//------------------------------// // Things Have Changed: Version 2.0 // Story: Crystal Prep Meets The Careers - Book 2 // by TheGathering //------------------------------// While they were concerned about Rarity's and Fluttershy's powers being drained by a unknown person, Cameron being especially concerned, it didn't seem to detract from the brothers' confidence as they, along with Marvel and Urchin, waited in the shadows near the corner of the gym where they still had a view of Flash, but practically no one else except Flash could see them. Ryan could also see them though, he was just positioned in another dark corner of the gym where he could see the stage and alert the guys. They were too busy waiting and trying to tune out the party noises going on around they all didn't see Sci-Twi drain Pinkie Pie's energy when she tried to pony up. All four of them were just waiting, eager to show Crystal Prep that this year, things were going to be different. “This is what we have to go up against?” Marvel whispers to Cato. “Seriously, I thought they were going to be stronger than this.” Cato looks back at Marvel. “Don’t underestimate them yet, dude" said Cato. "They are basically like us, academic and athletic skills honed to a fine edge. From what it looks like though, they sent their very best apparently.” “Okay, bro" Marvel replies. Soon enough, however, Cato's phone rang. Ryan was calling. Cato picked up the phone and answered. "What have you got, Ryan?" he asked. "Crystal Prep Principal at..." Ryan said, but was interrupted by a deafening and painful screech as the party music cut out. "..Stage Mic." The Careers turned, noticing the Crystal Prep students, who had been partying with the Canterlot High students up till that point, get sad looks on their faces, return to their classmates and resume their arrogant looks. It was confusing to Marvel and Urchin, but for Cato and Cameron, they already had a theory about why. Then, Principal Abacus Cinch started speaking at the microphone and from that point on, Marvel and Urchin swore that Cato's and Cameron's auras began to go from calm to silent murderous evil. “I like to thank Principal Celestia for her.. unconventional welcome” Principal Cinch said while standing at the mic. “It’s been four years since the last friendship games..” "Four years, they hold this every four years? That's a long time to prepare" Marvel whispered to Cameron, who flicked him on the forehead. "Be quiet. I'm trying to listen" Cameron snapped back as Cinch continued to speak. Cameron was already beginning to hate Cinch, and Cato even more so from what he had heard Crystal Prep had done to his friends and girlfriends and Cameron's girlfriends in the past from Flash, Thresh, Noah, and Ryan. It was only due to self control methods he had learned from Flash, Fluttershy, and Applejack after the Fall Formal incident that he had learned to control his anger, which he had developed during his years in Panem City, which meant that he was able to keep his emotions at bay for now. All the while, Cinch kept talking. “..but it feels if as though nothing has changed.” Cato smirked. That’s what you think, he thinks to himself. He knows in his heart that Cinch is dead wrong and can’t wait for the right moment to start the seed of truth to sprout in her brain. Cameron, on the other hand, only let out a barely audible growl of anger in response to that statement. That's because you made your school basically gloat on Canterlot High so hard that you made them become depressed about this every time it happens, you witch! he thinks in his mind. At this point, Cameron is already thinking of multiple ways to shut her god damn mouth up. He was seriously annoyed by her voice. “..Canterlot High continues to pick its competitors in a popularity contest that has no real meaning of determining skill level..” Cinch continued, as Cato and his friends noticed the sad looks of Crystal Prep and Canterlot High students alike. That’s when Cato and Cameron realize something, one simple truth that changes their whole perspective and only intensifies their burning hatred of Cinch. Most of them are not that way because they want to, Cato thinks in his brain. They are that way because of her. “..and Crystal Prep continues to field its top twelve students. It is a comfort to know that even after so many years of losses..” The way Cinch placed emphasis on that word, Ryan swore he saw a vein pop on Cato and Cameron's foreheads. Clearly, the Crystal Prep Principal was really getting on the brother's nerves way more than their visual expressions noted. Cato turned, and looked at Flash, who was deliberately standing at the back of the room now. Flash looked back at Cato, waiting for the signal to do his thing. “..your school remains committed to its ideals, however misguided they may be.” Cato clamped a hand on his mouth to prevent himself from screaming. The only fucking misguided thing around here is you, you bitch! Cameron, meanwhile, was looking away from Cinch, but even Urchin and Marvel could tell he was glaring daggers at the floor, which would bounce all the way back over to Cinch. “..I wish you all the best of luck contestants, regardless of the inevitable and usual outcome that is sure to happen to Canterlot High every time we do these games” Cinch finished with her smug smirk still on her face, just as Cato nodded at Flash. By now Canterlot High and Crystal Prep had separated into two packs, leaving Flash with a clear line of sight to the stage and vice versa. Flash nodded back and took his cue. “You know what they say, the status quo is always meant to be broken” Flash speaks up, catching everyone in the room by surprise. Cinch chuckles and looks down at Flash with a smug look on her face, thinking he was just ignorant of the past. “Oh really? Do you think Canterlot High has even any chance of defeating Crystal Prep?” she asks smugly. Flash doesn't even flinch. "Yeah. This year is going to be the year that Canterlot High finally defeats Crystal Prep" Flash says defiantly, causing Cinch to laugh maliciously. "Oh you silly little boy! There is absolutely no way that Canterlot High can ever defeat Crystal Prep!" she says angrily, as Cato takes his cue. “Newsflash, Principal Cinch. Yeah, we do have a chance this year to defeat Crystal Prep” Cato says out loud, the sound of his voice causing everyone on Crystal Prep’s side to jump. Cinch searches the auditorium, looking for the person who said that. “Which one of you Canterlot High Students said that?!” exclaims Cinch, startled. “Um, that would be me” Cato says as he steps out from the shadows, walking to the center of the gym while Flash walks to a spot just in front of him, facing Cinch and the Crystal Prep students. The effect was instant. The Crystal Prep girls either couldn’t stop staring in awe and adoration at the drop dead gorgeous hulk that just made himself known, while most of the boys were visibly intimidated and even scared at the sight of the monstrous hulking boy. None of them had even seen a Canterlot High student so towering and so massive, it was just mind blowing to them. Even Cinch couldn’t find the words immediately to bring up her rebuttal at the sight of Cato. “W-what I-in the n-name of god are you?” she asks. Flash answers it for her. “He’s a recent transfer here. And he’s not alone.” One by one, the others walk out from the shadows and take their place in a line facing the Crystal Prep students. If the boys were intimidated or scared before, they were probably practically peeing their pants at the sight of Cameron, Marvel, and Urchin. “H-Holy crap” said someone from the Crystal Prep side. “Our top twelve have to go up against that?” exclaims another. Then, a rather arrogant voice rose up through the crowd. “Guys, come on! They can’t be that challenging! Heck, the big blonde probably has more brawn than brains!” Cato chuckled, for he knew that whoever said that was really underestimating him. He then stared down the Crystal Prep students with a glare so cold that even the girls had to back up a step away from him. He then turns towards Cinch, and he speaks to her with every hating fiber of his being. “The name’s Cato Hadley, and this is the year Canterlot High wins these games. Prepare to see your school go down for once, Principal Cinch, because if there's one thing my family's known for breaking, it's the status quo" he says, staring Cinch with another glare so cold Cinch actually start shivering while standing at the mic. Applejack, Lori, and Clove all look at Cato and see the fire in his otherwise piercing cold, ice blue eyes. All three sigh in anxious breaths and by coincidence, think the same thing in their minds. Cato, I hope you’re not biting off more than you can chew right now, love.