“COME ONNNNN” she raged, pounding the rubbery gym floor with her hooves. Competitive Streak (known only as 'Streak' because it took WAY too long to say 'Competitive') knew she was drawing looks from the crowd, but she didn't care. This match was more important than anything else she'd ever done, and now that stupid foal was Messing. It. All. Up.
In her bedroom, Streak had a wall covered in rosettes, ribbons, cups, trophies and shields commemorating her sporting successes. She'd already won the regional soccer trophy, the prestigious 'rising hockey star' cup and the national lacrosse championship winner's shield. Although if you asked her she'd never admit it, Streak knew that this was partly to do with her high school, City High, being one of the best sporting schools in all of Equestria. The Comets were Equestrian champions in lacrosse, football and basketball, and currently they were competing in the Heart's Warming Championship for Volleyball.
The HWC, played two days before the holiday, determined the Equestrian Champions for the sport. Of course, City High had reached the final, because Streak was playing. She was setting blazing records for the season and was close to breaking a couple of all-time records across every school in Equestria.
But, of course, there was one pony who was letting them down. And she was standing right in front of Streak. In fact, if she could make her eyes shoot lasers, that pony's mane would currently be on fire.
“Competitive Streak! Calm down!” the Coach shouted, waving her hoof.
Streak rolled her eyes and waited for the ball to be served.
It flew over the net and Streak took her chance, diving forward and knocking it in a perfect arc back towards the net. With that, she was guaranteed an assist. But no, that foal jumped for it. Streak could just see the match slipping away as the other pony leapt and smacked her hoof into the rubber ball, sending it flying straight off the court.
“Aaaaaaargh!” Streak screamed, storming towards the bench. “We've definitely lost it now!” Sulking, she sat on the bench and scowled, despite the entire crowd staring at her.
“Hey, take five Competitive Streak. There's no call for that behaviour.” Coach said, shaking her head and substituting her star player. “You really need to work on that attitude, or you'll be out for the rest of the game.”
“Hah, I wouldn't be caught dead playing on the same planet as these losers.” Streak replied acidly, pulling the hair band out of her blonde mane. She scooped up a white towel and mopped her brow. “At least it'll be over soon and I can go home.”
The Coach just shook her head and went back to focusing on the game, leaving Streak to pull the band out of her tail and stalk off to the changing rooms for an early shower. No way she was watching the rest of that shambles.
The hot shower did nothing to dampen Streak's anger, but a seed of doubt was sown as she dressed in her tracksuit. She didn't care for those foals who she formerly called team-mates, but it was going to be an awkward coach ride home. She sighed and sat on a bench, annoyed that she'd miss out on the winner's medal.
Of course, the Comets crashed and burned without her. They were beaten easily, and the Streak could hear the crowd's applause once the game finished. Once the medals had been presented, they'd all be back, telling each other how well they did and how hard they tried. Competitive shook her head. What a waste of time. She wasn't even going to bother getting her silver medal. If it wasn't gold, she didn't want it.
As she'd predicted, Streak spent the coach ride home sat on her own at the back. Nopony wanted to talk to her after her so-called betrayal of the team. Not that Streak wanted to talk to them. She just looked out of the window and sulked, trying to make herself feel better by thinking of how awfully the red strip went with her snowy white coat. Made her look like a cheerleader or some other stupid thing.
By the first day back, Streak was already getting geared up for baseball try-outs. She'd been pretty good over the past couple of years, but now she was ready to join the senior team. In fact, she'd forgotten all about the volleyball mess until she found herself summoned to the Principal's office first thing in the morning.
After the obligatory wait outside the office, Streak plonked herself down in the leather upholstered chair and looked at the smartly-dressed Principal with mild disinterest.
“Competitive Streak, I've called you here because of your attitude during the Heath's Warming Bowl.”
Streak didn't reply. She wanted to answer back, but it usually only ended in detention, so she just stared defiantly.
The Principal sighed. “I'm sure you know your behaviour was not only unsporting and rude, but it reflected badly on our school's sports programme. Now, when people think about the City Comets, they'll think about you storming off.”
She still didn't give the Principal the satisfaction of a reply.
“Now, the coach spoke to me over the holiday, and I've decided that you've got to be punished.”
A few detentions was actually better than Streak had expected. By the time the baseball season started, she'd be free of all her punishment. A smirk played on her lips.
“Now, this decision is my responsibility, so this is how it works. You've got a choice.”
“Between what and what?” This idea of a choice was different, and Streak felt uncomfortable. She flicked her mane back a little and narrowed her eyes.
“You are banned from trying out for any sports teams this summer. With two exceptions. Either, you can stay with the volleyball team, apologise to them, and go to summer training ready for next year.”
Streak snorted with contempt, stinging from her epic baseball career being wiped out before her eyes.
“Or, you may join the cricket team for this summer. I hear they're recruiting, and I think it might suit you.”
Now that was a curve ball, Streak thought. “What?”
“You heard what I said. Miss the summer and play volleyball next year, or play this summer and play for the cricket team.”
“What's cricket?”
“What's your decision?” The Principal smiled from behind her glasses.
“Well no way am I wasting a summer when I could be winning trophies. And Volleyball sucks anyway. Sign me up for whatever cricket is, I'm sure I'll be amazing at it.”
“In that case, I'll introduce you to the team captain. Her name is Demon Bowler, you'll find her in the gym at lunch. That's all, Competitive Streak, you may go back to class.”
Streak shrugged and left the room, shutting the door with a little more force than perhaps necessary. The secretary gave her a strange look, but Streak ignored it.
No baseball was really hurting, Streak thought, as she daydreamed her way through double maths and a chemistry lesson. She never liked to show it when ponies got the better of her, but the Principal had really ruined her summer. She didn't even know the school had a 'cricket' team, so they clearly weren't Equestrian Champions. And this Demon Bowler... yet another pony her age that she'd never heard of. This was going to be a totally terrible summer. Unless she could break a few school records in this cricket thing.
At lunch, Streak wandered over to the gym, not really in a hurry. Any sport played indoors in summer wasn't worth the bother.
Inside the cavernous space, Streak noticed something new. There had always been large white nets pinned to the wall at one end, but she'd never really thought about them. But now they'd been pulled out, and they formed three sort of tunnel things leading to the wall. Standing around were four ponies who looked to be the same age as her. As she approached, they turned to look at her.
“Ah, you're Competitive Streak?” The tallest of the ponies asked, casting a haughty eye over Streak that made her naturally defensive.
“Yeah, what's it to you?”
The tall pony laughed derisively. “And I see the legendary attitude is still the same.” With that, the pony just walked away, heading for the store cupboard.
“Ignore her, she can be a little weird sometimes.” This came from a well-built pony with shoulders verging on the colt-like.
Streak just shrugged. “So, what's this cricket thing? Apparently the captain is what, Demon Roller?”
“Demon Bowler.” The correction was courtesy of a pony with long legs who looked permanently off-balance.
“Yeah, which one is she?”
“She would be the one you just met.” The colt-like pony said, shrugging a little.
Streak had been sure she'd just end up on a team full of foals, and it seemed to be true. Although, they did seem very open and welcoming.
As if on cue, the colt-like pony spoke up.
“Well, welcome to the cricket team. We're all here, except for Coach Nets, who isn't coming to this session because it's more of a team meeting than a training session.”
“Okay. To make things clear, I'm here before I'm forced to be.” Streak said, tossing her mane to one side.
“Oh yes, we all heard about the volleyball thing. Don't worry, we're giving you a second chance. Cricket is much more fun.”
“Doubt it.” Streak muttered, just as Demon Bowler returned.
Demon was holding a red ball, and she threw it gently at Streak once she was close enough. Immediately the white pony noticed how hard the ball was.
“What's this made out of, rock?”
“No, it's cork. Like a baseball but more civilised. Covered in leather, with stitching all the way around. That white stitching is called the seam.” Demon explained.
“So it's just baseball, but using this?” Then Streak noticed the other object Demon was carrying.
“No, we use a bat like this. The best way to demonstrate is by showing you how we play.” Demon said, handing the bat to the colt-like pony. “Bus, you can bat. I'll bowl.”
“Oh, we haven't done introductions.” Bus said, seeming a little flustered. “We all know you're Competitive Streak, but what do you like to be called?”
“Just Streak.”
“Okay Streak, well I'm Parked Bus, you can call me Bus. I play opening bat.” This was still the colt-like one.
“You probably already know I'm Demon Bowler. They call me Demon, and I'm opening bowler.” The tall one.
“I'm Butter Fingers, and everypony calls me Butter. I play as the wicket-keeper, but you'll see what that is in a minute.” This was the pony with long legs.
The other pony didn't say anything and just looked at the floor.
“This is Googly Spinner. She's a spin bowler.” Bus said, giving Googly a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Just call her Googly. She's a little shy.”
“Okay, let's do this demonstration.” Demon said. Only Googly hung back, the other three took up positions.
Demon was holding the ball, standing about thirty yards away from Bus, who was holding the bat. She was holding the handle and tapping the other end on the gym floor. Between her and Butter were three wooden sticks, which were slotted into a wooden base. About ten yards behind Bus was Butter, wearing a pair of gloves and crouching down.
Googly didn't say anything as Demon ran forwards, ball in hoof, and then suddenly spun her arm around when she reached a line on the floor. It was a weird action, with her rear hooves on the ground, one hoof close to her face, and the other (holding the ball) making a vertical circle. She let go of the ball and it rocketed down towards Bus like a baseball pitch, but it bounced about three yards in front of the batting pony.
Bus used the flat face of the bat to knock the ball away, and it hit the net and came to a stop. Butter looked a little relieved as she pulled off her gloves and jogged over the retrieve the ball.
All three ponies made their way back over to where Streak and Googly were stood.
“Hah, foul ball?” Streak smirked. Of course, the ball wasn't allowed to bounce.
“Not at all.” Bus said brightly. “It was quite a good delivery, actually.”
“Eh? But it bounced.”
“Oh no, in cricket it's supposed to bounce. The bowler tries to make the ball bounce a little in front of the batspony.”
Streak was a little confused. “Okay, I think I need the rules of this explaining.”
“I'll tell you what. How about we go and get something to eat after school, and we'll explain it all to you?” Bus suggested in her usual bouncy manner.
“Um, yeah I suppose...” Streak replied, a little taken aback to be asked to go out with some ponies she only just met.
“Great. We'll meet at the cupcake shop on the corner.” Demon said, shrugging. “You can bring a notebook if you want to write things down or draw diagrams.”
Streak nodded.
“This is going to be great fun!” Bus said happily. “We might even be able to get a whole team together.”
“Don't get too ahead of yourself, Bus.” Butter said. “We still need another six players.”
“There are eleven on a cricket team, Streak.” Bus added. “But if we put up adverts, we can definitely find six ponies to play for us.”
“Let's just take small steps for now.” Demon said, already halfway to leaving.
Bus pulled Streak into a hug. “I can't wait for this season! I'm sure we'll be great!”
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