//------------------------------// // Chapter 34 Drama n stuff // Story: The Slow Mo Stallions // by gamershot //------------------------------// As soon as Gavin had yelled the famous words, Applejack and Dan kicked out their legs to get the ball, not realizing the Gavin had already taken it. The pitch was an odd shape, it was quite clear that he'd never played on a triangular one before. He kept his distance from the other two, passing the ball from hoof to hoof skillfully. Applejack ran forward, not having a strategy, leaving an opening for Gavin. He tapped the ball forward with his right fore-hoof and ran after it and kicking again with his left. Dan galloped over to him, making Gavin look around for a path to the goal. As Dan approached, he took a step forward but kicked the ball to the side. Dan lunged to where Gavin stepped, as the sneaky pegasus darted off with the ball. He kicked the ball into the air and whollopped it with his hind leg, sending it hurdling straight into the net. "HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES!" yelled Gavin triumphantly, doing a front flip (for style) in celebration. "Nice one Gav." congratulated Dan grumpily. Applejack trotted over, her face wide with surprise. "Woah there Gav, you got some fancy hoof skills goin' on." she chuckled happily. "Cheers AJ." he laughed, "Alright back to the centre". Gavin trotted over to the ball and effortlessly dribbled it into the middle of the pitch. "I'd just like you to know, Gavin, that I was going easy because it was AJ's first try." mumbled Dan as he walked in. "Of course you were!" laughed Gavin sarcastically, “That's why you were so rubbish" "A'right you two, Ah think Ah got it." said Applejack as she fixed her hat back into place. "You can have kick off then." suggested the chestnut unicorn, passing her the ball. The farm pony stopped it with her hoof, before passing it between her forelegs. "Are ya ready?" she asked playfully. "Let's go!" yelled Gavin in response. The earth pony nodded and dribbled the ball backwards, taking both stallions by surprise. She tried to take it round the side over to Gavin's goal, but the pegasus was already there ready to tackle. The stallions knew what they were doing, they held their positions and slowly stepped forward, pressing Applejack back. She on the other hand, was desperately thinking of a way to get around them. As Gavin and Dan got closer, she realized she only had one chance. "Ah hope this works..." she grunted, hoof pecking the ball into the air, and headed it as hard as she could. The two defenders lifted their heads to watch the ball whilst Applejack galloped between them. As it hit the ground she swung her leg back, striking it on the bounce. It flew across Dan's goal quickly, and stopped to bounce in the mud. "That's how it's done fellas." giggled Applejack trotting over to the ball with a spring in her step. "Ok, one-one-nil." grunted Dan, shaking his head, "Game on". = = = Big Mac looked through the window of the farm house, the glass dirty and smudged. It was hard to see through, but what he saw was clear. His little sister was out laughing and playing with two random stallions that she hardly knew out on his field. Big Mac didn't like that. He didn't trust those two. Their strange cutie marks and funny accents. They wanted trouble. The red stallion scrunched up his face and pushed the windows open angrily with his hoof. He could see what was going on more clearly now, and it made his blood boil. He wanted Applejack to be safe and happy, but not with two suspicious stallions he didn't know. He noticed that she looked bruised, her coat black and scorched. His eyes narrowed to slits. They had no right to be with his sister, now she looked as if they'd hurt her. He then saw Gavin run up to her and try to kick her, she pulled away but then Dan ran up too. He swung his hoof at her forelegs, but she managed to dodge him. Gavin however ran around the back of her, kicking her back legs in causing her to fall to the ground. Dan then dived on to Gavin, Applejack following suit. Or at least that's what he thought he saw. In reality they'd just been carrying on with their football match, Gavin kicked the ball from beneath her back hoof as Dan distracted her, catching her by surprise so she fell on her rump. Gavin tried to run off with the ball to score but Dan jumped on his back screaming "PILE ON!" Applejack, of course, joined in. That's not what Big Mac saw. He'd always been protective over his sister; she meant the world to him. He loved her so much and he didn't want anyone to hurt her. So, her trotted through the door and set off towards the field. Marching angrily; his hoof steps harsh and tense. It wasn't in his nature to be angry, he didn't like it one bit. He had no idea what he was going to do when he got there, but he was focused on it still. He just wanted the best for Applejack, no matter what the costs. He arrived at the edge of the field, the three ponies rolling around with laughter; two stallions and a mare; one unicorn, one pegasus and his sister. "Applejack!" he shouted. She snapped her head up to look at her brother, Gavin and Dan doing the same. "Why howdy Big Mac, whut's up?" she asked happily, wiping a tear from her eye. Big Macintosh stomped over to her, his hooves poking holes into the soft ground. "You're coming inside with me now Applejack, we need to talk." grunted the stallion as he reached the three. Applejack stood up and looked up into his eyes, her face looking as innocent and sweet as ever; Gavin and Dan looking as confused as ever. "Big Mac, is there somethin' wrong?"