- CHAPTER 2 -
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
A day has passed, and right now you’re bored out of your mind in math class; Ms. Cheerilee is giving yet another boring lecture; you kind of wish you were outside doing something else, like taking a nap. However Anon looks really invested in the class; you haven’t been able to take your eyes off him because the thoughts of yesterday's defeat are still present in your mind.
”Does anyone know the answer?” Ms. Cheerilee asks.
” x equals 315.13,” Anon replies.
”That’s correct! Good job Anon,” Ms. Cheerilee happily says.
Ugh, what a dork…good thing Twilight is not in this class, otherwise it’d be a battle of the nerds, you daydream a bit thinking how that'd turn out and you can't refrain from chuckling a bit.
In that moment, the PA system rings up.
”Good afternoon students,” Principal Celestia’s voice can be heard on the speakers, “we have a special guest that requires you all to be at the GYM to make a very important announcement!”
A special guest?
“That’s right, a special guest. Everyone, gather at the gym ASAP,” Principal Celestia adds.
Everyone looks baffled at Celestia's announcement, this is unexpected for sure, your classmates look at each other and start wondering what's going to happen next.
”What would Principal Celestia want?” Bright Idea asks.
”I don’t know…special guest? What did she mean by that?” Flash Sentry says.
”Very well then…” Ms. Cheerilee says, “I think that’s enough math for today, you may leave the classroom, but head to the GYM immediately!”
Sweet! She even forgot to check the homework you didn't even bother to do! Whoever this special guest is, you owe him one. Anon stands up and walks outside the classroom. You shove your stuff inside your backpack and follow him.
”Dude! Wait up!”
Minutes later. Every teen in the school is waiting for the guest to show up.
“I wonder what’s going on, Principal Celestia looks a bit worried,” Twilight says.
”Indeed,” Rarity says, “look at all that sweat forming under her armpits. Two words: Guh-ross!”
"That's not even a word but I agree with you," Twilight replies.
”Who could that ‘special guest’ be?” Applejack asks, raising her fingers and making a quotation mark when she says the word guest.
”Maybe the President is doing a tour and he’ll show up at our school!” Pinkie Pie says.
”Umm…I don’t think the President is gonna be here,” Sunset says, and Anon doesn’t utter a word as usual.
”Shh…it’s about to start,” Fluttershy says.
All of a sudden the gym's lights focus on Principal Celestia, she walks towards the podium and taps the microphone with her finger to get everyone’s attention.
”Is everyone here? Good…” Principal Celestia says onto the microphone, “Good afternoon Wondercolts! Are you ready to meet the special guest that is joining us today?”
Nobody says a word…
("Uhh...awkwaaaard!") You think.
”Very well then, here he is! Be sure to give a warm welcome to our guest: Superintendent Discord!” Principal Celestia walks off the podium and begins to clap, nobody joins her of course, the Superintendent just walks to the podium.
”Good afternoon students of Canterlot High! How are you doing?” Superintendent Discord says on the mic, although he was expecting a thunderous applause he's just greeted by silence until someone in the audience coughs.
”My my, quite the enthusiastic students you have Principal Celestia.”
”Ehhh he he he…you know how teens are Superintendent Discord,” she says in an apologizing manner before giving you all the stink eye.
Superintendent Discord turns his head to the face the audience once again.
”Students of Canterlot High, I’m sure you are all wondering why you’re gathered here in the first place.”
Everyone starts talking to each other, asking questions between each other and exchanging some ideas.
”Yes, I know you’re anxious to know. Well, here’s the reason why.”
”Get on with it!” Flash Sentry yells from his spot.
”Flash!” Principal Celestia immediately scolds your classmate.
”Don’t yell at the kid Principal Celestia,” Superintendent Discord says, “it’s obvious he’s DYING to know why he’s here, because it’s obvious he doesn’t come to school to learn something to make himself useful in the real world…”
Ouch, that was a sick burn. Flash Sentry doesn't know what to reply, so he just sits down.
”As I was trying to say, you Wondercolts of Canterlot High are formally invited to form part of the sixteen high schools that will participate in the 1st Annual Interschool Sports Competition!”
Everyone looks baffled, and so are you. Interschool Sports Competition?
”Yes, this is a physical activation program made and approved by the State, and what’s a better way to do this than a friendly competition against Crystal Prep Academy and a few other schools from the State?”
Canterlot High will compete against Crystal Prep Academy? Your sworn enemies? Now this is interesting...
“You will all compete against the best of the best for a big prize!”
”A prize?!” Principal Celestia says, looking quite excited.
”Oh yes, there will be a lot more funding for the winning high school!” Superintendent Discord replies, “your school seems to need it the most.
Just as Discord finishes his sentence a piece of plywood falls from the ceiling onto the basketball court, nearly hitting him.
”Former-Dean-and-now-Principal Cadance is looking forward to the eliminatory rounds which will take place next week!”
”N-next week?!” Principal Celestia asks.
”I know, I know...Crystal Prep will host the competition, it’s not like your school could afford to do it, and if it did the building would fall down for sure,” Superintendent Discord says, "because a certain Principal doesn't keep the finances in check!"
"I-I'm sorry Superintendent Discord! We just had some additional expenses to repair some walls..." Principal Celestia says before looking at you and your group of friends. Sunset Shimmer lowers her head in shame, while Vice Principal Luna squints at Superintendent Discord’s unpleasant comments.
”Whatever...moving on! These will be the events for the eliminatory rounds at Crystal Prep Academy,” Superintendent Discord says as he takes a bunch of flash cards out of his suit’s pocket, unfortunately, many of them fall on the floor, making Flash Sentry to laugh uncontrollably,
”Did you see that jerk?!” Flash says, laughing even harder, “he dropped his notes!”
This is so awkward, nobody laughs with him, and Principal Celestia looks like she could crack Flash Sentry’s skull right now. Superintendent Discord just picks his notes from the floor and then he clears his throat.
"For these eliminatory rounds there will be four events in a row and four schools, yours being amongst them, will participate. The winner will get 200 points each round, 2nd place will get 150, 3rd place will get 100 and last place will get 50, adding to those points there will be extra ways to rate your athletes’ performance to get individual awards!”
“Individual awards?”
”That’s right young lady, there will be awards as well as prizes for those who stand out from their teammates. A team will consist of ten boys, ten girls and a captain, they will participate in the four rounds, I’d recommend forming an A+ team with a captain strong enough to ensure your survival in this tournament.”
Everybody present looks at you.
”Yeah, Rainbow Dash HAS to be the captain!” Microchips says.
”Totally! Perhaps we will be able to win something…I mean, the best we could do last time was tie the Friendship Games,” Pinkie Pie says.
”Yeah…also that whole thing with Twilight becoming an evil princess and almost destroying and tearing the fabric of reality apart did a number on our school,” Blueberry Cake says, whose comments just made your classmates' heads turn to give Twilight very rude glances, except for Anon, he looks VERY confused.
”Excuse me, what was that?” Anon asks.
”Yeah…sorry about that,” Twilight says before letting out an uncomfortable chuckle.
“Ignore them Twilight, they’ll get over it.” Sunset Shimmer comforts her.
”If you’re done talking to each other…” Superintendent Discord says, “I’d like to announce the events and then the rules…blergh.”
You all pay attention to the Superintendent.
”Very well then; the first four events will be Cross-Country, Swimming, Relay Race and lastly High Diving!”
No soccer? Lame…
”Five members, no matter the sex-“
”He he he…he said sex,” Snails interrupts Discord with that dumb chuckle of his.
”...Anyways. Captains, if your players are fit to play for a certain event choose them wisely. If someone decides to participate in multiple events that’s okay, then they will compete for the Most Valuable Player award.”
”Will there be another type of awards?” Derpy asks.
”Oh yes, there will be more such as Most Aggressive Player-”
”That’s totally going to be Rainbow’s award…” Snips giggles.
“Now what did you mean by that you jerk?!”
Everyone laughs at you. You just cross your arms and feel a bit embarrassed at your sudden outburst.
”Most Technical as well, and last but not least Most Carried…heh, except that isn’t an award, your whole team will get points deducted if a member doesn’t participate at all. So Captain!” Discord points at you.
“Huh?”
”Choose your teammates carefully…” He warns in a threatening manner, Principal Celestia just nods.
”And…what about the big prize?” She asks, rubbing her hands.
”That’s a secret Principal Celestia, but the potential teammates for that young lady I’m seeing here really are quite disappointing…I don’t really expect someone from here to make it above last place," Discord's mean spirited comment made Vice Principal Luna look quite angry.
”The eliminatory rounds will take place at Crystal Prep High next Saturday, EVERYONE should go cheer for your team! Go Wondercats or whatever…” Superintendent Discord steps off the podium.
”It’s actually Wondercolts…” Principal Celestia says, “well, that’s Superintendent Discord everyone, say bye with a thunderous applause!”
A few claps are heard. You bet your classmates are thinking of ways of messing up that jerk.
”Well, that was the big announcement, go back to your classes,” Principal Celestia says before turning off the mic.
Everyone talks to each other as they get off the GYM's bleachers to head back to their respective classrooms.
”Man, what a waste of time…” Bright Idea says.
”I dunno, I kind of want to participate…” Tennis Match replies.
”Meh, if Crystal Prep alone can kick our tails then I don’t want to know how we will face other two schools, let alone twelve more!” Scootaloo says.
”Where’s your school spirit?! GO WONDERCOLTS!” Pinkie Pie yells.
You feel someone tapping your shoulder, as soon as you turn your around you find both Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna standing right behind you.
”Rainbow Dash, may we talk in private?” Vice Principal Luna says.
“Oh, s-sure. What do you want to talk about?” You ask.
”Head to my office, we’ll join you there in five minutes,” Principal Celestia says.
Fifteen minutes later.
You're at Principal Celestia’s office and you’re sooo bored.
“Where are they? They said it would only take five minutes!” You say, wondering where the sisters in charge of this crazy high school might be, you turn your head around your shoulder as soon as you hear the sound of the door opening behind you.
“Finally! What took you two so long?!”
”Oh nothing dearie, we just had to get something out of the archives.” Principal Celestia says.
You see Vice Principal Luna carrying a large box that says “Dash, R.” on one of its sides, she looks quite fatigued from carrying the heavy looking box, then she hastily places the box on Principal Celestia’s desk, slamming it with a loud THUD.
”Rainbow Dash, are you having a good day?” Principal Celestia asks.
“I was…” you say, “what’s this about? What did you call me for?”
Principal Celestia clears her throat.
”We wish to discuss with you Superintendent Discord’s invitation to the tournament that will take place next week against other schools.”
“Yes, and I guess I’ll be the captain, no one was really excited for the tournament though.”
”Don’t mind them…it’s nothing a little motivation can’t fix. I talked with Pinkie Pie in the hallway earlier and she’s now the current cheerleader of our team.”
You hear an explosion nearby; that must’ve been her party cannon.
“Well, that’ll get them motivated for sure…or traumatized, however I don’t think we’ve got enough time to train, I mean, how am I supposed to form a good team in such short notice?”
Both Principal Celestia and her sister look at each other.
”We believe in you, and I think I know the way to motivate you to work twice as hard!” Principal Celestia says.
Work twice as hard? You don’t even do your homework!
”Rainbow Dash, you are a very special student, this box says so…not only you are the most gifted athlete in our high school.” Vice Principal Luna says.
”You’re one of the most troublesome students as well…” Principal Celestia says in a threatening manner as she opens the box, then she grabs a folder full of reports.
”This is your permanent school record…it has everything you’ve done in the past,” she says before clearing her throat, “wow, would you look at that…a neat suspension! Flooding the Elementary school you attended to and causing several damage to it.” Principal Celestia says, feigning to be in shock.
Oh crud…
“Hey! It was just a prank! Relax, I was just 10-years-old.”
”Another one, you got caught cheating in math,” Vice Principal Luna says.
“Hey, that’s not my fault. Ms. Cheerilee sucks at her job.”
”Altering grades is a serious offense Rainbow Dash, you actually thought we weren't going to notice?” Principal Celestia adds.
“Uhh…I thought so, yeah,” you barely manage to reply, feeling a bit exposed.
”Fighting not against one, but three students?! Oh my goodness…” Vice Principal Luna adds.
“Hey, Dumbbell and his gang deserved it! They were picking on Fluttershy back when we both attended Cloudsdale Elementary!”
”And-“
“Alright alright! I get it! I’m a terrible human being, what are you gonna do about it? Sue me?!” You angrily say, interrupting Principal Celestia.
”No…we want you to win the tournament,” Vice Principal Luna says.
“…Huh?”
”With a record like this you can completely forget about attending a decent university! However…we’d like to umm, motivate you to give your 110%.” Vice Principal Luna says.
“Go on…”
”As you have seen, our school is going through real hard times. Because of you and your friends' previous destructions we had to spend a lot of our budget on repairs. And we can’t provide our students with updated learning material, do you remember two months ago when you set off fire alarm because you thought it would be funny? The sprinklers activated and ruined almost all of our computers and many of our books!” Principal Celestia yells.
"Oh...right. It was kinda funny at first."
”We’re counting on you Rainbow Dash…so, about this little box, if you are able to form a team and win the tournament some of these papers might end up getting lost forever and you’ll enter a good university, perhaps an Ivy League one with the help of a sports scholarship, what do you say?” Principal Celestia says with a grin on her face.
“Isn’t that…like, illegal or something?” You ask raising an eyebrow.
”Well, perhaps you really don’t care about your future, I hope you don’t mind being stuck in retail or in the food industry for the rest of your life…” Vice Principal Luna says, “add this to the list sister: ‘lack of cooperation’ and-.”
“Alright alright sheesh, I’ll do it then…” you sigh.
”Excellent! We’re counting on you Rainbow Dash…remember, the competition will be-”
“Next Saturday, got it!” You interrupt Principal Celestia.
Oh goodness, what have you gotten yourself into?