As swift as the coursing river, with all the strength of a great typhoon

[all_wound_up]

Who: Nano Shinonome & Xion (OU)
Where: Knight Academy, Aquarius District
When: Backdated to June 8th
Summary: Nano becomes an honorary keybitty by getting her first keyblade lesson. Shenanigans ensue.
Warnings: Who likes action brackets? I like action brackets.

[Nano had heard people talking about the Knight Academy before, but never had much of a reason to go there herself.  But then again, she never thought she'd be learning to fight with a sword.  The building is abandoned now, its previous owners having departed the city, so it's the perfect place to get her first swordsmanship lesson from Xion without being disturbed.  She has a metal replica keyblade with her courtesy of Namine, and is currently waiting in the main hall for her teacher to arrive, occupying herself by taking a few practice swings in midair.]

Comments

[all_wound_up]

[Nano's already wincing in anticipation, but when she hears the sound of the keyblade piercing through the wood floor next to her, she opens an eye.]

Huh?

[She glances at Xion's hand for a moment before nodding back with a smile.]

Oh! Thank you, Xion-san!

[Picking up her keyblade with her free hand, she accepts the hand up and gets back into a combat stance, placing her feet farther away from one another this time.]

Should it look more like this...?

[poppetstrings]

Yeah. Turn sideways a bit too. It makes you a smaller target, and makes it easier for you to strike.

[Not that she herself does it that way, but that's because she has her own unique combat style. Nano should learn the proper way, at least.]

[all_wound_up]

Sideways... okay.

[Nano nods, repositioning herself and then spreading her feet out again, presenting her side to Xion as she holds her keyblade behind her.]

Is this right? Where should the keyblade be?

[poppetstrings]

Keep your keyblade in your dominant hand and in front of you. Like this.

[Xion mimics the posture, trying to show Nano just what to do. Of course, she's sort of ambidextrous when it comes to fighting, so it doesn't quite matter for her.]

[all_wound_up]

Right...

[Nano shifts the keyblade into her right hand, holding it out the way Xion has demonstrated.]

How's this?

[poppetstrings]

Good. You should be able to block and parry easier.

[Xion raises her keyblade, prepared to strike. This time she gives Nano a little more time to ready herself before she does, but she still hits hard and fast all the same.]

[all_wound_up]

[And just like Xion said, Nano is able to bring her own keyblade up to parry the blow much more easily. She once again shifts her momentum to the side to try to knock Xion's attack away before following up with a strike of her own, aimed toward the midsection this time.]

[poppetstrings]

[Her attack is knocked away, though she manages to whirl around enough to bring up her keyblade to block. Nano seems to be a fast learner, but Xion has the experience to go with it.

She jumps backwards after her guard before rushing her again, this time trying to low sweep Nano off her feet.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano tries to mimic Xion's dodge, hopping back a step, but gets tangled up in her attack anyway and ends up falling back and onto her butt once again. This time, however, instead of bringing her keyblade up in front of her face, she immediately rolls to the side.]

[poppetstrings]

[The roll is a good idea, and Xion has to think fast to keep Nano from getting back up. She drives key keyblade into the ground where she thinks Nano was about to roll too to put up a buffer and stop her from getting too far away.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano's roll is halted somewhat short, but she does at least have time to get into a kneeling position. Unsure if she'll have enough time to make it all the way to her feet, she holds her keyblade horizontally across her front to try to protect against any incoming attacks.]

[poppetstrings]

[She pulls her keyblade out of the ground with a little effort, instead vesting her effort into bringing it down like a hammer on top of Nano's guard.]

[all_wound_up]

[It does indeed hit home, sending a vibration all through Nano's arms. She lets out a grunt of effort as she tries to push back and up against Xion, knowing it's her only chance to get back up to a standing position again.]

[poppetstrings]

[Xion has experience on her side, even if Nano is a mechanical construct from what she recalls. She pushes harder, grounding her feet to give her more leverage.

With a little more effort on her part, Nano should go down.]

[all_wound_up]

[And predictably, down she goes, though not without an admirable effort. Nano lets out a loud huff of air as she falls to the ground, her keyblade clattering to the side.]

[poppetstrings]

[After the keyblade clatters to the side, Xion dismisses hers for the moment, offering her hand to Nano again to help her up.]

You're stronger than I thought.

[all_wound_up]

[Nano smiles, taking the hand up and dusting herself off.]

Thanks. I still have a long way to go before I can match you, though, Xion-san. You're really good at this!

[poppetstrings]

Thanks... But I've been doing it longer than you, right? So that's probably why.

When you're down like that, you need to try and find a way out though, or you'll end up getting over powered.

[all_wound_up]

Right. Practice makes perfect!

[Nano bends over to pick up her keyblade, looking exhausted but satisfied with her effort. It's hard, but she feels pretty accomplished. Not bad at all for a first day.]

What do you recommend? I wasn't sure what to do when I couldn't roll out of the way again.

[poppetstrings]

Use your legs if you can, aim for their knees to knock them down. And if you can't, try moving the same way they're swinging. Like, if they're swinging left, move left too. It's easier to go with the attack than against it.

[all_wound_up]

Right... that makes sense. So I guess I should train how to fight without a sword too, just in case.

[poppetstrings]

Wouldn't it be easiest to use magic in that case? I know a lot of spells I could teach you.

[all_wound_up]

Oh, you're right! I remember a little bit about that too.

[poppetstrings]

Magic isn't too hard. I was using magic before I got my keyblade.

[all_wound_up]

How do you train to use it, though...? I remember how to move and what to say, but that isn't enough by itself, is it?