//------------------------------// // Book III Chapter I “The Bomb Incident” // Story: Guardians of the beyond VOL I // by Red24 //------------------------------// Eclipse gulped as they all went outside to the sports field for today’s teamwork lesson. It was Buckball. The weather was becoming warmer now and the sport was in season.  “So umm... I’m not really a sports pony or a pony... but I don’t, know maybe I should…” he tried to get out of it. Asking Winter but was interrupted by Summer who just came over.  “Now Eclipse! You can’t be thinking of not trying buckball!! It's one of the greatest team sports in all of Equestria!!” Summer exaggerated, doing loops in the air. “Besides, you don’t have to do much as a unicorn. Just catch the ball with the bucket!” Winter encouraged him. However, that only made him more worried. "Catching balls…." He thought with a shiver going down his spine, remembering a time when all he had to do was catch a bombe…..it didn’t end well...  “For once I agree with her, don’t stallions typically play this as kids with their dads anyway?” Summer asks Eclipse, who looks more nervous.  “Umm, maybe not this one hehe we did….other things,” Eclipse explains. Most things he did with his dad were pulling pranks and researching other dimensions, but couldn't tell Summer! Summer shrugged, “well, either way, let’s go see what team we’ll be on!” she exclaimed flying ahead. They all grouped up around coach Smolder. Who took over fully as the sports and loyalty teacher.  They all drew straws from three different cups depending on what role you were playing; offense, defense, or goalie. Teams of three of course. Each straw had a different colored end so whoever you match with, you’d be a team. Everyone put on colored jerseys for their respective teams, as Smolder picked which teams would face off. Winter became a team with Eclipse, and a spotted pinto earth pony named Mirty. Summer ended up on the opposite team with a Yak named Jigme and a Changeling named Amberwing.  “Good luck! Though Winter, I was the champion back in flight camp so don’t expect me to go easy on you,” “I’m just as good as you!!! Dad taught me a lot! Used to play for his team in his school!!” Winter called back. “Okay, that’s nice but did you try for the young filly’s league? Did you go to the full filly’s playoff? Not bragging but I won like three years in a row,” Summer said proudly and posed, "I would've kept going if I didn't get older," Her team got excited at this. A champion on their team! “We’ll my father was the coach the whole season!! I didn’t need to join. I helped him drill new training techniques for the fillies.” Winter retorted. Summer didn’t look impressed, “so? Because your father was a coach?..That’s pretty sad, you know you actually got to put in the work blue girl, to become the best! Not just have talented relatives,” she smirked.  “Oh, I have talent at buckball!!” Winter started fuming as the two Pegasi stood in the center. “Pff, Oh really? Then why don’t you have a cutie mark?” She smirks getting right into Winter’s face, every other pony was just watching as this got intense.  Some gasped at Summer’s retort, and others snickered thinking it was funny.  “Take. That. Back.” Winter gritted her teeth glaring at the prissy champion. “Should I?...” Eclipse asked, he was worried, not wanting things to escalate into a fight.  “No, let them fight it out,” said Estelle who was watching by the sidelines  “Take what back? THE TRUTH!?” Summer just laughed, “like no offense, but if you were so good you would have found your talent by now,”  Snarling, Winter flew over, grabbing a ball and spinning before kicking it as it flew straight into a nearby basket. “Game on, Summer!!!” “Well, at least your gonna be a good sport…..when you lose!” Summer stuck her tongue out and got ready! There was a fire in her eyes of determination, "there is no way I'm letting this spoiled, lazy, underachiever win!" She thought confidently.  Eclipse however was terrified. Seeing how fast Winter kicked the ball, he could only imagine the impact if he failed to catch it.  “You’ll be fine,” Estelle tried to assure him, even though she knew it would end badly for him seeing how he was shaking. "I just hope nothing like the bombe happens again..." he thinks to himself. Nullah was in the bleachers holding a sign in his tail that had written on it in crayon, ‘go team Winter!', wanting to support his favorite treat supplier and friend. Though the writing was a bit messy and hard to read, it was still adorable though!!  The teams took their places, Mirty facing off with Jigme for the kickoff, Summer and Winter defending the floating baskets held by Amberwing and Eclipse.  "Don't worry so much Eclipse, I'll be sure the ball doesn't hit you or go in the goal," Summer assured him.  Winter and summer glared at each other before starting the game. It went back and forth before Summer's team made the first goal. Some creatures had gathered to watch and cheered on Summer who was incredibly precise, Eclipse found it hard to not just rely on his chaos magic but he tried his best. Winter glared and served the next game. It was intense before Winter’s team made a shot for the goal. The ball flew to Eclipse! "Oh no!!!" he thought to himself, then remembered to not think about the incident! Though it was really close to the incident... He braced himself as the ball came and he barely caught it in the basket. Winter and Mirty cheering. Nullah smiled waving the sign higher! Summer being very competitive was annoyed she had missed the shot!  “Beginner’s luck,” she exclaimed in a huff, then the next Round began! They shot point after point but it came to the final round both tied. The next point wins. Summer with her team huddled together. “Okay, so we have to go hard, no mercy! Blue girl is actually pretty good, Mirty is a strong kicker, and Eclipse is too paranoid to lose so we need to really act as if our lives depend on it!”  Meanwhile, Nullah was giving bottles of water to team Winter.  “Thanks, Nullah. Eclipse you’re doing great!! And Mirty’s bucks are top-notch! We just have to keep this up, play defensive, and wear them out.” Winter instructs the team. As they got back into possessions Discord was eating popcorn and cheering! “You can do it son!” he yelled.   “Thanks da….” Eclipse then stopped in his tracks wide-eyed “what are you doing here?? Da….I mean Discord?...”    “Why ask such a thing? I’m just here to cheer you on!” He smiles  “No, I mean there?” Eclipse pointed to another Discord on the other side with a team Summer tee shirt.  “Oh, well like the fans I’m divided on which character I morally agree with, so I’m going for both sides!” Eclipse now felt more pressure as he got into position. “Just make sure this doesn’t end up like THE BOMB Incident!” Discord yells and Eclipse started shaking.  “NOT HELPING!!!”  He faced forward as the whistle blew and they started the final round. The ball went back and forth. Until Mirty made a winning shot for the basket. But Eclipse got PTSD as it looked like the bomb so he used the bucket as a shield by flipping it around. It bounced away and the crowd groaned. Summer got excited, they were gonna ace this!! Winter saw things going badly and got worried as she could not stand the idea of losing to Summer and giving her more excuses to brag. Winter called a time-out and flew over to check on her friend, “you okay?” She asked, lifting the bucket. “Sorry, it’s just I’ve done crazy things in the past and well... it’s too long to get into... I just don’t like round objects coming straight for me...” he admits  “Ahh... so what if Eclipse is nervous? She just doesn’t want us to win, honestly, Winter's a bit of a sore loser,” Summer whispers to her team. “Is this about the…bomb incident?” She whispers the last part. Having heard what Discord said. “Hey, if you don’t feel like playing anymore that’s fine,” “It is but I….I just don’t want to let you down...” he looks down a little ashamed at his inability to continue right now.  “Hey, you did great!! You carried us all the way here and I’m proud of you for that!” She praised him with a smile. “Thanks for the support, and understanding,” he smiles, loving how considerate she was. “So you need another player?” Summer shouts, “or are you quitting like always bluey?” Winter glared in Summer's direction then turns to Eclipse again, “Hey, it’s up to you, just ignore her,” Not wanting to pressure him to keep going. After some consideration, Eclipse decided he didn't want to play anymore. Not wanting to relive the trauma all over again of the bomb incident. Winter hugged him in reassurance, not wanting him to feel bad for stopping. Summer then flies down to Winter, “well I respect you not wanting to force a pony but you and I still got to win or lose!…so I suggest we do something else just you and me,” “You’re not suggesting cloud ball are you?” She raised a brow. Flying up to her. “It’s clear we are evenly matched after seeing your flying skills, maybe a race?” “Fine! All around Ponyville, and back.” Winter suggests determined. “Okay! You're on!” Summer beamed confidently.  The others were a little worried, especially how eager the two were, it seemed they were a bit too adrenaline filled. Their teams sat aside to let the others play. Winter sat with Eclipse with a wing over him while Nullah gave him chocolate to praise him for his hard work. They would have it after school once the course was mapped out. Everyone heard about the upcoming race and wanted to be there to see it. The two mares locked eyes, glaring at each other, sweat falling down their faces. Every other creature was in silence, this was big! The sun was reaching high noon!  Nullah was wearing a cowboy hat with straw. In His mouth he had a recorder he used to play the theme from, 'The good the bad and the ugly.' summer and winter were ready.  Estelle used her magic to show them a detailed drawing of Ponyville and the marked path. Eclipse stepped up to explain. "Right! You two obviously start here at the school. You'll head to Sugarcube Corner, to the old school house, around the red barn at Sweet Apple Acres, back into town towards Rarity's boutique, around the town hall, and back here!" Eclipse says, using a baton to point at every location on the map.  The two nodded in understanding, wings were at the ready all the school came to see this, the rivalry was well known at this point.  When they were signaled to go they took off, pretty close as they flew to the village. Summer was not the fastest pony in the world but she was incredibly precise! Winter though was pretty good, especially after her training in the past couple of weeks. Every pony stepped aside as they zoomed on. They sped through the town through the forest towards the old schoolhouse. Summer shoved Winter aside laughing, making her almost fly into the bell!! But Winter swerved just in time.  "Cheater!!!" Winter called after her and quickly caught up. "Not my fault you're a terrible flyer!!" Summer called back while speeding ahead. The two sped on and on to Sweet Apple achers which was the turning point to head back. They were both adrenaline filled, the two being so opposite but similar. "Let's see how you like it!" Winter says, flying up to catch a strong wind before diving down and passing Summer!! Who screamed in surprise and trailed back as Winter took the lead! "Hey! That's not fair!!" Summer yelled wiping off the rotten apple. "It's not my fault you can't fly properly!!" Winter laughs turning around the barn back to town. Summer quickly caught up, cutting ahead once they got to The Carousel.  Summer was finally taking the lead as she went through the town giving Winter a wink as she passed by. “Oh no, you don’t!!” She yelled to catch her, right next to Summer after rounding about the town hall. This was the final stretch back to school!  They started shoving and pushing each other when they bumped into one another. It didn’t stop. As they flew faster to the finish line, however, they only flew inside the palace and through the halls!! All the other creatures had been waiting with bated breath but when they saw the two approach the speed and messiness were shocking.  “You are cheating! Shame on you!” Summer exclaimed as she pushed back. "You're the one shoving!!" Winter exclaimed. The two fought more and more but still flying, they were so distracted that they flew away from the finish line into the palace! Not even paying attention to who was winning.  Inside, Luster Dawn and Sunburst were organizing the library after getting a new shipment of books and other records. "Thanks for the help Dawn! With this done, we're making things easier for Starlight!" Sunburst says as he put away some scrolls. "Not at all! I'm glad I could helpd, now we have more books now! So much more to learn and do!" Luster Dawn cheered as she put away the last of the books, "and...done! That's the last of the books," She beamed admiring their hard work, but then heard voices.  "Do you hear that?" Luster Dawn asks. "It sounds like..." Sunburst reached up to rub his ear, "Fighting?..." "STOP SHOVING!" "YOU STOP SHOVING!!" Down the hall, Winter and Summer we speeding right down, "LOOK OUT!!" Luster Dawn shouted but they didn't hear, both her and Sunburst jumped out of the way.  Without looking, they slammed right into one of the book shelfs, the two falling straight to the ground! Summer had almost fallen on top of Winter, which she blushes and quickly distanced herself. "What were you two thinking?! Flying so recklessly!!!" Sunburst snapped at them "Sorry..." both mares apologized, when a HUGE book fell right on Summer! And another on Winter! They were the two volumes of the school rules that had expanded since Starlight took over in order to include other creatures.  Sunburst and Luster Dawn flinched watching the books fall on the two now uncauntious mares. "At least it's just those two..." Sunburst sighs relived, adjusting his glasses. Just then the whole room started to shake.  The gigantic impact caused all the walls to shake, and all the books come tumbling down, creating a huge ocean of books! Sunburst and Luster Dawn groaning under the pile, they had to start all over!  "Why did I say that..."