//------------------------------//
// Arch Rivals 
// Story: Equestria Girls: Wondercolt Soccer of Friendship 
// by MASTERMIND360 
//------------------------------//

The night took over the sky with the only lightings remaining of the CHS football pitch. Cheers for both teams poured on the area, the away students from Manhattan High are cheering for the Seaponies while the CHS students cheered for the Wondercolts to keep pushing in the final minutes. 

The Wondercolts are panting really hard after chasing around the Seaponies for all game long. The Manhattan athletes have gotten tougher than they last face them off last school year before Sunset joined. It has been a tough game for them so far, and they're two-nil down to the away side, and it's only 2 minutes left for this game. They're bound to lose their competitive winning streak. But they're the Wondercolts, no matter what, they'll never give up, even if they're losing. 

So both Sunset and Dash started the kick off, playing a brief one-twos to get past the midfield. Rainbow turned to Derpy and Gilda by the left wing, so she kicked it all the way to the opposite wing, Derpy hop over the ball to elude the enemy player's anticipation. Gilda received the pass and spin past another play and crosses the ball back to Derpy. 

Derpy jumped over a slide tackle but just as she landed on the surface, she noticed the ball was no longer with her feet. She turned back to the player earlier who stole the ball from her with an impressive slide tackle.

The defender kicks it all the way to the other side of the pitch. The ball sours high to Spitfire's direction, but she is marked by one midfielder with the dark hair, unfortunately for her, just as she leaps to bounce it away with her head, the opposition beats her to it. 

The ball meets to the striker's legs, she made some lightning fast, dribbling skills past Fire Flare, she yelp in surprise. Now all she has left is the three defenders and Fleetfoot. 

She side stepped passed Ember, and spin past Smolder's slide tackle. Even with Strawberry Sunrise and her sharp eyes, the striker formed an arrogant smirk across her face and shoots to the net with a cannon-strength shot, Strawberry jumped in the way but she's a split second too late and the ball was an inch of her incoming head. 

Fleetfoot had her eyes on the ball, she will not miss the shot for a third time this game. She will not make this third shot more than unreachable for her team. With her body giving her the sudden urge, she dove right, extending her arms as hard as she can for the save. 

But fortunately for the goalie, since the striker was becoming overconfident for a hat trick, the ball bounced off the post. Sending it to the sky and down to the center of the pitch, and to Rainbow Dash. 

Rainbow put her foot on the ball, her hair is drenched with sweat, not since the first half. She look over to the scoreboard and the timer says they have fifty seconds left.

She clenched her eyelids to determination. They have to win this, now. "Come on, team! Let's finish this now!" She declared. 

So the team pushed forward, Rainbow sends the ball to Spitfire. She nutmeg in between the midfielder's legs and kicked the ball high to Sunset in the opposite wing.

The defenders are closing in on her and her teammates to prevent them from scoring a goal. She kicked the ball over the defender's head and spin past her, and she shoots all the way to the penalty arc. Two more Defenders tried to clear the danger but the ball flew past their heads before they do so. 

And finally, Rainbow Dash set the ball stop to her foot. This is finally it, they've been trying to do this for all game long, score a goal to add points for the Wondercolts. With the defenders and the goalie running towards her in a closing circle. Rainbow rushes forward, to the goalie, and for a desperate shot on goal. 

Adrenaline filled in her veins as more sweat fell from her hair, with time slowing down around her, Rainbow kicked the ball with a powerful, physical force. It zoomed in to the target, the goalie stop in a split second but dove left for a quick save, but Rainbow's kick was so hard that it already went to the back of the net when the goalie failed to block it. 

And finally, the Wondercolts is now on the scoreboard. Wanting to at least the end game with a tie, Rainbow grabs the ball and falls back to their starting position.

"Come on! Hurry!" She rushed them as they comply and moved back to their starting positions. 

But just as they went back to their half of the pitch and passing the ball to the away team's captain for them to start the kickoff, it's too late. The sound of the final whistle brought devastation on the Wondercolts and the home crowd. 

"Nooo!" Lightning Dust cried, descending to her knees and holding her head in despair. 

While the Seaponies celebrate their next victory, there are many disappointing behaviors from the home side, Sunset just sighed, knowing what it's like to accept defeat, the same goes for Gilda, Spitfire, Ember, and Fleetfoot. Rainbow Dash just kicked some grass off of the field in frustration after all that struggle to get some points, Fire Flare, Derpy, Strawberry Sunrise and Smolder just simply frown, that's it. 

Welp, there goes their winning streak. 



A day after they lost in their own home field, the team are gathered by the field as they made themselves busy with other things like sitting on the bleachers, chatting, some were practicing their dribbling skills using the training cones. For some others' case, Fire Flare was busy knitting a pink sweater while sitting next to Strawberry Sunrise munching over her strawberries. Lightning Dust is practicing her shots to get pass Fleetfoot who successfully stopped two to three of her shots. 

Sunset and Rainbow are the last ones to arrive with a soccer ball in the captain's arms. The team has gotten a little better ever since their defeat just yesterday. And hopefully, one lost shouldn't be enough to discourage them from rebuilding their winning streak. They win together, they celebrate together, but they lose together. If they win their next game, they should be back on their feet for more tougher challenges. 

"How's everyone been doing since our lost?" Sunset broke the ice, earning her looks from the team, and their expressions speaks at all to her question.

"It could've been better, dear," Fire Flare sighed, returning to her half-finished sweater. "We have our losses in the past, I'm fairly certain we can make it up in a few games. Yesterday was disappointing, but we had our fair share of losing, so it's not a big deal."

Lightning set her foot on the ball and shot daggers at the fashion designer and athlete with an icy glare. "Not a big deal?" She grumbled. "We literally lost here! Our own home ground!" She dug her back pockets for her phone. "Not to mention that I made myself look hideous when I messed up that penalty shot just seconds before half-time!" 

When she showed them a picture on her phone that was posted on Mystable showed Lightning Dust lying on the field and curled into a small ball like a little child, her facial expression looks like she had seen a ghost, in which everyone who sees that post found it funny. 

Ember went up and imitated Lightning's "dreaded" look and burst out laughing. "Ha, dude! At least that helped brighten the mood a little!" Smolder, Gilda, and Spitfire also laughed as well.

Rainbow put the ball down and waved her hands to stop them laughing. "Okay, that's enough, we can bicker later." She turned to Lightning. "We told you that we should've let Sunset to take the shot since she's our best penalty shooter."

Lightning scoffed. "But I scored penalty shots before," she bragged. "Also, I am the Great and Magnificent Lightning Dust for Daring Doo's sake!" 

"Everything's not always to be about you, Lightning dude," Ember pointed out. "And if you just let Sunset take that penalty shot instead, then we would've at least won a draw with the Seaponies in the end." 

"Yeah, you know," Smolder piped in. "Teamwork makes the Dreamwork?" 

The striker rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine, sure I played teamwork with you guys but I'm still the Great and the Magnificent!"

Sunset sighed, she and everyone else were annoyed by Lightning's big headed ego. And her constantly bragging of how great and magnificent she was, and even bragging how beautiful she always was. Rarity and Fire Fare would've given her a run of her money for looks. Not to mention she copied Trixie's third-person speaking only replacing the word "Powerful" with "Magnificent". But she also knew that Lightning Dust has a good heart, she's just have her own way of showing it.

So Sunset intervened before the situation got out of hand. "Let's just stop looking back and move forward so we can be better for our next game." She suggested. 

Gilda nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."

"Speaking of 'plan', we should start planning our new playbook for our Away game this week," the team turned to the source of the voice to see Principal Celestia approaching them from behind Lightning Dust and Ember. "Our Away fixture is the Shadowbolts in Crystal Prep."

The Wondercolts (except Sunset) groaned and complained in response as the mention of their arch-rival's name brought up to the surface and filled the atmosphere with disdain, as if losing in their own home ground isn't bad enough. The Wondercolts had a past with losing to the Shadowbolts in every competition, soccer was one of them. At least they won a draw with them in the Friendship Games before. 

"But Principal Celestia, we always lose to those chumps! Gilda protested. 

"And we won a fair draw with them in the Friendship Games last school year," Celestia countered. 

Gilda crossed her arms and looked away. "That's only because they made Twilight to unleash that magic that turned her into a demon."

"Well, if that never happened, then not only we'd lose again to those chumps but we'll never get to know this world's Twilight and she would always be alone in Crystal Prep," Rainbow pointed out, yes she's right. 

Gilda blinked a few moments. "Good point."

Rainbow turned back to her principal. "But Gilda's right," she continued. "Even if there's no magic to interfere with us this time, there's no shadow in a doubt that we will lose to them again."

Strawberry Sunrise packed the remaining of her fruits in her small pack and stood up and said, "Well, we literally have an actual unicorn in our team, captain."

"Yeah, she's right," Ember agreed. "Now we have the pony dude with us, we're gonna own the Shadowbolts with three-nil."

Lightning let out a cocky grin. "But with me around, I'd say seven-nil." Her own words earned her an annoyed look from the blue defender. 

"Girls, enough," Celestia said, regaining their attention. "We should start with practice now. And then in two days, we'll be taking the bus to Crystal Prep for the game." She blew her whistle to get her students on track. They may had lost so many times to the Shadowbolts (apart from the Friendship Games) but this time around, things may be different.



The bus pulled in complete stop in front of a very familiar place that the Wondercolts are fairly familiar with; Crystal Prep Academy. Before Sunset joined them, the last time they're here they lost the championships to the Shadowbolts, making the Wondercolts themselves a team of fools. Sunset herself was fairly certain that she passed by this place a couple of times when she's heading out, and this also where Twilight once studied here. 

"Alright, girls, we're here." Celestia announced as she opened the door for them. "Get ready in the locker rooms and after about thirty minutes, we play." 

Rainbow sighed, it's about time anyway to possibly lose to them again. But she gathered up the courage and stood up and carrying her backpack. "You heard her, team. Let's go."

The team responded with a nod and grabbed their backpacks as they left their respective seats and stepped out of the bus. It was surreal for the Wondercolts (except Sunset) to step foot in this school's premises again. The memories of them coming here to take on their arch rivals to win the championships rose up the surface. 

The mixture of the hot sun shining down on them and the cool breeze filled the atmosphere with some life into it as they followed Celestia to cross paths with Principal Cadence, she became the new principal after the events with the Friendship Games had Cinch to step down from her position as headmaster of Crystal Prep. Behind her comprises the Shadowbolt players; Indigo Zap, Lemon Zest, Sour Sweet, Sunny Flare, Sugarcoat, Suri Polomare, Fleur De Lis, and their lead striker is Night Glider while Indigo is their captain. 

"Ah, Principal Celestia, it's so nice to see you again!" Cadence said with a delightful tone as she and Celestia shook hands for a while. 

"It's also nice to see you too, Cadence," Celestia replied, breaking the handshake. "So I assumed the field is all set for the game in about half an hour?" 

Cadence clasped her hands together and replied, "Oh, the lawnmowers said they need to make extra sure they mowed the grasses with the desired inch that prevents possible foot injuries. We'll just need check on them to be sure by ourselves."

And when they left to check on the field, it was just them with the Shadowbolts. Granted, they're a little wary to be around them, especially how they still love to gloat after they won so many times. But still, they should at least try and interact with them a little, see if the air between them and their rivals had cool off a little. 

Indigo cracked a cocky smirk. "Well, well, well, if it ain't captain Rainbow Dash?" 

Rainbow stepped forward with an arrogant look. "Indigo, the Shadowbolt captain." 

They both stared at each other with hardened glares, waiting for either one to make a move to the make the other one to compete. Only for them to break the ice with a surprisingly changed expressions on their faces. 

"Get ready to lose, Crash?" Indigo asked her with a cocky but playful tone. 

Rainbow let out a fake chuckle. "Not a chance, sucker." She added with a playful punch on Indigo's shoulder, in which she returned the gesture. "Oh, and Indigo, you do remember Sunset Shimmer? She's our new striker partner."

Indigo's eyes adverted to the redhead. "Yeah, I remember you," she told her. "You're that girl who saved us when Twilight turned into a demon, which it was our fault anyway. But you guys didn't say anything about Shimmer being in the soccer team."

"A lot has been happening followed from the Friendship Games," Sunset stated. "That mess in Camp in Everfree and everything else that followed after that."

"And the last magical encounter was in Equestria Land," Rainbow added. 

"Huh, you guys sure been busy fighting off magic monsters and such," Indigo said. 

We moved forward to Sugarcoat and Sour Sweet interacting with Fire Flare, Fleetfoot, and Spitfire. The fashion designer and Wondercolt athlete was meant with a bored gaze from Sugarcoat while Sour Sweet maintained a cheerful grin, although knowing her, her mood would change in an instant. 

"I still can't believe they still have a princess in the team," Sugarcoat said with a plain tone in her voice.

Fire Flare sighed and returned to her new hand mirror. "Oh, spare me your sentences, Sugarcoat," she replied without bothering to look back. "There's so much more a princess can do."

Spitfire stepped in Fire Flare's way with a stern look. "Hey, why don't you girls just back off? Sure, everything about Fire Flare was... sensitive." That earned her a glare from the fashion designer, but Spitfire continued, "but she's more than competent to be in this team. She's one hundred percent focused and skilled. And she knows the exact threads for our Away travels."

Sugarcoat just shrugged. "I'm just saying. Besides, if there's something bad happens that's directly to her, like, getting her looks ruin during the game, she'll freak out." 

Fire Flare slid her glance to the girl. "And that's what prompted me to be one hundred percent focus on the game, just like Spitfire just said. And I've been practicing some amazing moves that a princess never done in her life."

But clearing the air doesn't seem to ideal for any of them, especially Night Glider and Ember.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't the loser in the defensive position." The insulting tone from Night Glider made Ember steam up a little as the cocky Shadowbolt striker approached her with an arrogant grin.

Ember gave her a murderous glare as hard as she could muster. "Oh, give it a rest, Night Glider," she retorted. "I don't have time to deal with your bs."

Night let out a hostile chuckle. "Whatever, you missed out on a sky yesterday, we had a good flight with the clouds."

"Whatever," Ember rolled her eyes. "I'll grab my wingsuit and chase the clouds after the game."

"Too late," Night replied mockingly. "because after the game, there will be storm clouds according to the weather, and you can't go up there and go after what you missed, bruh-bruh."

Ember recoiled at the last part. "Wait, did you just double bruh me?!" She growled, her hostile eyes turns into fire of hate.

"I don't know," Night Glider's gaze turns into fiery eyes as she continues, "Maybe I should triple bruh you?! Bruh-bruh-bruh!" 

So the two hostile rivals threw insults each other using surf talk despite the topic being about wingsuit flying. 

"Bruh! Bruh! Bruh! Bruh! Bruh!" 

Ember's besties, Smolder and Strawberry Sunrise watched as they chew each other off with the word "bruh". As much as they were worried for their friend for her intense rivalry with Night Glider, they're also glad they don't have a personal rivalry apart from the Shadowbolts. 

"I'm just glad we don't have a rivalry like the both of them," Smolder said in relief.

Fleetfoot joined in. "You sure do," she agreed, pulling out her "pet". "Otherwise, you might need a pet cactus."

The two defenders turned to her with a baffled look. "What do you need a cactus for?" Strawberry asked her.

"Therapist's advice," Fleetfoot answered. 

Derpy and Gilda went up to Suri Polomare and Fleur with the walled-eyed girl holding a basket of muffins. 

"You girls want muffins?" She offered.

The two girls can't help but smiled and accepted the muffins, picking up one muffin each and enjoy the treat. Gilda pick one for herself and took one bite to examine the test. After chewing a little and then swallow shortly, she nodded in approval.

"And as always, this stuff is fresh as ever, dude," she told Derpy with a cheeky grin. 

Derpy's heart melt once again at the compliment from her friend. "Thanks again, Gilda. I really appreciated when someone loves my baking." She picked one and she and Gilda bumped with each other's muffin like how people cheers with glasses of wine.

And finally, Celestia and Cadence came back to the two groups with Cadence clearing her throat to get their attention. "Okay, girls, we double checked everything, head to your respective locker rooms and be ready in about thirty minutes." 

So the Shadowbolts turned back to the front entrance of the school, readying themselves for the game. The Wondercolts followed suit for the visitor's locker rooms. This game will be legendary for The Great and Magnificent Lightning Dust, since that's what she said during the trip.



Finally, it was now a big game between the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts, the girls in white stood tall in the opposite side, looking confident and determined in the same time. The Shadowbolts also looked a little arrogant knowing they can win again, as always. But unlike the last time with the Friendship Games when magic interfered, the Wondercolts had to win this or at least win a tie with them legitimately this time. No magic. 

The crowd of Crystal Prep and from Canterlot High are cheering for their respective teams, the Canterlot crowd followed Pinkie Pie's new cheering rehearsals to support their team to be back on their feet after their lost just a few days ago. The bright sky was barely taken over by the clouds, bringing them some wind that sets up the atmosphere for this game.

The whistle blew, here goes nothing. Rainbow and Sunset started the kickoff, with the redhead passing back to Lightning Dust as they pushed forward. She went past Indigo with her own dribbling style and sends the pass to Gilda on the left wing. The rough girl spin past Sugarcoat and Sunny Flare and sends the ball all the way to the Sunset. Sunset jumped over Sugarcoat's slide tackle and tapped the ball to her friend. Rainbow Dash only had Sour Sweet and Fleur to pass by but the pink haired was a quick tackler, so she tackled the ball away with ease. 

Now it's the Shadowbolts turn for the attack, Sugarcoat scoop the ball with her right foot and zig zag past Spitfire and Lightning Dust, she kicked the ball high over the other side of the pitch, Fire Flare gazed upward for the ball to bounce it away, but Sunny Flare beat her to it and bounced it to Indigo on the offensive attack with her strike partners.

Despite being the girl with sharp eyes, Strawberry Sunrise launched forward in attempt to steal the ball, but the captain simply tapped the ball between her legs, using the sudden nutmeg technique made Strawberry suddenly stopped and Indigo went past her and send it to Night Glider. The striker flashed a cocky look on her face, readying to embarrass Ember like last time. 

Ember gritted her teeth at her worst rival's cocky look, that memory of Night embarrassing her was still a sour spot. She charged forward, getting in her way for the ball. She eventually tackled the possession and quickly passed to Smolder. The purple haired kicked high towards Gilda's direction and thus charging the attack. 

Gilda avoided Sour Sweet's slide tackle and found herself in a dead end, with the strikers marked the defense, Gilda glance over to Derpy who got immediately marked by Sunny Flare, and Indigo marking Spitfire. But unbeknown to them, Fire Flare sprint through the crowded midfield. Flashing a smirk, Gilda kicked high to the fashion designer/athlete. 

Fire Flare went past Sugarcoat with her combined ballerina and dribbling skills, leaving the girl in the dust. She had her eyes on the marked strikers, but she knew one of them will break once she cross the ball to them. She crossed the ball towards the danger zone. 

Fleur leaped high and attempts to bounced the ball away wit her head, but she was split seconds late, readying for the cross, Rainbow jumped and leaned back in a parallel to the ground, performing the bicycle kick, sending the ball to the upper left corner and Frosty Orange couldn't reach that. That's one point for the away side.

"And that's one point for the Wondercolts!" Lyra cheered over the microphone with Bon Bon, they're both sitting in the commentary booth, obviously cheering for their team. 

"And it's all thanks to Fire Flare's impressive cross!" Bon Bon added with a delight. "CHS' Fashion Club President and Wondercolt athlete showed everyone why she's worthy to be in the team!"

Her teammates gathered around her as they celebrate, the redhead just blushed in a good way. "Oh, it's nothing darlings. It's just team effort."

"Fire Flare! I love you darling!" Rarity shouted over the cheers from her friends and classmates. 

And by the last one minute of the first half, The Shadowbolts eventually get the upper hand. Lemon, Indigo, and Night pushed up into the defense. Derpy tried to scoop the ball from the captain with her foot but Indigo jumped over with ease. 

Ember and her besties prepared for another incoming attack from their sworn rivals. But what they didn't expect was their new passing technique. Night Glider head first to Ember's direction but taps the ball to Indigo, and she turned right to Smolder, only to suddenly turn to the opposite direction, making the defender baffled by her sudden turn. She gave the ball to Lemon Zest, the green haired girl quickly tapped the ball before Strawberry steals it back. 

Night gets it back and shoots with an almighty cannon-like strength. Fleetfoot failed to reach for the save and thus earning them one-nil as the first half ends. 

Second Half


It was already eighty-seven minutes left, and the score was still tied, one-one. Both teams are battling each other out, and playing their best out there, giving each other all they got. 

The ball soured high to Indigo's direction, she received the high pass and dribbled through Ember and Smolder. And sprinted towards Fleetfoot for another goal. Eager and desperate to break the deadlock, the captain shoot towards the goal net, but Fleetfoot dove right in time and caught it with her hands. Relief that the Shadowbolts never get the lead. With only few minutes left, she waste no time and threw the ball towards the midfield. 

Spitfire catches the ball, and weaves through Lemon and Sugarcoat. She sends the pass to Derpy in the opposite wing. The enemy midfielders are closing in on her to increase their chances for the ball, in panic, Derpy kicks high to Gilda. 

The tough girl saw the strikers in her view, Dash and Lightning are marking both Fleur and Sunny Flare, leaving Sunset open for the goal. So Gilda dodges Sour Sweet's slide tackle and kicks it high enough for Sunset. Now it's once again, Sunset vs Frosty Orange. The keeper hardened her gaze for the ball, studying where she would shoot. 

Fortunately for Sunset, since the goalie was too focused on where she would shoot, Sunset began to shoot the ball, only to tap it with a soft kick, deluding Frosty to dive right, much to everyone's surprise, Derpy sprinted as fast she can and takes the shot herself. Basically, Sunset mentally planned to pull off the dummy technique and expect one of her strike partners to take the shot, she didn't expect Derpy to do it. 

"And the Wondercolts won 1-2!" Lyra cheered, everyone in CHS also cheered now that their team rebuilds their winning streak from scratch.

The Wondercolts gathered around Derpy, cheering and complimenting her for her last second shot. Sunset thought about taking the shot to herself but then she thought "Eh, the dummy option could work". So she did. 

And from this day, the Wondercolts will have to rebuild their winning streak, again.