//------------------------------//
// 49. Player - by Twilight-The-Pony 
// Story: RariJack - The Compilation of Prompts 
// by Titanium Dragon 
//------------------------------//


Twilight-The-Pony


Player





This was it. This was her dream. This was what she trained for. Her heart ached for this very moment. She could hear the crowd cheering for the Ponyville’s best sportspony.

The sun was blazing directly in her eyes. This was her moment. She was ready, willing and able. A gentle breeze ruffled Applejack’s golden mane, as she looked towards her opponent.

A light orange unicorn with a short crimson mane with a silver streak and a metal hoof. Perhaps an injury from long ago. She didn’t dare to think. Even a split second of her focusing on the wrong thing could be a disaster on a global scale.

Drops of sweat started to form on her forehead and her cheeks, just to fall on the ground a few seconds later.

She didn’t blink. Her focus was now on her opponent that looked completely relaxed.

Relaxed. What nonsense, Applejack thought. She’s as nervous as me. She’s waiting for me to make even the smallest mistake.

The tension was rising and was now thick enough to cut it with a knife.

Any moment now.

The opponent sneezed and scratched her nose with her hoof.

Another distraction. Applejack cringed and squint her eyes. The bat in her mouth didn’t do anything to relieve the ever-increasing tensions.

Any moment now.

She could hear heartbeats now and she felt the heat rising in her head.

And then it happened.

Her eyes were now focused on the approaching ball that tried to register every single inch of its motion.

She swung the bat in her mouth with full force. She missed. The bat took a flight out of her mouth into the air, making both participants turn their heads as it flew into one of the apple trees in the distance.

“Um...” Applejack scratched her mane. “Sorry, Silver Streak.”

The pony looked at Applejack. “Mom? You’re not really good at this, are you?”

“Well, um... Er... You know...”

Silver Streak tilted her head. “Mooom... This is third time this month...”

“Well... Em... Err... Well, you see...”

“You two, lunch,” Rarity’s soft voice spoke behind their backs, making both ponies turn their heads. Silver Streak didn’t hesitate as she spun on her hooves and ran into the house.

“That was really... impressive,” Rarity mused, nuzzling Applejack.

“Really? Ya think so?”

Rarity shook her head. “No.” She paused for a moment. “You are really bad at this, you know that?”

“I know. I just want to show Silver the wonders of competition and dedication, so she can—”

“...cope with what happened? Forget about it? I think she managed to get a hang of it by now.” Another pause. “It has been two months by now. Just... let her have some fun... I think that she deserves it.”

Applejack silently nodded. “Rarity?”

“Yes?”

“Was I really that bad?”

“Worse,” Rarity mused, kissing Applejack on her cheek. “You’re the worst player ever.”





Next prompt: Sugar