//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Let the Games Begin // Story: The Wonderbolts Cup // by Albi //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Let the Games Begin The train ride to Canterlot was a short one. The feelings of excitement and chatter of how many other teams would be participating was enough to occupy the Storm Riders’ attention until the train pulled up into Canterlot Station. Today was the registration day for all teams wanting to participate in The Wonderbolts Cup, and the official start of the tournament. The train came to a stop with a loud screech and a release of steam. Rainbow Dash led her team off the platform and through the city streets, heading for the castle courtyard where the registration was taking place. Her heart was racing a mile a minute; she was so excited. The streets were decorated with winged lightning bolt shaped balloons and blue and yellow streamers that were strung from the lampposts. Groups of pegasi zipped through the air above, chatting amicably about the upcoming games. Rainbow took a deep breath, smelling the competition, feeling her adrenaline building. She couldn’t wait to play against her first her opponents; to lead her team to sweet victory; to hear fans scream her name! Competition was what she lived for. The nine ponies reached the castle courtyard, where most of the competing teams had already gathered. Near the castle door was a large table where several clerks were seated, signing teams in onto the official roster. Players were scattered about, engaged in friendly conversations or, heated arguments over which team was the best. “Alright gang, cough up,” Rainbow said, facing her team. “Eleven bits each.” They had agreed to split the one-hundred bit entrance fee. Since there were nine of them, Rainbow had offered to pay the extra bit. Money was the last thing on her mind; she just wanted the fame and recognition, and a chance to play agisnt her heroes.   Each of them handed Rainbow their money, and she tossed the coins into a small bag. “I’ll go sign us in and see if there’s a schedule yet,” Rainbow said after she had collected all of their fees. She broke away from the group and pushed her way through the crowd until she reached the check-in table. “How can I help you?” the clerk asked brightly. “I’d like to check in the skyball team for Ponyville.” Rainbow tossed the bag of bits onto the table. “I’m the team captain, Rainbow Dash!” “Very well, Miss Dash, I’ll just need you to fill out a few forms and get signatures from all your players.” He reached under the desk and pulled out a rather tall stack of papers. “A few forms?” Rainbow said in disbelief. The clerk waved his hoof dismissively. “Just rules, regulations, and a few formalities.” Rainbow groaned, but took the pen he handed her. She wished Twilight was there to read the papers instead. Rainbow scanned through the first few pages until she grew bored. She then proceeded to skim through the rest, stopping only to sign on the dotted lines. After what seemed like forever to her, she reached the end and tossed the pen onto the table. “Finished,” she gasped, like she had just done one of her workouts. The clerk took the stack of papers and read quickly flicked through them, making sure Rainbow had signed in all of the correct places. “Very good. I just need you to fill out one more form—” “Auugh!” “Don’t worry, it’s really small. All it says is that we, as the cup committee, cannot be sued for any injuries that may occur during or in between playtimes.” He pulled out a very slim document. “I just need everyone on your team to sign it.” Rainbow sighed in relief at the sight of the small form, taking it and the pen with her, as she headed back to her team. “Alright guys, just sign this and we’ll be set!” “What is it?” Flitter asked, taking the paper with a wing. “It just says we can’t get mad if one of us gets hurt or something.” Rainbow said nonchalant. “We aren’t going to get hurt right?” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow shrugged. “Maybe a few bumps and bruises, but relax, Fluttershy. Hurting the goalie is a penalty anyway. Besides, it’s not like anypony here is out for blood.” “Out of the way dweebs! Winning team coming through!” a sharp voice cut through the air. Rainbow Dash paused at hearing it. It was voice she hadn’t heard in a long time, but it sounded painfully familiar. She’d know it anywhere. Whirling around, she found herself snout-to-beak with the last creature she thought she’d meet there. “Rainbow Dash, I knew I’d find you here,” Gilda growled. “Of course I’d be here,” Rainbow said, looking at the griffin with surprise. “The question is, why are you here?” Gilda rolled her eyes. “Entering this lame tournament, what else? I’m not going to let an easy opportunity to score a million bits pass by.” Rainbow gaped at her. “You’re entering the cup? How? You aren’t even a pony, what town would you play for anyway?” She stretched her neck over Gilda’s shoulder. “You don’t even have a team!” Gilda raised her talons. “In order: yes; by signing up, duh, the form didn’t say you had to only be a pegasus to play; we’re playing for the griffin embassy, and,” she pointed to the afternoon sky. “My girls should be here any second.” As if on cue, eight more griffins came swooping out of the sky, landing behind Gilda, who was looking quite smug. Fluttershy made a loud whimper and hid behind the biggest object she could find, which happened to be Snowflake. Gilda eyed her and said to Rainbow, “Still hanging out with dweebs, I see. Too bad. We could have been on the same team and split the prize money, but now I’m just gonna pulverize you and your wimpy team!” She and her fellow griffins began to flex their claws in a menacing manner. “Oh yeah?” Rainbow could feel her blood boiling. No one insulted her friends! “We’ll see about that! Me and my team are going to fly circles around you, right guys?” Theirs was a half hearted cheer, carried only by Snowflake’s cry of, “YEAH!” Gilda snickered. “That’s cute. Wittle baby Dashie thinks she can beat me at skyball. Who was it that won almost every time we played one-on-one?” Rainbow felt her cheeks burn. “That was years ago! I bet I could beat you right here, right now!” Rainbow knew that it was dumb challenge, there was hardly any way her team could beat Gilda’s with only two weeks of practice. But there was no way she was going to let Gilda make a fool of her. “I’d love to kick your flank, Dash, but I want a bigger audience around to seem me totally humiliate you.” Gilda grinned savagely. “Do me a favor and try not to lose to anyone else before that, okay?” She ruffled Rainbow’s mane, and quickly recoiled when Rainbow tried to snap at her. She shrugged it off and laughed, “Later dweebs!” Rainbow fumed as she watched her former friend walk off towards the registration table. She couldn’t believe she had once enjoyed hanging out with Gilda. Of course, perhaps Gilda was just being extra spiteful on purpose, because of Rainbow’s decision to not hang out with her anymore. Regardless, Rainbow swore she wouldn’t let Gilda show her up. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Cloudchaser and several other of her teammates looking nervous. “Rainbow, I’m starting to have second thoughts about this. I wanted to play, not get clawed to death,” Cloudchaser said. “Relax guys. We can still win this! Gilda may look scary, but you can’t let her intimidate you. Besides, intentionally hurting other players is still against the rules.” Rainbow gave them all her best confident smile. “If we train hard, we can beat anyone, including Gilda and her team!” She put her hoof out. “Come on, let;s show her, and everybody else, what ponies from Ponyville are made of!” One by one they put their hooves on top hers, Fluttershy being the last, still visibly shaken by the idea of having to play against a team of griffins. Together, they threw their hooves in the air and shouted, “Storm Riders!” ****** A few signed papers later, the Storm Riders were officially apart of the roster for the Wonderbolts Cup, along with Gilda’s team, the Black Talons. All of the teams now stood in the courtyard waiting for Celestia to start the tournament. From the front balcony over the main door, Princess Celestia stepped out from behind a red velvet curtain to the sound of glorious fanfare. She was flanked by Luna on her right and Spitfire, The Wonderbolts captain on her left. The crowd screamed at the sight of their princesses and their idol. When the cheers died away, Celestia spoke. “Greetings everypony, and every griffin as the case now stands. I welcome you to Equestria’s first Wonderbolts Cup!” She waited for the crowd to finish cheering again before continuing. “First let us remember the real reason why we are having this event: to raise money for the city of Baltimare and all those affected by the horrible hurricane that has displaced many civilians.”   Celestia smiled. “Truth be told, my sister and I had been planning to hold this event for a while. What better way to start a new tradition than to help a city, and subsequently all of Equestria back to its hooves with it?” There was round of applause, and Rainbow whispered to Fluttershy, “A tradition? As in, this could become annual? Ah man, that would be so awesome!” “Now, changing topics a little, let me remind you what each of you and your teams are playing for.” Celestia lifted a large trophy from behind her with her magic. It was golden, shimmering brightly in the sun. Sapphires coated the base, and at the top, three pegasi circled around a diamond that represented the skyball. “This is the cup the winning team shall receive along with the prize money of one million bits, and a final match with The Wonderbolts themselves.” She gestured to Spitfire who held up a hoof and waved to her admiring fans. “Now, to make things interesting,” Celestia continued, “The tournament will be held throughout the duration of the summer. Every able city has agreed to help host, so teams will play against one another in a different stadium each match. Every team will have three preliminary matches before the knockout rounds begin to get a feel for the competition.” She looked down at her little ponies, giving them her benevolent smile. “More than anything, I hope all of you enjoy yourselves and remember good sportsmanship. Winning isn’t everything.” Her face went stern for a moment. “Not that I need to tell you, but cheating and foul play will not be tolerated.” Rainbow eyed Gilda through the crowd. She was muttering to some of her teammates, hardly listening to a word Celestia was saying and quietly snickering. Rainbow made a face of contempt. I’m gonna wipe that grin right off of that smug beak of yours. “Well, I believe that covers all the finer details. Vanhoover has agreed to host the first match. and it will be held in five days time. Tomorrow I will announce the first two teams playing after I review all the entries. Now, without further ado...” Celestia lit up her horn and bright fireworks bursted across the sky. “Let The Wonderbolts Cup begin!” The crowd went crazy, and the fanfare began once more. Ponies began to disperse, eager to resume their training and improve their chances at winning the cup. Rainbow cheered alongside her teammates, her heart set alight with the desire for victory, and to see Gilda lose. “C’mon on, gang, we gotta get back to Ponyville and keep training! We’re gonna make history and be the first team to win the cup!” Her team cheered in agreement, eager to bring glory to their tiny town. Someone shoved into the back of Rainbow Dash. She whirled around to see Gilda walking away, looking complacent. “Fat chance, losers!” she called out behind her, before taking off to the skies. “You dweebs are going down!” “Oh yeah? Well we’ll show you!” Thunderlane yelled, shaking a hoof after her. Rainbow had never seen him so driven. Rainbow gestured for her team to follow, making her way through the crowded courtyard and back towards the train station. “Let’s go. If we want to put Gilda and her cronies in their place, then we’re in for a long, hard week of practice.” She ignored Fluttershy’s whimper of misery.