//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Impossible goals // Story: What you Need // by Hemlock conium //------------------------------// I wasn't sure what had overtaken the group of creatures today, but they seemed extra determined to make my time in Equestria super hellish. Normally, they were content by just dragging me along and letting me space out but today they all seemed to have their attention focused on me. It wasn't uncomfortable per say, though it was annoying. All I wanted to do was forget I was here, but they made it impossible to do. One moment I went from having a waking dream to being back in the courtyard talking about something I didn't care enough about to recall between daydreams.  I gave a frustrated groan as I was brought out into my latest set of games.  “Don't you have something better to do?” I mumbled to Zeal as he tried to drag me along to some weird pegasus bastardization of hoofball, which its self seemed to be something akin soccer.   “Come on, you can be goalie! Then you just have to sit there,” he grunted as he dragged me along, “Gha! You’re heavier than you look.” Zeal let out a shrill yelp afterwards as Ribbon smacked him upside the head, shooting him a dirty glare.  “Yea, yea. Sorry, Nix but really you digging your hoofs in the cloud layer isn't helping. Just give it a shot.”  “Please, I know you can do great at it, plus you'll help us make an even team,” Ribbon begged, giving me a hopeful grin.  “Please,” Carapace added as she joined in on the begging train.  “The sooner this is over with, the sooner we leave you alone about it.” Starling pointed out as he juggled a ball between his wings, “Plus, we can’t really talk to you if we’re busy playing games and we wont start playing till you agree.” He pointed out, the point causing me to grimace. I guess I could join them, at least officially. If I could just get Teratorn on my team I’m sure he could do well enough as a striker to leave me, at least mostly, unoccupied.  “Fine.” “Great!” Carapace buzzed, “then I picked you and Star for my team!” My heart sunk. There was no way this wasn't unintentional. Was she trying to throw the game?! She must have sensed my annoyance, seeing as she winced as my mood shifted. For a moment I expected her to go back on it with how frail she looked, but before she could speak Zeal interjected.  “Works for me! Hey Ribbon, how many goals do you think I can score on Nix here?” he asked, arrogance practically dripping from his mouth as a sly grin cooked past his muzzle. I wasn't sure why it got to me the way it had, maybe because I was already worked up or just the way he'd put it, but his grin made me want to put a hoof where the sun didn’t shine on him. Ribbon, for her part however, shook her head; trying to hide a look on her face. Was it amusement or annoyance? I couldn't tell.   “W-well you have to make it past me first...” Carapace objected.  “I don’t know, Carapace… You sure you can keep up?” He teased with a warm smile to which she gave a firm nod.  “It's game on then!” he cheered, “ I’ll be striker, Teratron you’re defender and Ribbon, you’re goalie. Oh! And I’ll be captain!”  “Fine, Phoenix is goalie, I’ll be defender and Starling is our striker.” “And our captain?” Starling inquired. “Oh!.. Uh… Well, you’re really good at shot calling so I thought maybe…” her voice trailed off. Starling gave an annoyed sigh but nodded.  “It's settled then. Every creature take position! Starling’s team gets ball first!” Zeal declared as he and his two teammates quickly made their way to the end of the field. Starling juggled the ball a bit longer before setting it down in the center while Carapace took position a few dozen yards behind him.  “Come on Phoenix! I'm excited to finally get an actual game going on! Let's go!” I sneered at him as I turned to face the goal for the first time. It was an odd sight, looking akin to the quidditch goals from Harry potter, at least if the movies were accurate to the book. A long cylinder base that stretched upward a few feet with a large open circle at the top, acting as the goal. I scratched my head as I realized just what I had gotten myself into.  I could jump and still not be able to reach the apex of the hoop, and I couldn't fly to make up the difference either. I felt a brush of frustration and despair build up in my cheeks at this realization. They bloomed with a bright red as I gazed upon the tower. My feeling would soon be consumed by annoyance as I caught the smug grin of Zeal out of the corner of my eye.  “What's wrong? Getting cold hooves because you know you're going to lose,” he teased. My head slowly turned to him with a glare that could have melted steel. This only caused his grin to grow, or rather change might have been more apt. It grew in excitement as a serious expression overtook it.  “That's what I like to see! That's fighting spirit right there! Show me what you can do then Nix!” he called as he flapped into the air, kicking the ball to Star. Then like a flash the game was on. Bodies flew through the air like bolts of lightning as they fought over possession of the ball. They gracefully danced through the air with precession, speed and agility. The Gs they must have been experiencing would have made a seasoned, human, combat pilot hurl. As soon as my eyes could get a fix on them they broke off at a near ninety degree angle. “Phoenix! The ball!” One of them called out, though who it was I couldn't tell. As their words ripped me out of my stupefied trance I witnessed Zeal break past Carapace, making a b-line for the goal. I gritted my teeth in annoyance as I jumped with all my might, initially begging my wings not to fail me.  Despite my best efforts however, my flaps didn't come naturally and were uneven in force and timing, causing me to spiral back down into the ground as zeal punched the ball right through the goal.  “And the crowd goes wild!” Zeal beamed, rooting his hoof in the air in a cheering motion.  “Phoenix! Are you okay?!” Carapace said; descending upon me faster than I had time to come up with a coherent response.  “The rules were no physical contact!” she scowled as she glared back at Zeal. To which he immediately stopped as he saw everyone turn to him with annoyance.  “What?! I Didn't touch her!” He protested.  “Ya? Like you didn't touch me when you accidentally elbowed my face and gave me a black eye?” Ribbon retorted.  “I said I was sorry, and I mean it. I didn’t touch her.” His friends seemed dubious to the claim however. Within moments Ribbon was on top of him, looking like she was about to slug him something fierce.  “Wait,” I sighed, “He didn’t hit me. I fell.” I admitted, as the feeling of embarrassment and despair gripped my being again.  “Told you!”  “Now is not the time Zeal!” Carapace looked over at the two’s squabble before turning her attention back to me. “A- Are you alright?” she asked again.  “Besides my pride?” I bitterly cracked, causing her to tense back in discomfort.  “I mean physically.” “I’ll be fine.” As I arose to my hooves I brushed her off before glancing back up at the goal. It loomed over me, casting an expansive shadow in its wake.  Just out of reach…  “Did something happen?” I thought creatures' eyes here before were massive, but the look of worry behind hers made them seem to double in size. Which was more than a little unnerving.  “Nothing that's of concern.” She cringed back again as if my words had physically wounded her, but she dropped the subject and instead lifted herself back into the air with ease and grace. The only thing seeming to tier her to the ground anymore was some lingering pain gnawing at her. Though from what specifically I could only guess. “Anyway. I think that's enough sports for today, I’m going to head back in for the day.”  Then just like that the mare turned her back without another word. Carapace winced as she watched the lonely mare wander back off.  “Di-did I say something wrong?” Carapace whined, holding her hoof close to her mouth. She was sure this plan would have been different, but instead she just made Phoenix upset like always. “I think did we do something wrong might be more apt,” Ribbon reassured. The thought of her friends helping carry the blame made the guilt in her chest lighten a bit.  “Thank you all…” Carapace for once was glad she didn’t share pony anatomy, because if she did she was sure she'd be a blubbering mess. Though at the same time she wished she had some other way to release this pent up guilt.  “Maybe you should go apologize Zeal.” “What? Why?!”  “You were being a bit too aggressive.” “I was not! Phoenix was upset because she couldn't block the goal and I’m not going to coddle her. That would insult both our efforts if we weren't giving it our all!” “Well did you have to be so… You?” “Well being overly nice clearly isn't working, so I thought I’d try and ignite a different emotion in her, which totally worked by the way!” “I don't think pissed is exactly the new emotion we were going for,” Zeal shuddered as his sister glared him down before finally cracking with a sigh. “Yea, guess you’re right. I’ll go find her and apologize.” “Maybe it's best I go with you,” Star interjected.  “Why?!”  “Because you lack... Couth.” Teratorn answered. “Yeah, what the big bird said.” Star agreed. “Well no offense Star, but if that's the case shouldn't Cara come with me?” Carapace nodded somberly in agreement with the sentiment, but Ribbon held her back. “Not in your current state, we don’t need you breaking down on us. How about a stroll to calm your mind before you go trying again?”  “I agree with Ribbon on this one Carapace. You should sit this one out.” “I concur.”  “Equestrian please Teratorn.” “I mean that I agree with Ribbon. It's probably best if you two go.” “Fine!” Zeal relented with a drawn out and frustrated groan, “Lets just hurry.”  “Just try and not make things worse,” Ribbon warned as the duo took off after Phoenix. Which took the two much longer than they'd expected. Despite the fact the building was only a couple of stories housing maybe a hundred children at most. It wasn't until they had nearly given up and were going to loop back around to the courtyard that they spotted Phoenix out behind the orphanage by herself. The duo momentarily stopped to quietly watch the filly jump into the air, fluttering her wings a few times before crashing only to get up and repeat this cycle. Starling arched his eyebrows in surprise as he watched while Zeal was still putting the pieces in place.  “So she can't,” Zeal began. “Fly,” Star finished.  “Think that's why she got so worked up?”  “Most likely.” “Well I don't get why. Sure it's not common that pegasus our age can’t fly, but it's not unheard of.” “Maybe she's ashamed of it?”  “AND THATS WHY SHES ALWAYS ALONE! She doesn't want anyone knowing!” Zeal gasped as if he'd just made the revelation of the century.  “It's possible. Though I don't know why she’d agree to hoofball if that were the case.”  “Oh. That's a good point I guess.” “Still, guess we can't rule out anything with this enigma case yet.” “Well only one way to find out.” Zeal said as he made his way for the door before being stopped dead in his tracks.  “Oh no. If she's ashamed of it, best not bring it up. Just go out and apologize. We can sort out this problem later; no need to make her feel like we know her secret and make things worse.”  “Ya, guess your right.”