//------------------------------// // Common Ground // Story: Guarded Emotions: The Final Season // by Alabenson //------------------------------// Buckball fever had spread throughout Equestria, and the Royal Guard was no exception. Thanks to the relatively small number of ponies required to play even the smallest garrisons could find the numbers to field a team. Inevitably, the various guard teams started completely with each other eventually forming their own league. Of course, some garrisons wound up having a slight advantage over others. “This is Howard Courser, and we’re back with the Royal Guard Buckball League Champion match between the Ponyville and Crystal Empire garrisons, and let me tell you what a match it has been so far. Captain Moonwhisper has just scored with yet another of his signature double-hooved power bucks. That puts the score now at five to one in Ponyville’s favor. The Crystal Empire’s finest are really going to have to get into high gear if they want to catch up. Hold on, it looks like…yes, Lieutenant Sharpshooter is signaling for yet another basket replacement. I guess regulation baskets just weren’t made to handle the Warhorse of the Apocalypse.” As the crowd in the Crystal Empire’s Arena muttered amongst themselves, Shining Armor pulled his two teammates in for a huddle. “Come on, Crystal Skies, we need defense here!” “With all due respect, sir, have you seen how much power he’s putting into those shots? I nearly lost a couple pinion feathers trying to block that last goal, and that’s the third basket he’s cracked apart so far!” Crystal Skies moaned. “You think you have it bad, try being down here with him,” Rough Cut, the team’s hulking crystal pegasus bucker, snapped back. “I can’t even get near the ball without risking getting my head taken clean off.” “Enough!” Shining Armor yelled in frustration. “Look, I know Moonwhisper is tough. In case you two have forgotten, I used to actually spar with the guy back in our academy days. But, Moonwhisper’s still just a pony, and the same goes for his teammates. So, let’s get out there and show these ponies what the guards of the Crystal Empire can really do!” ********* “The Crystal Empire guard is getting slaughtered,” Princess Cadance said morosely as she watched her husband’s team retake the field. While Shining Armor was doing his best to keep his head up high, Crystal Skies and Rough Cut each looked like they were being led to their own execution. “Come on, Cadance, they’re not doing that bad,” Twilight Sparkle offered, though in the same tone she used to assure the parents of prospective students that Ponyville’s reputation for disasters was greatly exaggerated. “Twilight, they’ve only scored one point, and that was only because the pegasi you have guarding the goal wasn’t paying attention at first,” Cadance retorted. “I can’t really blame her, though. Moonwhisper’s been dominating the ball for the entire game. It’s a little surprising, actually. Moonwhisper never really struct me as the type who’d be this into competition.” Twilight let out a bit of nervous laughter. “Yeah, it is kind of weird, isn’t it?” ****One Week Earlier**** “I still don’t quite understand why you’re so interested in all this,” Moonwhisper said. “To the best of my knowledge you don’t even follow buckball outside of cheering on Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, and I was under the impression even that had more to do with supporting your friends than any actual interest in the sport itself.” “It’s because I really want to see my special somepony in action?” Twilight suggested hopefully, which earned her a look of skepticism from Moonwhisper. “Alright, the real reason is I want you to knock Shining Armor down a peg or two.” “Not that I have any particular objections, but I have to admit that’s a rather surprising request coming from you of all ponies,” Moonwhisper said. Twilight buried her face in her hooves. “I know, and I feel awful for saying it, but you don’t know what Shining Armor can be like when he’s actually beaten me at something.” “You’re referring to the sibling supreme business, I take it?” Moonwhisper asked. “Technically Spike won that one, but Shining Armor would have beaten me otherwise. The problem is that, whenever Shining Armor manages to really best me at something like that, he completely lets it go to his head,” Twilight said. “I’m not sure I’d notice the difference,” Moonwhisper quipped. “Oh, believe me, you would. Luckily, he always goes back to normal once something happens to deflate his ego a little,” Twilight said. “And you’re hoping my beating him at buckball would be sufficient to accomplish that,” Moonwhisper concluded. “Well, its either that or a try and convince him to visit Ponyville during next month’s Trivia Trot. I’m pretty sure Shining would see through that one, though, he’s never been able to beat me at Trivia Trot,” Twilight added with just a hint of smugness. “Not to mention the fact that there would always be the chance you might wind up on the same team. Well, as I said I don’t really have any particular objections, and if nothing else these matches do offer the opportunity to garner the guard some publicity that doesn’t involve the Canterlot garrison screwing up again.” ********* “And we’re back, fillies and gentlecolts, the league officials have just arrived with a new basket for Ponyville so both teams are returning to the field. Joining me right now is a special guest, Rockhoof, Pillar of Equestria and an associate of the members of Team Ponyville. Sir, it is an honor to have you here.” “I was happy to come; you’ve got a great view from up here.” “We do indeed, and right now the buckers are getting into position as the referee prepares for the buck-off. Ponyville’s Moonwhisper looks to be setting up for another spinning buck, and Rough Cut does not look happy about it.” “I can’t really blame him. Moonwhisper’s been usin’ the same basic buckin’ technique we used in the Might Helm. It’s all about lettin’ the power flow from yer front hooves all the way to the back. Get it right and you could crack the skull of a full grown cragadile with one shot, and Moonwhisper is somepony who knows how to get it right.” “Not exactly something you want pointed at your head, then. And the referee has released the ball, Moonwhisper goes into a spin and wins the buck-off with a beautiful one-hoofed shot. Crystal Skies is ready for it, though, and he sends it back shallow in the Crystal Empire’s side of the field. It looks like Rough Cut was waiting for this and he launches the ball with a double buck towards the goal, its going…its going…and a last-minute block by Silver Streak! She sends it back to Moonwhisper, who hits it with another one-hoofed buck. Looks like Moonwhisper’s easing off those power shots of his, this could be the opportunity that the Crystal Empire needs to get back in the game. Crystal Skies makes the save again and passed the ball back to Rough Cut – wait a second, Moonwhisper’s surging forward into a rolling double buck to intercept the pass! The shot is good, putting the score at 6 to 1, and that’s the game, fillies and gentlecolts. Ponyville wins!”