The Equestrian Grifball League

Chapters

Chapter 2: The Ponyville Predators
Chapter 3: Training and Perspective
Chapter 4: History
Chapter 1: With New Sports... Come New Beginnings

Chapter 2: The Ponyville Predators

Equestrian Grifball League

Chapter 2: The Ponyville Predators

Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student,

It has come to my attention that the sports of Equestria have taken a turn for the boring side, sports have become bland and repetitive without showing signs of improving in flair and showmanship that ponies often crave these days. With this in mind I have decided to bring back one of Discord’s many sports, the one in particular being Grifball.

However, have no fear as I have made the sport much safer since the days of Discord’s rule, nopony is harmed during the sporting events and nopony will continue to be harmed as long as the sport remains established.

Due to this, I’m tasking you and your friends to learn about the magics of friendship through valued team-work and companionship in sports. The new season of the Equestrian Grifball League will start in the next two weeks, take this time to study different Grifball plays and tactics and become a team worth fearing and supporting in the League. The Ponyville Predators will join in the next season and it is tasked of your own accord to assign players, positions and uniforms. I have assigned your first two matches to be played away from home in order to allow the Ponyville Grifball Stadium’s construction to be completed without hindrance.

I wish the best of luck to the Ponyville Predators in the upcoming season.

Your Mentor and Teacher
Princess Celestia

“...upcoming season.” Spike finished reading to Twilight, as she raced all around the library desperately searching for a lost book.

“Grifball!?” Twilight exclaimed, “What does the Princess expect me to learn from Grifball!?” She finished her rhetorical question, her purple eyes were set in a mixture of fear and shock, why would the princess include her and her friends in a sport so...so... barbaric? Can it even be called a sport? What would the rest of the gang say?... What would Rarity say? Fluttershy?!? Oh, this could only end horribly.

“Apparently team-work and companionship in sports.” Spike snickered, he stopped however when he saw the concern etched on Twilight’s face. “Aww come on Twilight, it can’t be as bad as any book makes it out to be, it’ll be fine.”

“Fine?” Twilight responded, taking her hooves out of her face finally “How could any ‘sport’ be fine when it involves flinging ponies across a stadium with explosive hammers?!” She finished by re-burying her head in her hooves as she lay on the floor.

“Yikes,” Spike started “that does seem quite bad... anyway the Princess said she made it safe and you’ve ran head on at a hydra in order to protect your friends! So if anything happens you know the rest of the girls got your back, right?”

Twilight stood up, her resolve hardened through her friend’s reassurance, she sighed “I guess you’re right Spike.” She smiled and rubbed the baby dragon on his emerald green scales. “I’ll go round up the girls and bring them back here, can you get the blackboard and some seats ready for a sports presentation please?”
Spike saluted and immediately began to work, fetching Twilight’s required equipment for her upcoming speech about Ponyville’s new Grifball team.
Twilight levitated her copy of ‘A Coaches Guide to Grifball’ by H2O Camper off the shelf and immediately scanned the pages as she walked out the door in search of her friends. ‘I’m gonna need this if I’m gonna make mane or tail of what I’m gonna say to the girls.’ She thought as she exited the library, heading to Carousel Boutique in search of Rarity.

* * *

The bell at the top of the door to Carousel Boutique jingled merrily as Twilight walked through the door,
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique,” an elegant voice rang out, “Where everything is Chic, Unique and Magni-” Rarity was cut off as she realised who she was addressing.
“Oh it’s you Twilight darling,” the white unicorn said happily, “What can I do for you on this fine morning?”

“No time to explain,” Twilight replied, beginning to sound stressed already, “Can you go over to library please? and if you see any of the others on your way can you bring them with you... big meeting, Princess Celestia wants us to try a new sport, and as Pinkie would say it’s one heck of a doozy”

“Oh gosh, I hope this one is better than Baseball, how can an Earth Pony stand and hold those things... so brutish.” Rarity stated as she rushed out the door, her fabulous mane flowing behind her as she left. Twilight winced at her last word before following her out the door and off to Sugarcube Corner.

* * *

Twilight met Pinkie on the way over however, she rushed into the pink pony and toppled her over leaving them both upside down against a hay-cart.
“Ah Pinkie!” Twilight beamed “Just the party pony I was looking for, I need you to-

“Why? Is someone throwing a party without me? I just couldn’t miss one out, I’d miss all the games and cake and streamers and balloons and dancing and-” The pink pony cut off Twilight in a flurry of mad party related words, Twilight’s patience ran thin all too quickly as she found her eyes turning red.

“PINKIE PIE!” Twilight shouted, unable to control herself and letting out her rage at the pink pony.

“Whoa Twilight, you seemed stressed out, maybe you need one of my relaxing parties?” Pinkie replied, thinking of the next party as always.

“There’s no time Pinkie, Princess Celestia wants us to try out a new sport and I need everypony at the library so I can explain what’s going on.”

“Ohhhh, well why didn’t you just say so Twilight?” Pinkie said, giving Twilight one her happiest looks, “If I see Rainbow Dash I’ll bring her along, she loves sports!” Pinkie continued.
She began to bounce away toward the library before stopping abruptly and turning to look at Twilight.
“Hey Twilight, one last question, What sport is it?”

“Grifball,” Twilight responded.

Pinkie gasped, similar to the one she did when she first met Twilight on her first arrival in Ponyville, with that she sped off toward the door of Sugarcube Corner. A pink blur could be seen rushing past the windows inside all the way up the stairs to the top of the building, Pinkie’s Room.

“Found it!” Pinkie sang as the balcony windows burst open, Pinkie stood triumphantly on her back legs, leaning on her forehooves on one the most frightening pieces of equipment Twilight had seen. Pinkie was leaning on a bright pink, covered in a blue and yellow swirl-style to look like streamers, Gravity Hammer.

“Ya wanna see how it works?” Pinkie had asked, and before Twilight could even hazard a guess at what ‘it’ was, Pinkie leaped off the balcony holding the hammer in her mouth.
Twilight gasped as Pinkie plummeted toward the ground, Pinkie was close to hitting the ground before raising her head and hammer and slamming it into the air just centimetres away from the ground.

Twilight’s ears were met with a huge explosion, a blue aura seemed to envelop the end of the hammer and forced itself away, ending in a ball before detaching itself completely and igniting as Pinkie reached the maximum arc of her swing. The explosion lifted Pinkie and stopped her fall, the pink party pony somersaulted and landed in front of her friend enacting the same pose she had before she leaped.

Twilight sat on her haunches in wonder and amazement, what did Pinkie Pie just do? What the heck is that thing? Is THAT a Gravity Hammer? Twilight stared at the Gravity Hammer in both fear and awe, she wanted to get her hooves on one of those things, but she didn’t want to be on the receiving effect of its blast.
“I see your impressed.” Pinkie said with a smirk, “I’ll see you at the library Twilight.” and on that note Pinkie strapped her bright pink, yellow and blue Gravity Hammer to her back and trotted down the street merrily in the direction of the library.

* * *

Twilight began to move in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, her mind still wondering on Pinkie’s tool, if that was a Gravity Hammer, (which according to the diagrams in A Coaches Guide to Grifball it was) then that means everypony on each team wields one each and one Energy Sword each, whatever that was, Twilight’s observation and analysis of the diagrams was interrupted when she heard a call from a familiar workhorse.

“Howdy Twilight!” Applejack called, “Pinkie said yah might be stopping by, Ah’ll be with y’all in just a minute.” She finished before rushing and bucking a cluster of trees, shaking the red delicious apples down into baskets.
Not before too long Applejack was finished with her section of the orchard for the day, and sat down next to Twilight who was lost in analysis of Grifball’s tactics and rules.

“Uhh, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
Twilight’s eyes lit up, she got so lost in her studies she ignored Applejack and the whole reason she came to her in the first place.

“Oh yes, Applejack. The Princess has requested that Ponyville joins in the upcoming season of Grifball, and I’ve come to gather everypony at the library so I can explain how it’s going to work,” she said before shaking the book in her field of levitation. “Thanks to this handy little guide I’ve started to figure out how the sport works, and I’m much more prepared to give everypony their positions, if you wouldn’t mind could I get you to find Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy and bring them over to the library for the presentation please?”

“Sure thing Twi’” Applejack said, giving a tip of her hat “I’ve always wanted to get my hooves on one of those Gravity Hammers anyhow, this’ll be as good a chance as ever.” She finished and galloped off in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.

* * *

Applejack opened the door to Twilight’s Library with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in tow, naturally Rainbow Dash showed great enthusiasm for the upcoming sporting matches, and the chance to use a hammer and sword that can send ponies flying on impact? Now that’s awesome! Fluttershy responded in her usual way, she squealed and protested but came along all the same to help out her friends in the best possible way she could. ‘With friendship I can overcome any fear’ Fluttershy thought as she entered the library.

“OK Listen Up!” Twilight announced, causing all conversation to stop immediately to look at her, her blackboard, and the old projector Spike managed to find, (she could just use her magic but it was still nice of him.)

“I’d just like to start by saying welcome, everypony... to Grifball,” the projector showed a huge image of an earth pony wearing heavy onyx black coloured armour, hints of frost blue streaked over the pony’s torso, back and legs but left his helmet bare, the deep onyx clashing with a brilliant gold, the helmet’s visor. The armoured pony seemed to look out amongst the ponies sat in the library, his pose was one of grace and danger, he was at full leap into the air, except he was drawn up, nearly full vertical, wielding a tool of grotesque proportion, the same tool that Pinkie Pie had used outside Sugarcube Corner, except this one was a deep black that matched his armour. The backdrop to the whole image was a spectacular explosion of fire and...icing?

“They don’t really hold ‘em like that,” Pinkie began, bringing a confused stare from everypony in the room.
“It’s actually a mouth-brace and you use your head to control the swing, see?” with that, the pink pony seemed to pull her custom Hammer out of nowhere, bringing it full swing indoors at an empty chair to the left, the explosive impact sent the chair flying across the room where it shattered into fragments on the wall on the opposite side.

Pinkie returned the Hammer into its holster on her back, staring blankly at the projection board and blackboard, awaiting Twilight’s next Grifball topic without any look of boredom. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared at her with grins and starstruck eyes. Twilight looked appalled as one of her chairs was crushed against the mighty power of the ‘sporting equipment’. Rarity looked stunned at Pinkie Pie, horrified at the brutish tool and it’s destructive, messy way of handling things, if she was going to be in any part of this Grifball, it needed to have a touch of class and style added.

Fluttershy was terrified by both the explosion and the Hammer’s effect on the chair, she could still be seen shaking as she hid behind Rarity, the nearest pony to her. In the midst of the confusion, terror and childlike amazement, shockingly, it was Fluttershy who spoke up first.

“P-P-Pinkie Pie,” she stammered, the terror still openly clear in her voice, “W-What is that thing?”
“Oh, this?” Pinkie replied, glancing at the hammer on her back, “Standard issue Gravity Hammer of the EGL, given out to all teams within the league, my hammer however has been around for at least... well nopony really knows, Mrs. Cake said its been handed down for generations amongst the Pie family and I’m next in line, I was just so happy it gets to have a good return to the sport after all these years of being locked in a dusty old chest. It’s a good thing the EGL allows custom paint jobs too, I’d wouldn’t trade this baby for all the cupcakes in Canterlot!”

Now everypony else looked confused, everypony stared at Pinkie, shocked at her knowledge of the sport before Twilight had said even the first thing knowledgeable about it apart from it’s name; this time it was Rainbow Dash who spoke up first,
“Uhh Pinkie Pie... you are so random.”

Twilight cut off the confusion by clearing her throat, “If your finished destroying my furniture Pinkie,” Twilight said as she pressed a button to show the next image of the presentation, “We should probably talk about when we’re going to practice and what we’re going to practice.”

As if right on cue, a certain grey pegasus pony crashed through the window, upending all the remaining ponies and chairs in the room, Rainbow Dash was thrown furthest, ending up at the opposite end of the room while Derpy Hooves was upside down on top of her,
“Oops, sorry Rainbow Dash,” she said, before turning to the rest of the group “Oh yeah, sorry everypony else,” she said with a wide smile, her bright yellow eyes shifting in opposite directions as she turned to face each pony.

“What are you in such a hurry for Derpy?” Rarity asked, before picking herself up off the floor and dusting herself off.

“Big package, came with free muffins so I said ‘Yeah’ and came here straight away! Oh, they also said I can’t have the muffins until the box is open, so can you open the box please?” Derpy’s words quickened as she told the tale, ending in hyperspeed speech that no-pony was able to decipher apart from Pinkie Pie.

“Okey Dokie Lokie,” Pinkie announced with her usual grin, before re-wielding her Gravity Hammer and trotting out the door, everypony followed Pinkie to see the size of Derpy’s delivery... and to see the Hammer’s effect on a much larger object.

* * *

The delivery in question was at least two ponies high, wide and long. It was larger than the amount of objects dropped on Twilight’s head by Derpy while she was researching the Pinkius Pieicus in its natural habitat, larger than all the objects combined in fact. Pinkie bounced up to it, Hammer-in-mouth and let loose on top of the crates top using the handle of the weapon. After three hard knocks the crate’s lid popped off, showing an elegant red box wrapped in a golden bow with a card attached saying in beautiful writing, For Derpy.
“MUFFINS!” Derpy announced happily, picking up the box in her mouth and flying away with amazing speed.

“Such a shame,” Rarity huffed “I had the perfect idea for that ribbon.”

Everypony else had gathered in front of the crate, Pinkie was upside down burrowing into its contents, tossing them out behind her as she went, by the time she had reached the bottom (only stopping herself from falling by clinging to the crate’s ledge with her back hooves) she had tossed out a collection of Gravity Hammers, and Energy Sword handles, as well as a collection of different armour suits varying in styles and size. Rainbow Dash picked up a sword in her right hoof and clicked the ignition, instantly the sword sprung into life with a dazzling ‘ZAP!’ Everypony apart from Applejack and Rainbow Dash let out a frightened yelp.
“Oh yeah, this sport I’m gonna like.” Rainbow Dash said, smirking at the destructive weapon in her hoof.

“Whoa!” Came a cry from somewhere to the right of Rainbow Dash and the Energy Sword scene, Pinkie Pie had finally fallen into the crate, she failed to arise though and simply lay there upside down.
“I’m OK,” came a call from the bottom.

Twilight giggled as she looked into the crate at her friend, offering a hoof in help. Twilight stopped however when she spotted a letter with the official EGL seal of recognition stamped onto the front of the envelope, the letter had been tossed to the side of the crate during Pinkie’s digging and was crumpled at the edges.

Twilight gasped and levitated the letter to eye level, proceeding to read the front address, leaving Pinkie Pie upside down in the crate.
“Twilight?.. Twilight?” Pinkie asked as she watched the purple unicorn walk away, mesmerized by the parchment she held in front of her face.

Twilight opened the letter and began to read;
To the Ponyville Predators,

Welcome to the League!
Shipped with this crate are the required weapons and equipment you will need to use during the course of the season, if however you are having trouble actually using the equipment, please consult the reference guide also included.

Twilight stopped, searching the crate for the book, A Coaches Guide to Grifball by H2O Camper was the reference guide, already owning a copy Twilight tossed the book carelessly into the crate, wanting to return to the letter.
“Ouch! Hey!” Pinkie called from the bottom, rubbing her nose under the book now covering her face.

Due to your team being new amongst our already seasoned teams, try to aim for a mid-table position this season, build on your teams strengths and cover each others weaknesses. Remember, only through teamwork is victory achieved in the Grifball field of play.

I trust that your team’s positions and colour schemes for your armour variants will be decided before your first game, spend more time on the quality of your tactics, not the quality of your looks.

Best of luck to The Ponyville Predators this season.
H2O Camper
Head Commissioner, Equestrian Grifball League

The Ponyville Predators fixture list is as follows:
Match 1: Ponyville Predators vs Manehattan Maulers (A)
Match 2: Ponyville Predators vs Fillydelphia Frenzy (A)
Match 3: Ponyville Predators vs Canterlot Capitols (H)
Match 4: Ponyville Predators vs Cloudsdale Storm Hawks (H)
Match 5: Ponyville Predators vs Appleloosa Assassins (A)
-----------------Mid-Season Rest & Relaxation (2 Weeks)-----------------
Match 6: Ponyville Predators vs Fillydelphia Frenzy (H)
Match 7: Ponyville Predators vs Cloudsdale Storm Hawks (A)
Match 8: Ponyville Predators vs Appleloosa Assassins (H)
Match 9: Ponyville Predators vs Manehattan Maulers (H)
Match 10: Ponyville Predators vs Canterlot Capitols (A)

Equestrian Grifball League Registered Teams for Upcoming Season:
Appleloosa Assassins
Canterlot Capitols
Cloudsdale Storm Hawks
Fillydelphia Frenzy
Manehattan Maulers
Ponyville Predators

Chapter 3: Training and Perspective

Equestrian Grifball League

Chapter 3: Training and Perspective

The Bearers of The Elements of Harmony had gathered in the emptiest and largest field, on the outskirts of Ponyville. The day was bright and sunny and the the rising sunshine warmed everypony’s faces in the early hours of the morning. Everypony was dry-eyed and weary, everypony apart from Twilight Sparkle that is. The purple pony was up hours before her friends, bright and early preparing all the necessary equipment for The Ponyville Predator’s first training session, assisted by Spike of course.

“Why are we up this early again?” Rainbow Dash yawned, her lack of sleep clearly showing by her nodding eyes. The rainbow pegasus pony was lacking her usual amount of sleep, and her first nap of the day after her morning cloud clearing routine.

“Because the League starts in two weeks, and we don’t even know our positions,” Twilight replied, her face bright-eyed and bouncy for the days training regime. “A few early morning practice sessions should help boost our chances against our first opponents.”

“If we don’t fall asleep during the match.” Rainbow said sleepily.

“Everypony put on some armour.” Twilight ordered, waving a hoof toward a selection of armour suits, varying in size and shape. The biggest looked large enough to cover a whole pony, while the smallest only covered the torso and head. Everypony began to put on the heavy armour and helmets, everyone apart from Rainbow Dash who put on the light armour suit. The helmets themselves looked similar to a Wonderbolts flight-suit headpiece, it left the mouth open so the wearer could pickup weapons and talk during the game.

“The book recommends that each team of six ponies is to have a balanced team of three heavily armoured ponies, two medium armoured, and one light armoured Runner.” Twilight implied, nodding toward the empty sets of medium and light armour.
The Ponyville Predators lined up as Twilight began to address her team;

“OK, the book states different team positions, we’ll find out what we’re best at and build on our strengths and weaknesses from there.”
“Exactly!”
“Okie Dokie Lokie!”
“You got it!”
“Of course, darling!”
“Um... ok”

“Applejack, you can handle the daily work on Sweet Apple Acres, so do you think you can be our teams lead Defender with me and Fluttershy?” Twilight asked
“Ah sure as sugar can, Twilight” The applepony replied, deactivating her visor to reveal her orange face and yellow mane, she smiled brightly knowing she would wield the Gravity Hammer in the name of Ponyville. Unable to fit her trademark hat into the helmet, Applejack wore the hat on top, its colour clashing with the neutral grey of her heavy armour.

Fluttershy squealed from behind her, she too was wearing full-body armour, desperate to stay safe as she tried to assist her friends in the field of play, she wasn’t too keen on playing in a game that revolved around violence and explosive weaponry, but her friends wanted her to be the best that she can be, if that meant defending the goal against others, Fluttershy stood up defiantly, then that’s what she would do.

Rainbow Dash seemed to perk up once she realised the potential to be better than everyone else at something new, this she had to do.

"Rainbow Dash, can you be our Runner?" Twilight asked casually, as she already knew the answer.

"Now you're talking," she exclaimed in her usual cocky tone. "But there's one problem."

"Oh...And whats that," asked Twilight sarcastically.

"The colour, if I'm ever gonna get a chance to fly with the Wonderbolts I have to stand out and look y'know cool." Everypony knew that for the young pegasus, coolness was important.

“You realise we all have to wear matching armour right?” Twilight asked. “We don’t all have our own unique colours.”

“Yeah I know but just tell whoever designs them to make ‘em look, y’know cool.” Rainbow replied giving a side glance toward the ground.

“Rainbow if y’all are gonna be our team’s runner y’all stand out pretty good I reckon.” Applejack said with a grin. “Ya realise that whoever’s got the cupcake-bomb turns bright orange so the other team know who to bring down.”

“Hah, yeah if they can catch me that is!” Rainbow said in her cocky tone, giving a flap of her wings in excitement.

Twilight rolled her eyes and moved towards Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie, seeing as your the only one here who knows how to work a Gravity Hammer do you think you can be the team Tank? You’ll have to keep the enemy team under pressure while we’re on offense.”

“Sure thing Twilight!” Pinkie announced bouncing on the spot, her hammer bouncing with her as it lay in her holster on her back.

“And me, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Rarity, I want you to be a hybrid.” Twilight replied, looking more serious. “It’ll be your job to add a more well-rounded style of play to the team. You’ll probably be better off as a Samurai hybrid, you always show a great amount of precision and patience with your dress making, so using a sword instead of a hammer should work in your favour.” She continued, “Samurai’s mainly defend compared to other hybrids, but try to add balance to both offense and defence. Finally, if we don’t have possession, focus your attempts on bringing down the enemy Runner.” Twilight finished, allowing Rarity to soak up the heap of responsibility placed upon her.

“My my, that is a lot of responsibility,” Rarity looked in shock at the importance of her given position “However you said that my job is to add style to the team and adding style is my specialty.” Rarity finished with her usual charming tone of voice.

The Ponyville Predators lined up before the great plain before them, the area was large enough and far away enough from Ponyville to really disturb anypony, each member of the team stood in respective armour suits, everyone had chosen safety over mobility, bar Rainbow Dash of course, and now Twilight was beginning to lecture about the armour’s properties.

“OK, it says here in the guide,” Twilight gave the Coaches Guide to Grifball a shake, “That EGL armour works through a variety of different spell and spell matrices, The armour that’s selected will have spells put in to determine the amount of weight and protection it gives the wearer. The heavy armour we’re all wearing gives off the most weight and most health, while Rainbow’s armour will give the least protection but also allow for the most movement. Medium armour sorta meets in the middle, I think after a few practice sessions we should all find the armour we’re best suited with and register them with the League accordingly, pick the suit wisely as it’ll remain with you for a half-season.” Twilight finished her addressing, leaving some ponies to question the suits they were wearing.

“Now wait just a second here,” Applejack spoke up, “What exactly do y’all mean by ‘health’ Twilight?” she asked.

Twilight picked up the book and scanned the chapter relating to armour and protection for the correct answer, finally she answered the question. “It says here that each armour comes fitted with a health matrix that ties to the game itself, as soon as the ‘health bar’ empties, the armour will lock up causing the suit, and the pony wearing it, to fall to the ground. After 3-5 seconds a teleportation spell will activate and send the pony back to their respective team’s starting position with the health bar restored.

“Well... That makes sense... sorta.” Applejack gave her head a rub, “It’s a lot to take in for such a new sport.”

“Well now that we’ve all got our positions, I suppose we start our first practice session.” Twilight announced.

* * *

Twilight’s horn flared with signs of magical energy, as everypony watched her and her work in amazement, significant barriers arose from the ground to mark a large rectangular playing field, wide enough for six ponies per side, Twilight had placed the practice bomb in its designated place in the middle of the field.

“A lot of teams begin play by using a move called a ‘Hammer Jump’ you have face the opposite direction of where you want to go, look toward the ground and jump and swing your Gravity Hammer at the same time, the explosion from the Hammer should launch you into the air and give you more speed and distance when compared to just running from the starting position.” Twilight said, “Rainbow Dash can you start at one end of the field and try to reach the cupcake-bomb before the rest of us Hammer Jump there?”

Rainbow Dash saluted and galloped toward her end of the field, warming herself up with press-ups and stretches as she awaited Twilight’s starting whistle. ‘We’ll be practising this for a while if they wanna beat me to that bomb’ Rainbow Dash thought to herself with a grin.

Twilight spoke to the remaining members of the team;
“Remember, face away from where you want to go, that way you’ll get further distance. Now we’ll start on my whistle.”

The whistle sounded and immediately Rainbow Dash galloped forward, leaping into the air and spreading her wings wide majestically, she swooped low, her body parallel to the ground as she bolted toward the centre field, picking up the cupcake-bomb in a hoof before the rest of her team-mates had a chance to get airborne via Hammer Jump, as the rainbow pegasus returned to her side of the field, smirking, Twilight blew her whistle again.

“Shoot, forgot to mention girls, no wings or magic allowed.” she stated apologetically.

“WHAT!?” Rainbow Dash shouted, “You mean I can’t even use my wings to get up to full speed?”

“Nope,” Twilight replied, “EGL rules state that Magic and Wingpower are banned to give all ponies equal chance, levitation would give unicorns the ability to use weapons anywhere, and wingpower would give pegasi too much speed... as you’ve clearly demonstrated.”

Rainbow Dash grumbled and walked back to her place on the field, performing her warming-up routine for running alone, sure she was still one of the fastest runners around but her wings would make her unstoppable.

Twilight blew her whistle again and Rainbow Dash galloped toward the bomb, Twilight’s hammer jump had failed and only sent her half-way toward centre court, she could have made it there quicker by running alone.
Rarity had forgot to turn around at the start of her jump, leaving her stranded in the air and not catching enough distance to make it to centre court. Her eyes opened wide in alarm as she realised how high up she was, she screamed and flailed her legs, landing in a thud on the ground.

Pinkie Pie had mistimed her launch and threw herself to the left side of the playing field, hitting the barrier with a splat and leaving her there in a starfish-like position, without any further sounds she slowly slid down the wall before landing on her flank and falling backward, leaving a small scratch in her visor.

Applejack’s launch had been quite effective, she made to the bomb, but not before Rainbow Dash, the cyan pony stuck her tongue out playfully as she gripped the cupcake bomb just as Applejack was inches from snatching it away.

“Ah horseapples,” Applejack said angrily as she gave the ground a kick, “Ah’ll get ya next time RD.” she added with a smile.

Fluttershy had remained at the starting position, her eyes closed tight in terror as she tried to block out the sounds of the many Gravity Hammers, she whimpered slightly but soon realised that the sounds had stopped. She opened an eye and deactivated her visor to see Applejack’s concerned face, she held out a hoof and was lifted up off the ground and pulled into an embrace form the Applepony.

“Now ah know its scary sugarcube,” Applejack said with reassurance, “But we all need to do our best for the team, if ya don’t like hammer jumpin’ why don’t you hang back in case the other team try to make a quick go for goal?”
Fluttershy frowned and nodded.

The remainder of the morning was spent practising hammer jumps, Applejack and Pinkie Pie we’re clearly the best, both beating Rainbow Dash to the bomb respectively, followed by Rainbow Dash herself, whose lack of hammer jump distance was made up for in blazing speed. Rarity was best afterward who would have been great if not for her trouble landing. Try as she might, Twilight Sparkle could not perfect hammer jumping and so elected herself to remain at the goal with Fluttershy in case possession was lost early.

* * *

Next up on the team’s training agenda was live-weapon training, Pinkie Pie handled the use of Gravity Hammers, while everypony was new to the concept of Energy Swords. Pinkie Pie began her training with swing timing and range.

“Now, the idea is not to swing at the pony in front of you, but swing in when theres a teeny weenie itsy bit away, not too close but close enough, roughly around about 120 noses maybe.” Pinkie instructed, looking happy at her explanation. Everypony glanced at each other, giving confused expressions. After much consideration Twilight took over from Pinkie and instructed everypony to practice swing range.

Applejack was partnered with Twilight, while Rainbow Dash was partnered with the Hammer veteran Pinkie Pie, true enough to Pinkie’s very confusing words it was better to swing to make contact with the air in front of a pony rather than the pony herself. Soon the sounds of the air around the field were filled with the Hammer’s echo, the four ponies were constantly returning to the respawn area due to the Respawn Spell Matrix. Pinkie Pie respawned the least and defeated Rainbow Dash on near enough all occasions, at times only being bested by her speed. Pinkie also often defeated her friends in 2v1 or even 3v1 match-ups.

Rarity who had opted out of the practice due to the Hammer’s appearance and style (much to the annoyance of her friends,) was looking over the traits of EGL armour. The armour’s colour changes due to what was a called a Chameleon Colour Spell, the armour would change colour from its grey base to red if the team we’re playing at a home venue, blue if playing away from home. It would also change anypony’s armour from red or blue to a vibrant orange if the cupcake-bomb was picked up. Just as Applejack had stated. The helmets we’re fitted with a translator and radio system, if anypony were to speak with a weapon in their mouth, their mumbles would be formed into a coherent sentence and broadcast to the rest of their team.

Pinkie was naturally the best at Hammer combat, followed by Rainbow Dash, Twilight was third due to her studies of the hand-guide, followed by Applejack who surprisingly found it difficult to grasp the idea of swing before the pony and not at her. Fluttershy, surprisingly was better than Rarity at using the loud devices, Rarity’s skill was based more on appearance and she couldn’t grasp hold of the Hammer properly in order to use it as a weapon. Fluttershy, on the other hand had range perfected, but the noises left her dropping the Hammer with a squeal and shuddering for a minute or two.

* * *

The third item of training was the use of Energy Swords and the art of Bomb Stops.
Twilight took over the training again.

Holding the copy of A Coaches Guide to Grifball by H2O Camper in front of her, Twilight began to read;
“Energy Swords are often used by Samurai hybrids as a form of cupcake-bomb defence, although a skilled swordspony can use the elegant tool as an offensive weapon. In an event of Hammer vs Sword the Sword carrier must bait the Hammer user into range and allow their opponent to swing the Hammer without lethal effect.” Fluttershy winced at the word ‘lethal’. “After the Hammer user strikes ineffectively the Sword user must leap in with a lunge attack before their opponent has time to recover and strike again. Pick baits carefully and effectively and strike only when available to bring down your opponent successfully.” Twilight had finished, slapping the book shut with her magic.

Each pony activated the sword with an electrified ‘Zap!’ and the dual-pronged blades sprung into life, Fluttershy stood up defiantly and awoke herself from her earlier fears and frights. She had known to herself that she had not contributed enough to the day’s practice and therefore would play her part with her full strength during the use of Swords.

The Ponyville Predators once again partnered up to practice baiting and sword strikes.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had teamed up; starting with Fluttershy attempting to bait then switching,
Pinkie and Rarity did the same as well as Twilight and Applejack.

Rainbow Dash’s obnoxious attitude hindered her ability to bait, and if she was partnered with another she would found herself respawning an awful lot more. Fluttershy still had a fear of the Hammer’s effects and noise, something that would have to be overcome with time. Eventually.

Applejack doubled Dash’s attitude and left herself at the mercy of Twilight’s hammer on many more than one occasion, the two respawned often looking at each other with scowls, both acknowledging the other with a ‘need for improvement’ stare.

Pinkie clearly favoured a Hammer as she was defeated more often than not by Rarity, (although she still hated the brutish things.) Her timing was off due to her hyperactive persona, Pinkie was a pony who ran up to other ponies, not the other way around!

After scores of each pony respawning, rubbing heads and legs in pain and exhaustion, the positions switched and now Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity were wielding Swords against Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie who opposed them with Hammers.

Fluttershy could bait quite effectively, a mixture of her shy attitude and Rainbow Dash’s enthusiasm often left her with her back against the wall, this was the only thing stopping her as she could have taken Rainbow down on more than one occasion, but due to the rainbow pony spamming Hammer attacks and frightening her, she left herself cornered and pummeled more often than not.

Twilight was equally good with a Sword as she was with a Hammer. She baited evenly as Applejack tried to use the Hammer’s shock-wave effect to deplete her health bar. Twilight used the change in gravity to her advantage, riding the shock-wave to bounce high above Applejack, tipping her body forwards she landed in a roll behind Applejack before swiping at her back and thrusting the blade through her body, performing what was known as an Assassination.

Applejack respawned at the correct area;
“Well shucks Twilight,” Applejack said, “I don’t know what ya just did but it was mighty stylish.”

“They’re called assassinations,” Twilight replied “They’re more for show than anything. A lengthy, time consuming kill that embarrasses the opponent. It can only be performed from behind.”

“Well ah guess ah would be embarrassed if somepony just pulled what you did on me in front of thousands of screaming fans.”

“Oh Applejack, they’re quite difficult to do, just show nopony your back while we’re on the field and it won’t happen. I’m sure that if we watch what we-” Twilight was cut off by a loud commotion in centre court.

“GIVE UP!” Rarity screamed, swinging the Energy Sword with pinpoint accuracy, Pinkie ducked under her blade.

“No! You give up!” Pinkie’s hammer clashed against the ground, flinging Rarity back. Rarity was low on health but not about to give up quickly. Neither of the Predators had been defeated during the practice with their favoured weapons. Tempers had escalated and now the sparring session turned into a shouting match with weapons.

Both ponies had doubled back, taking a moment to breath in the middle of battle.
Pinkie readied her Hammer, tapping it twice against the ground giving off sparks of magical gravity energy. Rarity’s Sword had deactivated in the blast Pinkie gave her, she bit hard on the handle and instantly the blade sprung and crackled, energy pulsed through the sword as both mares were panting and breathing heavily, fatigued by one long battle.

Both ponies let out a weak war-cry and charged with weapons raised, Pinkie aimed for Rarity instead of the air in front of her, while Rarity charged and leaped into the air with her Sword pointed for Pinkie’s chest. Both Hammer and Sword connected against one another and the effects combined , unleashing a dazzling explosion cackling with magical energy, the two Ponyville Predators were thrown back and lay on the ground. Five seconds later they teleported to the team’s start area and fell to the ground, resting.

“Whoa! You guys were awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, grinning widely.

“Hoo-yeah! If y’all play like that we’re bound to win our first game no matter who the other guys are.” Applejack said.

“Wow that was amazing!.. Did you guys hear my cheering?” Fluttershy chimed in.

“Wow girls, you two will be unstoppable together in the League if you play anything like that.” Twilight finished.

Rarity and Pinkie looked up and smiled at the rest of the team, then at each other, with tired hooves they embraced each other in a hug and all the anger that previously took over them was gone.

* * *

“OK so that’s Hammers, check.” Twilight said going over a clipboard she had brought with her to practice.
“Hammer Jumps, check. And Swords, check.”
“There’s just one final thing for Rainbow Dash.” She finished looking towards her pegasus friend.

“Huh? Me?” Rainbow shot up from her position on the grass, lazing in the afternoon sun without even bothering to remove her armour. Her visor now deactivated revealing her face as she looked at Twilight quizzically.

“Yes. Seeing as you’re the team runner, we need to go over stiff-arming.” Twilight replied.

“Stiff-arming? What in the hay does that have to do with me being a runner?” Now Rainbow Dash looked more confused than before.

“Yes, it’s when whoever is holding the bomb takes somepony out by hitting them with it.” Twilight replied, again consulting the book.

Rainbow stood up and took a solo place on one end of the field with the cupcake-bomb held in her front hoof. Twilight blew her whistle and practice began. Rainbow was tasked with either avoiding the remaining members of the Predators or stiff-arming until she reached the goal at the opposite side.

Rainbow had felt empowered as soon as play began with the bomb in her hoof, each set of armour had been fitted with additional matrices to give runners and carriers an advantage due to their lack of weaponry. An Overshield matrix gave the pony an additional shield which would take the force of attacks before her health bar did. Additionally, a Lightweight spell was added to remove all additional weight from the pony’s armour choice. The pony was burdened by no weight other than her own, running entirely on hoofpower.

Pinkie charged in first using her customized pink Hammer, the pink pony swung too early and left herself open to be bonked on the head by a rapid-moving Rainbow Dash. Pinkie respawned rubbing her head and marked her place defending the goal.

Using the added speed from the lightweight spell, Rainbow side-stepped Twilight’s Sword attempt and delivered a punch to the side of the pony’s head, dropping her instantly. Rainbow liked this, the uneven odds, the speed, the feeling of letting nothing stand in her way as she reaches ultimate victory.

Rarity equipped her Sword and advanced toward Rainbow Dash, who had taken out Pinkie Pie again with a quick-stepped approach to her blindside, unleashing another stiff-arm. Rainbow Dash advanced toward Rarity in turn and the two mares began to stare each other down in the goal-end of the field. Rainbow made the first move.

Rainbow moved forward with her usual cockiness and speed, trying to take Rarity by surprise. The white unicorn expected this however, she stepped backwards allowing Rainbow Dash to swing at mid-air before lunging in with a slash. Rainbow’s eyes went wide as the blade connected cleanly against the side of her armour, removing all of her overshield and health as the blade faced no opposing strike. Rainbow Dash respawned at her side of the field.

Rainbow Dash winced as she glanced where the Sword had struck, her armor had a deep scratch running down the left side, the first mark on a personal suit of armour.

The rainbow maned pegasus pony looked up with determination in her rose eyes. Picking up the bomb with her hoof she charged forward, side-stepping deftly in order to lay out both Pinkie and Twilight in a double-hoofed smack. She charged head-down at Rarity who attempted the same move as last time, instead Rainbow held back before the lunge had initiated leaving Rarity swinging at air and open. The cyan pegasus dashed forward and stiff-armed Rarity on the helmet before twirling on the spot and hitting Twilight as she tried to approach from behind.

Rainbow continued her assault on goal, Applejack and Fluttershy being the only two ponies left to oppose her from scoring. She bolted forward, taking the two remaining Predators by surprise, Applejack swung her Hammer and activated the effect. The overshield matrix protecting Rainbow from what would of been a respawn, she rode the shockwave and used its effect to rise high above the remaining defenders. Tipping her hooves forward, Rainbow Dash fell gracefully toward to goal rolling and placing the cupcake-bomb onto the goal at the same time.

Rainbow turned around and saw the destructive path of respawning ponies she left in her wake. Looking at her scored goal she spread her wings and flew in delight.

“AW, YEA-”

BOOM!

Everypony within radius of the goal was forced to respawn within an explosion of dazzling fire and brown cupcake icing, the field itself now covered in delicious icing, the bomb destroyed entirely and everypony looking at their armours with smiles and grins.

Everypony had gathered at the respawn area, took one look at the result of Rainbow’s goal, and doubled over laughing. Afterwards, each pony got up and cleaned their armours, (all apart from Pinkie who insisted on cleaning hers with her tongue as to not let good icing go to waste.) When their gear was finally clean and restored to working order, The Ponyville Predators gathered in centre court.

“Girls this was an excellent first practice session,” Twilight began, grin still plastered to her face. “Way to go Rainbow Dash, we knew you could defy the odds but that was incredible!”

“Aw, thanks guys, it was nothing really.” Rainbow Dash replied, her cheeks turning as rosy as her eyes.

“Heck it ain’t nothin’, the way you just made us all look like a bunch of fillies, we’ll easily win our first game if y’all run like that in the stadiums, Rainbow.” Applejack added.

“I mean yeah, you were all like ‘ZOOM!’ and then we were all like ‘Oh no she went past us’ and then you were all like ‘No I didn’t!’ and then ‘BAM!’ We all had to respawn because you popped us on the head using that delicious cupcake you had.” Pinkie continued, not pausing to even catch breath.

“You were great Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy said, her usual hint of excitement present in her voice.

“That was amazing Rainbow Dash! You even made me and my Sword look like foals.” Rarity finished, the final pony to give praise to Rainbow’s awesome run.

Rainbow Dash’s blush had intensified her face now turning red from all the appreciation,

“Nah, it was all a team effort, we all did great out there today. Like AJ said, if we play like we do out here, in a stadium we’re sure to win!” Rainbow Dash put her hoof in the middle of the circle of friends. “Come on, Predators on three!

Each pony put their hoof on top of Rainbow Dash’s and joined together in their first moment of team-work and friendship through sports.

“One-Two-Three, Predators!”

Chapter 4: History

Equestrian Grifball League

Chapter 4: History

The sun was lowering on the day of the Ponyville Predators’ first official training session, Luna’s moon was already beginning to rise as Twilight and the rest of Predators walked into the library, hooves tired and need of a well-deserved rest. Everypony gasped as they dropped to a cushion, panting with sweat-drawn faces.

“Spike, Spike!” Twilight called, straining her voice for the dragon to be heard.

“Mmh? What?” Spike mumbled rubbing his eyes, clearly tired due to his daily chores and tasks,

“I’m sorry to ask Spike, seeing as you were asleep, but I don’t suppose you could bring us some drinks please? We’re all pretty beat.” Twilight replied apologetically, giving a smile at her number one assistant.

Spike suddenly shot up, shaking any tired feelings out of him.

“Oh yeah! The practice! How’d it go?” Spike asked enthusiastically, eager to hear everything about Ponyville’s newest sports team.

“Well, shucks Spike,” Applejack said looking as tired as Twilight, “We’ll tell yah once we’ve had a rest, we’re all plum-tuckered out after that session.”

“Yeah, I’m on it!” Spike said as he saluted and dashed off, before returning with a tray, seven glasses, a pitcher of apple juice and a plate of cookies.
“So come on! How’d it go?” Spike asked impatiently, desperate to hear the story.

The remainder of the evening was spent telling Spike of the practice session, reminiscing and laughing at memories gained not too long ago, Spike listened to every word showing a mixture of different emotions as each session was explained. Laughter at Rainbow’s reaction to the‘ no wings rule’, amazement at Rarity and Pinkie Pie’s battle and sheer awe at Rainbow’s impressive bomb-run.

“Wow that’s awesome Rainbow Dash! Although to be honest I half-expected you to be a Juggernaut hybrid, I mean sure you can run, but the speed you got can come in handy with sword-play too right?” Spike said finally, after the memories we’re told. “And Applejack, you’d be an excellent Tanking partner with Pinkie Pie, if you practice your Hammer Swings more, you can take hits like a pro!”

Everypony stared at Spike, looking shocked at his knowledge.

“Uhh, Spike. How come you know so much?” Rainbow asked.

“I’ve been following the EGL for years! I mean I’m normally a Frenzy fan but after hearing this, wow I’ll be shocked if everyone in Ponyville hasn’t heard about you guys.” Spike replied nonchalantly, then after getting more looks of confusion. “What, you don’t expect me to read in all of my spare time while you guys are out doing stuff.”

“Hey Spike,” Fluttershy peeped up, “Seeing as you know so much, why don’t you help coach the team during some practice sessions.”

“Yeah with your know-how on the sport, we’d be guaranteed a win in our first game!” Rainbow Dash said excitedly, giving a flap of her wings, raising herself to the air in excitement.

“All right then it's settled, Spike will be the assistant coach for our team throughout the season.” Rarity finished, beaming.

Spike’s eyelids drooped and his hands clasped together over his heart at the sound of Rarity’s voice, the sound of Rarity confirming his once-in-a-lifetime position for the team just sent the dragon into a perfect mindset of bliss.

“Well if y’all don't mind,” Applejack began, “I gotta get back to the farm before Big Mac locks up the place, I need to hit the hay.”

“I need to go too, I should see how Angel is doing.” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah I’m beat, see you tomorrow girls.” Rainbow Dash said with a yawn.

“Me too, I’m all partied out for once.” Pinkie said, causing everypony to mock-gasp with a giggle.
“Nah not really, still, some sleep can’t hurt.” Pinkie continued, stifling a laugh.

“I need to return to the boutique, we’ll meet up tomorrow Twilight?” Rarity said, the final pony to announce her departure.

“Yes, but before you all go, can I give you a book to go over?” Twilight replied, everypony moaned for real this time.

“Not now, just over breakfast or something, and only the part about the first game in Equestria history.”

“Fine.” Everypony replied in unison, taking a copy of Grifballing Greats from a grinning Twilight.

* * *

Rainbow Dash flopped onto her cloud bed, a look determination on her face.
“Okay, Twilight may be an egghead, and this stuff ain’t exactly Daring Do...well, here goes.”
Almost simultaneously, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the Elements of Harmony opened the cover and began to study Grifball’s history.

* * *

A single beam seemed to shine down from the moon itself through the open roof of the Capital Equestria Stadium. The beam ended at Discord’s throne, leaving the Draconequus bathed in a natural spotlight. All eyes were upon him as he looked toward the crowds, microphone in hand.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the first match of Equestria’s latest and greatest new sport, Grifball!”
“Tonight we see the first two teams in history, The Everfree Executioners and The Manehattan Maulers go up against one another in a grudge match that’ll leave the victors in glory!”

The crowd cheered and stomped their hooves in massive applause, below Discord, on the court of Grifball itself, two very nervous rookie teams with hardly any practice under their belts waved at the crowds with pride in their hearts, the Everfree Executioners in red armours and the Manehattan Maulers in blue.

“Grifballers!” Discord announced, silencing the applause, “Ready yourselves!”

At once the twelve founders of the newest sport in Equestria lined up at their correct positions, six members each side of the court per team, each pony began to wield their chosen weapon with hammers being the predominant choice. Tongs took his position at centre-left on the starting line-up, wielding his Gravity Hammer with new fueled confidence, staring into the eyes of his opponents.

On the opposite side of the court, Sweet Treat and Tailor stood alongside their allies in blue armour. Tailor holding an energy sword with perfect grace and poise, Sweet Treat looking like she just wanted to drop everything and charge in bare-hoofed.

“3, 2, 1... Begin!”

And the thunderous applause started in time with the charging hoofbeats.

* * *

The tip-off was a massacre for both sides. Booms from hammers echoed throughout the arena as ponies both Blue and Red were sent flying into the walls of the stadium, only to teleport back to their starting positions, fully healed and full of adrenaline, charging headstrong into the heat of sporting battle.
A chorus of slashes and stabs pierced the ever-present sound of booms and explosions from hammers, instead of flying away as an effect of the Gravity Hammers, ponies from both sides dropped to the ground defeated by the much more elegant Energy Swords.

Amidst the chaos and non-lethal killing, a pony could be seen sweeping up the cupcake with a hoof and returning back to her Manehattan Maulers, before she could even make a move to the other side of the field she was attacked by two of her enemies, who immediately dropped her with a double Energy Sword swing. The cupcake carrier had no chance as she was dispatched by this pony duo.

One of the two instantly grabbed the cupcake and threw it to his teammate, who began to run upfield, as he began to charge, a blue-suited pony was on him in an instant, guarding his goal, as the defender swung his sword, the carrier jumped back and dodged the lethal blade by mere inches, seeing his opponents guard was down, he struck out and clubbed the pony with the cupcake, eliminating him. Just then another defender was approaching from the left, before she could make the deadly charge a distinct ‘ZAP’ was heard and the cupcake carrier’s partner returned to his side again, saving him from what would have been a lethal strike.

The two ponies worked like a unit, one guarding the other in an effort to take the first goal, most other ponies were just mindlessly fighting each other, completely unaware of the group objective of the sport, all thought lost in the heat of battle except for a few ponies who were no match to this deadly duo from the Everfree Executioners. At a first glance, one might say they’ve played the sport for years, the way they moved together, fighting at one another's side in defence before attacking viciously together to keep advancing.

By the time they were at the goal plate, it was too late for the rest of the Maulers, four ponies looked shocked as to why this explosive nightmare was now being brought dangerously close to their side of the field. Meanwhile the other two ponies, Sweet Treat included, just ran off to fight their enemies again, shouting battle cries and raising weapons high.

The now shocked defenders began to gang up on the Executioners, pushing them back into a retreat with wave after wave of Hammer strikes, none were meeting their target, but the number of them didn’t allow any more advancing, meanwhile at the other end of the field, the remaining Executioners were being beaten into submission by Sweet Treat and her newest friend, who were taking turns to see who could clear out their enemies fastest, laughing all the while.

“Ah buck this.” One of the duo equipped his hammer and leaped forward, swinging it with all his might and unleashing the shockwave that instantly took out two ponies, in return, one of the defenders took him out with a sword. The remaining Executioner sprang up, charged forward and rolled to the side to avoid a slash coming from a defender, using a burst of speed he ran to the defender who eliminated his teammate and punched the mare clean across the side of her helmet, dropping her instantly. Using the last of his energy, he rolled under the blade of a re-spawning defender and dropped the cupcake on to the goal plate.

BOOM!

The cupcake exploded sending everypony nearby flying into the stadium walls, covering everything in chocolate icing. The Everfree Executioners jumped for joy, as did their fans. Everypony wearing red in the arena screaming at the top of their lungs for the all-important first score. After he teleported back to his team, the goal scorer was met by hoof bumps and hugs from everyone.

“Buck yeah, Jet Wave!” said his partner, who he advanced up the field with. “I told you, if we stick together nopony is gonna stop us! You and me!”

Jet Wave removed his helmet, revealing his white fur and blue-and-black mane, he grinned and hoof-pumped the air, enticing the crowds cheers. “Couldn’t have done it without you bro!”

“Jet Wave! Firerunner! Stay focused!” Tongs called over, bruised and battered from the onslaught of Sweet Treat and her friend. “We got a goal, yeah all well and good. Don’t forget its three goals for the win, and try to shut down that hyper one from the bakery, she’s driving me crazy!”

On the other side of the field, Tailor was trying to rally her teammates, while Sweet Treat was doing...something.

“Alright fillies and gentlecolts, we got our flanks handed to us out there, the only reason it wasn’t over quicker is because Sweetie and Stripe crushed their team while you all took a break! I know its hard out there, I know its kinda dangerous too, either way we’re gonna win this. I want everypony keeping an eye on that cupcake, keep on fighting them out on the field, but make sure you all know where it is. Guard it if we got it, push them back until we get it from them. Got it?”

Instead of replying the rest of the Maulers just stood still, trying to contain laughter as Sweet Treat and her zebra friend Zebra Stripe, simultaneously moon-trotted past Tailor during the whole speech.

Tailor sighed. “What am I going to do with you two?”

After the two ‘rallying’ speeches from both teams, the game got underway again and was pretty even. The cupcake was passed back and forth amongst players, possession was won and lost amongst both teams, and the battle started to turn into more of a sport. Carriers were guarded by other players, leaving a destructive path on their way to goal plates, only to be stopped along the way and lose possession. Defenders timed their swings perfectly, taking out all who oppose the goal plate and tried to claim it for their team. Instead of being a chaotic mish-mash of explosions and makeshift weapons, Grifball turned into something Discord didn’t expect, a success. Teams were formed all within a few hours, roles were created along with plays and play styles all within the first match in history.

On the other hand, although Grifball had turned into a successful sport, it did hold the element of chaos Discord wanted, instead of being tackled to the ground in a simpler sport like Hoofball, ponies were flung across the arena, or dispatched by a pointed blade. Discord just wanted an afternoon of fresh chaos, now he went and created a successful sport which more ponies looked forward too.
‘My word at this rate ponies will form their own teams.’ Discord thought to himself, observing his unintentional method to madness.

The match progressed slowly, plays being trialled and tested by both teams, the crowd cheering every play onwards, excited and restless, filling the entire arena with noise.
Eventually as the game went on, the score read 2-1 to the Everfree Executioners, in this round the Executioners held possession, Jet Wave passed the cupcake to Firerunner who passed it to Tongs who then gave it back to Jet Wave, he moved up along the left side of the field before being stopped by Tailor, who seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Tailor retrieved the cupcake and threw it to Sweet Treat, she dashed forward taking a defender by surprise and clobbered him, she spun round to the left and punched another pony who was having a Hammer fight with an Mauler, moving up in a platoon of three, Tailor and the other Mauler, Shock Effect, leading to allow Sweet Treat time to move and retreat if they were removed from play.

Shock Effect was eventually pounded by an enemy Executioner and Sweet Treat got impatient and charged on ahead, unprotected. She ducked and rolled under enemy blades and even landed a good punch or two, but eventually she was stopped by Tongs, inches away from the goal plate.

Unseen by anypony, Zebra Stripe jumped out of nowhere, being hidden in the back lines of the Executioners, he was ignored or unseen. Now being behind everypony, it was easy to take out Tongs from behind before making an easy steal and a score to tie up the game.

BOOM!

The Executioners turned around in shock, seeing their side of the field covered in chocolate icing, signalling the score.

“Okay... Can somepony explain how that just happened?” Jet Wave said in awe.

Zebra Stripe emerged from the wreckage covered head to hoof in icing. Sweet Treat tried but couldn’t contain her laughter, falling over onto her back and bursting into a fit of giggles, Tailor took one look at Sweet Treat and did the same, two ponies and a zebra laughing in hysterics at how being sneaky actually worked.

* * *

So this was it, the final round, all or nothing, winner take all. The tip-off was crazy, everypony flying as an effect of Hammers or just dropping due to Swords, Jet Wave hung back until the carnage was over before leaping in to take the cupcake.

Jet Wave threw it to Tongs, who charged forward alone, thinking this was an easy steal, Maulers then ran to meet Tongs, at the last second he dropped the cupcake and slammed his Hammer down, toppling two ponies before throwing it to Firerunner. The play looked brilliant, like it was co-ordinated and practiced again and again, moving as a team the Executioners began to clear house, moving steadily toward the final score. The Maulers, rallying their defences tried to beat them back, and the teams were locked in a stalemate of an occasional teammate going down and returning to the fray before any movement happened.

Suddenly, the Maulers went all out, moving as one they began to beat the Executioners, forcing a hasty retreat from Firerunner, who was holding the cupcake at the time. Tailor charged forward, dashing and piercing Firerunner’s front, removing him from play, she quickly snatched the cupcake and brought it back to her team before passing it to Sweet Treat with a wink. Sweet Treat made a quick hoof signal and the Maulers retreated, seeing this as an opportunity every Executioner sprinted forward to keep the pressure on.

“Stripey!” Sweet Treat called playfully, “Any time now will be fine~”

Zebra Stripe moved out alone and turned his back to the Executioners, seeing this as an easy elimination, the Executioners turned up the speed. Suddenly, Sweet Treat sprinted forward toward Zebra Stripe and leaped into the air, clutching the cupcake in a hoof. As she passed by Zebra Stripe, mid-air in her leap, he slammed the ground with his Gravity Hammer, the shockwave effect launching the pink pony high into the air, the crowds watched with open mouths as the blue-suited pony soared over the heads of the Executioners, landing with a roll on their empty undefended side of the field. She casually walked toward the goal plate, the Executioners galloping with every ounce of strength to catch her, but they were too far up the field to even have a chance of stopping her.

Sweet Treat stood over the goal plate, waved at the crowds, enticing cheer after cheer, before moon-trotting
and placing the cupcake down for the final score.

BOOM!

Sweet Treat was flung into the wall, any Executioner close enough was blown backwards by the blast. The Maulers jumped in victory whereas the Executioners sighed and frowned in defeat. Sweet Treat rose from the floor, dazed and confused, yet victorious all the same, before jumping around with her teammates as if she hadn’t been forcefully thrown into a wall by an explosion.

The first victory was celebrated and the first defeat regretted, congratulations were exchanged followed by hoofshakes from both teams. The crowd loved every minute, stomping their hooves in applause and cheering the name of their team.
So Discord had found his chaotic sport, but he also found one of his greatest successes, the sport of Grifball became an annual event, then bi-monthly, before the first ever Equestrian Grifball League was created and matches were played every week, season after season new champions were crowned and old champions defended their title. No two matches were ever the same, ponies trying new tactics, plays, formations, it was always original at every single game.

Discord had found a unique way to keep new Chaos flowing, and even better, ponies everywhere loved it.

* * *

Rainbow Dash was fast asleep with the book over her face, sure it was awesome reading about two ponies who took everyone on, ducking under swords, dodging hammers and putting in a great fight. After that it was all...boring, just tactics and formations. Yawn. Well, there’s always tomorrow.

Keep Scrolling... There’s another bit down here... There you go.

Author’s Note: Where do I begin? Well guys I’d like to thank you all for your massive support on this story, this is my first time ever putting pen to paper (Errr...Keyboard to...Screen?) and actually trying to be creative and productive. Except I haven’t exactly been productive have I?

The reason this chapter took ‘X’ amount of months is only partially due to what I said in the comments, that whole thing about studying for exams. While yes, I was studying for my exams, around about the same time people who I consider my friends went onto this page and started typing out random crap just to mess with the people who visit here, and to mess with, what I consider my ‘work’.

So days went by, I got the occasional insult about my fanfic, and eventually I started thinking
‘If I can’t get my own friends to, at the very least, acknowledge that I’m doing something productive, what hope do I have in getting a bunch of strangers to actually LIKE what I’m writing.’

So in short, I gave up, because I got made fun of, normally this kind of stuff wouldn’t bother me, I’d ask for criticism, move on. But seeing as these are my friends and I can’t get them to accept I write pony fanfiction I thought why should I bother trying?

So afterwards I thought about Dramatic Readings, asked a people around this site and did it to the best of my ability, everything is going fine except for when my friends catch wind of it again, so I gave up... again.

(Because when I’m just hanging around I play Halo or something, not mess with what my friends consider fun, entertaining and productive.)

Eventually, when I was just lying around, I thought to myself;
‘Who gives a flying **** what they think? If I get even one person to enjoy reading my stuff online, why should I stop?’ And yeah, I now know I should’ve thought this months ago.

So if you’re reading this, and you’ve been patiently waiting for the next chapter because you enjoy this story, thank you, you’re the people I’m writing for.
If you’re reading this and I promised you a Dramatic Reading of your story, I’ll get around to it soon, because forget what those guys think.

Thank you everyone for your support when this was initially released, and I’m sorry I’ve been a fool and took so long to write this out.

Expect more, because there’s no doubt it's coming.

--Jackarias

(Oh yeah one last thing, I did the first half of this before I wrote the comment about my exams, so I came back and I had no clue what the hell I was on about. Re-read the old chapters. Didn’t get a thing, anyways I just rolled with it and this is the result. Criticism is welcomed, because this could probably do with a re-write. Thanks again.)
(Another thing, is this like... action-y? Because when I'm writing it, it looks dull to me, anyone else getting that?)

Chapter 1: With New Sports... Come New Beginnings

Equestria Grifball League

Chapter 1: With New Sports... Come New Beginnings.

Years ago in the darker times of Equestria, the nation was more violent than that of the peaceful years under Princess Celestia’s rule, Chaos itself threatened everyone, pony and zebra alike were under the tyranny of Discord, Element Of Disharmony.

Discord sat atop his distorted throne, city buildings hovering in mid air, chocolate rain clouds soaking any pony in delicious goodness, shrunken manticores ran in fear from rabbits and squirrels which had grown far beyond nature’s limits. Equestria itself was in chaos, and in the midst of all this, the Lord of Chaos looked discouraged, some might even dare to say bored.

“Chaos, is a truly wonderful thing,” Discord said to no pony in particular,
“Although the very same chaos grows stale quickly.” He finished with a tone of spite. As if angry at his own actions.

Discord quickly crossed the land of his Chaos-Kingdom looking for new forms of entertainment, while arriving at a small settlement at the edge of the Everfree Forest, Discord spotted a blacksmith toiling away at some sort of iron-work, with a snap of his fingers the hammer exploded in a burst of energy upon the next swing, sending the stallion flying across his workshop, he rubbed his temple in pain as he rose from a fallen bookcase.

Discord rolled in laughter, revelling in this new form of altering gravity itself through the use of simple job tools! He tried it again on other ponies working their pointless jobs but none had the same effect as the blacksmith, no matter which helpless pony Discord targeted next he always found himself returning to the blacksmith and his hammer, laughing in fits at every explosive result.

“Hey!” the stallion called, red anger flared in his eyes, his charcoal coat and emerald green mane literally pushing to the point of bursting into flame due to his anger. Sparks shooting from his cutie mark of a pair of blacksmiths tongs.

“You like hammers so much how about you take ‘em and shove ‘em up your flank!”
His anger menially subsided Tongs returned to work at his forge, pounding at the ironwork that his life and family were depending on him to create.

Discord smirked at the irksome earth pony and snapped his fingers again, re-enchanting the hammer for the gravitational explosion to ripple out on the next blow.
Tongs however was ready for the Lord of Chaos this time, quick as a flash Tongs flipped the hammer out of his mouth and bucked it with his rear-hooves, sending it flying toward Discord, the enchanted blow taking out its effect on its master.

Discord felt the full power of the gravity hammer as it struck him in the chest, the explosion sending the Element of Disharmony across a field or two, leaving him sprawling on the ground.
Tongs face lit up in a mixture of surprise and fear, he hadn’t expected it to work, oh boy he was in for it now.
Discord returned to the pony, laughing away tears. Tongs’ fear was replaced with more surprise... and a hint of confusion.

“Oh times are surely chaotic if some pony thinks he could best me!” he chuckled, wiping away a tear that turned into a butterfly as it made contact with the air.
“That gives me an idea!” Discord beamed with a bolt of twisted inspiration, “Stay right here my rebellious little blacksmith.”
Discord poked the top of Tongs’ head, leaving him suspended in place there, eyes rolling in suspended-animation, Tongs watched the Element of Disharmony disappear over a ridge in search of his next instrument of Chaos.

* * *

Discord drifted to the outskirts of Manehattan, hoping to find another piece of the chaotic puzzle already beginning to form in his mind, his gaze shifted towards a nearby tailors, looking at the young mare toiling away at a selection of suits and dresses with accuracy and precision in the pair of scissors she was holding.
Discord drummed his eagle talons against his lion paw fingers with a smirk of evil, he snapped his fingers at the young tailor and the scissors extended, enchanted with pure electrified energy. The ruby and sapphire dress she was working on burst into a blaze, ruining the dress in a spectacular show of fire.

The unicorn stomped a hoof and blew steam out of her nostrils in anger, near enough to rival her destroyed dress, she shot Discord a warning glance and took up her scissors, snipping them at the dress to salvage remains and to make the destroyed scrap fit for the waste bin.

Discord took a step back from his perch to admire the mare’s place of work;
“Tailor’s Tailors”
Tailor by name, Tailor by profession!
‘Tailor would be a fine addition to the plan,’ Discord thought to himself.

Tailor moved about her shop with hurry and grace, snipping away at fine works of high-established clothing, her scarlet mane bobbing about, as if hurrying to catch up with the busy mare, her eyes matched her mane in both colour and activity, dashing around her head to keep track of her actions within her shop, Tailor glanced at the shreds of her dress still caught in her white fur after what seemed like an eternity of brushing to the stylist. With a wince she looked down toward her cutie mark; it matched the scissors in her hand and both scissors and cutie mark alike sported new looks of scorched dress.

Discord examined Tailor’s scissors again and considered his options of the new, yet not the last tool of his mental, chaotic plan. With a snap of his fingers the scissors were enchanted again, growing and glowing, transforming into a two-pronged blade with a handle designed for the mouth of a pony, electrified burning energy resonating within the blade itself. If anything, the scissors now looked more like a sword instead of Tailor’s most trusted tool.

“Perfect!” Discord said with a clap, delight clearly present within his voice.
“This couldn't be anymore perfect!”

Tailor’s latest masterpiece, a ladies hat encircled with multi-coloured rainbow-ribbon, burst into flame at the point of the sword, Tailor was fuming. She spun on her back hooves, energy sword still in her mouth swinging the potent blade at its creator, gaining momentum with her swing before being frozen by an eagle’s claw poke to the head.

“Excellent my dear, keep that anger, you’ll need it soon enough but not yet, and the way you handled my little instrument... simply the way I imagined. Full of anger, yet so precise in your swing.”

Tailor’s eyes still sparked with anger at the Draconequus, just watching him prancing and dancing with glee at her misfortune simply angered the mare to the point of blind fury and rage. Yet, no amount of anger could free her from her frozen stance, drawing her fore hooves up with the momentum of her swing, head angled backward over her shoulder to give her swing force. Stuck like this for only Discord-knows-how-long Tailor wondered, what was the Lord of Chaos planning, and why did have to include her at a time like this?

* * *

Discord flew from one end of Manehattan to the other, searching for the final piece of his chaotic puzzle, for something that could give his pieces on the chess-board purpose to his game... yet chaotic all the same. His eyes fell upon a small cupcake shop and smiled, the owner had laid out bowls, buckets, jugs and pretty much everything that stored liquid that she could spare, catching the downpour of chocolate rain for use in her baked goods.
‘Productivity through chaos?’ Discord thought to himself. He wouldn’t put it past these ponies to simply roll over and take the chaos as it came.
The mare of this shop simply had to be in his plan.

Sweet Treat hurried about her own shop, baking her delicious goods one batch after another, her golden eyes sparkled as her oven performed the musical of ‘Ding!’ she just loved to hear. A bright pink and yellow blur sped over to the oven and opened it with speed that rivalled a Wonderbolt. Sweet Treat beamed at her latest creation of delicious treats, the locals called them ChaosCakes, a normal cupcake, except the inside of the cupcake was filled with Discord’s chocolate milk rain, the clever mare even managed to mix and whip it into a form of icing to top her specialty creation. To the earth pony however, the creation held extra specialty, for a trio of ChaosCakes was the mare’s cutie mark.

Discord teleported into the middle of Sweet Treat’s chaotic kitchen, with both hands behind his back he began to swivel on the heels of his feet, following Sweet Treat around as she worked, taking in and admiring her chaotic creations and style of work.
Sweet Treat was in her baking zone as she beamed at the next batch of delicious baked-treats, she ignored Discord as she dashed about her kitchen, mixing cupcake batter and icing in different bowls scattered around the shop. Pausing every now again due to an orchestra of ‘Ding!’ echoing throughout her shop; at this interval she bounced around to the various ovens, collecting cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies along the way as she went.

Discord saw his prize, the latest batch of ChaosCakes, he grinned as Sweet Treat took out the baked goods, placing them each on their own individual plates.
After the second last ChaosCake was placed on its plate, Discord snapped his fingers and the final cupcake of the batch was enchanted, Sweet Treat placed the final cupcake among its plate and a thundering explosion was heard all throughout Manehattan, in the epicenter of the explosion Sweet Treat was covered in cupcake icing and mixture, her bright pink fur covered in the chocolate milk rain icing, her bright yellow mane matched her coat. However her golden eyes refused to show anger at the Lord of Chaos, instead she smiled brightly, and doubled over in laughter.

Now it was Discord’s turn to look confused, the other two ponies reaction’s added fuel to his laughter as much as the initial prank did, but this mare was different. She near-enough enjoyed the chaos, Discord was too busy pondering to notice the cupcake flying towards his face.

SPLAT!

Discord’s face was covered in the icing and now his face and coat matched Sweet Treat, now however the mare looked disappointed, sad even.
“Awww, no kaboom this time, that’s no fun if you wanna make a mess,” Sweet Treat said with a frown.
“Oh but my dear,” Discord replied with a finger snap, now all the cupcakes had a rich blue glow, sporting the same explosive enchantment as the one ChaosCake had done so earlier, “There’s plenty more mess to be made.” Another finger snap divided the cupcakes evenly amongst the Draconequus and the mare, cover conjuring in front of their eyes to make an improvised battleground.

SPLAT! BOOM!... SPLAT! BOOM!... SPLAT! BOOM!

Before too long Sweet Treat’s entire store was covered in ChaosCake icing, Discord and Sweet Treat covered head-to-hoof (or head-to-toe in Discord’s case) in the delicious mixture.
“Wonderful my dear! Now the plan is complete... come along now.”
With yet another snap of his fingers, Discord and Sweet Treat disappeared from the shop,
At the other end of Manehattan, Tailor also disappeared with a teleporting twinkle.
At the Everfree Forest settlement, Tongs did the same.

* * *

The four ended up in a grassland, not too far away from the major cities of Canterlot and Fillydelphia, the three ponies watched Discord, focus brewed across his face as he channeled energy into the palms of his multi-animal hands; with beads of sweat coming from his face and a grunt or two escaping his mouth, Discord released an incredible amount of chaotic magic creating a gigantic stadium before him and the three ponies. The three ponies watched in awe as entrances, seats, a playing field and even foot and carriage paths were created before them by the Draconequus.
Discord turned to his three subjects, the three harbingers of his plan, the three harbingers of Equestria’s latest and greatest sport to date!
“This, my little ponies,” Discord said, turning towards his subjects with a grin, “Is the first National Grifball Stadium.”

Discord summoned a group of nine random ponies to accompany the Grifball forefathers, five from the Everfree Forest settlement to accompany Tongs, and four from Manehattan to accompany Tailor and Sweet Treat. When all ponies were before Discord, he used his magic to summon the chaotic tools he used to antagonize the ponies of Everfree and Manehattan; the Gravity Hammer, which sent Tongs flying throughout his smith, the Energy Sword, an enchanted pair of scissors grotesquely grown and sharpened to form a two-pronged heat-bearing blade, and finally, the ChaosCake, A cupcake infused with more than one dosage of Discord’s magic, causing it to explode upon placement of a certain pedestal.

Tongs stared down at his old tool, the hammer had grown nearly as much as the scissors, it had a long sleek handle ending in a club covered in glowing glyphs and marks, the other end wielded spikes, the hammer’s handle now sported a mouth brace, large enough to fit a pony’s mouth for use, while still keeping the user comfortable.”

“Uh, excuse me your chaoticness,” Tongs began, “How exactly are we supposed to use these? If they are what I think they are,”

“Oh well that’s simple” Discord started, taking up one of the hammers in the mouth brace, “You take the hammer and swing it like this,” Discord swung the hammer around in a horizontal line, when the hammer reached the maximum length of its arc, the effect triggered, the gravitational explosion sent two of the Manehattan ponies flying, leaving Tongs in awe.
“Or you make contact with a surface to create a shock wave of the same effect,” he continued
“Oh horseap-” one the remaining Everfree pony’s amber eyes went wide as Discord struck the ground with the gravity hammer, the effect triggering quite close to Tongs and the amber-eyed pony sending them flying further than the other two.
“Easy as pie really,” Discord finished, leaning on one leg against the upturned Gravity Hammer, turning his gaze towards Tailor and the Manehattan ponies who were eyeing the Energy Swords “any more... demonstrations” he said with a smirk.

Tailor snatched up Manehattan’s share of swords and passed them amongst her companions, she took one sword in her mouth and bit hard on the handle, extending the blade, the sword springing into its destructive form, as it had done so in her tailors not too long ago.

“Now watch closely...”

* * *

Soon both groups of ponies were practising their sword-wielding and hammer strikes, trying to avoid the painful effects from both if they were struck by a blow during practise, soon everypony was dodging like a pro and delivering attacks to their companions, dodging ones given in return.

“Now waith shust a sheckond” Tongs said, spitting the Gravity Hammer out of his mouth,
“Ya still haven’t fully explained the meaning of all this, why are we here? why are we using these things? and what in the hay is Grifball anyway?”
All the other ponies agreed in murmurs and nods.

“Oh isn’t it obvious?” Discord said with a eagle-taloned facepalm, he snapped his fingers conjuring two dummies and a pedestal in front of him.
“You take these,” he started picking up a Gravity Hammer and deactivated Energy Sword, clipping it to his coat.

“And you do this to the other team,” He swung the hammer at one dummy sending it hurdling back before equipping the energy sword, activating it with a wicked sound of crackled magic energy and thrust toward the other dummy in an upward swing delivering the same effect.

“To put this,” he continued, his voice sounding incredibly annoyed,
“Onto this.” he finished, picking up the ChaosCake and dropping it onto the pedestal with a splat.
“Uh oh,” Sweet Treat managed to say before...

BOOM!

The thundering explosion from the ChaosCake coated everypony in delicious chocolate milk rain icing and cupcake mix, everypony looked annoyed and disgusted apart from Sweet Treat who was bouncing and grinning with glee.

“It’s a game, a sport,” Discord said, “Now get yourselves clean and armoured in the locker rooms, Equestria’s first Grifball match will be starting soon.”

“Armoured?” everypony said in unison.

* * *

It turns out Equestrian Grifball had three different armour classes, for those who favoured attacking the enemy team while in possession of the ChaosCake, light armour made them more maneuverable to weave around and over defenders and tanks, pegasi often favoured the quick movements and freedom from the light armour.

While those who favoured a strong defence line, heavy armour gave them the ability to take more hits, at the cost of hindered movement when compared to their light armoured team-mates, earth ponies often favoured heavy armour due to their capability of physical damage when compared to their earth pony labour.

Finally, medium armour was a hybrid of the two, equal movement speed and equal damage threshold left these ponies as the support of both armour types, they could move up to assist an attacking light armoured pony, and retreat just as easily to help their heavy armoured team-mates in defence, Unicorns often favoured medium armour for the reliability and stability it adds to a team.

Discord had one final rule to play upon the ponies of Grifball, no wings, no magic.

Tongs picked up his heavy armour, ‘Everfree Executioners” was engraved into the side of his red helmet, the engraving was small and in onyx black. His team-mates looked at their armours respectively, each armour type had the same logo as well as colour style; a background of a black forest landscape over the red armour, with a white pair of two crossed manticore tails in the foreground.
“Y’know...” Tongs began,

Tailor and Sweet Treat turned to each other before deciding armours, Tailor had decided on the medium armour, thinking of equal advantages to both speed and protection, Sweet Treat had favoured the light armour, mainly due to her hyperactive attitude. The armours of the Manehattan team were deep blue, the engraving ‘Manehattan Maulers’ glistened in the dim light of the locker room against the helmet in its frost colouring.
The emblem; a background of onyx black coloured towering skyscrapers covered in glittering silver windows, with a trio of each pony race in the lower foreground, each with hooves held high as they seemed to look amongst the tallest of skyscrapers and stars.
“Y’know...” the mares began,

“...this could actually be fun.” the Equestrian Grifball forefathers said with a grin in unison.

The Everfree Executioners and Manehattan Maulers stepped out into the glow of stadium lights, thousands upon thousands applauding hoofbeats echoing throughout the stadium halls, chants of ‘Ev-Er-Free! Ev-Er-Free!’ were rivalled with chants of “Mane-Hat-Tan! Mane-Hat-Tan!” at the same volume. The two teams lined up across their respective goals waiting for the starting whistle.

A familiar voice echoed through the stadium as the lights dropped everypony into darkness.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts! I your ruler and the King of Chaos, present to you the very first match in the history of Equestria, Grifball!”

Spotlights flicked into life as they shone across Discord and his throne of announcement at the the top of the stadium.

“Tonight! We see the dawn of Equestria’s latest and greatest sport, as the forefathers of Grifball pit it out in the very-first match to date! So everypony, put your hooves together for the founders of your new sport, The Everfree Executioners and The Manehattan Maulers!”

A spotlight shined down upon both teams at the mention of their names, each team was met with thundering applause as the six members of each team, lined up at their starting position.

“Grifballers! On your marks...” and the stadium quietened again in preparation for the first Grifball game in Equestrian history.

“3!...2!...1!...”

* * *

Twilight Sparkle shut the book of Darker Sports From Darker Times, blowing out her reading candle, how much time had she taken up through Grifball’s chapter alone?

“You gotta hand it to Discord,” Twilight said to herself,
“He sure knows how to play a great game.”