Delivery Boy

Rainbow Dash stretched her arms high above her head before letting out a great sigh. She scratched her colorful hair and popped her knuckles. Looking at herself in the mirror she grinned. That lousy team didn't know what was coming their way. Rainbow glanced down at her uniform. It was blue with a gold horseshoe on the front. Brushing away the invisible dirt she hummed happily.

"You ready for tonight's game?"

Rainbow turned around to see Spitfire sitting down on a bench tying the shoelaces on her cleats and adjusting her shin guards. In her mouth was a sucker that she licked contentedly. Spitfire had a habit of eating candy right before soccer games. It gave her a burst of energy.

"Well, are you?" she said when Rainbow hadn't replied.

"Yeah, of course I am! Those Cloudsdale losers are going to eat dirt when we're finished with them!"

Spitfire smirked and yanked up her socks to go over her shin guards. She pushed her shades up to keep them from falling.

"You know why I asked, right?"

Rainbow Dash was quiet for a minute before she turned back to the mirror and examined her image. She knew, of course, why Spitfire asked her that. She felt her stomach churn and made a face. Spitfire got up from the bench and clapped the girl on the back.

"I know you left some friends back there in Cloudsdale and they aren't too happy you came here. But don't you worry. When we get out there on the field and they see your killer moves, they'll know why you transferred here. Because the Canterlot Wondercolts are the best!"

Spitfire playfully punched her in the arm and Rainbow returned it. She grinned at her captain. Spitfire gave her a squeeze on the shoulder before walking out of the locker room.

"Show them what you got, Dash!" she called back before the door closed.

When she was sure Spitfire couldn't see her, Rainbow let her smile drop slightly. She sat down on the bench and crossed her arms. Even with her captain's good natured remark, she still felt a bit down. Her old friends were sure to be there. Especially Gilda. And they weren't going to be all that excited to see her.

It had been about three years since she moved from Cloudsdale and came to Canterlot. When she had told her friends the news they weren't happy. Rainbow closed her eyes. She remembered the conversation they had like it was yesterday.

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Gilda, Fleet Foot, and Black Racer were all strolling around the park. The hot summer heat beat down on them and they had retreated under some trees to cool off. It was there that she had told them the news.

"You're what?!" Gilda whispered.

Rainbow Dash wiped some sweat off her brow before repeating herself.

"I'm moving...to Canterlot."

Fleet Foot and Black Racer glanced at each other in disbelief and then looked at Gilda. The girl gritted her teeth and balled her hands into fists.

"What are you moving for? And to Canterlot?? That's our rival city, Dash! And don't tell me you're going to Canterlot High!"

Rainbow sighed and leaned against the tree.

"My dad got a new job there and so we're moving for convenience. And yeah, Gilda, I'm going to Canterlot High."

Rainbow Dash had hoped that she would take it a lot better than she was. Unfortunately, such a hope didn't last long. Enraged, Gilda swore loudly and flailed her arms around in frustration. Fleet Foot and Black Racer just shook their heads and moved away from the blue girl. Fluttershy hid behind the tree to avoid getting in Gilda's way. She bit her lip and glanced at everyone's face, knowing it wouldn't go down very well.

When Gilda calmed down, she jabbed a finger at Rainbow's shoulder.

"You can't go, Dash. Cloudsdale is where you grew up. What about us, huh? If you move, you'll have no friends to back you up. Those kids at Canterlot High are going to know you're from around here, and they're not going to greet you with open arms! You can't just switch schools. Those snobs are our rivals!"

Rainbow Dash pushed her hand away.

"I'm not going to be alone there, Gilda. Flutershy's going along as well."

In shock, Gilda looked dead at the girl who was peeking around the tree and smirked as she cowered.

"You mean to tell me that Fluttershy is going to save you from all the ridicule they are going to dump on you? That poor little coward is going to stand up for you when things get rough?? Dash, are you out of your mind?! You'll be protecting her more than she will you!!"

In one stride, Gilda was right before Fluttershy and she shoved her to the ground. The girl let out a cry of shock and fear. Rainbow Dash stepped in between the two and grabbed Gilda's shirt.

"Hey! Don't do that to Fluttershy! She didn't do a thing to you!"

Gilda smirked again.

"I can't believe you're even friends with that dweeb. I thought you were cooler than that."

In a rage, Rainbow pushed Gilda back and landed a punch in her arm. Gilda grabbed her by the hair and slammed her against the tree. The breath was knocked out of the Rainbow Dash. She slumped against its trunk and looked up at Gilda, Fleet Foot, and Black Racer in disgust. Those two guys hadn't even batted an eyelash when Gilda had done those things. They just continued to shake their heads in disapproval.

"It's just a game, Gilda! This rivalry business has gotten into your head. It's only a game!!!"

Gilda kicked her in the stomach and Rainbow gasped for air.

"Just wait until you get there, Dash. Once they reject you and your savior Fluttershy, you'll come crawling back here to Cloudsdale. You'll see how many people think it's just a game. See you never."

And with that, she turned and jerked her head to the side.

"Come on, Fleet Foot, Black Racer. We're bailing on this pathetic pair."

They left Rainbow Dash fuming with anger and Fluttershy crying helplessly in the park. Rainbow swore to never be friends with people like her.

Rainbow Dash was jerked away from her thoughts when the locker room door opened. She immediately sprang up and looked at who it was that opened the door. It was Lightning Dust and she looked a little peeved.

"What's taking so long, Rainbow? Those Cloudsdale guys are here and we need to get ready! The game starts in an hour!"

Rainbow Dash nodded and bent down to pick up her clothes and shoved them in a duffel bag.

Lightning Dust clapped her hands together and shouted," Come on! come on! Move it!"

When she finished packing her things away, Rainbow Dash jogged out the locker room and was followed by Lightning Dust.

"Hurry, we got to get to the field and start warming up. You don't want to cramp up during the game!" the impatient girl said.

And with that, the two of them ran off toward the said destination.

Just stay focused on the game and you'll be fine. There's not much of a chance they'll be there. It's been three years... Rainbow Dash thought. Just think positively. Just like what Spitfire said, I gotta show them what I got!

As they ran toward the open field, Rainbow Dash could see big yellow school buses parked outside in front of the school. Students poured out of them and chanted the Cloudsdale Pythons cry.

GO, GO PYTHONS! STRIKE A GOAL AND WIN THE GAME!

Many of them were sporting the rival teams colors: black and red. Waving clappers and banners in the air, they cheered as they were ushered into the school. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna stood by the double doors and welcomed the rowdy students. Rainbow Dash kept running with Lightning Dust to the field. She saw a few rude hand gestures and got some "boos" from the crowd.

Lightning Dust stuck her tongue out at them and grinned at Rainbow Dash.

"Don't let them intimidate you. We got this."

Rainbow Dash nodded and glanced at the Cloudsdale students. She hoped Gilda wasn't among them. Fleet Foot and Black Racer she could care less about. Gilda, though, was a threat...She forced her head to look forward as she ran.

Don't look at them or you'll find who you're looking for, she thought.

Once they arrived at the field, Spitfire blew her whistle and pointed at rainbow Dash.

"Hey! What took you so long?"

Before she could reply, Lightning Dust spoke on her behalf.

"She was sitting in the locker room."

Spitfire gave Rainbow a questioning look.

"You aren't afraid, now, are you, Dash?"

"No way! We can do this!" Rainbow yelled.

Spitfire smiled and blew her whistle again to get the team assembled. They all huddled in a circle with their arms linked. Rainbow Dash looked at all her teammates. Everyone had varying looks of excitement. But under it all, she could see fear. Thunderlane and Soarin exchanged looks of anxiousness before quickly changing their expressions to something that was more fearless.

Spitfire took the sucker out of her mouth and lifted her shades up to rest in her hair. She looked at each and every one of the members in the eyes.

"I can tell all of you are a bit worried about how this game is going to go..." he began in a low tone. "But I can assure you, there's nothing to worry about. If each and every one of you plays true and strong, we can win this!"

The team nodded in agreement and let out a few whoops.

"But," Spitfire continued," if we don't win, don't be sad or ashamed. All of us will have tried our best. Sure, winning is a great triumph. But REAL WINNERS know when to accept defeat and learn from their mistakes. You don't become better players by sulking and having a hissy fit about it!"

She slapped them all on their backs.

"If I see any one of you looking sad and gloomy about the outcome of this game, should we not win, you aren't a true Wondercolt! Why? Because real Wondercolts suck it up and become stronger!!"

"YEAH!!!" Thunderlane cried.

He put a hand out in the center of the circle. everyone placed their hands over the other person's and looked at one another with determination.

"WHO ARE WE?!" Spitfire yelled.

"WONDERCOLTS!"

"WHO ARE WE?!?!"

"WONDERCOLTS!!"

"ONE MORE TIME! WHO ARE WE?!?!?!"

The team threw their hands in the air and screamed their name.

"WONDERCOLTS!!!!!!!!"