Welcome To Canterlot High
Short Stories!
2. Soar Like An Eagle
Yesterday was an interesting day for Rainbow Dash and her friends. After giving another tour of CHS to a new student, Sunset Shimmer invited this boy named Thomas to spend time at the mall with her and the others. Already this boy from far out of town, on an island called Sodor, seemed to get along with everyone and became fast friends. Then something unexpected happened to Thomas. While eating Thomas suddenly passed out and a mysterious shadow cloaking began to cover up his entire body, ripping apart his clothes and inflicting harm upon him. The girls did everything they could after hastily bringing him over to Twilight's house to stop the shadow from covering their new friend. Eventually it stopped and Thomas was now much better. But the question roamed around everyone's noggin, what caused Thomas to black out and where did the shadow come from? Thomas didn't do much help in clarifying, as soon as he was fully conscious again he ran away; going on about preventing something from happening again before it was too late. The girls have experienced things that were way out of the ordinary before, but this was definitely something abnormally different compared to their typical run ins with magic, at least that's what they assume is involved.
The next day of school came along and after finishing up band rehearsals the girls made a pack to look for Thomas and make sure he's ok. The fact he was attacked by some kind of dark magic that knocked him unconscious and tore away his being was something that they needed to look into. While going through their classes the girls didn't seem to find Thomas anywhere. Did he even come to school today? Did he leave Canterlot? All of this was starting to grain on them a little. They didn't know if Thomas was safe from the dark magic that attacked him yesterday, but still they kept looking.
Third period rolled in when Rainbow Dash headed to her next class, which was physical education, or gym class. Gym was her favorite period for many reasons. It's the most active and exhilarating course in school and there was always a new sport they would play every other class saved for the few days where required exercise routines were mandatory to take. She walked out into the gymnasium where everyone was already warming up. Rainbow Dash looked around for her teammates on the Wondercolts, Canterlot's main sporting team in all fields, and finds them all gathered near the bleachers. The members she saw consisted of Spitfire, Soarin', Fleetfoot, Misty Fly, and Thunderlane. As she walked over though, Rainbow Dash notices someone else with them and froze in her place, examining the person one of her teammates began talking to. This teammate was Spitfire. She had short orange hair with a lighter orange highlight, yellow skin, and bronze eyes.
"Well looky what we got here," She exclaimed.
Spitfire was berating the person Rainbow Dash now instantly recognized upon further examination. The boy wearing all blue clothing Rarity had just picked out for him yesterday was Thomas. He was standing rigidly, put off by Spitfire's assertive attitude the more she began leaning closer to him.
"I bet you think you're Wondercolt material, don't cha? Think you got what it takes to become one of the elites? The best players in all of Canterlot? The running champions for over four years in all major leagues of soccer, basketball and tennis? Well then, let me be the first to tell you... You don't! If you had what it took to be one of us then you'd already be a Wondercolt!"
Soarin stepped in between Spitfire and Thomas. Soarin had dark blue wavy hair, light blue skin like Thomas, and green eyes.
"Whoa, c'mon, Spitfire. He's just the new guy. Don't wanna scare him away from the game already."
He faced Thomas and offered him his hand. "Hey there, I'm Soarin'!"
"Oh? Where to?" Thomas asked.
"Thomas?!" Rainbow Dash called.
"Rainbow Dash!" He said happily.
She ran over to him and the Wondercolts, all questioning how their captain knew this boy if he's new to CHS. As she approached them, Soarin stood in a straight position and placed his hand on his head saluting Rainbow Dash joining the group.
"Captain on court!"
"Soarn, we've been over this. You don't have to salute me."
He looks at his hand then chuckles feeling a little embarrassed. Spitfire just slaps her hand with her head.
"What are you doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked Thomas.
"I was told I had to be in this class so, now I'm here."
"I can see that. But what was the deal with you taking off last night?"
"Captain? You know this pipsqueak?" Spitfire interrupted.
Rainbow Dash looks back at her skeptic teammates then back at Thomas.
"Uh, yeah. We just met yesterday."
"Cool," Soarin said. "Hey since you know him, why not ask Thomas to become a member of our team? A few of us are graduating this year and we need new members to carry on our legacy after we're long gone."
"Well it ain't gonna be him that's for sure," Fleetfoot said. "You saw the way he lost his footing trying to dribble a ball."
Soarin went over to Thomas wrapping his arm around his shoulder.
"So, maybe he doesn't have a good grasp at it yet. Everyone has to start somewhere. Thomas, how would you like to be on reserve for membership of the Wondercolts? We're pretty tight at the moment, but once an opening is available you'll get to play along side Canterlot's best at all kinds of sporting leagues! How cool does that sound?!"
Thomas still didn't know what a Wondercolt was, but he picked up on the fact they like talking about sports a lot and guessed that a Wondercolt meant playing different sports. Being a Wondercolt sounded like a very important honor too. If only the best of Canterlot got to be a member, it must be a big deal that he would be asked to join. Even if he didn't know how to play sports Thomas felt so excited to be offered a spot and wanted to except it.
"That sounds amazing!" Thomas smiled.
Misty Fly scoffed. "Don't be so direct, Soarin. I bet Thomas has never even played a single game in his life."
"Yeah, and isn't it the captain's decision who joins the Wondercolts?" Thunderlane asked.
Spitfire chimed in. "Besides, it's like what Soarin said, we don't have room for any more members. And even if we did, there's certainty no room for scrawny, clumsy, airheads like him."
"Whoa, Spitfire," Rainbow Dash said. "Why are you all being so harsh on him? It's only his first day for crying out loud."
"They saw me using a basketball and just came up and asked if I was new, or why I'm not wearing proper gym wear and started going on about Wondercolting or something" Thomas said, feeling a little hurt by their insults.
"Because to be a Wondercolt is to be the best player around," Spitfire said. "Someone who shows up wearing nothing but what you got going on, and doesn't even know where he is on the court can't match up to expected standards set up for real members."
"Look, maybe if we just let him show us what he can do then maybe we'll consider him for the team. But right now," Rainbow Dash was interrupted.
"I don't think so," Misty Fly said smugly. "We've seen him trying to bounce a basketball earlier and he nearly ate it trying to copy what we were doing."
Rainbow Dash remembered her and Thomas yesterday at a sporting goods store playing around with some of the equipment. They were having a great time while dribbling basketballs even though Thomas had trouble trying to bounce the ball in a consistent motion. Maybe he really wasn't fit to be a member if he's never played basketball before, Rainbow Dash thought. Regardless, she still came to his defense.
"That's why you're picking on him? How about instead of saying he can't do something you actually try and work on improving his skills. So what if he's never played a game before? That doesn't mean we have to put him down for it. We're suppose to teach others that wanna be awesome to be the best they can, just like all of us. That's why we have an initiation process. All he needs is a lot of training and he'll be good enough to shoot hoops like there's no tomorrow."
A few of the members exchanged some looks.
"Sorry, but there's no room in the Wondercolts for, Topsy Thomas!" Fleetfoot mocked.
The rest of the Wondercolts except Rainbow Dash and Soarin started laughing and repeating his new nickname. Thomas slouched miserably, he didn't like the name Topsy Thomas. It wasn't his fault he isn't yet used to his human body. Rainbow Dash saw how upset Thomas looked and was reminded of the nickname she once had when joining the Wondercolts, which infuriated her even more combined with her teammates mocking one of her friends. They may have met just yesterday, but much like the rest of her friends did, she considered Thomas a good friend as well. Seeing him being made fun of because he doesn't know how to play sports sparked an idea inside her head.
"I bet I can teach Thomas to be so good he can beat all of you in a game of basketball."
The Wondercolts laughed even more before Spitfire spoke up.
"Yeah, not possible. Sorry Rainbow Dash, but your new friend there is a lost cause."
Thomas was not liking Spitfire so far as he just stood still glaring at her.
"Not under my wing. I can teach him to be so awesome I'll have him doing drop-steps and crossovers by the end of class! Then we'll see who the topsy ones really are. With my superior skill and knowledge, me and Thomas can kick all of your butts in today's game."
"Is that a challenge, captain?"
"Did I stutter?"
Rainbow Dash and Spitfire glare at each other intensely.
Spitfire smirked. "Alright."
"What?!" Thomas said nervously.
"We'll let you train Thomas to be better than even you are at Basketball. And when it comes time to play the game, it'll be all of us against you two. If you win, then we'll hold a spot for him."
"Done deal!" Rainbow Dash said. "Yo, coach Fire Streak, how long until the game starts?"
"Fifteen minutes."
"Hah, perfect."
Thomas stared at Rainbow Dash, but all she did was smirk back at him with assurance.
"Are you nuts? Soarin said. "You can't teach someone how to play Basketball in fifteen minutes, that's impossible!"
"Please, fifteen minutes is all I need," Rainbow Dash said confidently crossing her arms.
"Uh, Rainbow Dash," Thomas tried to interject.
"Let's hope it's enough," Fleetfoot said.
"It is. C'mon Thomas, let's get started."
Rainbow Dash strolls off while Thomas stood still trying to process what she had just gotten him into. Fifteen minutes, how was she going to train him to play basketball in fifteen minutes? Not to mention have him play a game against Canterlot's best sports players? After staring back at the glaring Wondercolt team almost too petrified to move, Thomas finally does and catches up with Rainbow Dash.
"What did you do that for?!" Thomas asked. "I don't know how to play basketball."
"Yet" Rainbow Dash winked. "Relax Thomas, I'm not captain of every team in CHS for nothing. You're looking at a pro here!"
Thomas was still nervous, and a bit ashamed of himself. If not knowing how to play Basketball didn't make him really useful, it was a lot more upsetting to hear their insults baring on him. Rainbow Dash saw that he was still unsure of this and stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey, listen. Don't let them get to you. I mean, yeah, they can be a bit harsh at first. But if we succeed and prove them that you can hold your own in a game, they'll see you in a whole new light and have a much greater respect for you."
"Did you have trouble playing sports before you got good?"
Smiling meekly, Rainbow Dash just wraps her arm around Thomas and the two continue walking. Although she faced a few minor setbacks, she also didn't want to brag right away that she was pretty much perfect at almost everything Rainbow Dash played right from the start.
"Let's just begin with some basics first."
After fifteen minutes of training it was now time to start the game. Rainbow Dash went through and instructed Thomas on how to do some basic basketball moves such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. It was a rough start, but Thomas managed to master dribbling and the many methods of passing quite impressively to Rainbow Dash's relief. Aiming for the hoop was something he kept having the most trouble with, getting progressively worse at doing so even though he seemed to be improving on mostly everything else Rainbow Dash taught him. Most of the Wondercolts chuckled to themselves while watching Thomas poorly attempting to preform a wraparound and a crossover. Though she was worried about his progression not going as far as she had hoped, Rainbow Dash was still sure of herself that they'll be able to win the game and continued teaching Thomas until time was up. She went over some of the rules quickly such as double dribbling, traveling and some that will coast him a penalty before the two stepped on the court. Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot, Misty Fly, and Thunderlane were already on the court waiting for them to get into position. Most of the class sat on the bleachers. They were told that the Wondercolt needed to train against their captain.
The gym was tense as Thomas and Rainbow Dash got into their positions, with Rainbow Dash crouching in the centre along with Spitfire. 'How are we going to win with two players?' Thomas thought to himself seeing the Wondercolts on the other side. Coach Fire Streak held the ball out above the two players staring intently at each other.
"The game is two on five, ten minutes. Begin!"
Throwing the ball up into the air, Rainbow Dash and Spitfire jump up and reach for the ball. Barley losing it to Spitfire, Rainbow Dash catches the ball, landing back on the ground and dribbled the ball away from her.
The court became active with shoes screeching against the tiles and everybody hustling and bustling around the court closing in on Rainbow Dash. Fleetfoot and Thunderlane surround her unable to travel further pass them. She looks around for Thomas, getting a glimpse of him jumping up and down across the court past Thunderlane and throws the ball over to him. He was happy with himself as he caught the ball until Thomas saw the entire Wondercolt team charge in on him. Afraid of being trampled, Thomas ran with the ball still in his hand forgetting he can't travel with the ball unless he's consistently dribbling it. The coach blew his whistle and called foul.
Spitfire and Misty Fly walk past Rainbow Dash shooting a look as if to remark sarcastically that her training was rubbing off on Thomas. Standing next to her, Thomas and Rainbow Dash exchanged worrisome glances. They weren't off to a good start. The games continued with Soarin now dribbling the ball, but it didn't last long as Rainbow Dash stopped him from passing over to another teammate and dribbled the ball all the way over to their hoop. Taking a shot, she throws the ball perfectly into the hoop scoring them a point. It was then the Wondercolts remembered who they were up against and made note to step up their game for this one. It may be two verses five, but Rainbow Dash alone might as well be a one-man army.
The game went on for a while. Thomas learned from his actions and relied mostly on dribbling the ball away from the other team until Rainbow Dash got close to their hoop, which he would then simply pass the ball over to her and she takes the shot. The only other times the Wondercolts got a point was when Thomas attempted to shoot the ball himself only to be apprehended by Spitfire and the rest multiple times. During half time the players refreshed and did some quick warm ups while Rainbow Dash went over the rules and some skills again to Thomas. Eight minutes roll by and the score so far tallied up to seventeen for Rainbow Dash and Thomas, and twenty for the Wondercolts.
It was now close to an end game. The two managed to catch up to the other team resulting in a tie game, which meant the next shot could be anyone's win. They needed one more shot to win, with only sixty seconds to spare.
"This is your time now Thomas" Rainbow Dash remarked.
"What's that?"
"I've been doing most of the work out there. It's your turn to show them what you can really do, and take one shot for the win."
"B-but I can't do that. I'm not good at getting the ball into the hoop. What if I miss? I'll lose the game for both of us and your teammates will only make fun of me even more, including you. I don't want any of that to happen."
She breathed in and out. "You'll do great out there. If you really want it, if you absolutely want to shoot the ball in perfectly, you just gotta go for it. That's how you'll bank it. I can't teach you to go for the shot when given the chance. When we reach that point that's gonna have to be your call to make."
Thomas was now even more unsure of his abilities. Why would she rely on him to score the last point for them if he can't even shoot properly? Perhaps, he hasn't really been trying. Was is because of the Wondercolts insults towards him holding him back? Does he really want to be good at Basketball?
Everyone was back on the court ready to begin the game. The coach throws the ball up and Rainbow Dash catches it. Losing the ball to the other players for a brief period, she manages to take the ball back but lost a few seconds of time retrieving it. Twenty-five seconds remained. Thomas ran over to the Wondercolt's hoop leaving himself open to catch the ball. Realizing they only had fifteen seconds left, Rainbow Dash charges to the other team's hoop in an attempt to make the shot herself knowing there wasn't any time to let Thomas make the shot instead. However, Fleetfoot, Misty Fly, and Thunderlane surround Rainbow Dash preventing her from reaching the hoop and from making the shot where she stands.
Seeing only one opening, she throws the ball all the way over to Thomas, and he catches it. Spitfire moves in on him and begins blocking every direction he can shoot. Ten seconds counting down, Thomas began to panic. He was close enough to the hoop but was prevented from taking a shot. Rainbow Dash anxiously watched as Thomas struggled to keep the ball away from Spitfire. 'What can I do now?' Thomas thought. There's no way he can make a good shot with someone blocking his line of fire. If he really wants to make a great shot then he's gotta find an alternative opening, and go for it. Determined, tired, out of breath, and nauseated from all the running and back tracking he'd been doing, Thomas knew his time to shine was here and now. He arches down and shifts his left foot, turning his back and facing away from and twists around Spitfire. Caught of guard, she tries to reach for the ball but couldn't get past his shoulders. Stomping his left foot back onto the ground, Thomas leaps up into the air raising his right arm with the ball in his hand. Five seconds counting down. Everyone watches in awe. Rainbow Dash, Spitfire and Soarin were wide eyed as Thomas reaches arms length all the way up to the basket and dunks the basketball into the hoop. The scored tallied up to twenty-one over twenty, and the timer goes off.
The gymnasium experienced a good few seconds of silence, until an uproar from the other students over on the bleachers cheered and shouted for Rainbow Dash and Thomas' victory. Some students sat up and ran over to Thomas and Rainbow Dash, picking up and holding them in the air chanting their names. The two friends were beaming with joy. Soarin and even everyone in the Wondercolts joined in, while all Spitfire did was stood with a slack jaw. After coach Fire Streak ordered everyone to settle and dismissed everyone from class, the group of students set Rainbow Dash and Thomas back down on the ground.
Realizing how hard she was on him, Spitfire and the other Wondercolts shamefully approached Thomas.
"Thomas, that was some fine sportsmanship you displayed out there. You stepped up your game when the going called for it and surprised us all."
She looks over at Rainbow Dash then back to him, feeling a sense of regret well up inside.
"I guess we were a bit too judgey on you. Rainbow Dash is right, we're not the best simply because we're good at every sport. We're the best because we inspire others to be great at whatever they want. What I've just witnessed today was a clear indication of that. You've got potential kid, and you've more than earned your place on the reserved spot for the Wondercolts."
Soarin steps in and nudges Thomas playfully. Rainbow Dash stands next to him as well, extremely proud of her new friend. Although Thomas never really wanted to be a basketball player, he did want to prove he could be good at it and was able to do exactly that. Regardless of what he really wanted, Thomas smiled and thanked Spitefire for offering him membership to their team. Her and the other Wondercolts smile back at him. Like Rainbow Dash predicted, they had a new-found respect for the boy who could barely dribble a ball thirty minutes ago.
Rainbow Dash wraps her arm around Thomas as the two chuckle together. Rainbow Dash was able to teach someone how to play a game and believe in something they really wanted. Thomas proved that no matter where or when you start off, it's never impossible to do anything others say you can't do.
By the end of class, Thomas felt the exhaustion and tiredness finally catch up to him as he was panting profusely, completely worn out from the game. But then, Rainbow Dash remembered everything that happened yesterday and the meeting her and the others had this morning.
"Wait, I forgot! Everyone is still trying to find you!"
Rainbow Dash grabbed Thomas' arm and dragged him out of the gymnasium.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
He asked still panting as he now had to run in order to keep up with Rainbow Dash. She began texting all of her friends.
"We're meeting up with the others. You've got a lot of explaining to do about last night."
More To Come Soon!