[ORP] The Midway

[Fealine]

A..... five.....

If Phonies could turn red from rage, Aegis would be boiling. She tilted her head back and let out the worst sounding rage scream before finally getting quiet and huffing and puffing like a sad little wofl.

Wasn't she strong? Why did this stupid machine only blink up to five.

Stomping forward, she let out a pathetic word, even she couldn't understand what and took the bear from Rigged and held it, biting down on the stained ear....

And oh? Was that a small angry tear?

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

At first Rigged had to work really really hard not to laugh.

The filly was absolutely seething. He was surprised she hadn't burst into flames from rage.

And then she took the bear, one little tear appeared and though Rigged hated to admit it, something in his chest twisted a little. It couldn't have been his heart, surely.

"Aye well, how about you come back tomorrow? Give it another go? Maybe it's broken and needs some maintenance."

@Fealine

[Fealine]

Aegis wasn't even sure she wanted to come back at this point but the fact that he even -mentioned- that it could be the machine gave her hope and she sniffled and stomped a hoof in determination. "Fine. But tomorrow that thing is going down!" She groaned, turning to walk away. "And I'm taking him with me!" She shouted over her shoulder as she put the teddy bear on her saddle and ran off, his little semi flat head bobbing around.


It took her all night to fall asleep and by the time the sun rose, she was only just getting some good z's. It wasn't until she heard her mother calling for the 40th time that Aegis finally managed to fling herself out of bed, come up with some sort of excuse to get out of chores, grabbed her money bag and ran off towards the circus.

She marched down the same path she took before, this time with much more purpose, stopping before the punching machine, eyes narrowed and looking around for the unicorn. "Alright...where are you?!"

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

"Who are you looking for?" Rigged asked as he materialized from the crowd behind her. He was grinning and knew exactly why she was here but it was fun to fire her up.

@Fealine

[Fealine]

Aegis about leaped out of her coat like a cat out of its fur. She spun around, semi arched back before her eyes narrowed on Rigged. "You. We have a score to settle." she turned and pointed at the machine before pulling out one phony bux from her bag and dangling it towards Rigged.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

He grinned and took his payment from her outstretched hoof.

"Always pleasure doing business with you, sweetheart." He beckoned her towards the punching bag. "Your opponent awaits!"

@Fealine

[Fealine]

Aegis snorted and wasted no time in spinning around to face the machine. She had dreamed of this moment all night long and today she'd taste sweet sweet victory!

Letting out a loud yell, she slammed herself into the machine front hooves first, her wings fluttering rapidly.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

The bag took a battering and the machine lit up. This time it shot past four, then five, six, seven, eight and... nine! There it stopped. The machine flashed merrily and gave a happy little tune.

"Impressive!" Rigged crowed. "You must have been training!"

@Fealine

[Fealine]

Aegis was actually shocked. She blinked, staring at the light flashing nine and tilted her head. Squinting her eyes she thought it was fishy but the actual excitement that she had actually, possibly, showed this adult how strong she was made her too excited. She threw her head back and laughed. "Told ya so! Though It should have been a ten but I held back clearly." she snorted, fluffing her wings and posing.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

Rigged chuckled. "Ah yes, that must have been it." She certainly seemed happy with the results, which was good because he thought he'd been rather generous with the nine. A ten would have just given her a big head.

"And now for your prize!"

He wandered behind the machine and reached up to where the various larger just as badly-made plushies were hanging. With a flourish he presented her with a frowning gorilla wearing boxing gloves. "Ta da!" He said, bonking her gently on the head with one of the gloved gorilla hands.

@Fealine

[Fealine]

Aegis eagerly awaited her new prize, no doubt some kind of glorious reward for her amazing feat of strength just now.

But when he pulled out a gorilla with boxing gloves on it, however, she frowned, wincing as he bopped her despite the fact that it really didn't hurt.

"That's...it? Not even a lame blow up hammer?" she blinked, taking the gorilla and staring at it oddly.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

Rigged's eyes went wide with feigned shock. "How can you not love this?" He waggled the plush. "A blow up hammer? Our prizes are better than that. Look at him. He's a gorilla with boxing gloves!" He leaned a little closer, gorilla and all, voice lowering with conviction. "He's also incredibly strong. Would you like to see?"

@Fealine

[Fealine]

"You are so weird..." she said softly, eyeing Rigged. She still didn't really know his name. He both intrigued and really annoyed her but....she had to admit.... she was curious. She liked strength after all... but what could a plush possibly do? "Um....sure...." she said, leaning closer.

@Ruriska

[Ruriska]

Rigged nodded solemnly and lifted the plush higher.

The gorilla glowered.

"Pow!" He said as he pushed one gloved gorilla fist into the punching bag.

The machine instantly went wild. Lights shot to the top, all ten of them. Obnoxiously loud music played and attracted the attention of passers-by, who stopped to stare curiously.

Rigged waved the gorilla at them playfully and then looked back down at Aegis in an unmistakable smirk. "See?" He offered it to her. "So do you want it?"

@Fealine

[Fealine]

"WHAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

That was about all Aegis could say in response as her face twisted into all sorts of actions. She grabbed the gorilla from Rigged and posed him, waiting for the light show to calm down before taking the stuffed overgrown boxing monkey and slamming his gloves into the punching bag. She then stood back and waited...

@Ruriska