Them’s Boxin’ Herds

“B-Boxing?! N-No…”

Our next match takes us somewhere a little different. Somewhere a little warmer: To the Meadows where the friendly Sheeple call home. The place where Pom, champion of the Meadows, was born and raised. Pom was only a child when she was sent to save the world, and with her little fighting experience along with her shy, timid personality, she was probably the last ungulate worthy of saving the world. but luckily, the young warrior did not have to go alone.

Around the same time, Pom was chosen, Tianhuo, a longma hailing from Huoshan Capital, who was well known for her position as captain of the royal guard, was chosen to represent her home as Champion of the Volcano. The moment the emperor appointed her as champion, the guard flew off, ready to help save the world. Tianhuo flew for hours before stopping at the Meadow for a brief rest.

By chance, Tianhuo met Pom, and noticing how frail she seemed, Tianhuo took her under her wing (no pun intended,) training her and teaching her how to fight. It wasn't easy, but with time, Pom was able to fight alongside Tianhuo and learn to do so with bravery.

When her adventure ended, Pom thought she and Tianhuo would part ways and she would be free to resume her quiet life. She couldn't be more wrong. Every few days the longma would fly to her home so they could resume their training regimens, Tianhuo insisting that a warrior must “keep up their training.” As exhausting as it was, Pom had to admit that Tianhuo was a good teacher and a great friend. Tianhuo even picked up a thing or two from Pom: How to take care of the sheepdogs or how to play some of the games the more social lambs enjoyed. It was nice to have a friend, even if they were complete opposites.

Life was simple, and this little routine continued for twenty years, and as Pom grew up, Tianhuo continued to be a part of her life. Tianhuo was there when little Pom finished school, Tianhuo was there when Pom’s father passed on, Tianhuo was there with Pom through thick and thin, but little did Pom know that with the introduction of this strange sport, all of this would come to an end…

“I knew you were going to say that.” The older longma said with a puff of smoke, “What troubles you, Pom?”

“‘Ah don't wanna fight! ‘Ah thought we were done with that!” Pom said, looking down at the gloves in her hooves.

Tianhuo smiled, “This isn’t like the fighting you're used to, Pom. This is a game, a way two people can bond.” She slipped on her own gloves, a fiery orange that stood out against her light blue scales. “Besides, we spar all the time, do we not?”

“This is different!” Pom protested,

“Is that so? Why is that?” Tianhuo took off the clothing she was wearing, showing off an orange top and trunks. Pom was used to the attire, knowing Tianhuo preferred to wear something that allowed her to avoid heating up too much. Pom had a similar outfit, wearing a blue tank top rather than a simple top. Pom didn't like to have lots of her wool showing, but it was better than sweating in her regular clothing.

Pom hesitated, “Because that was serious, life or death! I don't want to fight as a game!”

Tianhuo looked at Pom worriedly. From the very beginning Pom begged her to help her become braver and while she showed improvement over the years, Pom was still cowardly. But as her teacher, Tianhuo wouldn’t give up on her. Tianhuo knew she had strength within her, she knew she could do anything if she just tried. Tianhuo put a glove on Pom’s shoulder, “You protested when we first started to spar, yet when you did it you enjoyed it, and you were good at it. Trust me, Pom. You will enjoy this all the same, I know you will.” Pom didn't move as Tianhuo helped put her gloves on, “Here we are. Now. Follow my movements.”

She stood beside Pom. “O-Okay,” Pom said with a shy smile.

“Very good. Now, watch me.” Tianhuo got into a proper stance, gloves raised, ready to strike, “Now you.”

Pom imitated the stance nervously, “Like this?”

“Very good.” Tianhu praised, “We will now begin with a simple jab. Like so:” Tianhuo threw a fist forward, Pom cringed at the speed of it, imagining what it would be like to be hit by it.

Knowing what Tianhuo wanted from her, Pom punched the air with her dominant arm, albeit with much less confidence, “L-Like that?”

“Good. Good. Try an uppercut now.” Tianhuo said, throwing the uppercut with her other arm this time.

Again Pom cringed, but she tried to tune out how scary her mentor was as she threw her own uppercut, her arm moving in a blur.

“Wonderful! Now try a hook.” Tianhuo said, throwing a left and right hook. Pom felt the wind of the strikes go by, but despite her fear, she punched proudly, determined to impress her mentor. “That will do. Now it is time you test your skill against a real opponent.

“Wait, what?” Tianhuo ignored Pom’s confusion as she stood in front of her, putting her hands on her hips, her form towering over the little lamb.

“Here are the rules:” Tianhuo began, “You cannot strike below the belt, and when your opponent yields, you stop at once.” She got back into her boxer’s stance.

Pom shrunk away, backing up, “N-No… ‘Ah don’t wanna fight you, you’ll crush me like ‘ah bug!”

“Pom.” Tianhuo put a glove on Pom’s shoulder, bending down so she was at her level, “You must learn to banish your fear if you wish to embrace victory! I promise I will go easy on you, and I’ll only strike your body, not your face. As for you? You may strike wherever you must.”

“O-Okay,” Pom said, meeting Tianhuo’s slitted eyes.

“Do not forget to shield yourself from my blows.” Tianhuo warned, “Try your best to get a few blows on me. Now go!”

“AH!” Pom shrieked as Tianhuo threw the first punch at her, but with surprising speed, Pom swooped out of the way, countering back with a blow to Tianhuo’s scaled belly.

“HOUFHH!” Tainhuo grunted as the air was knocked from her lungs like a balloon. It had been a good long while since the two had sparred, with most of the training Tianhuo put the lamb through being focused on endurance and strength. Though she still needed some work, Pom was developing a thick strong body. What Tianhuo hadn’t expected however was how strong the lamb’s blows were now. They were powerful!

“Ohmigosh I’m so sorry!” Pom said frantically, “Are ‘ya okay?”

Tianhuo only smiled, “Do not worry, little lamb. I have taken much worse than that. Your strength surprises me, I want you to continue doing exactly what you are doing.”

Pom lit up like the morning sun. Tianhuo knew she had gotten through to the lamb. Now that she was properly encouraged, she would give the training her all. Tianhuo would continue the fight for just a little bit longer and then stop it to offer the lamb feedback on how she could improve, but Tianhuo wouldn’t have the chance to do that, because at that moment, Pom would hit her with a blow she would never forget.

“HIYAH!”

WHACK!!

One of Pom’s cherry pink gloves hit Tianhuo directly in the belly once again, the scales caving in and her lungs expelling air, the force of the hit making Tianhuo feel as if she was hit by a truck. Losing her footing, Tianhuo fell over, her head hitting the meadow floor hard. Pom gasped, appalled at what she had just done, but Tianhuo? She couldn’t be more proud of her student.

“Are you okay!?” Pom said, “‘Ah am sooo sorry!! I really didn’t mean to ‘ah swear!”

“Little lamb…” Tianhuo said as she started to laugh, “That was incredible, never in my years of training others has someone done that to me before.”

“Are ‘ye mad?” Pom asked nervously as she helped her mentor up.

“Like I said, I have taken much worse than that.” Tianhuo said, nodding thankfully at Pom as she got to her feet, “You have managed to surprise me again, Pom. Well done.”

“R-Really?”

“Indeed. You are growing stronger, so much so that perhaps one day you may make a formidable opponent.” Tianhuo said proudly, “I implore you to consider continuing boxing. I think it is an excellent way to train your mind and your body, and it is one of the many ways I trained when I was your age.”

“‘Y-Ya think so?”

“If it is something you find you enjoy, then I say you should.” Tianhuo said, “Now then, shall we go again?”

Pom raised her gloves, fueled by the confidence of her teacher, “Yes!”

Something changed in Pom that day. The sheep of the meadow weren’t sure how it happened, but when Pom’s lesson with Tianhuo ended, the lamb seemed to become a whole new person when she heeded Tianhuo’s advice and took up boxing. At first, Pom wasn’t very good, getting beaten quite often in the meadow’s gym, ending up with blood on her wool, and getting laughed at by the older sheeple, taunting her by saying ‘wee lasses can’t box,’ but whenever Pom wanted to cower, hide or give up, she remembered the potential Tianhuo saw in her and she persisted, training hard and forcing herself onward even during her darkest hours.

Months went by, and day by day Pom grew from a lamb chop to a force to be reckoned with, wiping the floor with any sheep who stood in her way while occasionally suffering the occasional defeat that only strengthened her resolve to get better. Not only did her skills grow, however. Learning to fight differently strengthened her muscles as well as her confidence. Although Pom still felt scared at times, boxing was the one thing that helped her feel braver. And soon, she felt as though she could move mountains. Many of the citizens of the meadows found Pom’s improvement inspiring and admirable, and Pom even picked up a few friends when she was not fighting.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Tianhuo would always be there, supporting her student and cheering her on at every fight, watching as she won countless awards and titles, accumulating quite a few fans and becoming the champion of the meadow once again, this time all on her own Pom became the warrior Tiamhuo always saw in her, and she couldn’t be prouder.

But then that one fateful day came. One late evening Tianhuo summoned Pom for a boxing match. Excited to face her teacher once again, Pom accepted her challenge, unaware of what would happen that night. Pom met Tianhuo in the same spot behind her cottage where there was plenty of space for them to fight without interruption. As expected, Tianhuo was there already, equipped with her regular boxing gear.

“There you are. I thought you wouldn't show up.” Said Tianhuo as she saw her coming towards her.

“Sorry, ‘ah had to feed the dogs, ‘ye know how it is.” She said with a nervous chuckle, “A-Are ‘ye sure y’wanna fight me? You know I'm eh… Pretty good.”

Tianhuo smiled, “That is why I am here. It is not often one of my own students becomes an opponent worthy of me.”

“Well… If ‘ah give you a black eye or knock out your teeth, don't say ‘ah didn't warn ya!” Pom giggled.

“Do your worst, little lamb!” Tianhuo dared.

As Pom and Tianhuo tapped gloves, Pom took a moment to survey her teacher once more, though almost nothing had changed in the last couple of years. Tianhuo was still taller and stronger than Pom. The only thing different about Pom was her developed muscles, now more visible than ever. Pom had faced many sheep before with confidence, however, she knew that fighting Tianhuo would be her greatest challenge yet.

“I hope you've been keeping up with your training,” Tianhuo said as she entered a protective stance, keeping a close eye on Pom and ready to fight back or defend herself.

“I hope ‘ye’re ready for a few bruises,” Pom said back, holding her gloves close to her face, studying Tianhuo intently. Traveling alongside the longma in the past had its advantages, she knew how Tianhuo fought. She knew that Tianhuo never struck first, more often than not waiting for her opponent to make the first move. Pom would not make that mistake, staying on her hooves. Pom threw a jab to the right side of Tianhuo’s head. She quickly shifted out of the way, but Pom had missed intentionally, hoping to persuade Tianhuo to come forward and attack, or at best, make her flinch. Even if it was just for a second, it would be enough for Pom to get her good.

The fight continued, but no blows were exchanged yet. Tianhuo knew her student was going to make the first blow, she had watched all of her fights carefully in preparation for this day. She knew Pom never gave her opponents a chance to gain the upper hoof, and always attacked before that could happen. And Tianhuo was right. Pom punched again to the left, just barely missing her head. As the punch flew towards her, Tianhuo swooped to the right…

“HOOFH!!” …Only to then be on the receiving end of a nasty hook to her side! “HNNGH!!” Tianhuo gasped, her head dipping as she felt leather smash into her belly. Foolish! The sheep had tricked her, and she had fallen right into her trap!

“Not bad! Again!”

Pom hopped backward, putting some distance between them. Now Tianhuo seemed to be ready to fight, making an effort to mirror Pom’s movement, looking for an opening just as much as Pom was. The training wheels were off, and the match could now truly begin.

Tianhuo attacked again, this time going for an uppercut. Seeing the familiar motion Pom knew all too well, she arched her back, evading the blow, barely even flinching like she would have done long ago.

“Hm. Impressive.” Tianhuo said. Pom glowed, feeling her confidence grow. She was always just a bit nervous when he was facing an opponent, but she always overcame it as the fight went on and she learned how her opponent fought. Tianhuo was just another opponent, and that thought comforted Pom… Slightly.

Strafing to the left, Pom avoided another blow, then she returned to her former spot as Tianhuo threw another punch just as she pulled back her other arm, impressing Tianhuo with her surprising quickness. Finding a moment’s venerability, Pom unleashed an uppercut with speeds that rivaled a charging bull. WHACK!!

“OOUFH!” Tianhuo grunted, flecks of spittle flying from her jaw as her head flicked upward. Gritting her teeth, Pom advanced with a left hook, the longma’s blue mouthguard loosening out of her mouth as the lamb’s fist slammed into the side of her jaw with enough strength Pom was surprised she didn’t outright break it.

“Heh… Not bad.” Tianhuo said as Pom retreated, allowing her mentor to regain some of her energy.

“Thanks! You’re not doin’ too bad yourself, you just might be able to hit me if you keep it up!” She laughed.

“Very well then. I am going to hit you so hard that it will make your ancestors dizzy.” Tianhuo said with a smirk, “Again!”

Pom decided it was her turn to attack first. Guarding her body, she approached the longma. Right as she got close, Tianhuo jabbed, missing and hitting Pom’s glove with a light tap. Swaying to the right, Pom found her opening and took it before it was gone. With a proud smile, Pom threw another right hook, this time to the right side of Tianhuo’s skull.

“OOUGH!!”

Pom had hit a little too high, hitting her temple and almost reaching her eye. The punch was a little sloppy, Pom had to admit, but it did just what she wanted to do: Surprised the longma enough for her to execute another move. In her moment of weakness, Pom shifted her position to nail Tianhuo in the belly.

“HOOFH!! OUFFFHH!! OUUUGHH!!”

Three hits, all of them lightning quick, Tainhuo wouldn’t even see any of them coming. The reptile’s abs rippled at the impact and Pom felt her breath on her wool as the air was knocked out of her. Off balance, Tianhuo fell right on her butt on the grass. Pom laughed, excited that she was able to knock down her teacher once again.

“Ha! And stay down, ‘ya lizard!” Pom boasted with a flex of her woolly arms, “Honestly ‘ah expected more from ‘ya! You’re less than a warrior and more of a punching bag!”

As a warrior, Tianhuo thought that she had a rather high pain tolerance, but the beating she had just received made her wonder if she was as iron-skinned as she thought. Suddenly lying down on the grass didn’t seem too bad at the moment, yet she persisted. She may have not been as energetic as she was before, but she wouldn’t stop until she gave the cocky lamb something to remember.

“You impress me, little lamb, but you have much to learn before you truly become a warrior,” Tianhuo said, getting up, and wincing at the pain. She was DEFINITELY going to be sore tomorrow… “Come on, I am not done just yet.”

Pom flexed again, padding towards her teacher, “‘Ya sure, Tianhuo? I won’t go easy on ‘ya~” Pom warned.

Tianhuo lowered her gloves just enough so her face and chest were in attacking range. She knew what Pom would do, so now it was time to give the lamb a taste of her own medicine. “I shall make this swift,” Tianhuo said as she took a dangerous step forward.

And just like she expected, she swung at Tianhuo’s face.

As she did so, Tianhuo stepped out of the way, feeling her glove just barely graze across her cheek. With her opponent off balance, Tianhuo countered with an uppercut to the sheep’s stomach, causing her to weakly gasp as she retreated. It was all going according to plan. With her guard dropped, Tianhuo threw a mean hook at the lamb’s face, causing her to flinch long enough for her entire glove to smash in her face, her snout folding like paper under her glove and the little bell at the end of her choker ringing at the impact. “OWHH!” Pom cried, already feeling warm blood dripping down her face. She growled, guarding her face, forgetting to keep her stomach guarded. Tianhuo advanced, her fist finding its way to Pom’s belly, “GGGHHHGH!!”

Pom collapsed, her body falling and hitting the soft green grass. She gasped for a breath, suddenly finding it hard to do so. How could she let that happen? And why did that one hurt so much? She’d taken worse blows than that! Her eyes turned to Tianhuo’s strong biceps, shining with sweat from the activity.

“Foolish lamb!” Tianhuo cried, her gloves tapping together impatiently, “Stop trying to hit me, and HIT me!”

Pom went red. She hadn’t expected to be on the ground during this fight, or any fight for that matter! That never happened to her, not anymore. She wanted to show that she was strong for her teacher, not the same weak, scared little lamb she used to know. That was why even though discouraged, she got up, prompting a satisfied smile from Tianhuo. Pom didn’t have any snappy comebacks to make to Tianhuo’s earlier statement. She had another comeback in mind.

Swiping the wool away from her eyes with an arm, Pom got back into the fight, throwing a 1-2 combo at the reptile’s face, staggering her and making her drop her guard just enough for Pom to continue. With a little flex, Pom’s wooled arm flew straight at the reptile’s snout. Tianhuo’s eyes widened as she saw the blow coming, and then shut tight as the glove hit her directly in the muzzle. “OOFFHH!!” Tianhuo tipped over as her muzzle folded under the force of the glove, but Pom wouldn’t let her fall without getting her licks in. Using her developed reflexes, Pom punched the longma’s stomach, making her roar in pain, squeezing her eyes shut tight as she landed head-first into the dirt, blood staining her muzzle.

“‘Ah think your nose looks much better caved in~,” Pom said, flexing again, “Are ‘ye done? I was just startin’ to have fun!”

Tianhuo smiled, proud of her apprentice, “Ohh Pom… I am truly going to miss this…” She said, taking off one of her gloves and running a paw over her face.

Pom laughed, “What? Gettin’ ‘yer butt kicked? Well ‘ah can do that any day of the week, just ‘ya wa- wait…” She paused, finally processing what she said, “What do ‘ya mean?”

Tianhuo sat up, taking off her other glove, “I’m retiring, little lamb.”

“‘Yew what?!” Pom said in disbelief, the pain on her face suddenly forgotten, “From being a royal guard? Why? ‘Ya love your position!”

“That I do, little lamb.” Tianhuo said, Pom kneeling to her level to listen better, “But I am getting old. I am not as nimble and strong as I used to be. And as much as it pains me to say it, It is time that my successor, someone younger who shows great promise, takes over. I wish to start a family, see Fœnum, and live the rest of my days in peace. And that first involves a little trip I have been planning. I plan to get going the day after the retirement ceremony in four days, and then I shall be gone for several months.”

Pom’s lip quivered, her vision blurry with tears. “B-But…”

“Shh. Enough. You’re going to make me cry as well.” Tianhuo laughed, making Pom smile as she thought of the memories they had made together over the last two decades. Even though they had been together for that long, it still felt like it was just yesterday when they had become allies in that very same meadow. Why did it have to end so soon?

“Tianhuo?”

“Yes?”

Pom looked at the grass as she started to cry. She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t help herself. She had been humiliated enough already, falling from that simple blow, “What am ‘ah going to do without you?”

“Oh, child…” Pom found herself gravitating towards Tianhuo’s opening arms in a hug. This would be the last time she ever hugged her. Pom realized, only strengthening the tears, “I know it will be hard, but life goes on. And I will still come back to the meadows, just not as much as before.”

Tianhuo took her gloves and passed them to Tianhuo. They were in pristine condition despite being used many times. “I want you to have them.” She said softly, “Take them, continue your training, even if others discourage you or knock you down. Become the warrior I know you have within you.”

Pom took the gloves with a sniffle, wiping her eyes with a smile, “T-Thank you for believin’ in me.”

Pom hugged Tianhuo again, wishing that this didn’t have to be the way it ended, but Tianhuo was right. Life went on, “Dry your eyes, child. This is not the end. I shall still return to the meadows, it is my home just as much as Huoshan, after all.” She said, “Besides, my leave is not for a few days. Let us enjoy the time that we still have, yes?”

Pom wiped her eyes again, putting on a wider smile and forcing herself to remain strong for her teacher, “O-Okay…”

And so the two continued to box under the afternoon sun…