BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
This and the next 5 chapters are 100% sidequest... err, sidestory and are completely optional reading. I realize in retrospect that it was a mistake and that most of you are here for Book Horse Human, not Gilda. And as such I apolololololologise and will refer you to the episode Sisterhoof Social.
While these next few chapters will offer insight into, let's call it 'expanded universe' they will be completely summed up in about 1 paragraph on Friday. Most likely as one of those school anime style background humans off headedly mentioning that thing that happened.
BGH #1 - 'Hey did you see the thing with the stuff?' BGH #2 - 'Yeah I know right!'.
Anyway, let's begin.
The following takes place simultaneously to the previous chapter. All events happen in real time… depending on how fast you read.
“Hel-” Luna stopped mid word as the microphone loudly reverberated off the loudspeaker. It certainly silence most of the student at the assembly. That or she was deafened by it. She stood on the stage, preparing to address the school about how the sports days would work. Clearing her throat and clearing the speakers, Luna began once more. “Hello students. I am Vice Principal Luna.” hold for applause… none. “And this is the head of the P.E. departement Iron Will.”
Iron Will up until that point had been standing still on the stage both hands behind his back, not even affected by the blaring feedback screech the speakers had made before. Now however, he spun his right arm around a few times before cupping it his ear, inciting the crowd into a massive roar. He was a huge muscular guy. The kind of guy who only wore a shirt because he had to as part of his job. He never wore shoes either and had been in countless fights with the schoolboard over it. Ultimately, you can say what you will about how stupid he may be for doing so, but he knew how to work a crowd as they cheered at the very mention of his name.
“Alright students!” he shouted louder than the microphone would’ve made him anyway, Luna just sighed and stepped to the side. There was no point trying to out shine this ‘star’. He started to pace/strut along the front of the stage as the cheering started to die down. “Last year our school took home more trophies than any other!” he roared, embiggening their cheers. “But… we didn’t win all of them. This year, I aim to change that! Who's with me!?”
The crowd cheered! Not because most of them actually cared, but because they’d learnt that Iron Will can put on one hell of a show if they let him. Unfortunately Luna, who still had the mic, cut in with “Yes. The number of trophies our school brings home this year shall be doubled. And in order to do this, we’ll need everyone of you to give it your all this year!” she said, trying to match Iron Will’s hype. Utter silence. Because as a counterpoint, the school had also learnt how funny it was to watch Vice-Principal Luna sweat in her awkwardness up on stage.
“She’s absolutely right!” Iron Will returned, both saving Luna and pulling the spotlight back onto him. Literally reaching up and pulling a spotlight onto him. “In order for us to make this our best year ever, we will need Every. Last. One of you!
“Well…” Luna jumped in once more. “Actually, we only have so many teams with so many spots available on each. And we aren’t entering in all the available leagues.” she corrected. That was her job, tell the students what they needed to ACTUALLY know instead of just yelling at them with some flashy words. “For any students interested in participating in this semester’s season we have the following sports available. Three soccer teams, two basketball teams, four volleyball teams, two base-ketball teams, one hockey team, one lacrosse team, two lawn bowl teams, one rugby team, one aussie rules and up to 15 golf players from this school.”
“That’s only around 200 spots available.” roared Iron Will. “Only 20% of you will be successful! And you know what else is 20%? The unemployment rate!” Luna was pretty sure that’s wrong… “So stay in school and study!”
“What Iron Will means of course is that over the next two terms every Thursday will have its second half set aside for these tournaments. And if you do not make the team you tried out for, or if you didn’t tryout for any of these teams, this does not mean that school is over for the day. All students must stay within the school ground or within the locations their team is playing
that day and cannot leave until the 3 o’clock bell rings.”
“But most students just leave early and we can’t really stop you.” Luna simply facepalmed as Iron Will destroyed any authority she had just made for herself. “Now, on to what really matters!”
With her arms crossed and a very annoyed look on her face Luna asked into the microphone “And what exactly is that?”
“Duh! Winning!” Iron Will yell-plied. Luna simply tilted her head down and shook it. She’d given up and would just let this idiot have the stage and try to do damage control afterwards rather than during. “Our school has a long standing history of being the fastest, strongest and allround best school in this city. No! In this state! But above all else. Cantalot High has never ever EVAR lost a soccer match to another team. For for the last three years we’ve had one person to thank for that! STOMP YOUR FEET FOR RAINBOW DASH!!!” he shouted even louder and threw both arms pointing off stage, incited the school to cause a 3.233, repeating of course, on the richter scale as nearly a thousand kids cheered and stomped the ground.
Rainbow Dash, in all her attention loving glory, strutted out onto the stage. Numerous wolf whistles and ‘I love you’s could be heard as she walked up beside Iron Will. And they didn’t stop either. Everyone just kept cheering, giving her a chance to step forward and strike a few poses, before doing some bows and then striking another pose. Eventually, she actually ran out of things to do. They still hadn’t stopped though. Sure, it had died down a little but just the right number of people the right distance apart who managed to keep half the school going.
“ENOUGH!!!”
Iron Will had had enough. The spotlight hadn’t been on him for nearly a whole minute and that was just unacceptable. Clearing his throat, that would’ve been blown out long ago for anyone else, he spoke “Rainbow Dash has been the captain of all three of our soccer teams since her first year at this school.” a tear fell from Iron Will's eye and his voice soften “I remember it as if it were yesterday.” then hardening back up “And just last year she not only coached all our soccer teams but four other sports teams as well! And I am proud to say that I have no doubt, she will lead us to more victories again this year!”
And the crowd roared once more. “However…” Luna spoke over her mic. Instantly quieting the crowd to the point she could only hear the covered coughs of students whose voices would be gone for a week. “This year she will be only leading one team, giving YOU the opportunity to lead one of our school’s teams!” she said, trying to excite at least… ANYONE, god damn it… come on!
“Sad but true…” Iron Will added. “Rainbow Dash. Would you do the honours and introduce the new leaders of the other two soccer teams!” he then pulled out a microphone from seemingly no where and handed it to her.
“Sure thing. Alright, Wonderbolts, welcome onto the stage: Spitfire! and Soarin’!”
“Wait what?” Luna said out loud, just close enough to the mic for everyone to hear it. After a moment, she walked over to Iron Will and said a word quietly to him before they walked off stage. All the while, the two new team captains walked up onto the stage and Spitfire was about to say something into Rainbow Dash's mic when everyone heard over the speaker system “What the hell is that?!” coming Luna’s voice?
There was some inaudible mumbling that was clearly Iron Will saying something or another to a microphone that was just out of range to pick it up properly, and probably wasn’t meant to at all.
“I just finished saying ‘With her gone you have a chance to be the new captain!’ and then you go and instate two new coaches without running it by me? The whole reason we forced Rainbow Dash out of that role was so other students would have a chance to be something more than just a lackey on another one of her teams. But no, you decide to put two of her second in commands up as the new leaders. Without even running it by me first!? I swear, if you weren't bangi-”
“Uh… Luna…” Rainbow Dash said into her mic, still on stage and facing towards them fighting just off stage. “Everyone can hear you.” and at the moment Luna was finally getting some noise from anything she said. Though laughter probably wasn’t her ideal reaction. Rainbow Dash, returned her attention to the crowd. “So uh, anyway, you wanna be one of ‘my lackeys’.” she said with air-quotes “Or one of these two’s team members, come out to the soccer field at the far back oval and just start playing a game. We’ll be there to pick out the best of ya! And do the same for whatever sport you wanna try out for. Just check the message board. It’s got all the teams places on it. And remember, just cause we always win doesn’t mean you have to join the soccer team. This is meant to be fun! So play what you wanna play, and remember you don’t have to join a team if you don’t want to.”
She finished and received applause. It was quieter this time, mostly because a good number of idiots had blown out their voices. Mostly the first years who hadn’t learnt not to from doing so the year before. It still lasted for just as long though. Or would’ve if she hadn’t walked off stage leaving it empty.
Eventually, having finished their conversation without loudspeaker listening in on them, Iron Will returned to the stage with Luna just standing off to the side. “That just about covers it!” it wasn’t all he wanted to say but he was in enough trouble as it was now so he figured he’d try to make up for it and put some rules down. “Now remember. We’re heading over to other school and what you do there reflects on all of Cantalot High, not just your team or you. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do here. And do NOT fraternise with the enemy! A few years ago, there was with one boy who met a girl from another school playing the same sport as he was. They started dating. Then, just a few months later… his team was up against her team and when they met each other again. She was pregnant!”
Luna rushed onto the stage and cut him off. “Alright students, that’s all you need to know. About the team sign ups that is. Now, go find where your team's tryouts are and do your best. Remember what Rainbow Dash said. We’re here to have fun, so go double that fun!” but despite her best efforts…
“And always remember…” Iron Will started, Luna’s face expressed sheer horror that he hadn’t STFU! “The rhythm method isn’t always effective. So when in doubt, pull out!” and he walked off stage. Luna just stood there for a moment, jaw completely slack staring at this complete fucking idiot.
“I swear to Celestia…” she muttered under her breath. “You’d have been fired years ago if you weren't banging her.”