Eventually she gets Cocoa with a good one across the chin. He stumbles back, raises a hand - 

-She senses danger, and rushes back into guard pose, Ring Dances backward-

"Hold," Cocoa calls, and he rubs his jaw. "You really didn't pull that at all, huh?"

Wince. "-No. I haven't been holding back at all this whole time. Sorry. Are you done then?"

"Nope. Hardly my first time getting punched, and this body can take a lot of abuse. I'll get up from anything you land, don't worry. Just be more careful." He looks at Starlight.

Starlight nods. "It's safe to proceed."

"-Okay."

Back to sparring. Paying attention to pulling her blows reduces her skill level considerably though, as something else to focus on and not get caught up in.

"You'll spar again with me at full power next. Don't worry about hitting me, I won't let you."

"Okay. I feel like I'm learning a lot. I'm definitely an actually-doing-it kind of learner."

-Fists back into ready position.

"Defend yourself!" 

And Silver Starlight blurs forwards.

Aaah LEFT, low jab into Ring Dance and now she's acting and reacting at the speed of thought not even analyzing just MOVING-

It takes three dodges before the touch comes, right against her solar plexus. 

"Good." Silver Starlight darts back. 

"Again!"

No break at all, huh? Well even if strikes don't hit they limit Starlight's options so if she jabs here and-

Oh, she's been tapped again. Agh!

Starlight grins. "Again!" 

It goes on like that for a while.

She keeps up as long as Starlight wants her to, though she's itching to form some strands. It feels like she might even get three at once, like this, it's intense and she's gone through two more qi pills.

Once lunch draws near -

"Alright, time. Meditate in Inner Breath resting pose and draw out the strands. Carefully, like we practiced."

She adopts the resting pose.

Okay. This is a great chance. Remember what it feels like to draw Inner Breath, and to forge a strand. Don't force it. Breathe and let it flow into you naturally...

The first strand comes naturally and easily, with a minimum of effort. The second... snags. 

She - pauses. Considers.

Opens her eyes trying to keep her breathing the same, and glances at Starlight with a slight concerned frown, like 'what now'?

"Steadily, slowly increase the tension. Do not jerk."

Almost imperceptible nod.

Like tugging on rope to undo a slipknot. Gently gently- Just the right force in the right place and it'll all come undone-

It's quite sudden, when it happens. The strand forms in the moment between one heartbeat and the next, and infuses in the next heartbeat. 

There's still more qi left.

Ooh. Three at once? Just like before, carefully draw in, she's done this more than a score times before and she's constantly getting better, so she can do it. She believes she can. And-

-It settles into her, just as she exhales deeply at the end of the exercise.

"Yes."

Silver Starlight applauds. 

"Well done. This calls for cupcakes."

She sweeps off into the kitchen.

"It feels so good to make rapid progress! I'm gonna stretch for a few minutes before following, that was a workout."

(She does this.)