//------------------------------// // Act 1, Season 1, Your Hero, Rainbow Dash. // Story: Three Seasons // by shakealchemist //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash stood at the ready, her hoofball helmet in hoof and uniform on. Next to her were her teammates; Derpy, Gilda, Sunbeam, Twister, Misty Dawn, and Nimble. There were others of course, but Dash hadn't cared to learn their names yet. "Are you all ready for our first game of the season?" Coach Shooting Star asked standing before them as the loudspeakers sounded out from the field outside. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, please welcome our Junior Speedsters!" That was their cue. "Aw, yeah!" Dash hoofbumped Gilda before throwing her helmet on and racing out onto the field. She stopped at about midfield and looked around the stadium stands in shock. "Pft, weak. Almost no one showed up, lame." Gilda scoffed at all the empty seats. "oh well, I guess they'll all miss out on my awesomeness." Dash shrugged it off with a cocky smirk, before gliding over to the sideline to join up with her team. "Alright team, since we are starting with the ball, who would like to return the kickoff?" Coach Star asked. "Oh, oh, oh! Me, coach! Let me show everypony what I got!" Dash volunteered, bouncing about in place. Gilda rolled her eyes. "Alright Dash. Just remember that there's no shame in taking a knee. In fact, sometimes it's the smart thing to do." Star approved with a nod. Dash nodded back and flew out into position. She had practiced this. Standing far back, she watched the ball carefully once it was kicked. Getting a running start, Dash caught it in stride and returned it back within the other team's forty-yard line before being forced out of bounds. "Dang it, I was so close to breaking free." Dash complained, once in the huddle. "Gilda, get me the ball again and I'll score no problem." "Yeah right, Dash. You know coach makes the calls. Go to is Nimble on a break out slant pass." Gilda announced, pointing the play out on the play sheet worn around her wrist. With a clap, she broke the huddle. "Aw, lame." Dash muttered to herself. Nimble picked up seven on the play. next was a quick pass to Sunbeam for two, then a keep by Gilda gained nothing. "Fourth and one?! But I didn't even get the ball again!" Dash exclaimed, throwing her hooves up in frustration. "Yeah, and I didn't get any blocks out there. So hold the snap from Derpy, so Twister can kick it." Gilda told heading for the sideline. Dash grumbled to herself as she took a knee and waited for the snap. 'Can't believe we're settling for a field goal after that run back. . . wait a second, I'm about to get the ball.' Dash thought with a smirk. Upon getting the snap, Dash darted forward and gained a good six yards. "Aw, yeah! Did you see that one Gilda?" Dash exclaimed, hoof bumping the griffin who had come back out onto the field. "Nice one Dash." She congratulated her. Just then, Dash felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around she saw Misty Dawn. "What's up?" Dash asked. "Coach is pulling you. Says he needs a word with you." Misty said softly. "Uh . . . okay." Dash shrugged to Gilda and flew over to the bench expecting praise. "You see that coach? Pretty sweet, huh?" "No, it wasn't. That wasn't the play I called." Star said disapprovingly. "Nah, it was even better." Dash waved a hoof dismissively at his scolding. "Only because it worked. You got lucky Dash, but since you can't follow orders you can stay on the bench for the rest of the game." Star told her, turning his back on her and his attention back to the game. "what?! But that's not fair! I wa-. . ." Dash trailed off, her frustration making her unable to justify her actions. "Sorry Dash, that's just that way it is. Maybe you'll learn something watching from the sidelines." Star said coldly, without looking back to her. * * * "Can you believe it Gilda?! He made me sit out most of my first game, and I was doing so good!" Dash complained as they flew away from flight school after the game. "Well Dash, as lame as it is, coach calls the shots. And without you on the field we got our flanks kicked. I mean who else am I suppose to give the ball to? So you gotta do me a favor and do as Coach Idiot says so we two can show 'em what we got. We might even get a win if you stay on the field." Gilda countered. "Fair enough, I gotcha." Dash agreed with a small sigh before giving her a playful bump with her shoulder. "See you at the next game!" Dash said with a smile before racing off. * * * Dash played the next game by coach's calls, and while she may have gotten a lot more time on the field and handled the ball more, the team still went on to lose. "Ugh, we were so close. Why doesn't coach let you give me the ball more? We'd run away with these games!" Dash exclaimed before drooping her head down in defeat, as she and Gilda flew alongside each other. "Yeah, but what can we do about it?" Gilda said, not seeming to show that she cared at all. "Anything, Gilda! I can't stand all this losing! There must be something we can do!" Dash begged her to come up with something. Gilda rolled her eyes, then an idea struck her. "I got it, Dash. I need you to do one thing and I will get us winning." "What?" Dash asked, suddenly filled with both excitement and hope. ". . . Get open." Gilda said simply, keeping her own side of the plan a secret for the time being. * * * It was an idea Dash could easily get her head around and shortly after kickoff at their third game of the season, Gilda passed on the call. "Quick go pass to Sunbeam. Get open." She added with a glance and nod to Dash, who nodded back. On the snap Dash went for a stop and go route, leaving her defender in the dust. Turning her head to check the play, she saw the ball sailing toward her. Keeping her stride she caught it and ran down along the sideline and into the end zone. "Wooo!" Dash flew back to Gilda, who met her halfway, and hoof bumped her. "Alright, our first touchdown and it was awesome!" Dash celebrated. "Your first anyway. my second." Gilda corrected, having gotten a passing touchdown to Sunbeam the previous game. "Pft, just you wait, I'll pass you in scores yet." Dash laughed with Gilda as they returned to the sideline. "Gilda, what was that pass? I told you it was a go route to Sunbeam." Couch Star questioned. "He was covered, so I checked to Dash who was wide open. Sure paid off, huh?" Gilda smirked, nudging Star with a shoulder. She knew he couldn't argue against that. "Uh, well . . . good job." Star swallowed and smiled. * * * "Ha! Did you hear him? G-good job." Dash said, mockingly of Star after the game in the locker room as the Speedsters celebrated their first win of the season. "We sure showed them what we are capable of. Let's keep it up." Gilda replied happily. "You sure did rock it out there Rainbow. Way to go on your two scores." Derpy butted in with a smile to Dash. "Thanks, Derpy, you didn't do bad yourself." Dash said not turning away from Gilda, but Derpy seemed happy with the so-called compliment. "Alright, team!" Coach Star called out as he entered the room. "With our first win comes our first game ball, and with great decision making I have to give this ball to . . . Gilda." Coach Star announced, tossing the ball to Gilda. The team cheered for Gilda including Dash, who looked a bit sour at Star's choice. "Relax Dash, I'm sure you'll get your own next game." Gilda encouraged after pulling her aside. Dash smiled and nodded in agreement. * * * "We stand at two and two team, that's a nice little turnaround. A win today won't be easy, but if we pull this off we'll be above five hundred. Here's our cue." Shooting Star declared as the loudspeakers announced them. "And their opponents . . . the Junior Speedsters!" The speakers boomed out. The Speedsters had played with steadily improving attendance, but this team managed to get a packed house and they were far more energized. Their boos were deafening as the Speedsters headed to their sideline. " The Cold Fronts . . . name sounded dumb the moment I heard it." Gilda shouted over the noise to Dash, who looked around her in awe. 'One day, I'll have a stadium full of fans of me.' She was thinking instead of listening. "Yo! Equestria to Dash? We're on." Gilda waved her talons in Dash's face, snapping her out of her daydream. "Right, let's do this!" * * * From kickoff, it was clear that this was a completely different game than any other they had played before. The first time Dash was tackled she was thrown to the ground harder than she had been in her enter life. It added fuel to her effort, but the game was a lost cause. "That sucked." Dash groaned in pain as she pressed ice to her leg. "I got more ice here." Coach Star called out, handing icepacks out. "I also want to say that I'm proud of you all. It ain't easy playing with crowd noise, especially against such a strong opponent, but you gave it your all and it was close in the end." He added. "Not even, too many errors for us to ever have had a chance." Gilda huffed. "Sorry Gilda, my bad." Derpy apologized, not missing the glare shot from the griffin. "Now, now, I'll have no one being singled out, we all could've done better, let's take this as a learning experience." Star cut in sharply. "Yes, coach." The team responded as one through their aches and pains. "Hey, Gilda?" Dash whispered, taking a seat next to her. "Yeah?" "Obviously we need to find more creative ways for you to get the ball to me. Cause it's basically just you and me out there. Whatever we can think of we got to try it." Dash said in a hushed voice. Gilda nodded and pulled out the playbook for them to review. * * * It took a couple of games, but Dash finally found herself getting the ball half the time. She quickly became the Junior Speedsters' biggest producer of yards and scores per game. Leading them to the start of a winning streak. Dash's hype grew as focus and attention turned sharply and wildly toward her. For the first time all year, the Junior Speedsters' stadium was packed with long-time fans and new alike. "Fillies and gentle colts, please give a warm welcome to your Jr. Speedsters!" The announcer's voices boomed. Hondo stood with the rest of the crowd from the wood-covered seats for nonpegasi viewers. "Yeaaah!" He cheered. "Oh! Look Rare, there she is. Ahead of them." He pointed, nudging his daughter. Peering forward through her shades, Rarity spotted the pony her father had been talking so much about as of late. "Oh, I really like that rainbow mane of hers. So beautiful and unique suits her name quite well. Shame it's so unkempt. Do you think it's natural or dyed?" She pondered aloud. "Who cares? She's so skilled. Watch closely, we're witnessing history." Hondo said, taking his seat. Rarity knew her father knew all there is to know about hoofball from his playing years, but never had she heard him speak so highly of a player not from his playing days as he did about Dash. So as boring and confusing as she found the sport to be she kept an eye on her. Rarity quickly became a fan of Dash as she watched her zip across the field; dodging tackles, extending plays, gaining yards in chunks, and scoring a couple of touchdowns as well. Rarity couldn't help but cheer along with her father. When the game clock expired, Rarity jumped to her hooves and clapped excitedly for the Speedsters' win. "Amazing, simply amazing! What an absolutely terrific performance!" She exclaimed. "Never thought I'd see the day you'd get so excited about hoofball." Hondo commented. Rarity froze, suddenly aware of herself, and sat back down. "yes, well . . . it was a good game." She admitted. She couldn't help feeling silly for thinking hoofball a meaningless sport for ruffians for so long when she had enjoyed this game so much. Her complaints about having to come here with her father were now fully voided in her mind. "That Rainbow Dash sure can put on a show. Say, she's going to be signing autographs soon. Why don't you and I go get one, eh?" Hondo suggested. "Yes, we shall." Rarity smiled and nodded politely. She was eager to extend the surprising fun trip with her father. * * * As they were trotting down a hallway, Hondo stopped in front of the restrooms. "I'm going to use the gentlecolts' room. Could you go on ahead and save us a spot in line?" He asked, and at her nod entered the restroom. Rarity soon found the building layout confusing and was feeling unsure of where to go and lost. Asking for a point in the right direction led her to where she needed to go and got herself a spot in line. As the line moved forward Rarity noticed that while almost all of the Junior Speedsters were there to sign stuff, everypony was getting signatures from just Dash and Gilda. The two stars chatted between each other as their teammates sat looking bored . . . well except for Derpy, who looked happy just to be there. As Rarity got closer to the front, she began to wonder what was taking her father so long to get back, and soon enough she was about to be next. 'I can't possibly do this without dad, he would be so disappointed to have missed out.' So with that thought, she stepped out of line and off to one side. Dash took notice of this and kept shooting her glances as she signed miscellaneous objects for fans. She couldn't help it, the stylish mare looked so out of place. "What's up with that mare over there?" Dash whispered to Gilda, who looked over at the unicorn in question. "Who knows, looks like she's nervous. Probably too shy to meet the two big shots." Gilda smirked, sighing an autograph for a young filly. "Guess so." Dash snorted and carried on, paying her no more attention until the line was gone and the only pony that was left in the room beside the Speedsters was the lonesome mare. Rainbow gave Gilda a questioning look, unsure what to do, before speaking up to the unicorn that was apparently lost in thought. "Yo! You want something signed?" "Oh. . . uh, y-yes. Of course." Rarity stammered. 'Surely it's better to get something signed without him than it is to get nothing at all.' She decided, trotting over to Dash. "Hi." She said awkwardly, unsure what to say or do. It was not a situation she was familiar with being in. "Hi, so what do you want me to sign?" Dash asked, twirling a pen in hoof before tossing its end into her lips. "Oh, well . . ." Rarity realized that her father hadn't told her what they were getting signed and that she didn't have anything on her. "I . . . don't honestly have anything on me." She admitted embarrassed. "It's cool. I got you covered." Dash produced a picture of herself from under the table. She signed it, Your hero, Rainbow Dash. "There You go." Dash pushed the picture over to her. "You want me to sign it as well?" Gilda asked, spinning her quill. "Oh, I don't know. It would seem out of place on a picture of just Rainbow Dash." Rarity answered, unsure if her father wanted her signature as well, but not wanting to appear rude at the same time. "Pft, whatever. Yo Dash, catch you at Junker's later?" Gilda asked, standing up. "Sure." Dash agreed and watched her leave along with the rest of the team. She turned back to find Rarity was standing in front of her, with the picture held in her magic. She was looking at it wistfully. "Something up?" Dash asked curiously. "Oh, it's just that I was hoping my father would get to meet you, but something seems to be holding him up. He's quite the fan of you." Rarity confessed her thoughts. "Oh? Well, I would hate to disappoint a fan. You should introduce me to him." Dash offered and with a flap of her wings she was over the table and next to Rarity. "Really? You would do that?" Rarity asked beside herself. "Sure." Dash nodded and found herself being hugged. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Rarity exclaimed, then noticed Dash's look of mixed surprise and discomfort. She took a step back. "Ahem . . . pardon me." She apologized. "Ha, no problem. Lead on." Dash chuckled and wave a wing forward. "Yes, of course." Rarity led Dash back over to the restrooms. "Well, this is where we had parted ways." Rarity said to Dash in the now empty halls. "Huh." Dash flew into the colts' room. "Dash, wait!" Rarity called out. "What? Mares aren't allowed in the colts room? Doesn't really matter, no pony is in here." Dash flew back out and couldn't help but smile at the huffy face the unicorn was making. "What's your dad's name anyway." Dash quickly put out there to change the mood. "Hondo and mine is Rarity by the way." Rarity said the edge of a sharp tone. "Hey, hey. My bad. I'm trying to help you out here honest. It's a pleasure to meet you Rarity." Dash gave her a little curtsy while hovering. Rarity smiled at that, amused. "And I thank you for that, and it is a pleasure to meet you as well." Rarity replied with a much more graceful curtsy. "Come on, let's go find Hondo." Dash picked a way to go and flew on ahead. "I don't think he went that way." Rarity quickly interjected, only taking a few steps after her. "Why not?" Dash questioned, turning back to see Rarity standing at the edge of the wood flooring, right before changing over to cloud. She was making the added point of touching her hoof to the cloud, which passed right through it. "Oh, right." Dash flew back to her. "Actually, if he can only walk on covered floors, we didn't pass him, and he's not here . . . then there is only one place he can be." Dash realized and led Rarity to the stadium exits. Rarity looked to Dash uncertainly as they trotted outside. "I hardly think he would've left without-" Hondo cut her off with a hug. "Rarity, dear, there you are! Sorry if I worried ya there. I got lost and ended up out here, and I wasn't allowed back in." Hondo greeted his daughter. "I tell you guys to lighten up." Dash told one of the security guards, elbowing him. "You never tell us that." He responded. "In fact, you've never spoken to us at all." He muttered annoyed. "Sure I did. I tell everypony that." Dash said drifting past as she glided in a laid-back pose. "Is that Rainbow Dash?" Hondo whispered to Rarity as he let her go. "Why yes, Miss Dash here was kind enough to help me find you." Rarity informed him. "Miss Dash? Ew. Jut call me Dash, please." Dash commented landing near Rarity. "Wow, am I just speechless. Thank you kindly for helping reunite me and my daughter. Also, it was such a show you put on out there. Some of the best hoofball I've ever seen." Hondo expressed his gratitude and admiration. "Ha, thanks. Tell you what, you two stay here. I have a special surprise for you." Dash said smiling excitedly and flying back inside. Rarity showed took this time to show her father the autograph. "I didn't have anything, but she had this picture. Do you like it?" "It's nice." Hondo chuckled, seemingly amused by it. "Here you go." Dash reappeared as fast as she had left. "Two all-access passes, good for the rest of the season. So no more getting lost." She teased handing the passes. They weren't hers to give away per se, but they weren't locked up either. they were in the hooves of fans and not collecting dust, so as far as Dash cared it was okay. "And two tickets to next week's game." Dash passed those out next, that was something players were allowed to do. "My luck sure has turned fast. How great is this! What do you say Rarity, want to watch another game with your old stallion?" Hondo asked. Now Rarity would normally be quick to pass on such an offer, but the day had been so fun and she couldn't stand refusing Dash's offer after her kind treatment. "I would love to see Rainbow Dash in action some more." Rarity nodded approvingly. "I won't disappoint!" Dash exclaimed. With a wave, she took off flying. 'My first big fans. I gotta impress them next week. They may not be the fan club I expected, but . . . I like them.' Dash couldn't help but smile at the thought of that mare. 'Rarity.'