There is a saying among those who fight. “Once a fight starts, there is no stopping it. Both parties must consent to ending a fight prematurely.” In other words, never start a fight with someone whose skills far exceed yours.

Augustus stared at Eli, his hands clenched, alcohol fueled rage in his eyes Yet, all the earlier confidence from earlier, felt minuscule in front of the young man who could be no older than 20. Growling, he clenched his teeth, “Alright, if you want to fight, you’ll get one.” He pounded on his chest twice, “Come on, boyo!”

Ethan and Brook could only watch, Ethan hiding behind Brook, even though he was a head taller than her. Brook had her phone out, smiling, already recording. You just can’t get fights like this in the ring. Did she love wrestling? Definitely. What about boxing? Absolutely. MMA? Yes. Sweaty men or women on television, punching each other, covered in blood that’s both their own and their opponent’s was a bit of a fetish of hers. But the best kind of fights were the ones that just happen in public; no rules, no bell, no referee. This was the kind of fight she couldn’t take her eyes off of, “Those muscles. He probably weighs about 160 pounds, give or take.”

“How do you…? Nevermind,” Ethan got ready to ask but changed his mind, getting a chuckle at his friend’s apparent psychic ability to calculate someone’s BMI from a glance. “Aren’t you worried about Eli though?”

“Not really. I’ve told you a million times before, Augustus is all show.” She watched as Eli began to walk towards an opponent that was far larger than him, a confident swagger in his steps. “I’ve seen a million fights. I can tell who can actually fight and who is nothing but talk, just by how they stand.”

Now, Eli was significantly shorter than his opponent. Weighed less as well. A good rule of boxing is that punching above your weight is a good way to end up in the hospital; hence why the concept of weight classes exist in the first place. However, there was a huge difference between the two of them that couldn’t be measured on any tangible scale or a class.

Augustus swung a kick at Eli, a few people in the crowd gasped, only for Eli to duck under the kick, crouching low, knees almost fully bent, but at the same time, not breaking his stride. He kept moving forward. The only thing on his mind right now didn’t actually have anything to do with his opponent specifically. The only thing on his mind right now was, “Huh, this grocery store aisle makes a really good place to fight. Why don’t more people fight here?”

Then, Eli rose up, going back to a standing position, quickly too, and swung his right leg upwards, aimed at his opponent’s big head. The combination of him rising up and his already considerable leg strength, he made contact, his instep slamming into Augustus’ cranium in a powerful kick. The slamming sound echoed through the store, many people, like the store clerk from before, winced in pain. Brook though, let out an excited shout.

“Yo!” She cheered, still recording.

The reactions from other viewers were varied. Many people were asking clerks around the store to break up the fight, most were just watching, some were just leaving the store with their groceries, wanting to get out of there as quick as they could. One sheep was fidgeting in front of the aisle where the two were fighting; she really wanted to get some cereal. The odd one out though, was a cheetah, dressed in a purple suit, just going on with his shopping like nothing was happening.

“People, please, calm down! The cops are on their way and they’ll handle it.” A red panda said, wearing an eye searingly bright orange shirt. His name tag addressed him as Assistant Manager Paul. He looked to the two fighters, gulping, knowing that he couldn’t get anywhere near them and knew he couldn’t get them to back down by talking. At least damage control was underway; a few workers were outside, keeping anyone from entering the store until the situation was resolved.

Back to the fight, it was safe to say that Augustus wasn’t enjoying that kick to the head, leaning against the cereal boxes, rubbing the side of his head. “Where did you…?”

“Where did I learn to fight?” Eli asked, bouncing on his feet, keeping his blood flowing, not wanting to let his fighting spirit die down even for a second. “Somewhere that isn’t here.” Done waiting around, he pulled his fist back, and struck a blow to the large man’s chest, despite his small hands, they struck with great precision and force. He was also a greedy fighter, he went for another punch, this one striking Augustus in the chin in an uppercut. This was enough for the Northist to slump over, still standing but ready to fall.

It was hard to see from the onlooker’s perspective, but Eli’s smile had yet to leave his face. Stepping away from his opponent, letting up, he hummed, curious, “Are you done? I’m done if you’re done.” The binturong put his hand to his chin, looking at his still opponent, are you done?” The binturong put his hang to his chin, looking at his still opponent. A kick to the side of the head, plus that uppercut, his brain must be rattling around his skull like a blob of gelatin. But, Eli noticed his breathing and, in turn, breathed a sigh of brief. “Phew, you’re alive. I thought I went too far there for a second… Sorry, but I think we’re gonna call this fight.” He waved, a goodbye motion, “You’re kind of weak, dude.” He looked over to his friends, waving happily to them, Brook giving an excited wave right back, Ethan giving a small wave of his own. The workers and onlookers who haven’t left yet, all stared at the two.

“Friend of yours?” Paul asked, looking at Brook specifically, raising a brow.

“Yup,” she answered plainly, snickering, causing Paul to shake his head, annoyed.

“Ah, isn’t this fun?” The cheetah who had been shopping until now said, suddenly standing beside Brook and Ethan. Looking down at them, he looked just plain happy to be here. Oddly well dressed for someone living in Palegreen City; a purple suit and matching pants. Looking closer at the suit, it looked to have an orchid pattern on it.

“Damn right,” Brook said, acknowledging the cheetah without looking at him.

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There was one thing that hurt worse than kicks and punches. The damage to one’s pride. “Weak.” “I’m going to call off the fight.” This stupid high school age boy was calling him weak. All this because he was making fun of that sissy Ethan. Augustus’ eyes shot open, the determination to shut Eli up pushing him forward. He swung his fist at the boy, nearly catching him offguard.

Emphasis on nearly.

The strong attack was blocked, Eli holding up his left arm to block the attack and bracing it with his right arm, dispersing the force of the attack down the entire length of his right arm. That’s when Eli realized it. Augustus’ punches were like the opposite of his own. Sure, they had a lot of strength, enhanced by Augustus’ heavy body weight and recklessness. As much as he wouldn’t like to admit it, Eli had to give him points for that, if this was a test. At the same time, he would have to dock a lot of points for his complete lack of skill. The lack of precision. A lot of the potential force and damage was lost due to how sloppy his punches were.

Eli’s final grade given to Augustus: C

+C, if we’re being generous.

“Very well,” Eli said, “In that case, I’ll keep going.” He could hear police sirens outside, as he blocked another punch from Augustus, wincing in pain this time. That one actually hurt, surprisingly. Maybe he’d raise his grade for that, but probably not.

Stepping back and away, getting a good bit of distance between him and his opponent, Eli entered another low stance. Not quite crouching, but knees bent. actually hurt. He stepped back, getting a bit of distance away from him and his opponent. He got in a low stance, crouching, not as low as before, but knees bent. His long tail flicked, waving back in forth in a lazy swaying motion. Now all he had to do, was wait for the right time, watch his opponent’s movement, keep an eye on his feet.

Then, the Northist charged forward. Was he going to tackle him? Go for a punch maybe? Perhaps a knee strike. No, he wasn’t an experienced fighter. Just a thug throwing his weight around. It was definitely gonna be a tackle or a simple punch. It was Eli’s time to make a move, he dashed forward, and…

Augustus’ leg caught on something! The man gasped, not even having the time to look down, in order to notice that Eli had hooked his long tail around his ankle, tripping him. Unable to stop in time, Augusut was immediately sent off balance and slammed hard to the hard plaster floor, under the force of his own body weight. He grunted in pain, rolling on to his back.

Eli was a binturong. A rare species in New Castor. If there was one thing about them that they held proudly, it was their long, fluffy, and tough tails. A fighting style that utilized the punches, kicks and various skills of MMA, but also had the addition of the tail as a fifth limb, the tail! This was the fighting style that Eli ultilized!

He dubbed it “Long Tailed Mixed Martial Arts.”

As for the thing from before, that couldn’t be measured on any tangible class or scale? The answer is skill.

“Sorry, I really don’t like one sided fights.” Eli said, standing in front of Augustus, positioned at his feet. “But, you were rude and hurt a close friend of mind. I gave you a chance to back out earlier but, well… You didn’t. My recommendation is don’t be mean…” Moving to the side of the Mastiff’s hips, he lifted his leg up, his foot going from the ground to fight up above Eli’s head in a split second, his leg almost in a standing split. He kept walking, standing perfectly balanced. “…And Sorry in advance.” He then swung his foot down, as fast as he lifted it, his heel smashing right down Augustus’ crotch.

Everyone in the store, men and women, were overwhelmed by a fierce phantom pain. A pain felt not by the mind or body, but the soul.

Even if it was deserved…

“By the twins…” Brook gasped, shivering.

Ethan, meanwhile, yes, he could only imagine the pain. But he couldn’t help but smile that the adult bully finally got the punishment he deserved.

The cheetah who decided to insert himself into the group, was only smiling and nodding, his arms crossed. “A thing of beauty.”

The only sound was the screams of pain from Augustus, rolling on the ground, holding his crotch. It was safe to say he wasn’t getting up.

Proud and finished, Eli went back to where he left his suit and picked it up, rolling it up in his arms, before returning to his friends, not even acknowledging the purple suited cheetah “How was that? You were watching the whole time right?”

“Oh course!” Brook ran over and hugged him. Ethan smiled, following Brook over. His silence said just as much as Brook lack there of. “You kicked ass! I thought you were exaggerating when you said you could fight, but holy shit! That was a fight! Super quick too.” She looked over, noticing that the purple suited man had disappeared.

“It was pretty good.” Ethan nodded, before meeting eyes with a man in a blue dark blue uniform, standing beside the orange uniformed Paul.

The blue uniformed man, a tall wolf dog, wasn’t too pleased though with Eli’s little act, his brow furrowed as he stared at the trio. “Alright, kid, come on. That’s enough.” With his shining silver badge denoting him as a member of Palegreen Police. While not sounding angry, he spoke to Eli with a great deal of impatience, like a teacher tired of their misbehaving student’s bullshit.

While the officer was dealing with them, another group was going over to Augustus, to both apprehend him and make sure he was okay.

“Oh come on!” Brook said, always the type to argue with a police officer, if she could get away with it. “He did us a favor. Do you know who he beat up? That fucker had it coming.”

Ethan clenched his jaw, looking at Brook, “Brook, please…” He didn’t care much for police either, especially the ones in Palegreen. But this was just digging an even deeper hole.

“The manager already informed me, yes,” He nodded, “Trust me, we’re aware. Augustus has had repeated offenses, he’s been at the station before.” He took his hat off, switching to a more polite tone. “But we can’t ignore what happened here. Just need to take you in for a while, kid, so please… Come along.”

Eli stepped forward only to be pulled back by Brook, who had no more to say to the officer.

The situation came to a stand still, until a 6th person approached the situation. It was the purple suited cheetah from before, coming back. “Officer? Sorry to intrude, but I won’t be long.” He chuckled, speaking in a polite and refined cadence.

Sighing in exhaustion, the officer looked to the cheetah. “…I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“Thank you for giving me the floor, you’re too kind. My name is Hallmark.” Then, Hallmark removed a red and black card from his shirt pocket, the back of it had the symbol of an orchid on the back. “But, well, this boy has a whole future ahead of him, the future of our nation. Think you can look the other way this time?” He handed the card over, with a grin.

The officer read it, then a look of shock crossed his face, as he looked back to the cheetah, bewildered, “You’re…”

“Yes, I am. So how about it? For our children’s future?”

The officer rubbed his temples, groaning, “Very well… For our children’s future.” He looked to the Idiot Trio. “Just go.” With no more to say, he walked off, “…Too early for this shit…”

Hallmark smiled, clapping his hands together. “Wonderful! Now you kids have fun.” He looked over to the manager, taking another card out of his pocket and handing it to them. “Here, message me later and we can talk compensation.”

“Uh… Well… Okay…” the manager said, dumbfounded.

Then, like a purple clad shadow, Hallmark disappeared into the crowd, leaving the situation as quick as he had entered.

The thought of running to him and asking him who he was crossed the minds of all but Eli, but after today, they silently agreed it was best to just check out and head home. The officer was right, a drink did sound really good right now.

Eli had not a worry on his mind. He was with his friends once more and that was what mattered to him. His reward for the fight: A high five from Brook and a pat on the shoulder from Ethan.