Canterlot High's Sports Challenge

by LiQuiD


3.- Getting the Team Together!


- CHAPTER 3 -

GETTING THE TEAM TOGETHER


(BGM)

Classes have ended for the day so you and your friends are hanging out near the school’s statue.

”Gee Dashie, how are you gonna form a team good enough to compete at Crystal Prep Academy?” Pinkie Pie asks, “it’s little to no time to prepare!”

“I don’t really know Pinkie…" you sigh, "it'll be tough but I'll have to do it, by the way how was your 'motivation' session? I think that party cannon of yours went off multiple times.”

”It went great I think? Everyone said they'd support you...buuuut I don’t think they mentioned something about being a part of the team,” Pinkie Pie says while scratching her head; trying to remember if any of your classmates actually took her seriously.

“Of course…” you pinch the bridge of your nose, “oh well, I really have to think this through, say…Applejack, do you want to-”

”Of course I want to be in your team sugarcube,” Applejack interrupts you, “I’m down to help in any way I can.”

“Aww yeah! With you being the second best athlete in Canterlot High…it’s only natural you want to participate”

"Second best? Now what in tarnation did you mean by that?" Applejack squints.

”I want to participate as well,” Sunset Shimmer says, looking quite motivated to be a part of this mess, “what do you think Rainbow Dash, do I have potential?”

“Of course you do Sunset! Well, we are off to a great start!”

”Maybe you should host some tryouts so we can see which students will be up to the challenge!” Twilight adds as she takes a chronometer and a calculator out of her backpack, “oh this will be so much fun! I’ll take multiple stats of each student and then pick the best out of them using some advanced math and statistics!”

“Yeah, you do that Twi, however…it’s not always about stats, but heart! And what about the rest of you guys?” You ask, hoping they’ll say yes.

”O-oh my, I-I’m not sure Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy says, stuttering as usual, “you know how nervous I get in such events, especially in front of many people....I wouldn't want to let anyone down.”

“Yeah, true…Pinkie Pie?”

”I’ll be the one cheering the team up Dashie, and Fluttershy will join me, isn’t that right Shy?” Pinkie Pie says, placing her arm around Fluttershy's shoulder.

”M-me?!” Fluttershy replies with a tone of confusion and disbelief.

“Well then, how about you Rares?”

”And get sweaty and dirty? Heavens no dearie!” Rarity crosses her arms, "I have to look fabulous the entire day!"

“Well…how about you design our uniforms then? It really would be embarrassing to be seen in our regular outfits while the others schools have professional equipment, especially Crystal Prep Academy.”

Rarity’s face glows with happiness.

”I’m already ahead of you Rainbow Dash!” She says, quickly placing a notebook in front of your face filled with uniform and swimsuit doodles for both male and female players.

“Wow…these designs are great! When did you draw these Rarity?” You say while you shuffle the pages of Rarity’s notebook.

”In Mr. Cranky Doodle’s class, he really doesn’t care if we pay attention or not,” she replies with a naughty smile on her face.

“And that’s four players…me included of course, out of twenty,” you sigh, “perhaps Principal Celestia was right. This school is a TLC.”

”A TLC? You mean that it needs tender, love and care?” Applejack says.

“No, I meant that because it’s a totally lost cause…” you bitterly blurt out, “why are we even doing this?”

You notice Principal Celestia staring at you from her office’s window; you watch her grabbing a paper from the box labeled with your name, making you gulp and sweat nervously.

”Rainbow Dash?” A voice calls from behind, which makes you turn your head around your shoulder, only to find Flash Sentry and his friends standing near your group of friends.

”I was just wondering if you needed another player,” he awkwardly says, he tends to act like that when Twilight is around.

“YES! Oh, I mean…yeah, sure. We have four girls already; we need six more girls and now with you in the team we’ll need seven more guys,” you say trying to keep your cool.

”A-awesome! My buddies and I will be glad to help.”

Flash Sentry, Brawly Beats and Ringo just joined your team.

”I insist we should conduct some tryouts,” Twilight suggests, not looking very happy .

“Relax Twilight, if they want to join the team then they’re already in! Who else should be in the team?”

You spot the newbie coming out the school’s front door, listening to music as always and checking his phone as well, your friends immediately look at you.

“Ugh…fine. ANON! Get over here!”

”Me?” He asks, looking confused, as he takes off his earbuds.

“Are there other Anons around?!” You reply.

”The new kid? Are you sure about this Rainbow Dash?” Flash Sentry asks, looking quite skeptical.

“I have no idea…”


You are now Anon.

Rainbow wants to talk to you again, and she looks quite mad, you can only hope she’s not mad at you because you hit her in the face yesterday. You can almost picture it now…she probably asked that Flash Sentry guy and his friends to show you a lesson.

”W-what is it?” You timidly ask.

”Anon, we need you in our team,” Rainbow Dash boldly says.

“Excuse me?” You say, taken completely by surprise.

Flash Sentry and his friends look baffled, but the girls look supportive of Rainbow’s decision.

”Him?” Brawly Beats asks.

”Yes, him…listen up Anon, I-I’m kind of in a hurry; I need to find players for the upcoming eliminatory rounds, and I believe you’d be a great addition to our team,” Rainbow Dash awkwardly says.

“Me? Why me?”

”Well…you know, because-“ Rainbow Dash looks away and struggles to find the appropriate words to convince you.

”-You totally beat her in soccer!” Pinkie Pie adds much to Rainbow’s dismay, “how could you forget Anon? You were there after all.”

”Pinkie!” Rainbow hushes Pinkie Pie, looking somewhat embarrassed.

”Whoa…are you serious?” Ringo asks.

”Yep! 3-0! Nonny pulled some serious pro moves! He’s not as fast as Rainbow but he’s quite talented!” Pinkie Pie happily says, while you just let out an awkward chuckle.

”That’s impossible!” Flash Sentry says, “Rainbow losing at the thing she excels at?!”

”Alright alright! We get it! Anon got lucky, I wasn’t playing well…whatever! Are you gonna join us or not?” Rainbow Dash asks.

“No,” you say after taking a deep breath.

”HUH?!” Rainbow's mouth goes wide, "B-BUT WHY?!"

“Listen…I had a very rough time back in my former schools. My teammates hated me because of all the things I did. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to take part on this. I’d be a dead weight just like I was to my former team,” you calmly explain, however Rainbow Dash looks upset.

”W-well then, we don’t need you! No wonder your team thought you were a crybaby. With such a useless and whiny player like yourself!” Rainbow Dash shouts, but her friends just gasp at her cruel comment.

”RAINBOW DASH!” Rarity yells at Rainbow Dash, ”What’s the matter with you?! Didn’t you hear how poor Anon had to deal with those jerks? It’s obvious he tried his best and they always downplayed him!”

”So what? It’s obvious he isn’t-“ Rainbow tries to say, before being interrupted by Rarity again.

”You did witness how great he was at soccer, didn’t you? Because he won fair and square against the so-called best athlete of Canterlot High!”

“R-Rarity…” you say, moved by Rarity’s words; Rainbow Dash however just looks away, still looking somewhat disappointed at you.

”If I say so myself, I’d say Anon here might be the key to our success…he’s nothing but pure potential,” Rarity happily says.

”Yep!” Applejack says, “the way Anon slid to prevent Rainbow from scoring a goal? Hoo boy! It was so exciting!”

”Of course! Like that chip Nonny pulled off! Wow…he looked like he could fly!” Pinkie Pie adds.

”Anon, you might not know this but…no one has ever defeated Rainbow Dash at a 1v1 Soccer match before!” Sunset Shimmer adds, “if you were in our team you’d be everything but a burden!”

These girls…are they for real? No one has ever had faith in you before. Not even your parents, they always felt ashamed of you because of the mistakes you made when you used to play for Seacrest County’s Elementary to High School.

”Anon darling, I don’t know exactly what sort of bad experiences you had back in the day, however we’d love to have you around to help our team win the first place next Saturday.” Rarity says as she walks slowly towards you, ”you might not know it yourself, but we believe you would do marvelous things for our team…won’t you reconsider your decision?”

“Well…”

The other girls nod their heads, except for Rainbow Dash, she only rolls her eyes.

“Alright, I’ll do my best Rarity!” You say, clenching your fists.

”WOOHOO!” Pinkie Pie yells, “we’re SOOOO gonna win this event!”

”I know you will dearie. Now…Rainbow Dash?” Rarity says while turning her head around her shoulder.

”What do you want?” Rainbow Dash replies.

”I do believe you owe Anon an apology…”

”Aww what?!” Rainbow Dash tries to protest, but Rarity just squints at her, Rainbow Dash just sighs.

”Alright alright…look, I’m sorry okay Anon?” Rainbow Dash says, “there! I said it.”

”That wasn’t a sincere apology!” Rarity raises her voice.

”Well what do you want me to do?! Kiss him?” Rainbow Dash yells, and while that would be nice, you decide to remain silent. Rainbow Dash then looks at you once again.

”I-I’m sorry Anon…I’m very stressed, I never asked for this anyways.” Rainbow Dash says, this time with a legit remorseful tone.

“It’s okay Rainbow, you didn’t mean it did you?” You ask, just to be sure.

”Nah, I gotta admit, I kind of hoped you said yes at the first time. I got angry when you said no because I thought we were gonna be in real trouble if I didn’t find another good player like yourself…”

So she does believe you’re quite talented as well huh? Neat!

”Well then, I still have to find more players…I’ll need you here tomorrow at 6:00 A.M. so we can start training okay?”

“Very well then! See ya tomorrow!” You say your goodbyes to your classmates and then you leave the school premises, looking forward to give your 110%. If a girl as pretty as Rarity actually believes in you and how you can make a difference, you won’t let her down!

”How did you manage to convince Anon to join the team?” Rainbow Dash asks Rarity.

”You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar darling…” Rarity lets out a giggle.