Bopper's narration

It was around this time I met my coach.

This guy was the reason I pushed through my limits to fight massive opponents.

Whenever I felt worn out, he was there to get me on my feet again and yell at me to keep moving.

Our first meeting didn't turn out all that friendly.

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Normal POV

IBT Training Facility

Ben sits in a chair, waiting for his meeting with his coach to begin.

The door then opened to reveal a male kangaroo wearing a beach shirt and sunglasses, walking towards him with a special type of brace on his left leg.

McDaniel speaks up when he reaches them. "Ben, allow me to introduce you to.....Joseph Kierkegaard."

Joseph looks at him. "Just stick with Joe, mate. I ain't gonna waste my breath waiting for you to get my whole name in."

McDaniel awkwardly scratched his head. "Right....anyways, I'll be in my office if you need me. Ben here should be an interesting challenge for you."

The CEO walked off, leaving the kangaroo and Bear alone to get to work.

Ben was about to go shake his hand, but Joe swats it away.

The old kangaroo glares at him. "Listen mate, I'm not here because I like you or that I'm getting a paycheck. I'm here because gold boy was too desperate to find some amateur to babysit you while he counts his income. So if you know what's best for you, either keep quiet during the workout...or quit now before you get in the morgue. Did I make myself clear, teddy?"

Ben nods and doesn't say anything, putting manners first before pride.

Joe nods and goes to the bench press. "Good. Why don't you get busy and start using the equipment like it's supposed to."

Ben just gets to a treadmill and gets to work, knowing that Joe wasn't in the mood for organizing any training routines for him.

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Bopper's narration

I know what you're thinking right about now.

"How the heck could he treat you like that?"

Well it didn't surprise me anyways since Pa told me he wouldn't go easy on me when I got old enough, so I should be ready for when others get even harsher.

Don't worry, Joe didn't stay a jerk and a bum forever, though it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

For the next few weeks, Joe didn't do anything to help me except toss me a water bottle and towel or get some staff to fix something I accidentally broke.

He really didn't want to be here, and after all I went through, I couldn't blame him.

All he was really getting out of me is the "entertainment" of seeing a rookie getting plowed by the first wave.

Only one thing could change his mind, but it wasn't easy from what I did.

My first match arrived...

...and a local audience was about to be exposed to the new player on the block.

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Normal POV

Central City's stadium

Match 1 - Toro Tauro vs Ben Gruff

Ben walks out into the ring, with not a single soul cheering for his arrival.

Joe just takes a seat in the stands, not even bothering to sit near the supposed bloodbath that he threatened would come.

The crowd then cheered for Ben's first opponent walking in, small pyro and lighting effects to welcome him in.

Ben's opponent was a massive Mobian bull wearing boxing shorts and face paint formed into his own wrestling mask, his bodybuilder like form towering over the small bear.

They both meet at the middle as Toro looks down on him, a giant against a grown cub.

Toro smirks at him. "Do ya really wanna fight, cub? I'll flatten ya before the bell rings."

Ben doesn't say anything, just getting into a traditional boxing stance to take on the livestock in front of him.

As soon as the bell rings, Toro lands two punches across Ben, shaking him up and making him stumble back.

Ben tries to land a hit on the face, but misses, just hitting the air it once occupied.

Toro pushes Ben against the ropes, threatening to push him out of the ring, with only the bear's strength barely holding back the bull's brute force.

The fight was mostly Toro throwing the rookie all over the arena, looking like a toddler playing with a toy.

Eventually, Toro stopped pushing him around and goaded him into punching his torso.

Upon punching Toro's six pack, Ben only caused an incredibly weak vibration on it, which showed just how pathetic the fight was.

The bell eventually rings to give the two the end of the first round.

Joe felt like he saw what he needed to see, but curiosity compelled him to stay to see what the results would be, even if it was Ben getting injured.

Round 2

Toro already tried to end it quickly by ramming the tired bear right towards the edge.

All the energy Ben originally had was drained from the first round, only getting time for a few gulps of water and a few minutes of breathing.

Upon Ben hitting the corner, Toro lands punch after punch on his gut, the bear getting the wind knocked out of him.

Once the timer hit the halfway mark, Toro backs off and walks away from the tired and battered Ben, assuming he already won the match.

Some of the crowd was starting to leave, obviously feeling like they just got cheated out of a fun match.

Joe stood up and made his way down the steps, knowing his work was done.

The kangaroo thought that once this was over, the kid would just quit and go home like he should've done.

"Hang on.......I'm not done yet...."

Toro turns around in confusion as he sees Ben slowly get out of the corner, his tired body barely reaching the center of the ring.

The bull had to admire the bear's endurance, some how willing to keep fighting until a bitter loss.

Toro went to charge again, but something different happened this time.

When Toro was in arms length, Ben hit his head with a swift and hard punch that the pro had little time to react to.

WHAM!!!!!

Joe and those who were leaving turned around to see what it was causing the kangaroo's jaws to hang open at the scene.

Toro was in the corner, holding his face as Ben stood in the middle, panting for air.

The bull looks in a mirror given to him to find the damage on him.

A few of Toro's teeth were punched out!

Toro barely had time to hand the mirror back as Ben pounced onto him, grabbing onto him and punching wildly onto the bull's collar and face.

The cub was aggressive with the bull for the rest of the round, landing hit after hit on the now shaken Toro.

The only mercy Toro received was the bell ringing to end the second round.

Everyone who was leaving returned to their seats, with Ben's sudden 180 performance gaining their attention.

Final Round

Both opponents went at each other, both too worn out and damaged to focus clearly.

Ben spends the first half taking more advantages over Toro's shock and surprise, punching in different spots with each moving the tall figure across the ring.

At the halfway point, Toro sideswipes him with one of his horns, launching Ben into the ropes again.

The timer was getting short, forcing both of them to find a way to end this.

Toro leaps up and bounces off of the ropes, trying to make a projectile out of himself into Ben.

The bear sees this and runs towards him, jumping up to meet him in the air.

Ben swiftly punches Toro in the eyes before he could respond, giving him the last opening needed.

He grabbed the bull by the chest and switched them to where Ben was on top when they came down.

Ben holds him down as Toro tries to get him off, but the stamina was fading in both of them.

20 seconds remained in the match.

Toro uses his final bit of energy in a hard push, his neck barely off the ground.

15 seconds left in the match.

Ben holds back, the tall figure still proving a challenge to keep down.

10 seconds remain in the match.

They both push back against each other with all they have.

5

4

3

2

Toro's head finally lays down in defeat, sleep dragging him into unconsciousness..

Ben gets up and stumbles over to the chair, falling over himself as the crowd cheers and applauds the winner.

Joe couldn't believe his eyes as he mutters out, "What just happened?"

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Normal POV

Empire City's IBT Office

Joe sits in a chair across from Ben, a cup of coffee in his hand as the two look at each other.

The kangaroo finally asks him a few questions. "Ok kid, who the blazes are you, where did ya come from and how the heck did you beat Toro Tauro?"

Ben shrugs at the last question. "I don't know, I guess it was just my workout from home."

Joe raised an eyebrow in doubt at the answer. "Like what? Carrying your mum's groceries up the stairs?"

Ben answered back with a modest response. "Honestly, I've been doing everyone in town's chores since a year ago."

Joe asks another question that obviously bugged him. "Why are you even doing this, mate? What brought you to fighting sports of all things?"

Ben answered with another shrug. "I felt like this would be something fun to do, though I wasn't planning on getting into the IBT."

Joe shook his head in disappointment. "Fun is far from anything to get in, mate. You don't go in to enjoy it, you go in to give them something makes money for you and your employer. If you think you're gonna be going in there and making friends, you're living in a dream world."

Ben crosses his arms as if he knew better than him. "Really? Because last I checked, customers don't like things motivated by money. When was the last time you saw an Olympic athlete play just for the money?"

Joe stands up after that comment. "Don't play smart with me, teddy. You outta be thankful I didn't bail out on you as soon as round 1 started."

Ben gets up and stares down on the kangaroo, a glare of his own hitting home at him. "That's it. I've tried to be polite and neighborly.....but obviously that's never enough for you or Vickie."

Joe was about to speak up, but Ben slams his fist on the chair to stop him, promptly shutting the kangaroo up.

Ben continues on him. "I tried to take you seriously...but all I got was you being a lazy bum. I tried to get you in a good mood....but you stayed grouchy during the whole week. I even bought you a meal to show how grateful I was.....but you just ignored me and showed how much of a loser you are."

At this moment, Joe was feeling pretty small after the bear rants at him for several minutes straight.

Ben points to the door nearby. "If you don't want to help me, then get your sorry tail out of the gym and let me work on playing for Bernardo. I don't need your groaning. I don't need your whining. And I sure as heck don't need a grouchy old man trying to ruin everything!"

Ben turns around and walks to the nearest bench press, knowing Joe would just leave anyways.

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Normal POV (Next Morning)

Bernardo's mansion

Ben heard the doorbell ring and went to answer it, a cup of hot cocoa in his hand.

Upon opening it, he saw Toro standing there above him with a envelope in his hands.

Ben looked on in confusion at him being here, but also looked like he expected it. "What brings you here, Toro? You mad that I broke your face?"

Toro shook his head and showed some of his teeth were replaced with gold ones. "Nah, I'm fine. I payed to get artificial ones that'll work better."

Ben chuckles a little. "It's nice look for ya. Might actually scare some of the other pros next time you fight."

Toro chuckles too, almost laughing loud as well. "Yeah. I could take them all out just by flashing them with these."

Toro then tells him calmly. "I'm sorry for the roughhousing I gave ya last time. I was just trying to make the most of having a newbie in the ring."

Ben smiles at him. "It's fine. I'm actually glad you got to be my first opponent. You're one of my favorites of all time."

Toro tilts his head with an amused smile on his face. "Really? I got to be the legendary Gruff's first opponent?"

Ben shook his head. "Come on, don't give me the flattering. There's no way I'm gonna be that big in the IBT."

Toro nods with a confident face. "I'm a little serious, bud. The way you fought....it was like your soul was in complete defiance of losing. With skills like yours, you could hit the finals faster than a falcon can dive."

Ben smiles and extends his hand out to accept a handshake from Toro. "Thanks, Toro. I'm here if you wanna talk."

Toro smirks at him. "Next time we're talking, it's in the ring."

Ben smirks back in the same competitive emotion. "Can't wait for it. I hear there's a floor with your name on it."

Toro chuckles at his taunt. "And I heard there's some ropes just waiting to get broken by a black bear getting launched into them."

The bull then adds while handing the envelope to him. "By the way, I found this was addressed to you and volunteered to bring it over."

The bear nods and takes it. "Thanks Toro. See ya later," he says as he closes the door.

Ben looked inside and found a note written to him.

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The Note

Okay mate, you win. I'll train you like a real champ this time. But you better take anything I give you with 110% effort, no matter how ridiculous it looks.

Meet me at the corner of Walnut Street and Brook Avenue at 7 AM sharp.

-JK

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That's it for this chapter!

Hopefully this brings more interest in the story for the next few days.

If you have any questions please let me know.

I'll see you in the next chapter!