//------------------------------// // 11.- The Qualifiers - Part 3 // Story: Canterlot High's Sports Challenge // by LiQuiD //------------------------------// - CHAPTER 11 - THE QUALIFIERS - PART 3 It seems that Superintendent Discord wasn’t expecting those results; he looks quite displeased. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna can’t believe it either; Superintendent Discord just clears his throat, and speaks onto the microphone in front of him. ”Well, that’s the end of the second round, Canterlot High is back on the game with quite an impressive comeback if I say so myself, despite their weak start…” Principal Celestia puts on a smug grin on her face. “Oh, so she’s proud of our team now?” Aria Blaze says, lifting an eyebrow. ”I know right?” Sunset Shimmer adds, “for a moment I thought she’d ask us to get in the bus and leave…” ”Just ignore her you guys,” Pinkie Pie says raising her pom poms, “you’re not doing this for her…you’re supposed to show everyone here who’s boss!” ”The High Diving event will begin in five minutes!” Superintendent Discord announces on the speakers, “get your team ready and plan the tactics…for this event the height of the diving board will be a factor for the grading, you know…the higher your divers are willing to climb the ladders and dive, the better grades you’ll get!” You all take a look at the Shadowbolts’ High Diving boards. ”T-they are pretty high…” Zephyr Breeze says. ”Yeah…they are even higher than the diving boards in Croix Bleue High’s,” Applejack says. ”E-eeeyup…” Her brother adds, looking quite nervous. ”Good thing you belong in the relay race team isn’t that right Big Mac? Applejack says with a chuckle. ”Okay guys…this is it, we’re counting on you to make a bigger difference in the scoreboard because Pleasantview High is gaining on us!” Rainbow Dash says, however the High Diving team looks baffled. ”Hey now, don’t tell me you’re all afraid of heights…” Rainbow Dash says in disbelief. ”Of course not captain!” Brawly Beats says, “we’re fine…ain’t that right boys?” ”YEAH!” Everyone but Zephyr Breeze says at the same time. ”I’m glad to hear that…you guys have trained a lot for this day; you might as well try going for a high score and use the tallest one,” Rainbow says while pointing at the largest one, they make their way towards the high diving boards. Zephyr Breeze gulps down some saliva. ”Zeph?” Rainbow Dash says. ”Y-yes Rainbow Dash?” ”I…” Rainbow Dash struggles to mutter the rest of her phrase, “I’m c-counting on you…” Zephyr Breeze raises both his eyebrows in surprise. ”Good! So…if I win will you go out with me?“ ”THERE’S NO WAY THAT’LL HAPPEN! JUST GO THERE AND WIN!” Rainbow Dash yells at him. ”We’ll see about that honey…” He says with a smug grin before joining the rest of the team at the board. You take a look at Fluttershy, she looks quite embarrassed over the actions of her eccentric brother. Twilight pulls out the official rulebook for the qualifiers and reads this event’s rules. “So…each contestant has to dive three times in the least amount of time. The captain will arrange the order of the divers. So! Rainbow Dash, you should go tell the officials the order of the divers.” ”One step ahead of you Twi…I already handed out the papers to the officials…Zeph is gonna be the last one in the list,” Rainbow Dash confidently says, “that way he’ll be able to focus while he waits for his turn to dive.” ”Good thinking Rainbow Dash!” Twilight compliments the team’s captain. “The order of divers will go like this…” Superintendent Discord announces, “Crystal Prep Academy, Pleasantview High, Croix Bleue High and lastly…Canterlot High." Huh, he didn’t look so happy when he mentioned your school, you wonder what Celestia did to him in the past for him to hate you all so much. A Crystal Prep student starts climbing the ladder, but stops in the midway and walks on the medium-range diving board. ”Go Fleur-de-Lis!” Sour Sweet says. Fleur-de-Lis dives…nothing too complex or eye-opening, However she gets 8’s and 9’s from the officials…along with a +30 bonus from the height. The highest board gives +60 additional points. Next, Pleasantview High. A guy climbs up the ladder and goes straight for the same diving board the girl from Crystal Prep used. There he goes. He gets only 6’s and 7’s from the officials, +30 bonus. The Prattle sisters clap for the guy. Next, a Croix Bleue girl. Same dive, takes no risk, instead she climbs to a higher platform. However her execution was kinda weak, so she gets 5s and 6s from the officials along with a +40 bonus. Pearl Blossom smacks her face with her right palm. ”Heh…it’s time for Brawly Beats to beat their scores,” Rainbow Dash brags, Brawly Beats goes straight towards the highest platform. And lastly…he dives. Sadly, he splashes some water…giving him 4’s and 5’s from the officials. ”WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash protests. (BGM) ”I see…” Twilight says, “it is way more difficult to dive from the highest platform than from the other ones. The bonus might sound tempting…but the height is reserved only for the best divers.” ”What’s the matter Rainbow Dash?” Sour Sweet teases, “you actually thought that diving in the public pool was the same thing as this? Hah! Don’t make me laugh…” The rest of the Shadowbolts laugh at her. ”Grrrr….” Rainbow Dash grits her teeth. ”Hah, we’re so gonna win this event…” Mirage from Pleasantview High says, “thanks for that Canterlot High!” ”We’re in last place, the others should forget about the highest platform for now and let Zephyr Breeze handle it by himself,” Twilight says as she takes notes and makes quick calculations. You take a look at Zephyr Breeze…he looks quite nervous. Brawly Beats swims closer to the pool’s side. ”S-sorry Rainbow Dash…I couldn’t do it,“ Brawly Beats apologizes, Rainbow Dash reaches out to him and helps him get out of the pool. ”It’s cool Beats,” Rainbow Dash says with a straight smile on her face, “you did what you could…don’t worry though, you still have two dives left, why don’t you all leave the highest platform to Zephyr Breeze?” ”Yeah, you’re right captain…Zephyr Breeze will totally blow the competition away,” Brawly Beats smile, you can only hope they’re not wrong. The cycle continues. Crystal Prep’s Lemon Zest dives gracefully, but from a very safe distance, so less points for her. Pleasantview High’s Mighty Wave messes up from a higher distance, much to Sandy’s dismay. “It was a good try!” You say in a sportsmanlike, non-mocking way, Sandy agrees with you. Croix Bleue’s Coconut Milk goes next with a very simple dive, And lastly goes Curly Winds…which dives in a graceful way, awarding him good points from the officials. ”According to my calculations, we’d be in third place thanks to Curly Wind’s dive…” Twilight says while holding her TI calculator. The dives go on and on…both Ringo and Sandalwood went for a safe dive and got 8’s and 9’s respectively. Time for the last player of each team to dive for the first round. Crystal Prep Academy goes first. ”Okay Zephyr…time for you to shine,” Rainbow Dash says. ”Oh yeah…yeah, don’t you worry about me Rainbow Dash!” Zephyr Breeze says. ”You okay dude? You look kinda…pale,” Rainbow Dash says. (BGM) ”Me? Psssh, you must be imagining things,” Zephyr Breeze says with a very awkward chuckle. ”According to my calculations…we can go waaaay up in the rankings if you dive from the highest platform like you usually do Zeph,” Twilight says, “are you up for the challenge?” ”T-thanks for the info Twilight. O-of course I am!” ”I hope you’ve had enough time to prepare to jump…remember that time is a bonus as well, the less time players take to dive the more points they’ll get!” Rainbow Dash says. Croix Bleue’s player Twisted Luck goes all the way up to the highest platform. ”Don’t mess up Twisted Luck!” Pearl Blossom yells. Zephyr Breeze looks at the diver who…much to Pearl Blossom’s dismay, executes a horrible dive. All he got were 0’s from the officials and booing from the crowd. “Next up: Zephyr Breeze…of Canterlot High,” Superintendent Discord says. ”Hurry up! They’re calling you Zeph!” Rainbow Dash happily says. ”R-roger…” Zephyr Breeze starts to climb the long ladder… ”Huh, perhaps I was wrong about Zephyr Breeze,” Rainbow Dash says. “Really? How so?” You ask. ”You know, the guy is doing all this to impress and hit on me,” she says, blushing a bit. You let out a chuckle. ”And even though he’s annoying…I gotta give him credit, he never gives up,” Rainbow Dash says with a small smile forming on her face. “Sooo…are you considering to date him?” You mockingly say. ”Eww…don’t be gross Anon,” Rainbow Dash shoves you before letting out a chuckle, “what’s wrong with you?” “What? Just sayin’…he really seems to like you,” you shrug, "besides, you look like you're having second thoughts for him right now." ”Yeah; he’s not that bad I guess, if only he could be a little less…him; then yes, I'd date him,” Rainbow Dash says as she fixes her hair, ”wait...he hasn’t reached the top yet? That must be quite a long ladder don’t you think?” ”That’s weird…” you say as both you and Rainbow Dash look at the highest platform, ten seconds later you spot him getting near to the top. ”Come on Zeph! What’s taking so long?” Rainbow Dash looks at the stopwatch, ”there goes our bonus points…ZEPH! Quick! Jump already!” Zephyr Breeze approaches the end of the platform as slowly as possible, everyone in your team looks worried. ”I-Is he gonna be okay coach?” Heath Burns says. ”He looks…sick,” Applejack adds. ”Eeeeyup,” Her brother comments. ”The Great and Powerful Trixie has a baaaad feeling about this,” Trixie says. ”H-he lied to me!” Fluttershy gasps, everyone turns around and looks at Fluttershy. ”Huh? What was that Fluttershy?” Rainbow Dash asks. ”Zephyr Breeze said…that he was already over it-“ Fluttershy says. ”Over what?!” Rainbow Dash interrupts. “Must I remind you the rules of this event young man?” Superintendent Discord says on the mic, “you have to dive!” ”Zephyr Breeze is afraid of heights!” Fluttershy blurts out. ”WHAT?!” Everyone in your team yells at the same time, Zephyr Breeze looks like he’s struggling to breathe. ”I-I can’t do it!” Zephyr Breeze yells from the highest platform before turning around and climbing down the ladder. You run towards the dressing room, Fluttershy quickly runs towards Zephyr Breeze to help him with his panic attack. Your other teammates want to kick Zephyr’s head in. ”What do you mean he’s afraid of heights Fluttershy?! I demand an explanation Zeph!” Rainbow Dash angrily says. ”Don’t yell at him Rainbow Dash! Can’t you see how scared he is right now?!” Fluttershy says as she hugs her brother, who is panicking in a fetal position. “If there’s no fifth diver then I’m afraid we’ll have to penalize Canterlot High!” Superintendent Discord announces. (BGM) ”Penalize?! H-how?!” Derpy asks as Twilight quickly grabs a rulebook out of her backpack. ”The rulebook says…that if a diver can’t jump or refuses to jump off the platform then the rest of the team will be penalized as well…” Twilight gasps, “all their points will be deducted!” ”Wh-who wrote these rules?!” Lyra asks in disbelief, Superintendent Discord however looks pleased… ”W-what do we do now Twilight?!” Applejack asks. ”Perhaps we could switch Zephyr Breeze for another player…” Twilight says as she quickly flips through the book’s pages, “Yes! We actually can! Who’s willing to take Zephyr’s place?” Twilight asks, everyone looks at each other, they don't look ready for the task. ”This is all so sudden…” Sunset Shimmer says before gulping down some saliva. ”I-I’ve never dived in my life,” Tennis Match says. ”I’m already inscribed in the Relay-Race team Rainbow, so are you…” Applejack says. ”I don’t think I can help more this time around Rainbow Dash,” Sonata says, “I’m very tired…” ”Why don’t we beat Zephyr to his senses?!” Aria says while cracking her fists. ”Don’t! Leave him alone Aria!” Fluttershy begs. “Canterlot High? Have you found a replacement yet?” Superintendent Discord asks. ”That’s it! We’re done…” Rainbow Dash says. “Very well then…it is ‘sad’ for me to announce that Canterlot High will be-" Superintendent Discord looks quite pleased to announce the penalty. However; in the last few moments Rainbow Dash and the rest of the team turn around and see you handing out a paper to the officials, they accept the change. “Tch…very well then. It seems Anonymous will take Zephyr Breeze’s place,” Superintendent Discord announces with a tone of disdain; your team goes wild and so does your high school’s crowd as you approach the platform. ”Dude…thank you so much,” Rainbow Dash says, you only nod and start climbing the ladder. ("Sheesh. This is quite a long ladder,") you think to yourself; the sensations you're feeling send a chill to your spine. Nevertheless…you won’t back down because the team really needs the bonus points and you’ll do your best to dive like a pro. You can even hear Pinkie Pie singing, you can hear a faint ("what a fear in my heart...but you're sooo supreme!") before Rarity and Fluttershy shut her up probably to help you focus. As soon as you reach the platform, you head straight to the end of it and dive. You reach the water in a very fancy way, without splashing much water, you emerge from the water and see the official’s score, 8’s and 9’s…along with the highest platform bonus. The crowd goes wild, so does your team, even Nelly and Mirage! Superintendent Discord rolls his eyes and shakes his head, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna celebrate and hug each other, you emerge from the pool and Rainbow Dash hugs you tightly. ”EEEEK! You did it Anon! That. Was…AWESOME!” She happily says, and even if you’re all wet and she’s getting all wet as well, she doesn’t care. “Haha…thanks Dash.” ”Dude! H-how did you-“ Rainbow releases you from her sweet grip, but she can’t even form a sentence over her excitement, ”Like, that was such a sweet dive! How?!” “Let’s just say that Seacrest County’s Jr. High also has diving platforms just like these…” You say with a chuckle. ”Look at all those points! How are we doing Twilight?!” Rainbow Dash asks. ”We’re currently in 2nd place!” Twilight happily replies, “Excellent work Anon!” ”I never thought I’d be happy to hear that…EEEK!” Rainbow Dash hugs you once again, then she turns to Zephyr Breeze, ”Zephyr?” ”Y-yes Rainbow?” He replies. “Go home already…we don’t need you anymore,” Rainbow Dash says, hugging you once again, “Anon here will take it from here!” Zephyr Breeze looks so…angry. ”I-I…FINE!” He turns around and storms out of Crystal Prep’s pool. Fluttershy goes after him. (BGM) You’re now Zephyr Breeze, and you can’t believe what just happened…your beautiful Dashie hugged that literal nobody right in front of your face! GRRR! Oh how you hate him! He made you look like the biggest fool in the world! You can swear he’s doing it on purpose even…he jumped off the highest diving board just to impress Rainbow Dash! He’s gonna be sorry… ”Zephyr!” You turn your head over your shoulder and find your sister call your name. “Hey sis…” you barely manage to say. ”Are you okay?” Fluttershy asks. “No sis! It’s terrible!” You place your head on Fluttershy’s shoulder, expecting her to comfort you, Fluttershy hesitates, but finally ends up patting your head. “I blew it didn’t I sis? Rainbow Dash totally hates me now," you ask. ”What? Don’t say that little bro, Rainbow Dash doesn’t hate you…” She replies with a comforting smile on her face. “B-but-“ ”Don’t mind what Rainbow Dash said," Fluttershy interrupts, "you know how tough and stressed she can get in these situations, she would’ve said the same to anyone else, not you specifically…” You pout. ”I feel you’re not being completely honest about your feelings Zephyr, what else is on your mind?“ “To be honest? Anon…I mean, he made a fool out of me! He wanted the spotlight and humiliated me in the process!” You blurt out. ”Oh Zephyr…don’t be ridiculous," Fluttershy giggles, "Anon-“ “Anon wants to steal Rainbow Dash from me! I know it! All those lame jokes he tells when she’s around…how she bumps her fist against his shoulder! GRR! I can’t take it anymore sis! If I see Anon next to Rainbow Dash again then-” ”Zephyr! Calm down!” Your sister scolds. “S-sis?” You only say, she's never looked this angry at you, Fluttershy sighs and stops hugging you. ”Oh Zephyr…I’m very disappointed of you,” she says with a tone of regret. “WHAT?!” ”Not only did you make me beg Rainbow Dash to let you be a part of the team, you also lied to me by telling me you weren’t afraid of heights anymore; even with all that practice…you never cared for the team did you? You did this to try to impress Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy turns around and crosses her arms. "I...uh, well-" ”I’m going back to the pool…you better think on a way to apologize to the team, especially to Anon; considering how rude you’ve been to him when all he wanted was to be your friend," Fluttershy returns to the pool, leaving you all by yourself. Fantastic! Even your sister likes that cretin! Could things get even worse?! And now he’s gonna participate in the Relay Race event…great, you can picture Rainbow Dash hugging him once again after he wins, yeah…even to that blondie from Pleasantview High. You take a look at the Relay Race track and notice a bunch of equipment left behind by the organizers beneath the now empty bleachers, a shiny steel wire catches your attention; suddenly a naughty thought comes to your mind. ("But what if…Anon finished the race in last place?") You think to yourself as you put on an evil smile on your face, (“Ohohoho…let’s see if you like being humiliated instead Anon!”) You're Anon once again, minutes pass. This is it…the last dive, you breathe in and look at your friends. They look so tiny from this platform. ”Good luck dearie!” Rarity shouts from below before blowing you a kiss, you gain more courage and finally jump off the platform. As soon as you emerge from the pool you’re greeted with good scores from the officials. “Well…I guess that settles it. Let’s take a look at the scoreboard!” Superintendent Discord says on the microphone, he clears his throat and reads out loud the places. “1st place! Crystal Prep Academy…with 812 points! 2nd place! Wait…really? Canterlot High with 717 points!” (BGM) The crowd supporting you goes wild. ”YEEEEEAH!” Bulk Biceps yells, Lyra and Sweetie Drops hug each other. Superintendent Discord doesn’t look pleased by your school’s results; however, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna can’t stop smiling! They even hug each other in front of the other Principals. Principal Celestia herself gives you a thumbs up. “3rd place! Pleasantview High with…692 points! And last but not least…Croix Bleue High, 294 points…ouch,” Superintendent Discord announces, Pearl Blossom looks like she could explode any minute from now on. Rainbow Dash can’t believe it herself. ”Guys! There’s no way we can lose now!” Rainbow Dash confidently says. ”Uhh…Rainbow Dash?” Twilight interrupts, ”Pleasantview High is gaining on us…” ”Oh don’t worry about them, there’s no way Nelly or Sandy can beat us! Why? Because Anon and I are gonna participate in the Relay Race!” “D-don’t forget about Mac, Cloudy, AJ and Sunset captain…” Derpy says. ”Wha? Oh yeah yeah…say dude, you aren’t tired right? You can take part in the last event right?” “I’m fine Rainbow…it’s just water," you say. Rainbow Dash smiles before letting out a fangirl squeal. ”EEEEK! We got this! Prepare yourselves Pleasantview High! ‘cuz we’re going all out!” Rainbow Dash says raising a fist. “Very well, everyone back to the race track!” Superintendent Discord says on the speaker, “we’ll finally know the two winners from Group A that will face the other schools!” Parents, supporters and officials stand up and head to the bleachers next to the relay-race track, you spot a man putting a towel on Mirage's hot body as he scolds her, that guy must be her dad. Nelly and Sandy laugh at Mirage’s expense. “You warned her sis…” Sandy says. “Yep, and she didn’t listen…” Nelly breathes in. “You sure you can handle this sis?” Sandy asks, Nelly just nods, howver you can tell that she looks kinda nervous. “We’re almost there…don’t ruin it like you usually do Nelly!” Artic Thunder says to Nelly. “Leave her alone you big bully!” Sandy yells at the rather unpleasant teammate before turning to her sister, “don’t listen to him sis.” “Pssh…whatever," he coldly replies after letting out an angry scoff. That guy can’t stop bothering poor and frail Nelly…you better go talk to her.