird." Taupe laughed, "By the way what do you want for dinner?".

"hmmmm," he hummed "Pasta"

"Alright," she said, turning her head before walking to the kitchen, "Let's go. You're gonna help."

After a couple mess ups and a rewarding meal Antithesis went upstairs, to lay down. Getting onto his bed he felt every muscle and bruise, throb for a few minutes before falling asleep.

Antithesis woke to the sound of thunder, he looked over at his clock reading 9:56. He shot up grabbing his bag and jacket and headed for the door. He ran past Taupe who was sitting on the porch, "Woah where are you going?" she called.

Stopping, he answered her, "School I woke up late."

"You're joking, look at the weather. Go back inside." she said, sipping her coffee then raising her cup. "There's some on the stove".

"Thanks". Walking inside his mane soaked, dripped a trail to the kitchen. Sitting down he rested his head on the counter, in a realisation he sat up and poked at himself, "My bruises don't hurt anymore". He went to the window examining his face, "Nope, eyes are still glowing".

He sipped at his coffee looking out the window when he saw beams of light pierce the clouds and a pegasus fly through. The pony flew towards the house getting closer. Realising it was Astra, he grabbed another mug and poured a cup for his friend.

Astra opened the back door, seeing Antithesis sitting there and motioned to a cup of coffee. "Thanks," Astra said, taking the seat. "So what's up?".

Antithesis took another sip, "Not much kinda stuck inside, butter yet why are you here?"

"Well only pegasi can travel safely when there is lightning outside. So since school is obviously cancelled," he looked up then back at Antithesis. "I figured I'd come over and maybe....what the hell is up with your face?".

"Oh my eyes it happened yesterday" Antithesis shrugged, "Does it look bad?"

Pointing a hoof at him Astra said, "No way, that's the coolest shit I've seen", he crossed his forelegs and nodded.

"Thanks but why did you fly in the midst of all that", Antithesis pointed outside.

"Oh, yeah anyway. I figured we could practice earlier today and... maybe a little more" Astra smiled, "I mean if you want" Antithesis leaned his stool back taking a deep breath, he sat thinking. "Sooo.." Astra mouthed.

"Hmmmmmm, Ok so in terms of fitness you still have a ways to go. So besides strength and stamina, what are you missing?" Antithesis asked.

"Talent?" Astra answered without a second thought.

"Well yes but, I think what you're missing is control or at least how well you can use your Welkin" Antithesis explained, standing up and placing his cup in the sink. "You know what I mean?"

Astra squinted as he thought, "No, I don't" he said slowly.

"Ok so I was reading this one book Shure had, and it said that pegasi that were faster than others had one of two things" Antithesis informed. "One, they had more welkin at their disposal, and two they could use it better."

"I still don't see what that has to do with me getting faster." Astra admitted standing up, passing his cup to Antithesis. "Like, what would it matter either way."

"Ok so, look at it this way I'm an earth pony right"

"Obviously" Astra whispered.

Antithesis rolled his eyes, "So in order for my Tellus to become stronger I have to either become naturally stronger or use it better." Astra had a look of confusion, "Just follow me".

Stepping outside the storm seemed to have lightened up, Antithesis stuck a hoof out off the back porch to see how hard it was raining. "OK just watch this" he stepped of the porch next to a puddle, "So if I used tellus on this puddle what would happen?"

"You'd cover yourself in mud," Astra answered.

"Right" Antithesis confirmed, "But what if I didn't". He reached down to one end of the puddle and flicked his hoof to the right causing a small seperation down the center of the puddle. "I didn't use a lot of Tellus or force but I just changed the shape of the force.

"Oh I see" Astra said going down the steps, standing next to Antithesis. "So it’s not about forcing it, but controlling every aspect of it."

"Exactly," Antithesis replied. "So I think if you're gonna get faster, I think this is what you should do."

Astra nodded in agreement and stretched his wings, but stopped before doing anything. "Should I split the puddle too?"

"Uhh sure, I guess." Antithesis said taking cover from the rain once again. "You go at it I'm gonna dry off and get more coffee". Antithesis began walking inside, but turned before walking in. "Hey, don't tell my mom I can do that. She'll have me plowing the field all spring if she knew."

"mhm" Astra hummed, swinging his wing trying to replicate what Antithesis did.

Antithesis went upstairs to dry himself, after a while he was in the bathroom when he heard his mom call, "Antithesis!"

"Yeah?!" he responded.

"Shure is here!" she told him.

"Ok! I'll be down in a minute". He finished up and headed down to see Shure, who was completely dry and Trella with him. "What's up?" Antithesis said coming down the stairs.

"Hey" Shure responded, bro hoofing Antithesis.

"Gosh I guess everypony is here today." Antithesis joked.

"Every pony?" Trella asked,

"Astra is out back" Antithesis said going to the door. Looking out he saw the rain had subsided but the clouds were still out. His gaze shifted to Astra, who was swinging his left wing at the puddle hoping to move the water. Antithesis stepped outside, taking a seat on the damp porch chair. "Anything yet?".

"No," he flipped his wet mane out of his face. "I kinda see how to do it but I can't make the line" he said, getting frustrated.

"Hold up try this, instead of moving your wings the whole way focus on moving your Welkin from the tip of your wing" Antithesis said, adjusting Astra's wings.

Astra moved his left wing as little as possible, straining to even use his Welkin. A small wave could be seen, moving through the water as Astra pushed. Gasping he looked down to see the puddle almost completely Unchanged. "Ugh, this is impossible." he groaned.

"I think we're on to something here, but first you're all wet and look like you’re gonna pass out, how about a break." Antithesis suggested.

"Sounds good" Astra said following Antithesis into the house. "Oh hey Shure." he said, seeing him in the kitchen.

"What's going on, you look dead." Shure said passing Trella some fruit.

"Hey T, whatcha doin?" he asked as she began slicing.

"Don't worry I'm just making fruit salad, no cooking" she said waving the knife.

"Well I'ma go get dried up." he said leaving the room.

"Thees you want some", Trella said, turning with a plate of fruit in hoof.

"Definitely" he Answered, taking the plate.

Author's Note

So if it isn't clear by now, Antithesis isn't just anypony. Even Taupe doesn't know what to make of it. And Astra continues his one sided rivalry, doing his best to get good.

Also I was thinking about skipping sophomore and maybe Jr. year for these ponies and take it to senior year. Obviously I'm gonna finish out freshman year but just a thought.

Thanks for reading.