//------------------------------// // Tryout Time // Story: Before the Friendship Games: Sour Sweet // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Now that was a much-needed release. Thought Sour Sweet as she left Radiant Hope's office. Here's hoping I have the energy for the tryouts! You should. There's always the pent-up energy you have from your rage. Thought Sour Side. Sour Sweet rolled her eyes and smiled. Yeah, you've got a point there. She thought. Sour Sweet walked into the tryout area and looked around. She noticed the usual people. Sugarcoat was just staring blankly, like a cat at a wall. Sour then saw Lemon Zest and and waved at her, smiling for the first time since she couldn't remember. Indigo Zap gave Sour a wink with a grin when spotted. Sunny Flare was just staring at Lemon for some weird reason. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Principal Cinch speak. "This first round of tryouts will involve academics." announced Principal Cinch. Nearly half of those waiting groaned. Sour Sweet rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of..." She muttered under her breath. "The hell did you guys expect, moto-cross racing?!" she shouted. Principal Cinch pinched the bridge of her nose. "As I was saying...the first round of tryouts will involve academics. The top fifty scores will move on to the next round. To your seats!" All students went to their seats. "And...begin!" said Cinch. Don't suppose I'm cheating with you on my side? Sour Sweet joked. If I had eyes, I'd be rolling them right about now. Sour Side thought. Sour Sweet stifled a giggle and started to focus on the test. After some time, Principal Cinch shouted "Pencils down!" there was a noise of pencils being put on the desks. "The results of these tests will be posted later today in the hallways." She said as Dean Cadence went to pick up the tests. "Dismissed!" ---------------------------------------------- Lemon and Sour met each other in the hallway. "How good do you think we did?" Lemon asked. "If neither of us made the top ten, I'm burning this school to the ground." said Sour. Lemon stared at her. Sour laughed. "Geez, I'm only kidding!" Lemon laughed. "Or is that what I want you to think?!" said Sour. Lemon blinked. They both laughed harder together. "Oh, man. I can't remember the last time I laughed like that!" said Sour as she wiped a tear from her eyes. Lemon smiled. The warning bell for the next period sounded off. "Well, I should get to class. Catch you later!" said Lemon. She was stopped by Sour Sweet's arm on her shoulder. Lemon turned around to see Sour still in tears. "Thank you...for giving me a second chance." said Sour, tears streaming down her eyes. "Hey, what are friends for?" said Lemon, smiling. Sour sniffled. "You have no idea how much hearing that from you means to me, Lemon Zest." She shot over to hug her tightly, then broke, bursting into tears. Lemon smiled. "You'd be surprised." she said softly while hugging an emotional Sour Sweet. Once she calmed down, they broke the hug and went their separate ways. ---------------------------------------------- After her class, Sour Sweet arrived in front of the results. Lemon wasn't too far behind. "Well, we didn't make the top ten..." she said. "We made the top five!" she said, a huge grin on her face. Sour and Lemon high-fived. "Was there ever any doubt?" Lemon said and smiled. "So, what do you think's next?" Sour shrugged. "Could be anything. Handball, Art...ooh, hopefully paintball's one of the events!" "Karate? Maybe video games?" said Lemon. "Anything goes! We should just be prepared for anything." said Sour. "Hey, there's a notice just under the rankings." Notice: Second round of tryouts will be held after next period in the track field. "Good to know." said Lemon. "You nervous, Sour?" "Of course not!" said Sour. "We've got this!" The warning bell sounded off. "See you later!" said Sour. "Laters!" said Lemon, and the two went to their next class. ---------------------------------------------- Sour Sweet walked out of her class and stretched. I'm almost sad that today is over. Thought Sour Sweet. Never thought I'd hear that from you. Thought Sour Side. Sour Sweet smiled. There's a first time for everything. She thought as she walked over to the track. Principal Cinch was waiting patiently for all the remaining competitors. "As you've all no doubt realized," said Principal Cinch. "This tryout will be physical. The top eleven fastest lap times will move on to the Friendship Games." There were murmurs of excitement among the students. Lemon cracked her knuckles. "Aww, yeah! Now we're talking!" Sour grinned. "Nice. I've got plenty of excess energy to run off!" One by one, the students gathered over to the track. Sour Sweet noticed Sunny Flare, Indigo Zap, and Sugarcoat on the field, waiting their turn. "Tough competition out here, huh?" said Lemon. "Well, this is Crystal Prep." said Sour. "Sour Sweet!" called Principal Cinch. Sour grinned. "Looks like it's my turn!" she said. "Not that you need it or anything, but good luck!" said Lemon. "You're right." said Sour. "I don't!" and went off to take her position. Sour Sweet stretched a little, then took her mark. She thought of her landlords, and it filled her with rage. "Go!" Said Principal Cinch. Sour Sweet ran with all of her might. When she finished, she walked back to Lemon. "Whew!" she said, wiping sweat off her brow. "Think you can beat that?" she said, nudging Lemon gently. "Lemon Zest!" called Principal Cinch. Lemon smiled. "I guess we're about to find out." Once at her mark, she did a couple of stretches just to be sure. "Time to pucker up and fuck her up!" Principal Cinch raised an eyebrow. "What? I consider it a motivational phrase for me!" Lemon laughed sheepishly. Cinch rolled her eyes. "Go!" Said Principal Cinch. Lemon ran as fast as she possibly could. When she finished, she nearly collapsed on the floor. "Oof...I...guess I...overdid it...a little..." she managed to say between gasps." "The results will be posted shortly." said Principal Cinch. "Rest up, Lemon. You kicked ass out there." said Sour as she handed Lemon a bottle of water. "Thanks." said Lemon. ---------------------------------------------- "The results have been posted!" said the Principal. Competitors for the Friendship Games Indigo Zap Lemon Zest Sour Sweet Sugarcoat Sunny Flare Neon Lights Trenderhoof Suri Polomare Jet Set Upper Crust Royal Pin "There was never any doubt." smiled Lemon. "You said it!" said Sour. The two walked arm in arm to the final period of the day.