Twilight Velvet watched in horror as her daughter was pummeled in the middle of the ring, wringing her pastel purple skirt hard enough to turn coal into diamonds. On her left, her son, husband and daughter in law chanted 'Go Twily Go!' while Twily weathered Applejack's barrage of power shots. On her right, those her daughter met during her training, including Derpy, the Cakes, Octavia, and Vinyl Scratch, were yelling advice. Vinyl, in her fitted white tee and stonewashed jeans, shouted "She playing to your rhythm! Throw her's off!" at the top of her lungs. Curious about the Cobalt Blue and Cyan haired young woman next to her, Twilight Velvet said, "I don't think we've met. I'm-"

"Twi's Mom? Yeah, I know, she's told me plenty about you while we sparred"

"Oh? Like what?"

"Like how you fainted after you learned about this whole dealie, for one"

"I imagine you would be shocked, too, if you found out someone you cared about risked getting their face rearranged this way" Her hand came to her mouth as Twilight got clipped by a hook

"Probably, but I know my friends, they can handle it, if they need to. 'Course, you probably ain't seeing kinda person in the ring right now, are ya?"

"Maybe. Mind telling what I'm seeing, then?"

"Something my folks saw when I booked it outta their place to get my own: their precious baby girl goin' where they can't protect her, can't help her, can't do much beyond watch her struggle it out" Twilight Velvet got an up close view of her daughter being pressed against the ropes, navigating her way through the furious whirlwind of hooks and uppers. "Every fiber of you wants to take them away from that pain, but you know there'd be as much point to it as trying to change the tides"

"Seems like you have experience with that kind of thing, Ms. Scratch"

"As Tavi's friend, no doubt." She looked to her black suit vest clad friend, who shot her a nod before returning her attention to the match. "Every time we met up at the local record store as kids, she mentioned how some punks spread rumors about her, threatened to cut her hair while they surrounded her, and blackmailed her into doing their dirty work for them, all because she had the nerve to be born into a decent rich family." Applejack parried Twilight's jab, and traded a straight with her body hook. "When her own friends joined in on the crap, I felt like marching over to her school and knocking some heads, but couldn't, because one, my folks wouldn't be too happy, and two, 'cause those punks also have rich, powerful parents who wouldn't like someone messing with their baby, and could ruin someone's life on a whim. Each time she told me, I felt so bucking-"

"Useless? Frustrated? Upset?" Vinyl nodded, wiping a tear from under her dark purple lensed sunglasses. "How did you handle not being able to do that for her?" Applejack blocked Twilight's hook. Twilight broke through with a quick Bingo hook to the chin.

"Did the only thing-the best thing, really, you can do for 'em: be there for 'em"

"Be there for them? But you just said you couldn't protect, help or do much for her, how could possibly be there for her?"

"By supporting me, ma'am" Said Octavia. The two friends nodded at each other, then switched seats. "When we met up there, she let me speak at length about the things I faced at the academy, always offering both words of support and a firm guiding hand while we browsed through their extensive catalogue" Twilight began to better evade Applejack's combinations, each punch catching more air as the round went on. "Because of that, I was able to search within myself for the strength to inform my parents, turn their tactics against them, and see things from their point of view. I'm certain you seek a similar strength for your daughter, correct?" Twilight Velvet hastily nodded. "Then do what I assume you came here to do: show her that you want her to succeed, and tell her what she needs to hear in order to tap into it. That person in the ring is not merely a product of her training, but also of the energy others that care for her give to her, so she can rise past her own limitations. Do remember that, Miss Velvet, won't you? If not for yourself, then for her." She gestured to Twilight, whose bruise grew larger and whose body was covered in sweat as she made her way to corner.

***

Rarity iced Applejack's reddened sides. "Alright, only 2 rounds left, and you're doing excellent! Time to pull out all the stops and put this away, darling!" Fluttershy changed out her mouthpiece.

"Be sure to make it as hard as possible for her to read you. Blind her with jabs, mix up your combos, make her respect your space. You've come this far, don't let up now"

***

"Your D has definitely picked up" said Dash as she iced the bruise. "Now you've gotta turn it into some serious O, so we can turn the party Vinyl's gonna DJ into our victory party" Pinkie brought the spit bucket.

"Applejack's finally getting pooped, so now you've gotta take the fight to her, and wear her down! Work the body, create spots for head shots, makes her feel every bit of power your body can put into those fists!"

Author's Note

With only 2 rounds to go, Twilight has a lot of ground to cover to try and rise to the occasion. What could she pull out that could match Applejack's punch power? How will Applejack try and put this away? Who will survive to the final bell? Tune in next time and find out!