Later that evening, as they all sat down to eat, Mrs. Shy started serving everypony
Generous portions of the carrot-and-cabbage lasagna Fluttershy had made.
And, on Rainbows request, it had lots of molten cheese.
“So how was your day, girls?” Mrs. Shy asked as she gave Rainbow her plate.
“Mine was awesome!” Rainbow smiled. “Reunion was okay, kinda dull start.
Just meetings and stuff today, all the fun events starts tomorrow. But after that we
Met Gilda! After that it kinda sucked for a bit, I was going to play some Pac-mare
at the arcade, but it was beyond full. So many ponies… But then it got awesome
again, I found some guys in the sports area and challenged them to some races!
Which, of course, I won.” Rainbow had a smug smile.
“Gilda? Wasn’t that the name of the griffin who came home with you earlier, Dear?”
Mr. Shy asked, turning toward Fluttershy.
Fluttershy nodded. “Mhm, yes. That was her.”
Rainbow looked at Fluttershy, slightly surprised.. “Gilda followed you home? Why?”
“Well, I… Met her again after we’d split up, when you went to the mall and I went shopping.
After shopping, I went to a park, and I met her there. Then, since you want
Us all to be friends, well… we decided to have a walk-and-talk, to get to know each other a little bit more…
So, she followed me home since that’s where I was going.”
Rainbow smiled and nodded. “Oh, that makes sense. Good that you’re bonding.”
She kept eating. With her mouth full, she mumbled something that sounded like
“This tastes awesome!”
After dinner, they all went to bed early, since they all had lots to do the next day.
Rainbow and Fluttershy had all the reunion activities, Mr. Shy had his friends house-
building project, and Mrs. shy usually went to bed early most days anyway.
* * *
The next day, they all gathered for breakfast again, Rainbow eating even more
than usual, and drinking an extra cup of coffee.
“What’s all this for?” Mr. Shy asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice,
as he sipped his lemon tea.
Rainbow smiled eagerly and spoke between bites of her sandwich.
“There’s a Hoofball match today at the reunion. So I need extra energy.
It’s a classic class versus class, just like we used to do it back in our school days.
So it’s us - Class A - versus our old arch rivals, class D! It’s gonna be just like
in the old days, except we’re all older and even better at the game now!”
Mrs. Shy smiled. “Sounds like fun. But what about you, dear?” She said,
turning to Fluttershy.
“Oh, don’t worry mom, I’m not playing. I’m watching and cheering from the
side benches. Rainbow and Gilda are playing, together with the rest of the class.
Well, most of the class. Some more are like me, and will just watch. And later,
I’ll be going to a seminar about agriculture.”
“The kind of thing she likes and I find boring.” Rainbow laughed teasingly.
Mr. and Mrs. Shy just smiled.
After breakfast, Rainbow flew out of the house, with Fluttershy trying to keep up.
“Slow down, Rainbow. No need to hurry, we’ll get there ahead of time even at my
pace. No need to rush it so much.”
Rainbow slowed down. “Sorry, just so exited.. I mean, I’ve played a lot of hoofball
since we graduated, but I haven’t played with the old class teams since then.
I hope everypony remembers our moves and tactics. If they do, we’ll win easily!”
* * *
In the old locker room an hour later, Rainbow and Gilda sat down on the benches.
“These look new.” Rainbow remarked.
“Yeah, hold on a sec…” Gilda replied, bending down to look on the underside
of the bench she was sitting on. “My name is gone. I carved it into the bench
once, and it never got fixed since it was on the never-seen underside. But it’s gone
now, so yeah, these are new.”
“Anyway, about the game. Tactics?”
“Well, first of all, let’s wait for the whole team, Dash. They’ll need to hear it too,
you know.” Gilda laughed. “It’s not just the two of us.”
“I bet you and I could beat Class D alone though!” Rainbow smirked with
exaggerated confidence.
“Yeah!”
“But ya won’t need to! Class A, Assemble!” A voice said behind them, loud and
clear. After that, the whole class marched in, all with their ‘warfaces’ on.
Everypony was ready, and everypony was just as excited as Rainbow.
This game was going down in history. Ponies would talk about it for years to come!
At least, that’s what Rainbow thought to herself as they all made their preparations.
When everypony and griffin (there was one more other than Gilda in Class A,
another female named Sophitia, or Tia for short), They marched out into the
take-off zone at the side of the arena.
Author’s Note - Regarding Hoofball
In this story, It’s basically American football (rugby), but flying is
allowed, to a certain height from the “ground” clouds.
There is also a version of the rules with no height limit on the flying
and taller goal posts. The goalposts and yard lines are all made
from sturdy clouds. The versions are known as ‘regular’ and ‘Limitless’ Rule set.
One goal equals One point. Amount of points needed to win varies.
In official games, the score-to-win is 5 for a short game, 10 for a medium,
and 20 for a long game.
In unofficial games the score-to-win is decided by the teams before the game starts,
depending on how long you want to play.
To score, the ball must be thrown between the goalposts.
The ball is an American football, enchanted by unicorns so that it does
not fall through the clouds, by use of a spell similar to the one Twilight used
on herself and her friends in the episode where they all visited Cloudsdale.
Each team has five active players on the field - Two defenders and Three attackers.
The defenders defend their goal, while the attackers try to get the ball past the defense and throw
it through the goal posts. Defenders can only move within the goal zone, while attackers can move freely
across the whole field EXCEPT the goal zones. They have to throw the ball from OUTSIDE the zone,
past the defenders, and in between the goal posts.
Gilda looked around, and took a deep breath. “Aah.. Feels good to be on a field again.
Haven’t had much time for games lately.”
Rainbow took an even deeper breath, and nodded. “I hear that. I’ve had the same
experience. Lots of work back in Ponyville, and when I’m not working I’m usually
on some adventures with the gang, or too tired for games due to all the work
and adventures.” She said, and laughed.
“Yeah, how many times have you guys saved Equestria now?” Gilda asked.
“Hmm.. Good question. Haven’t really kept count, actually.
Let’s see… Nightmare Moon… Discord, twice… King Sombra…
Plus a bunch of local stuff, like Flim and Flam, Trixie, Twice each… Monsters from Everfree…
That dragon who was napping in a cave and almost covered Ponyville in smoke…
Plus I probably forgot a thing or two.”
“So, Equestria, like, four times, Ponyville and surrounding areas at least 10 times,
and in both cases probably more to come.”
“Sounds about right, yeah.” Rainbow grinned. “Being a hero is exhausting work.”
“I bet it is. Now though, we’ve got the game to worry about.
Referee’s waving us over, we better go over there.”
The team walked unto the middle of the arena.
Rainbow, Gilda, Tia, and two stallions.
Thunderlane, a dark grey pony with pale mintgreen mane,
and Crescent Moon, a beige pony with brown mane,
(who looked suspiciously lot like Time Turner in Ponyville, but with wings…
Almost identical, actually. They must be twins, Rainbow thought to herself).
The enemy team approached from the opposite side.
The three bullies, Hoops, Dumb-Bell and Score, in company with two
mares Rainbow didn’t remember the names of, mainly because she never
really cared for anypony in Class D.
One was a lavender pony with a dark yellow mane, the other was a
purple mare, same colour as Twilight, with a silver-grey mane.
(Authors note - their names are "Drizzle" and "Grape Soda")
The two teams stared at each other, all with serious ‘game faces’.
* * *
The judge held the ball in his hooves as he spoke to the teams.
“Okay guys, We’re playing with official rules.
No height limit, first team to 10 points to win, and I will not award
any bonus points for long-shots or style. Standard teams of 5 active players per team.
Kick-off every time you score. Does every pony and griffin agree to these rules?”
Everyone nodded, while the two teams kept staring at each other with eager
expressions, everyone ready for a serious game.
The judge asked one last question. “I need one player from each team for the kick-off.
Who’ll it be?”
Dumb-Bell from Team D stepped up. “I’ll kick off for my team.”
Team A huddled together.
Crescent Moon spoke first.
“Rainbow, you wanna handle this? You should be able to steal it from D.B. quite
easily, I’d say. Remember the old days. You used to be his worst nightmare in the
arena, and outside it too.”
Rainbow nodded. “I’ll take the first kick, get the ball, and throw it sideways to my
left. Crescent, I want you to fly over there and grab it. And then…”
Rainbow continued telling the team her idea, when the judge interrupted.
“Can we get going, please? You can continue your Tac-talk at the next kick-off.”
“Right. We’re ready. I’ll take the kick-off.” Rainbow said, sending a glare
at Dumb-Bell, who instantly regretted taking the kick-off for his team.
Dash was the only pony who could avoid his usual tricks and moves.
His only true nemesis in the Arena.
The rest of the teams lined up behind them, with the defensive players moving
further back, into the goal zones. The judge threw the ball straight upwards,
as high as he could. As the ball started falling, he blew his whistle to signal the
start of the match, and quickly flew to the side lines.
Dumb-Bell and Rainbow both made their move, trying to get the ball.
But while Dumb-Bell relied on his brute strength, Rainbow relied on speed
and agility. Instead of grabbing the ball directly like Dumb-bell tried to,
She made a quick roll in the air, kicking the ball sideways to her right,
then made a quick turn and dove sideways to grab it while Dumb-Bell
was still confused by the sudden move. Then, she spun back upwards again,
tossing the ball in a wide arc over Dumb-Bell, where Crescent flew in from
his end and grabbed it. Meanwhile, Gilda had made a quick straight flight
beneath the kick-off, and was now in the D-side zone.
Crescent looked to be sure, and when he saw her, they made eye-contact, winked,
and then h threw the ball toward her, across the field.
She caught it, made a small loop, and tossed it full-force toward the goal posts…
Where it zoomed past the defenders, Drizzle and Grape Soda, before they could react.
The ball went straight between the posts.
The judge called out, “TEAM A, SCOOOORE!”
Rainbow and her whole team cheered loudly, as well as the rest of the Team A
supporters on the benches. Even Fluttershy, although she cheered quietly,
to noponys surprise. Team D on the other hoof, all booed and grumbled.
The judge called out, “Score is now 1-0 to Team A. Take a minute to discuss
tactics, and then we’ll have the second kick-off.”
The two teams huddled together on their sides of the field, discussing.
A minute later, Gilda approached the mid-field for the kick-off.
From the other side, Hoops flew into position opposite to Gilda.
The judge threw the ball again, even higher this time.
Hoops was faster than Gilda, but Gilda managed to grab Hoops’ tail and stop
his ascension, pulling herself ahead of him and grabbing the ball.
But just as she was about to throw it backwards, she felt a strong impact
from Dumb-Bell, who had performed a quick tackle, hitting Gilda straight
in the chest. It wasn’t enough for her to lose her breath, but it was enough
to make her drop the ball, which Dumb-Bell then grabbed, and quickly passed down
to Hoops, who was still beneath them. After that, Dumb-Bell passed around Gilda,
who was just regaining focus. Hoops tossed the ball toward where Dumb-Bell was
supposed to be, but he was interrupted by Gilda, returning the tackle with an even
stronger one, throwing Dumb-Bell off balance and crashing down to the ground.
Meanwhile, Thunderlane and Rainbow had made a quick move. Rainbow managed
to grab the ball just before it fell to the ground, and threw it back up to Thunderlane
who was flying just above her. He grabbed it, and made a quick U-turn
to avoid Grape Soda, who was approaching fast. He made a half-loop
downwards after the U-turn, and flew under Grape Soda, and made a run for
the goal posts. Suddenly he stopped dead, but let go of the ball, which continued
to fly in a downwards arc, to Gilda and Hoops, who both grabbed it and fought for it.
A full 30 seconds passed before Gilda finally managed to get it from him, and throw it
straight up, where Thunderlane grabbed it and…
“SCOOORE, TEAM A - 2-0”, the judges loud voice echoed over the field,
as the Team A support cheered loudly again.
The match went on like this for a while, both teams scoring several points each.
In the end, after about 35 minutes, the match ended
The Judge declared loudly, “The winner iiiis…”