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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:56:11 GMT -5
18.
"Well, in that case, don't hold anything back, Mister Popo! Give me the full shot like you gave them all that time ago!" Ace said confidently, grinning broadly.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:57:00 GMT -5
19.
"Alright, since you asked," Mister Popo said.
Ace dropped into a defensive stance and waited for Mister Popo's next move. I'll be ready this time...
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:57:39 GMT -5
20.
Ace dodged to his left, completely avoiding one strike from Mister Popo, but a second strike caught him in the side of the head and floored him. "Gak!"
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:58:22 GMT -5
21.
Ace hopped to his feet, and cot another staff strike to the face. "BRAGCH!!!" He was floored again with that rather unexpected attack.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:58:56 GMT -5
22.
"Alright, I see how it is!" Ace jumped back to his feet, and immediately jumped to his left, avoiding another strike, and ducking under another.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 1:59:45 GMT -5
23.
Ace grinned, knocking away a third strike. Three in a row! But as he thought that thought, Mister Popo caught him in the neck and floored him again.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:00:43 GMT -5
24.
Ace Rolled away from Mister Popo and hopped to his feet. Man...those staff strikes hurt more than Shiro's punches did... Or at least they feel like they do...
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:01:28 GMT -5
25.
Maybe it's because he's using a staff and not his fists... Yeah, that's it! Ace got into his stance again as Mister Popo came toward him with his staff.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:02:18 GMT -5
26.
As Ace went to dodge, he tripped over his own feet and hit the ground on his stomach, getting the wind knocked out of him, but causing Mister Popo to overbalance with his staff swing as it went right over Ace.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:02:55 GMT -5
27.
"Tha...that's it!" Ace coughed as he got back to his feet. "Thast's the technique! Not the way it was originally planned, but that's it!"
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:03:32 GMT -5
28.
"Alright, Mister Popo, let's try it once more to make sure i've got it!" Ace said, grinning as he dropped back into his defensive stance.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:04:12 GMT -5
29.
Mister Popo smiled. "Unorthodox, but effective," he said, spinning his staff.
Ace nodded. Okay...here goes!
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:05:23 GMT -5
30.
Ace watched Mister Popo's movements, and sidestepped a strike, jumped over another, though he slipped when he landed, and wound up landing on his head on the ground, though Mister Popo again missed, his staff whizzing inches over Ace's head.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:06:18 GMT -5
"Awesome! That's it!" Ace said excitedly. "Getting to his feet, he fell over again. "Think I hit my head a little too hard... Kinda dizzy here... But I got it down! Thanks, Mister Popo!"
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:06:57 GMT -5
Mister Popo smiled. "Glad to be able to help. And, about your head...wait here for a minute." He turned and walked back into the building.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:07:52 GMT -5
Ace nodded and sat there, thinking about several things. The fighters in the tournament were definitely strong, no doubt about that... He was strong, too, but he had a feeling stronger opponents awaited him...
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:08:48 GMT -5
And Ace's premonitions and feelings of doom were rarely wrong, if almost always imprecise. But, he never discredited them. They had saved him from rouble a few times before, and so he paid them decent attention.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:09:31 GMT -5
Ace looked up to see Mister Popo come back out, followed by someone else.
"Noru, this is Ace," Mister Popo said. "He's a very diligent warrior."
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:10:20 GMT -5
Noru would smile. "Hello, Ace. Glad to see someone finally made it up here."
Ace nodded, smiled in return. "I'd get up and shake your hand or something...but I'm afraid I might fall over..."
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:11:16 GMT -5
"What happened?"
"He took a bit of a spill when I was helping him train," Mister Popo said. "Cracked his head on the ground."
"Pretty hard, too..." Ace said, rubbing the back of his head.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:12:07 GMT -5
"I can help you with that, Ace," Noru said. "Just hold still." He walked over to Ace and stretched one of his hands out.
"Okay..." Ace said, keeping still as instructed.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:13:03 GMT -5
A brownish gold light flowed from Noru's hand and covered Ace, and soon enough, the pain inhis head lessened and faded, and the pain from his numerous staff wounds from Mister Popo also faded, as well as the strain and exhaustion from his training.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:13:54 GMT -5
"Feel better?" Noru asked, lowering his hand.
"I feel... Great!" Ace said, grinning. "Could feel better if I rested for three days and nights!"
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:14:31 GMT -5
Noru smiled. "Glad to hear it."
Ace grinned, getting to his feet. "Say, Noru... How does this place stay up here, exactly?"
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:15:22 GMT -5
Noru's smile faltered. "I... I haven't the faintest... The only one who would know would be the original Guardian of Earth, I would presume."
Ace tilted his head to one side. "Hmm..."
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:16:05 GMT -5
Shrugging, Ace said, "It really doesn't matter as long as it stays floating up here, right?"
"Correct," Noru said.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:16:44 GMT -5
"Tell me, Ace, do you by any chance know how to fly?" Noru asked.
"Fly...? No..." Ace said. "I didn't even think that was possible."
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:17:38 GMT -5
Noru smiled. "Ah, like so many... Well, I assure you, it is quite possible," he said, lifting a few inches off the ground as he spoke.
"Wh-whoa..." Once again, Ace was easily impressed, you must remember.
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:18:32 GMT -5
"How do you do that...?" Ace asked in awe.
Touching down again, Noru laughed a little. "It really is quite simple, if you have a decent grasp of your ki, which I see you do."
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Post by Ace on Feb 12, 2010 2:19:00 GMT -5
"Decent enough, I guess..." Ace said.
"Well then, I'll teach you."
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