"Dear Midna,
Baseball... It is said to be the foundation of the Equestrian Spirit. For generations, long before the Equestrian Baseball Association was founded, ponies played the sport, in one form or another, for thousands upon thousands of years.
The concept of hitting a ball with a stick on a field of clay and grass, though simply put, is one of the most complex and beautiful things in this world.
There are currently only 16 teams in the EBA's Major League organization, 64 teams total in its Minor League organization, and 4 teams in the Apploosan Fall League... And I own of one of the ball clubs: the Cloudsdale Cloud Kickers' Major League Baseball team, and it's affiliated Minor League teams: the New Saddle Seaponies, the Phoenix Desert Dogs, the Eureka Loggers, and the Crystal City Gem Finders.
I am looking forward to taking the reigns of this baseball organization, and to leading the Cloud Kickers to the World Series in Canterlot Stadium and bringing home a win for Cloudsdale.
I hope to hear from you soon, sweetheart... Also, let us know where you'd like to go camping next week. I'm thinking up near Trottingham.
With love,
Your father"
Cayden smiles, sealing the letter into an envelope and gently sets it down on his desk.
"She's going to be surprised... She knows I hate sports... And yet... Baseball is calming... It's a sport that I actually enjoy watching, unlike Hoofball or Basketball, or heck, even Golf is boring... But baseball is entertaining. I enjoy watching it," he said out loud, leaning back in his chair.
"I should hope you enjoy the sport, Mr. Tavers. It wouldn't make sense if you didn't enjoy baseball yet you own a Major League ball club," a stallion dressed in the team uniform said, walking into the office.
Cayden looked up and smirked, leaning forward again. "Coach Maple Leaf... Do you have the team rosters for this year?"
"Yes sir, and the draft picks that we're recommending," the coach replied, setting several folders down onto Cayden's desk.
"Excellent... I'm looking forward to seeing this team in action." Cayden said, opening the folder for the AAA team, the New Saddle Seaponies, and looks it over. "Have the teams report to the Spring Training facility in Baltimare in two weeks... I want to get an early start on conditioning them for this year's season."
Maple Leaf daisies a brow, looking at the ball club owner. "But sir... Won't the EBA commissioner fine you if we start training too early?"
"Not if we call it a work-out camp... That, and I know the Canterlot Capitals and the Manehattan Yankees are starting early too. If we're going to beat them this year, then we're going to need to practice harder," the unicorn stallion replied, smiling up at the coach.
"Alright, you're the boss. I'll have the teams report to the facility in two weeks," Maple said, nodding.
"Good... Also, the Cervidas Deerlings are going to be joining us for training."
"The Deerlings? Theyre the top ranked team in the league!"
"Mhmm... And I've already worked a deal with the team manager and the owner. They're going to be using the Major League practice fields, while the Cloud Kickers will be training in the stadium. The Minor League teams will be unaffected by this," Cayden responded, pushing the folders aside.
"Okay.. Just so you know, sir.. Having you as both the owner and manager for the team is a big change for us. We are used to being under a pegasus," Coach Leaf stated.
"I'm fully aware of the team's history of being owned and managed by pegasi... But you'll all learn to love me by the time Spring Training rolls around in February."
"Yes sir," Maple said, nodding before leaving the office.
Cayden sighed slightly, then slowly stood up and walked over to his office window and looked outside. His eyes studied every detail he could see of the stadium, his attention primarily focused on the infield.
He smiled slightly, then walked out into the hall and made his way to the stairs. He quickly trotted down them and exited the door, heading out onto the concourse over-looking the field. He took in a deep breath before quickly walking down the steps and hops over the wall, his hooves hitting onto the warning track with a slight puff of dust. He slowly walked out onto the field and steps onto the mound, looking down the line at the plate, smiling. He then turned around and looked up at the scoreboard, the facility name illuminated in bright sky-blue lights.
"Cloud Kicker Stadium... Home of the Cloudsdale Cloud Kickers..." He said to himself, smirking. "Soon to be home to the Cloudsdale Cloud Kickers, World Series Champions."
Cayden closed his eyes, horn glowing softly as a baseball appeared on the mound in front of him. He slowly opened his eyes and picked up the ball, holding it in his hoof. He stood up on his rear legs, then threw the ball as hard as he can over the plate. The ball hit the backstop netting with a fwish, then fell to the ground with a faint thud, bouncing several times before slowly rolling to the side. He stares at the ball for a moment, then slowly walked over to it and picked it up into his magic, looking over its white cowhide surface and red stitching.
Cayden's horn glowed brighter for a second, then dimmed as a bat appeared next to him with a pop. He placed it into his mouth as he made his way to the plate, holding the ball into position just over the white pentagonal base. The stallion quickly reared his head back with the bat, then swung it forward as fast as he could, the redwood bat hitting the ball with a loud crack, launching the ball out deep into center field.
Cayden dropped the bat, smiling as he fell into a half-trot, rounding the bases. His hooves kicked up small chunks of clay as he trotted, his smile growing with each step he took. His forehooves stepped onto the plate and he trotted to a stop, looking around at the entire stadium around him, grinning.
Cayden looked out over center field before slowly walking out towards the ball he hit. His hooves came to a stop several feet away, horn glowing as the ball floated up into the air and over to him.
"This is going to be the greatest baseball season anypony has ever seen... I guarantee it..." He said softly, smiling brightly as he stared at the baseball in front of him.
The air whipped past the cabin of the transport as the repulsor engines propelled it through the atmosphere. Clouds rushed by, breaking apart as the vehicle soared high above the planet, heading towards a large city stretching out around a small harbor, several steam-ships moving into the docks below.
"Captain, bring us in slow and low, adjust angle of descent to 27°, bear 7° to port. I want to land just outside the city. From there, you and I will take a carriage to the facility," Cayden smiled, staring out the viewport as the pegasus mare in front of him piloted the ship.
"Aye aye, sir,” the captain replied, making the necessary adjustments.
“We should be planet-side within minutes.”
"Thank you, Arianna, for helping me with this..."
"Not a problem at all Cayden," she responded, smiling. The black, white, and yellow pegasus mare looked over at the stallion seated next to her. "I know how important this is to you. I'm just glad that you brought the rest of your family along too."
Several voices can be heard in back, several colts and a filly are playing a game which, from what the two adults can determine, involves one pony stating the color of something and the other two trying to guess what item the chooser picked. The giggling of a young foal can be heard over the voices of the older children.
"I couldn't leave them behind... Not for two months. Especially not Comet... I want to raise him properly..." the olive brown stallion stated, closing his eyes with a gentle smile.
"I'm proud of you, sir. You're doing your best to be the best father you can be. I know Comet, Omega, Moore, and Midna will all appreciate it," Arianna smiled, looking ahead through the clouds. "Baltimare is coming up. Best get ready, Cayden."
"I'm always ready Arianna,” he smirked, heading into the back of the transport.
"Look alive kids, we're almost there!"
A young, red, pegasus mare with a papoose strapped to her chest turned towards him with a smile. "About time Dad… Comet is getting restless being cooped up on this gunship."
"Him and I both sweetheart..." the stallion sympathized as the young blue colt in question crawled over and tapped his leg, giggling.
Cayden looked down and smiles, picking the foal up, cradling the little colt in his hooves.
"Almost there, little buddy..." the foal's father replied, giving the him a gentle nuzzle. Comet giggled happily, nuzzling his father back.
"Da! Da!" he cooed, patting his small forehooves on the larger stallion's chest.
"You're so adorable, Comet," Cayden chuckled and smiled wide, ruffling Comet's mane.
The young mare watched her father and baby brother, smiling softly. Her ear twitched as she heard a soft groan from behind her.
"Come on Omega! Move your piece!" a blue unicorn colt exclaimed. Omega sat across from him, looking down at the dejarik board, considering his options.
"Relax Moore... War isn't won by being impatient..." the olive-brown colt replied, pressing several keys with his hooves. A blue creature moves two spaces on the board.
"No, but it does go faster when you make quicker decisions," Moore said, pressing a few keys as a red creature moves a space.
"And that's why the Empire lost to the Rebellion. They didn't assess the situation carefully before committing," Omega stated, looking at his brother. "That's also why most other governments fell to the
Republic during the Reunification War." Cayden watched the colts, smirking.
"That's not why they fell... They fell because the Republic possessed
superior technology and numbers," Midna countered, walking up to the two colts.
"Actually, you're all wrong," Cayden started, trotting over slowly.
"The Republic succeeded because everypony else was predictable. By using battle maps from past engagements from each faction, Republic Naval and Army Commands were able to effectively formulate attacks, counter-attacks, and defenses capable of not only suppressing the enemy, but also pushing them back."
"So it was by sheer tactical knowledge and skill that led the Republic to victory?" Moore asked, looking at his father.
"Exactly,” Cayden smiled.
The intercom on the transport stuttered to life. "ETA five minutes, sir. And quit telling your kids that you won by tactical knowledge.
It's no secret that it was all dumb luck," Arianna's voice spoke over the speakers, a slight giggle following.
Cayden grumbled a bit, looking at Midna.
"... Get your brother, sweetheart..." Midna smiled, giggling slightly, and saluted.
"Aye aye, dad!" She looked around before scooping the one-year old colt up into her hooves and places him into the papoose.
"Mi'na!" Comet exclaimed at being picked up, giggling as he touched her chin with a hoof.
Midna giggled again, nuzzling the small hoof happily as the transport shuddered slightly, touching down outside of the city. The side door slid open and a ramp extended down to the ground.
"Captain, go ahead and take the transport to the facility,” Cayden said, looking outside he smiled before slowly walking down the ramp.
“We're going to take a walk through town for a while."
"Aye aye, Commander. You guys have fun," Captain Blaire replied, watching Omega and Moore hurry down the ramp after Midna and their father.
The ramp slowly retracted before the transport began flying back up into the air and heading towards the south-side of Baltimare.
"Where to first?" Cayden asked, smiling.
"Well, I'm not sure about you dad, but Comet and I are starving..." Midna stated, Comet's stomach growling in response.
"Us too!" Moore chimed in, bouncing up to his sister with Omega. Cayden grinned and nodded.
"Alrighty... Food it is.”
The group of ponies started walking into the city, hooves clacking against the cobblestone pathway as they passed the first few buildings. Several carts laden with food or trinkets sit scattered on the side of the main roadway. Midna trotted over a cart with Comet, looking things over.
"Look Comet, they have your favorite, apple fritters!" she smiled, reaching a hoof into her saddlebags and took out her bit bag. Comet's ears perked up at the mention of delicious fritters and smiled wide, babbling a bit. Midna giggled softly before ordering two, placing down several bits before taking the bag holding the food. Comet's hooves sprang into action at the sight of the food-laden bag and started grabbing at it. Midna noticed the tiny hooves moving and quickly placed the bag on her wing, giggling again.
"Not yet Comet... We've got to see what Omega and Moore get so we can rub it in their faces," she said mischievously, giggling more. Comet slapped his hooves onto the sides of the papoose and pouted, tail swishing about anxiously against Midna's chest. She patted the young colt on the head, then resumed walking down the road, looking around for their two brothers. "Speaking of those two... where did they go?" she asked, trotting closer to her father.
