//------------------------------// // 2. Twilight Doesn't Want to Be in Love // Story: RariTwi: Love is War // by SigmasonicX //------------------------------// Canterlot Royal Academy was the number one school for government, business, art, and magic, but it didn’t fall short in other areas. It had top of the line sports facilities, such as the tennis grounds, which held six well-maintained grass tennis courts. On a bright Sunday afternoon, the student council reserved three of those courts for some friendly games. This would result in hundreds of thousands of bits worth of property damage. A woman with dark skin and short rainbow-colored hair stood on the second level of stands, looking down at others standing on a court. Rainbow Dash, age 20, student council sports club liaison, had an excited grin. “Alright, here’s the plan! You four are going to play games until you get one winner, and AJ and I will play until I win, then we’ll see who’s the greatest tennis player in the student council!” Pinkie Pie, age 19, student council secretary, jumped up to the stands too and raised a hand. “And I’ll commentate!” “Now hold on a second,” said a tan-skinned woman with long blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing a cowboy hat. Applejack, age 21, student council non-sports club liaison, raised an eyebrow and continued, “Did you just say you’ll win against me?” “You heard me!” Rainbow declared. They started towards each other, but Rarity quickly got between them. “Darlings, please. You already set up a match, so figure it out there.” The two grumbled, but agreed. Satisfied, Rarity walked back to Twilight and the other two student council members. Her hair was in a ponytail that bounced as she walked. She wore a simple white exercise shirt and a short white skirt over black shorts, but even so she looked ready for dinner at a fancy restaurant. Twilight thought they made an interesting group. Rarity’s elegance didn’t seem like it should fit in with aggressive competitiveness of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but she nonetheless enjoyed spending time with them, and them with her. Not only that, but it was remarkable that a noble as prideful as Rainbow would be willing to cross class lines to befriend two commoners. Was it because of Rarity? Twilight rested her racket on her shoulder and adjusted her ponytail. “So Rainbow, you said the sports club budget report would be ready after this. Do you have it with you?” Rainbow’s face twisted. “Oh, well, uh…” Twilight narrowed her eyes and tapped on her racket. “Rainbow Dash.” “Alright fine, I didn’t finish the budget! But I’ll just have Thunderlane give it to you tomorrow.” Twilight shook her head. “Honestly, Rainbow. We need these budgets so we can figure out how much we need to request for the new school gala. Applejack turned in hers last week!” “And that’s not the last time I’ll beat you,” Applejack added smugly. The two other student council members stood quietly. First was Mudbriar, age 21, student council treasurer. He was a man with tan skin, short brown hair, and a stoic expression. The others didn’t get along with him too well—mainly Pinkie, making him one of the few people she disliked—but Twilight found him an intelligent and reliable worker. Second was Fluttershy, age 20, student council animal liaison. She was a beautiful but timid woman with tan skin and long pink hair. Twilight knew her ever since high school, as her first and only successful attempt at befriending a commoner back then. Her position on the council technically wasn’t official, but they had to take animal problems to her often enough that Twilight decided to give her a title, if only for budget purposes. As liaisons, Rainbow, Applejack, and Fluttershy were only called in if there were issues with the parties they represented, so it was rare to gather all council members like this. Oh, but there was an eighth member, wasn’t there? Twilight looked in the stands for a few seconds then found her: Wallflower Blush, age 19, student council treasurer, whose role was double-booked because everyone forgot she was already assigned it. She wore her normal clothes and sat reading a magazine, showing she had no intention to play. Twilight smiled and waved at her. A bit startled, she waved back. It would be good to befriend her, Twilight felt. She must feel lonely at times. True, there was a tactical reason: she knew about Twilight’s crush on Rarity and perhaps had information about Rarity’s feelings too. However, it would be despicable to befriend her just to take advantage of that. No, she needed to befriend her for one reason: because friendship was important. Perhaps they could talk after she finished her first game. After some warm ups, it was time to play. “Good afternoon Canterlot Royal Academy!” Pinkie Pie yelled into a microphone, standing on a seat in the bleachers. “We have three, count ‘em, three matches of the century happening right here, right now! First of all, we have a grudge match between the sports liaison and the non-sports liaison!” Applejack threw her hat into the stands and swung her racket. Rainbow tossed a tennis ball up and down. “Next up, we have our purple-icious president vs. the wild and dangerous beast queen!” Twilight confidently spin her racket while Fluttershy smiled with closed eyes and waved. “Last but not least we have coughcoughmudbriar vs. RARITY WOOO!” Mudbriar responded with a, “Mmyes,” while Rarity flipped her ponytail and smiled, sparkles seeming to form around her. “Applejack and Rainbow will play three games to determine the winner while everyone else plays one, with the winners of each facing off. On your marks, get set, and… serve!” Pinkie then blew an air horn. Before Twilight could start, she saw Rainbow Dash throw her ball up high. She then launched into the air, blue wings sprouting from her back as she activated her flight magic. Applejack looked on in surprise as Rainbow swung overhead and smashed the ball to the ground too fast for her to react. Through flight magic, wings of light form at will from the backs of mages. This was an especially common form of magic, though it came at the exclusion of the other forms. The sole exceptions were princesses, who could use all forms of magic. Oh right, Twilight thought, I have flight magic too, don’t I? The entire princess thing happened so recently and she hadn’t really needed to fly, so it was easy to forget. Plus, she wouldn’t want Rarity to see the way she stumbled around in the air, so she avoided using it around her. Pinkie stood up in excitement, “Rainbow scores, 15 - Love!” She then put fingers to her lips in a teasing way. “Ooo, Applejack’s in love!” Ignoring Pinkie, Applejack stomped up to the net as Rainbow floated down. “And what, pray tell, was that?” said Applejack. “That was you losing,” Rainbow responded with her usual smug confidence. She landed and her wings dissipated into light. “No, that was you cheatin’! You can’t use your wings in tennis!” “Someone’s a sore loser. I know for a fact that there ain’t no rule against using wings.” Mudbriar chose this moment to chime in. “Technically, the rule against using magic includes the use of flight magic.” “Well no one asked you! In any case, we’re playing by Rainbow rules, and that means flying’s allowed,” Rainbow said as she got close to Applejack, then added, ”So you just have to deal.” Applejack spat back, “And I say you know you can’t beat me on the ground, so you’re flying away like a little chicken!” “What’d you say?!” Rainbow was shaking with anger. “And for the record, chickens don’t fly!” “You come down to the farm and I’ll show you what a chicken’s like!” “Why I oughta!” Pinkie cheered on the arguing council members while the other four players stood by watching. Twilight was the first to speak up. “Should we do something about that? Also, is it just me, or is their argument making less sense as it goes on?” Rarity sighed. “Just ignore them, dear. I’ve known them for years, and it’s best to let them get it out of their system. We should get through our games while they’re fighting, and maybe they’ll have figured this out by then.” “If you say so,” Twilight responded before turning to Fluttershy with a smile. “Fluttershy, are you ready to serve?” Startled, Fluttershy said, “Oh, right, sorry.” She tossed the ball into the air and hit it over the net, sending it crosscourt to Twilight. Most wouldn’t expect much from Fluttershy, but Twilight was well aware of her uncanny tennis skill. After the first bounce, the ball swerved suddenly, flying past Twilight’s side, but she was ready and hit it back with a lunge. There was no spin on her return, though, and Fluttershy easily hit it back. Twilight found herself running back and forth on her court while Fluttershy barely had to move. Fluttershy’s Flutter Zone is truly formidable, Twilight thought. No matter where I hit the ball, I somehow just send it where Fluttershy is standing, and I’ll end up exhausted as this game goes on. But it isn’t unbeatable. It will take a lot of effort, but… Next time Twilight received the ball, she quickly took note of the way her body found most natural to return and twisted in another way, sending the ball at a different angle. She landed awkwardly, sending shockwaves through her leg, but it worked. The ball landed in the corner of Fluttershy’s side, with Fluttershy unable to do anything but stand there and watch. Pinkie quickly took notice and declared, “We have another point! Twilight scores, 15 - Love! Fluttershy is officially in love!” Fluttershy picked up the ball and tossed it to Twilight for her to serve. “Oh, uh, Twilight, you’ll understand if I say you aren’t my type, right?” she asked with a smile. Twilight giggled as she caught the ball. “It’s fine, you aren’t my type either.” That trick won’t work twice, Twilight thought, her face turning serious. Now that Fluttershy knows she’ll have to move, the game has really begun. She looked to the third court, where Mudbriar stood with his tennis ball in hand, and Rarity tapped her foot with her arms crossed. “Just serve, already!” Rarity exclaimed. “What are you waiting for?” “I am waiting for the right conditions,” Mudbriar said, his face impassive. “Right conditions would have been before I lost my patience,” she responded with a huff. Noticing Twilight, she turned to her and said, “Can you believe—” Mudbriar took this moment to serve and Rarity yelped. The ball hit the ground too far for her to return it. That was a cheap point, Mudbriar, Twilight thought. However, Twilight found she reached that conclusion too soon. In a blink of an eye, Rarity dashed to hit the ball back. Only her flowing ponytail and skirt served as evidence she wasn’t there all along. Rarity’s return hit Mudbriar’s side of the court and bounced again before he could even lift his arm. Twilight was in shock. Wh—what was that technique? I’ve never seen anything like it! Did she teleport? But there’s no evidence of a teleportation spell being cast. Pinkie yelled into her mic, “And Rarity scores! Zero - 15!” Twilight’s ears perked up. “Wait, Pinkie, you aren’t doing that love joke?” Pinkie put down the mic and grimaced. “I’m not going to waste that joke on Mudbriar. Come on, Twilight. He’d be all like, ‘Technically, the players are at love, not in love,’ or something.” She regained her smile and winked. “I’ll save that for Rarity’s match with you or Fluttershy.” I’ll save that for Rarity’s match with you I’ll save that for Rarity’s match with you Ooo, Applejack’s in love Fluttershy is officially in love Twilight froze up. If I face Rarity next round, and Rarity gets the first point, then Pinkie will reveal to Rarity that I’m in love with her! She shook her head. No, that was the wrong conclusion. Rarity would know Pinkie was just saying a joke. But she couldn’t trust herself not to blush or react at all when Pinkie says she’s in love. And then… Rarity chuckled. “Oh my, darling, that face of yours tells me everything. You really are in love with me, aren’t you?” She covered her mouth and giggled some more, and as the sky darkened, she revealed the smile one gets when a toddler tells them they’re pretty. “How cute.” How cute How cute This would be a disaster! Twilight’s love would be exposed for the world and Rarity would think of her as nothing more than a lovesick puppy. She couldn’t deal with that. She had to lose against Fluttershy and let her deal with Pinkie’s joke. But then Twilight remembered something told to her once. Love was worth fighting for. No! She wouldn’t run away from this opportunity. True, Pinkie could expose her love, but it worked the other way too. She just needed to get a point first, and then Pinkie would expose Rarity’s love! Rarity blushed furiously as she leaned on the net. “What? No, Pinkie, that simply isn’t true! I—I—I have a normal relationship with Twilight, and—” Twilight walked to Rarity and suavely used a finger to lift her chin. “Oh my, is this how you look in a normal relationship?” She brought their lips close. “As beautiful as you are now, the look you give your lover must be truly divine.” Rarity’s face turned beet red, and she squirmed with her eyes closed. “D—Darling!” She swooned. “I can’t hide it anymore! The truth is revealed! I am in love with Twilight Sparkle!” Their lips met and the sky lit with fireworks. Yes, that’s exactly how it would go! In one scenario, at least. Rarity would probably want to date before they kissed. Plus it was probably best to arrange the fireworks ahead of time. There was still an obstacle before she could even consider facing Rarity. Fluttershy patiently waited for her serve with serene and cheerful smile on her face, but Twilight could sense the aura of menace around her. The princess broke through her Flutter Zone once, but continuing this game could leave her too exhausted to face Rarity. There was another option, however. Twilight walked to the net and waved to Fluttershy. Once she got close, Twilight said, “Hey Fluttershy, I really need to play against Rarity in the next match, so can you go easy on me?” Fluttershy giggled. “Is this another scheme to get Rarity to admit her love?” “More or less.” “Then I’d be happy to help.” Twilight had two friends who knew about her crush on Rarity: Spike and Fluttershy. She was close friends with Pinkie, and Pinkie would no doubt keep a Pinkie Promise. The problem was Pinkie would never be able to hide the fact she had a secret. Every time she saw Twilight and Rarity in a room together, she’d probably get a big grin on her face and start shaking, and when Rarity asked her about it, she’d say, “Nothing RariTwi, I mean RariLight, I mean… Rarity X Twilight.” Fluttershy, on the other hand, was the perfect confidante. She patiently listened to Twilight gushing about Rarity, quietly supported them, and didn’t make any unpredictable moves. “Hey!” Pinkie yelled into her mic. “Are you two colluding?!” Twilight waved. “Oh, no! No collusion here!” Pinkie smiled and closed her eyes. “Okie dokie!” She took a quick glance at Rarity. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to pay any mind to their conversation. Twilight walked back to the serving area and sent the ball to Fluttershy. She swung her racket a full foot over the ball, then shrugged as she whiffed. “Twilight scores, 30 - Love!” Pinkie announced. “Sheesh Fluttershy, what happened?” “I thought I saw a bird?” Fluttershy said, half asking Twilight. “Shame on you, birds! Stop distracting Fluttershy!” Pinkie said, shaking her fists at the sky. Twilight motioned to Fluttershy to tone it down, and Fluttershy smiled and blushed in response. Play continued with Fluttershy less obviously throwing the match, and ultimately, Twilight won. “And that’s game!” Pinkie declared. “Twilight’s the first to complete her match and she’s booking it into the stands, past yours truly, almost trampling over Wallflower, and now she’s keeping a close eye on her competition. Meanwhile, Applejack and Rainbow Dash seem to have abandoned the entire tennis thing and are now competing in push ups!” “You’ll never beat me, Rainbow!” Applejack declared as her body moved up and down. “You ain’t ever had a real day of work in your life, so your arms are softer than a rain-flooded worm-ridden barrel that’s been pecked up by woodpeckers.” “Ha, I’ll show you soft! Fluttershy, get an elk or something to sit on me!” “Oh dear,” said Fluttershy. Pinkie continued her commentary. “And lastly, Mudbriar and Rarity’s match is at 15 - 40!” She then scratched her head. “Hey Twilight, why’s it 40 instead of 45?” Keeping an eye on Rarity’s movements, Twilight responded, “It was originally 45, but got changed to 40 at some point. One theory is that people started saying 40 as a shorthand for 45 and that stuck, but others—” “Awesome! Anyway, Mudbriar scores, 30 - 40.” Pinkie then added conspiratorially, “Or should I say 30 - 45?” This is so strange, Twilight thought. Rarity is playing, well, alright. But that technique she used at the start of her game is far beyond something an alright player would be capable of. Twilight’s eyes widened. Is it possible she realized I would play against her and is hiding her skill to make sure she gets the first point against me? Regardless, observing her normal movements during tennis would provide more than enough combat data. Twilight watched Rarity elegantly spring from one side of the court to the other as her ponytail danced behind her. If Twilight thought about it, then of course Rarity would have to exercise often to keep her figure, but seeing her athleticism in action was another thing entirely. She closely observed the way her toned legs propelled her forward, her firm thighs releasing power with each leap, her smooth skin shimmering in the sunlight— “And that’s game! Rarity wins!” shouted Pinkie. Twilight realized she was drooling. She quickly wiped it off before anyone noticed. Right. The combat data she gathered wasn’t much, but it would have to do. Twilight walked down to a court where, to her surprise, Rarity stood ready on the opposite side. “Rarity, you don’t want to rest a bit?” asked Twilight. Rarity scoffed. “Rest? After what? That warm up game I just had? I’ll have you know I barely exerted myself.” She put her finger to her cheek in thought. “If I had to put a number to it… I used no more than five percent of my power.” Twilight stepped back. “F—Five percent?!” Of course Twilight assumed Rarity was holding back, but could it possibly be by that much? On observation, Rarity indeed didn’t seem particularly tired. More important than that was the the look Rarity gave her. She wore a slight smile as she glared at her with ferocious intensity. The princess gritted her teeth and got ready to serve. No matter what, she had to score this point. The rest of the game didn’t matter. They say the key to achieving victory is visualizing yourself defeating your foe, so she played out her predicted scenario for Rarity’s loss in her head over and over again. No doubt Rarity’s mind too was consumed by thoughts of victory. Goodness, Twilight really does look amazing in those shorts, thought Rarity as she gazed at her opponent. It’s so hard to decide whether her legs look better with tights or no tights, but now I’m leaning toward no tights. It would be such a shame to hide that beautiful skin. But on the other hand tights work so well with her curves. No, it’s definitely no tights that are superior. No, she reminded herself, there was something more important to focus on. For whatever reason, Twilight was heavily invested in beating her at tennis, to the point that she had not so discreetly asked Fluttershy to lose and then tried to examine her playing style. What could she possibly be after? Was she trying to embarrass her with an easy defeat? Over the years, countless nobles hoped to take the peasant girl down a peg, thinking that’d make her view them as superior and thus worthy of affection. Martial arts, fencing, drinking, and yes, even tennis were the fields of battle, and Rarity never failed to turn their attempts to belittle her back at them. If Twilight was doing this, she needed to nip this bad behavior in the bud right away. In truth, though she didn’t need to use her special techniques after that first serve, Rarity wasn’t holding back as much against Mudbriar as she made it sound. She certainly used more than five percent of her power, however that applied to tennis. Her absurd claim and a simple glamor spell to hide her sweat served to confuse Twilight. The princess would waste her energy at the start, leaving Rarity an easy win after. At least, that’s what Rarity thought until she sensed Twilight’s aura. What is this intimidating feeling I’m sensing from her? Rarity could sense power pulsating from Twilight as she held the ball, ready to serve. The sun was behind the princess, covering her eyes in shadow. Sweat rolled down Rarity’s cheek. I thought she would exert herself early on, but this is far too much. Why all this just for the opening serve? Rarity gritted her teeth, took a stance, and gathered power inside. I don’t know what your game is, Princess, but I won’t roll over so easily. “And it looks like the next game is about to begin!” shouted Pinkie. “Both Twilight and Rarity are giving off intense auras as they prepare for the serve.” “Hey, wait a minute!” Rainbow said as she ran to Pinkie. “They’re powering up using magic! How come they get to use magic when I can’t use my wings?” Applejack walked up to them and looked over the players. “Nah, looks like fighting spirit to me.” “Uh, hello, there’s glowing light surrounding them. That’s magic.” Applejack shook her head. “Nope, that there’s fighting spirit, through and through. Mudbriar, thoughts?” Mudbriar appeared in the stands too and said, “Indeed, one can tell from the colors of their auras that this is fighting spirit, which is not classified under the rules of tennis as magic.” Applejack nodded her head, and added with much satisfaction, “By the by, you just lost to me at push ups, Rainbow.” “Agh, seriously?” Pinkie excitedly hit Rainbow’s back. “Ooh, ooh, look! Rarity’s doing something!” Rarity spread her arms wide, flapping one arm, then the other. Then she flapped both arms, stood on one leg, then tilted side to side before posing with one leg raised. Her aura took the form of a large waterfowl with its wings spread. “Could it be? Yes, yes it is!” Pinkie announced. “Rarity is using the Northern Darling Style!” “What?” replied Rainbow, her face scrunched up in confusion. “Darling Style? Seriously? What does that even mean?” “Rarity’s aura looks like a duck, so she’s channeling the power of the ducks of the world!” Pinkie gasped. “Fluttershy, are darlings ducks? Has Rarity been calling us ducks all this time?” Fluttershy squeezed into the group and meekly said, “Uh, no. To both questions. Darlings are just darlings, I’m pretty sure.” She paused. “Also, that’s a swan, not a duck.” “Thanks Fluttershy! Alas, we may never know what a darling is.” Mudbriar raised a finger. “Technically—” “We may never know,” insisted Pinkie. Twilight could feel the ground shake from the power of Rarity’s Northern Darling Style. There was no doubt: Rarity wanted to score and leave Twilight in love. She couldn’t let that happen. Twilight tossed her tennis ball up and everything moved in slow motion. Purple energy flowed from Twilight’s body into the racket and she swung. She closely examined the way Rarity moved. The leg she had raised was falling to the ground, anticipating a serve to her left. In response, Twilight adjusted the angle of her racket, serving to Rarity’s right. “Take this! Ultimate Technique: Supernova Eruption!” she shouted. As the racket touched the ball, the purple energy all transferred into the ball and it rocketed past the net. Pinkie punched Rainbow’s back. “Woah, Twilight just made an incredible serve! I never thought our little princess could be so strong.” “That’s because she isn’t!” claimed Rainbow. “I could maybe accept the fighting spirit stuff before, but the ball has purple flames! She’s using magic!” “Now don’t be ridiculous Rainbow,” said Applejack. “Twilight of all people wouldn’t break the rules to—” She squinted to look at the ball. “Oh. Oh that’s definitely magic.” “Well whatever it is, we have a great game ahead of us!” said Pinkie. “By the way girls, great job on the fast talking!” Twilight watched as Rarity’s eyes followed the ball flying in the opposite direction she was heading. She could feel herself panting in slow motion. A serve of this power took a lot out of her, and she doubted she could win a prolonged game at this level, but that didn’t matter as long as this first point went through. To Twilight’s shock, Rarity’s foot slammed into the ground and launched her twirling like an ice skater toward the ball. Could this be the true nature of the Darling Style? The ball hit the ground just before the baseline, igniting the grass with purple flames. Rarity landed short of the ball, but rather than stopping, she slid forward with a leg raised as though she were in an ice rink. The ball launched from the ground and Rarity lunged, twirling parallel to the ground. She was now above the ball. “Northern Darling Style TLC Stance Secret Technique: Rules of Rarity!” she yelled as her racket struck the ball, propelled by her twirling. The purple flames extinguished and the ball frosted over, launching high into the air as Rarity rolled onto the ground. Twilight almost yelled out her name in concern, but she quickly got up on one knee, her eyes aflame. Could her determination really be that great? The tennis ball hung in the air, then fell to the ground still in Rarity’s side of the court. Twilight started to relax, but then to her shock, the ball made a sharp angle mid air and shot towards the far corner of Twilight’s side. “What an amazing hit from Rarity!” Pinkie announced. “I’ve never seen a game like this!” Rainbow had narrow eyes. “So all that skating around and the ball changing direction is magic and not fighting spirit, right?” Applejack also had narrow eyes. “Yup, magic.” The ball took Twilight completely off guard. No, I can’t reach it in time! This was it. Pinkie would declare her in love, and Rarity would know everything. Twilight gripped her racket and held her eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable. In the brief moments before defeat, Twilight thought of the past. “That was amazing, Cadance!” Twilight Sparkle, age 10, said as she sat on a bench and swung her legs. “Those two people were arguing and you just made them fall in love!” Her babysitter smiled as she sat down next to her. Princess Cadance, age 18, had tan skin and long pink, purple, and yellow hair drawn into a ponytail. “Oh no, I didn’t make them fall in love. I just reminded them of what was already there,” she said. Twilight tilted her head. “They were fighting but they were already in love?” “Love is a wonderful thing, but you have to work at it just like everything else. Sometimes life gets in the way and people forget to do that, so it becomes harder for them to show love. My magic just lifts the burden a bit, and love handles the rest.” “So you have to work at love?” Twilight asked. Cadance nodded and Twilight stuck her tongue out in disgust. “Yuck, then I don’t want to be in love ever. Give me a book anyday.” Cadance giggled. “Well, romantic love isn’t for everyone, but I don’t know, I think you’d be good at it.” Twilight made another disgusted face and Cadance laughed again. “Love takes all forms, so if romantic love isn’t appealing, how about the love for a friend, or love for Equestria, or even love for your books?” Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “You’re equivocating.” Cadance smiled and rolled her eyes. “I guess I am, but my point is, once you find the thing you love, that love is worth fighting for. Love is what guides all our lives, and it’s what gives us power.” Twilight’s eyes shot open. Power! Of course! My love will give me power! Energy erupted from inside Twilight and with renewed focus, she looked at the tennis ball rocketing down. Calculting, she wouldn’t be able to intercept when it hit the ground, but there was another way. Magic concentrated in her back and two great purple wings sprouted from them, spreading wide. Then, with a flap, she launched into the air. Pinkie gasped. Applejack gasped. Rainbow gasped. Fluttershy gasped. Wallflower gasped. Mudbriar didn’t react. Rarity gasped. There was no name for Twilight’s attack. She released a primal cry as purple flames enveloped her racket and she swung as hard as she could. Upon impact, the racket shattered and the ball shot to Rarity’s side of the court, breaking the sound barrier and sending shockwaves through the tennis grounds. The ball struck the edge of Rarity’s baseline and the ground exploded, magic propelling the ball even further beyond as it broke through the wall, ripped apart streets, and tore into the wooded areas beyond. Twilight panted as she hovered in the air. She did it. She actually did it. The score was 15-0. Rarity was in love. “Yes!” Twilight shouted as she fist pumped. She spun around in the air, instinctively guided by her wings, and repeated, “Yesyesyes!” over and over. Finally, she turned to look down at Pinkie, waiting for her announcement with a big toothy smile. Instead she saw Pinkie with her mouth agape, staring ahead. Twilight looked where she was looking, and only then did she notice. Rarity was fine, standing and staring up at her. However, the impact of her ball left a smoking ruin in its wake. The court’s location minimized damage to the campus and there didn’t seem to be any loss of life, but Twilight could see the ball’s path of destruction continue onward into the forest, where distant rumbles and booms indicated trees were being knocked down. Twilight screamed. “I can fix this don’t worry guys you don’t have to worry I can—hold on, ball!” With large flaps, Twilight flew toward the forest after the ball, leaving the other student council members behind. Pinkie closed her mouth. “Uh, well, it looks like this game is over. Let’s call it a day.” She then ran away before anyone could react. At that, everyone started rushing out. Except for one person. “Rarity! What are you doing?” Rainbow exclaimed as she doubled back for the straggler. Rarity stared in the direction Twilight flew. With her eyes shimmering, she said under her breath, “Beautiful.” Rainbow summoned her wings and picked up Rarity by the shoulders. “Come on, we need to leave before the cops get here!” Rarity turned to Rainbow with a serious expression. “Rainbow! Wing hug me!” Rainbow’s face twisted. “Buh-wuh?” There was madness in Rarity’s eyes. “Do it now! I need to know how it feels!” In the end, this incident was reported as an experimental spell gone wrong, which wasn’t uncommon at Canterlot Royal Academy, though few reached the level of destruction this had. All repairs were handled by the student responsible, Princess Twilight Sparkle, and once she finished, she was to be banned from the tennis grounds. “Tennis is way too complicated anyway,” Twilight grumbled as she piled bricks to fix the outer wall of the tennis grounds. Results of the tennis matches: Rainbow Dash vs. Applejack: Resolved via push ups. Applejack wins. Twilight Sparkle vs. Fluttershy: 4-2, Twilight wins. Mudbriar vs. Rarity: 2-4, Rarity wins. Twilight Sparkle vs. Rarity: 0-0, game ended early due to damage to the playing area. Both players are in love.