//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Getting more Recruits! // Story: Hoofball Mania! // by SterlingC //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy. Bulk Biceps. The trio were a strong group of pegasi ready to do battle for hoofball glory. Rainbow Dash represented the element of speed, agility, and guts. The three pegasi agreed that Rainbow Dash would start as the team’s primary strike force, her abilities to sneak past the defenders unmatched by any pony in Equestria, let alone Ponyville! Bulk Biceps represented the element of strength, possessing the ability to snuff out any attacks the enemy would attempt at their territory. Finally, Fluttershy. While meek and mild at first sight, her experience at protecting her critters from flying projectiles made her the perfect goalkeeper, a brick wall and the last line of defense for the fortress of the High Flyers. The three pegasi hovered eastward through the town and towards Fluttershy’s animal abode. With Rainbow Dash on their team, it was expected that Rainbow Dash would have dominated the conversation with hopes and ambitions for Equestrial glory. But the topic of discussion for the three ponies was not their chances of winning the Ponyville Hoofball League. “Well it’s great to hear that you’re joining our team Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy squeaked and clapped. “I considered joining the Cloudsdale Rebels, but since I’m living in Ponyville now, I could only join a team taking part in the Ponyville League,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I heard that Gilda joined the Rebels since the organizers allowed one non-pony in each Equestrian team. I wanted to catch up with her after we made up in Griffonstone,” Rainbow Dash grinned. Even now, she couldn’t believe that she and Gilda were rebuilding a broken friendship after she and Pinkie Pie were called to Griffonstone. “Oh, I thought you and Gilda didn’t want to see each other again on account of me and Pinkie Pie!” Fluttershy covered her face with her hooves. Rainbow Dash gently patted her back, the three ponies still hovering towards Fluttershy’s house. “Gilda was a jerk then Fluttershy. But things changed since Pinkie Pie and I visited Griffonstone. Maybe I can face Gilda and her rebels if they play well enough in Cloudsdale!” reminisced Rainbow Dash. “Well that would be pretty neat! But I think we should focus on winning in Ponyville first before we think about the Champions League,” murmured the yellow Pegasus. “Yeah!!!” Bulk Biceps shouted and pumped his fist! “Yeah, yeah, we’ll get this league thingy down pat!” dismissed the confident Rainbow Dash. “Well, we still need to decide on two more players to join us!” Fluttershy giggled. Rainbow Dash’s confidence was amusing for Fluttershy to see. “Right! Anyway, have we decided on the two ponies who’ll fill our roster? I think we should get Thunderlane and Scootaloo to join us!” Rainbow Dash opined. She could have chosen Flitter or any other Pegasus, but she really wanted this to be a chance to form a sister-like bond with the orange filly. Bulk Biceps scratched his head and twitched. “Ummm… Thunderlane’s a good choice, but why Scootaloo?” asked the bulky stallion. Fluttershy patted Bulk Bicep’s back with her hoof. “In a way, Scootaloo sees Rainbow Dash as her mentor, somepony to look up to! I actually find it very loyal of you to welcome Scootaloo to our club Rainbow Dash! She can play in the midfield with the big mares like you!” Fluttershy cheered with her mouth turned into a wide smile. “Well duh! Plus, it’s a chance for me to teach her the tricks of the trade! If this doesn’t help her find her cutie mark, I don’t know what will!” Rainbow Dash pumped her fists in the air! “Plus, I’m sure she’s played a lot of hoofball at school! One time, I saw Scootaloo score this wicked bicycle kick goal at school while I was performing my daily flying exercise! She’s got good stuff!” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof out to her two teammates. “Yes, I’m sure Scootaloo has great skills, don’t you think Bulk?!” Fluttershy asked as she completed a loop-de-loop in the air. “Ummm… yeah!” Bulk Biceps shouted, but held some reservation to her decision. Before the three ponies knew it, they reached the hill that led up into Fluttershy’s home. The hill and its surroundings was serenely quiet as the sun turned a bright orange and began to make way for the rising moon. “Well, we’re here Rainbow Dash! At my basement, there’s a fitness area where Bulk and I regularly exercise! He’s since strengthened his wings and hooves!” exclaimed Fluttershy, doing another loop-de-loop in the air. With that, Bulk Biceps ran up the hill and towards the door, leaving Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy behind at the bottom of the hill. “Well you seem to be really excited about this hoofball business Fluttershy. I was surprised when you expressed so much enthusiasm about hoofball! What’s the deal? It’s impossible for me to get you involved with any sort of sport!” interrogated Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy giggled sheepishly. “Well, with the way Bulk Biceps described it, I thought that being a goalie would be really neat!” said Fluttershy. “Well I’m glad you’re on our team Fluttershy, but I expect you to be the best goalkeeper anypony will ever see in Equestria! Got that?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, punching Fluttershy on her sides. Fluttershy let out a soft “Ouch!” and gently rubbed the place where Rainbow Dash punched. “Ohh sorry about that Fluttershy! I just have really high standards for our team!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Oh it’s ok,” Fluttershy quivered. It was one thing to see her passionate about competition, but it was another thing to see it overcome her abilities. Hopefully the latter wouldn’t come to pass… It was a long night of exercising for the three ponies, so long that Rainbow Dash couldn’t spend much time to sleep as all because her muscles were aching from the weights Fluttershy made her lift. Rainbow Dash slowly shook her head on her bed, wondering why in Equestria she thought to be so cocky as to lift a weight 50 kg heavier than what Fluttershy was lifting. Rainbow Dash slowly arose from her cloud-shaped bed, rubbing on her back and her front legs. The throbbing pain on her body eased momentarily, but soon returned like a boomerang. The Pegasus groaned as she slipped off her bed. Whispers of warning from a teensy voice boomed on her mind like Pinkie Pie’s party cannon. “Don’t lift such a heavy weight that early Rainbow Dash! You’re not warmed up yet!” The high-pitched voice desperately cautioned. Last night, the brash Pegasus eagerly ignored her warning. But now, Rainbow Dash grunted and winced in pain, cursing the voice. But her train of thought soon sped up, realizing that she still had to invite Scootaloo to her team! She wanted to speed off like she always did anywhere she went, but she couldn’t fly with agility and guts like she used to because of the pain on her body. At least her wings were still flexible enough for gliding to and from her home up on the clouds. “Never again will I make myself lift such a heavy weight when I haven’t warmed up,” Rainbow Dash declared and slowly trotted out of her blue-walled bedroom. “Thank goodness my wings are still intact,” the rainbow Pegasus lightly grinned. Rainbow Dash gently ate her breakfast and glided from her dining room and out her front door. Rainbow Dash hovered through the cloudy sky and towards the town below. As she traversed closer to the ground, she immediately spotted an orange Pegasus trotting through the town by her lonesome self. It was Scootaloo! Rainbow Dash gently glided down in front of Scootaloo. The orange Pegasus, her head hung downwards, felt a whiff of air fly past her on her furs. Scootaloo slowly lifted her eyes from the grey asphalt and up to the pony who glided past her. Scootaloo’s eyes beamed; it was none other than Rainbow Dash, her lifelong idol! “Oh, hey Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo frantically jumped to Rainbow Dash’s side and tightly squeezed the mare with her hooves! “Ouch!” Rainbow Dash groaned! Scootaloo jumped away from Rainbow Dash and tumbled to the asphalt! “Oh, sorry Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo chuckled with an embarrassed look on her face. “I’m just really happy to see you as always!” the young filly continued with a warm smile. “It’s great seeing you too Scoots! Just be careful with my back right now; I lifted too many weights last night,” explained Rainbow Dash. Ever since their first camping trip, Rainbow Dash saw Scootaloo more and more like a younger sister. She never had a younger sister she could call her own and train to be as awesome as her! Rainbow Dash wasn’t the type to become affectionate, but towards Scootaloo, that was a different story. “Anyway Scoots, I noticed you weren’t your happy self until I came by. What’s up?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rainbow Dash slowly trotted to her side and crouched to her level. She was still fairly new to the business of being an older sister, but one thing she remembered to do was to do anything to not appear superior to whoever she was mentoring. “Well… you see…” Scootaloo mumbled and stuttered. “See what?! Scoots, you can tell me! I’m your friend!” Rainbow Dash awkwardly smiled. Scootaloo shook her head and sighed. “It’s not about you Rainbow Dash! Anyway, hoofball season’s going to start soon. Applebloom’s already making a hoofball team with her family and Pinkie Pie, and Sweetie Belle and Rarity joined up with Button Mash’s family! And I’m all alone, without a team to join!” Scootaloo’s eyes began to release small droplets of tears onto the ground. Rainbow Dash frowned, feeling downtrodden for Scootaloo as the young filly started to sniffle in place. But then, Rainbow Dash quickly remembered why she wanted to talk to Scootaloo in the first place! This was sure to cheer her up! “Scootaloo… you know, I still need a few ponies to join my team! Do you wanna join us?! With us, you’ll be part of the High Flyers, rising to the top as the best team in Ponyville and beyond!” Rainbow Dash offered. She performed a gentle loop-de-loop in the air while Scootaloo oohed and ahhed! Scootaloo’s sniffles immediately turned to cheers of joy as she jumped up and down in place! “Yes I’ll join your team! Thank you so much Rainbow Dash! I can’t believe you’d accept me in your team, especially with how awesome your team is and how small I am!” Scootaloo fluttered his wings and shouted gleefully. She quickly hugged her idol and rushed away. She gave out a quick wave goodbye while Rainbow Dash shouted, “Hey! Our first practice is tomorrow Scoots! Be there or be square!” Rainbow Dash smirked. That wasn’t so bad for a sisterly act. The throbbing pain still resonated on her back and her hooves, but this act of loyalty made her feel much better. All that was left now was to find one more teammate. But who in Ponyville would be available and worthy of such a position?!