Alber
t Wesker and Hoofball, Part II
Author's Note: Why yes, I am still alive. Apologies for the massive delay, I have been freaking out about third year and really couldn't justify skipping work to write this story. However, despite the 2 assignments and 2 exams I have coming up, I have been feeling guilty about neglecting you lovely people and so I present to you a shining, glimmering (short) new chapter, incandescent in its glory and splendour! Seriously though, thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy it. :D Expertly beta’d by REV6Pilot.
Wesker was hardly skipping with glee as he followed Rainbow Dash back to the hoofball pitch. Meeting the small foal known as Russet had brought back several unpleasant memories for the former human, and reflecting on his past woes and sins was not something that he made a habit of, for good reason: his constant goal was to drive forward relentlessly and leave his regrets and ill recollections far, far behind him, and reminiscing always threw him off the delicate mindset such an objective required.
That's kind of what happens when you talk to more than one person a day, Al. You remember stuff and feel things.
Fair enough: after he faked his death, he was lucky if, for weeks on end, he spoke in person to anyone other than his guard. Busying himself with accumulating viral samples and establishing a concrete base of power took precedence over worrying about who he had killed and what he had missed out on.
Did drive you a smidge insane, though…
Only a tiny amount.
"Okay, Al, get your head back in the game! I know you can do this!"
Wesker let out an exasperated sigh and trudged back towards his mark, while Rainbow Dash stood guard in front of the goalposts. "I live in hope, Miss Dash."
The former scientist took two steps back and let out a protracted breath, looking disdainfully at the ball that had been placed in front of him.
"Woohoo! Go Albert Wesker!"
Wondering briefly where Derpy had managed to obtain a novelty oversized foam finger from, the stallion bucked the inflated sphere with a great deal of force and watched as it smashed into the metal framework of the post, rebounding past him and sailing across the pitch. It came neatly to a rest into the corner of the goal on the opposite side of the field.
"Wow… Just, wow."
Frankly, Wesker was surprised that Rainbow had even managed to blurt out those three words. Her jaw had dropped in perplexed horror and her right eyelid was twitching dangerously, but he was never one to take the conciliatory approach. "Do I get extra points for that?"
A glare from the cerulean pegasus confirmed that what he had just accomplished was not encouraged in the sport of hoofball. "More's the pity."
Rainbow ran a frustrated hoof across her face. "Okay. Maybe you're trying to kick the ball too hard, so just focus on accuracy next time, okay? Make sure the ball goes on target. Now go get the ball."
The stallion complied, trudging across the pitch to retrieve the rebellious object. Whilst he resented being given orders by a simpleton, he could understand her frustrations. Here was an opportunity to reverse over a decade of humiliation and it turned out her potential star was so bad at hoofball that having him on the team would probably increase her woes.
Eventually, the wantaway sphere was rounded up and placed carefully and deliberately in front of the goal.
Wesker prepared himself for another shot. "Remember, Al: accuracy. Don't worry about how hard you're kicking it; focus on getting in between the posts and we'll go from there."
The stallion ignored the patronising tone of Rainbow Dash and the attempt by Derpy to start a one-mare Mexican wave, but took the words into account. A few careful steps back were taken and a slow breath escaped his lips as he prepared to finally show what he was made of.
Wesker went to strike the inflated sphere cautiously, but made a grave miscalculation. His standing leg landed messily in a pile of wet mud, causing him to slip in a very dramatic style, just as the other front hoof made contact with the ball. The result was the ex-researcher rising vertically with no control whatsoever over his limbs and the ball travelling a few feet to his left. Rainbow's frustrated cry of anguish was relegated in importance as Wesker prepared himself for the inevitable call of gravity.
THUMP!
Ouch.
Wesker remained lying down in the dirt, partly because he was totally and utterly fed up with having to partake in this ridiculous exercise, and partly because he didn't want to see the picture of apocalyptic fury that awaited him should he raise his head.
"Are you okay, Albert Wesker?" The uneven voice of Ditzy Doo greeted him.
He decided to do the polite thing and reply, "I just don't know what went wrong."
Derpy giggled, "I do! You fell over. I fall over all the time."
The weary blond slowly raised his head from the prone position he found himself in on the ground, and fixed the grey pegasus with a tired look, "Ah. I see, Miss Doo. I'll be sure to avoid doing that again in the future."
Accepting the offer of a hoof up from the dim but eminently fascinating pegasus, Wesker risked a glance in Rainbow Dash's direction. The multi-coloured pegasus was leaning her face against a goalpost, with her front hooves shadowing the visage of her head as she scrunched her eyes up and pretended desperately that she wasn't there.
"Miss Dash?"
She didn't shift from her defeated position. "What?"
"I'm no expert on this matter, but I am fairly sure that I am not the solution to your sporting woes."
Rainbow let out a long, world-weary sigh. "One more try. Maybe you'll suddenly become the best hoofball player in Equestrian history…"
Hopeful much?
Indeed, it was a long shot, but at least she was still hoping.
Wesker set the ball down for a final time and licked his lips nervously as Rainbow attempted to scrounge up what little determination she had left. This was his moment. He slowly and confidently strode towards the ball and planted his hoof perfectly on the underside of the ball, focusing on accuracy over power… and watched as the ball slowly, almost mockingly, trickled towards the middle of the goal and bumped gently in the hooves of the waiting, flabbergasted Rainbow Dash.
"Really?" The cerulean mare wasn't talking to Wesker now, she was asking the universe at large. "Are you serious? This is my chance to beat Canterlot?"
Letting out an infuriated shriek, she smashed the ball with all her might, unwittingly sending it at the speed of a rocket-propelled grenade straight back towards the equally irritated and wholly unprepared stallion.
An unprepared stallion whom effortlessly snatched the ball out of the air.
Blinking in pure surprise, Wesker slowly set his unresisting hooves apart and allowed the ball to drop from them, meeting the gaze of the equally astonished Rainbow Dash as he did so. Words failed the athlete; she merely pointed towards him with a hoof before pointing towards the goal. Wesker understood the mute gesture and took up position between the posts.
Rainbow Dash's first strike was powerful, but caught with ease by the former human. The second was met in similar fashion, and a small smile began to form on both ponies' faces. And Derpy's as well, though she didn't really understand what was going on. She just liked smiling.
The next few hours of hoofball, now with both ponies fully concentrated and Rainbow managing to score only a handful of goals against an inspired Wesker, who was seemingly everywhere at once, were conducted in near total silence. Finally, a beaming Rainbow shouted, "This is so awesome! Alright, one last shot and we'll call it a day."
Frankly, Wesker was amazed that the competitive instincts within the athletic mare hadn't been stoked by his goalkeeping skills. He was genuinely happy that he could actually contribute to the team in their battle against Canterlot.
A rocket of a shot greeted the contented stallion, dispelling any illusion of Rainbow being happy at the manner in which Wesker had kept her shots at bay. Still, he had saved the best until last…
Flexing his legs, Wesker sprung off his hooves into a full length dive, getting just enough contact onto the ball with a flailing hoof to push it onto the frame of the goal. "Wow, Al! Canterlot doesn't stand a chance of getting past you!"
Wesker smirked and picked up his glasses up off the ground after they had flown off during his acrobatics. "I suppose you always knew that I would have some skill at hoofball, and your breakdown was part of a carefully crafted plan to reveal it?"
Rainbow grinned sheepishly and rubbed an awkward hoof along the nape of her neck. "Kinda?"
Derpy appeared over Wesker's shoulder. "It was fun watching you guys play, but it's getting late so I'm going home. Bye bye, and it was nice to meet you, Albert Wesker!"
Both Rainbow and Wesker wished the scatter-brained pony farewell and looked around at the darkness that had fallen around Ponyville. The pair shared a glance that revealed they were both thinking the same thing; it was the mare who voiced it first. "Wow, it's pretty late, huh? We must've been here for a while…"
The male of the duo pushed his shades back to the bridge of his nose. "Indeed. At least we both know that Ponyville has a chance this year, defense-wise."
"You said it, Al!" Rainbow chuckled and wiped a hoof along her perspiring forehead. "I've gotta go back off to Cloudsdale. I'll see you tomorrow."
Wesker raised a hoof in valediction as the rambunctious mare soared into the air and left him alone… in pitch darkness, on the other side of town from where he was living. Wesker sighed and started walking. It was going to be a long journey home.