The Cayden Chronicles: Cloudsdale Cloud Kickers

"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.