My Little Pony: High School is Magic

October came to Canterlot High School. Twilight and Spike have adjusted to their new school. Twilight has kept all of her grades above 'A minus,' she joined the Mathletes team, and she joined the Future Magic Scientists club. She even joined a running group that meets on Saturdays to run through local parks. All of this and she still manages to go to every event planning meeting with Applejack and Fluttershy. Spike was having a more difficult time fitting in. His grades were not that great and he doesn't like a lot of the clubs that were at the school except for the Video Game club. But he had to maintain a certain grade point average that he wasn't meeting. He wasn't able to get on the hoofball team as a player but he did get water boy. Spike happily took the position but nopony on the team treats him with much respect, not even the coach.

One day Spike and his friends were sitting down for lunch. Spike was upset because he got a 'D' on his Equestrian Language test. He slumped into his seat and began to rummage through his lunch bag. Sweetie Belle paid close attention to Spike. She was especially excited today. She noticed Spike has been down in the dumps lately so she took it upon herself to pack a special lunch for him. She was desperate to find a way to make him feel better and possibly notice her more. A specially made lunch of sapphire salad with bacon bits with a strawberry banana smoothie was the best idea she could come up with.

"So, Spike," Sweetie Belle started. "What did you bring for lunch, today?"

"Well let's see," Spike said with a mopey tone. "A smashed peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple, cheesy puffs, and an apple juice."

"Nope," Sweetie Belle said as she repackaged Spike's lunch and threw it away. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo started to wonder what Sweetie Belle was up to. "You're having something else. Ta-da!" Sweetie Belle took out a lunch box for Spike. She unpackaged both of their lunches from it. "I noticed you've been sad so I thought I'd cheer you up with making you lunch. I know you like sapphires so I made you this sapphire salad and for your drink your favorite smoothie."

"Banana chocolate?" Spike cheerfully asked.

"Um, your second favorite smoothie."

"Oh? My second favorite smoothie… hmm… "

"It's strawberry banana."

"Oh! Sweet!" Spike said as he took a gulp.

"Hurry and taste the salad! I wanna see how I did."

"Okay," Spike said as he took a fork full and ate it. "Wow, it delicious!"

Sweetie Belle screamed with delight. She enjoyed watching him eat her food. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo peered over at the two with confused looks. Apple Bloom decided to get some answers.

"So, uh, Sweetie Belle," she nudged her friend. "Did ya pack a lunch for me and Scoots, here?"

"Huh?" Sweetie Belle said as if broken from a trance. "Oh, I just figured you guys would be okay with whatever you brought."

"But you thought Spike could use a special lunch, right?"

"I'm just being nice."

"Being nice. Ah see," Apple Bloom said as she retreated back into her seat. She then grew a mischievous smile on her face. She leaned over to Scootaloo to whisper something in her ear. When she was finished Scootaloo fell back out of her seat in uncontrollable laughter.

"So, Spike," Sweetie Belle continued. "The first hoofball game is tonight and I was wondering-"

"Holy crap," Spike shouted. "I totally forgot! I gotta go talk to coach." Spike inhaled his salad and drank his smoothie in a flash. "Thanks for the lunch Sweetie Belle. See you girls later."

Spike left the lunchroom and headed towards the coach's office. Sweetie Belle was disappointed by Spike's early departure. She wanted to ask if he wanted to go to the game together with her. She was upset that maybe her lunch didn't impress him enough.

"Why am I even trying?" she said to herself. "It's not like he feels the same way about me anyway."

"Oh my stars, Ah was right," Apple Bloom said hugging Sweetie Belle.

"You guys are like the cutest thing ever," Scootaloo said joining in the hug.

"Shut up," Sweetie Belle said, blushing beet red.

"Don't worry Sweetie Belle," Apple Bloom said. "Mah big sis says if you're sweet on somepony who doesn't know it keep dropping hints."

"Yeah, but you might have to drop a bunch," Scootaloo said. "Rainbow Dash says boys are super stupid."

"Oh yeah," Apple Bloom added. "And show him your boobies!"

Sweetie Belle pushed her teasing friends. They continued to joke and tease each other for the remainder of the lunch. Spike ran all the way to the coach's office on the other side of the school by the locker rooms. Spike has tried his hardest to be a good water boy. One day Spike asked the coach if he could join the team as a player and he was told to ask on the first game day. Ever since then Spike has endured the poor treatment he's received in hopes that this was just temporary.

"Today's the day, I know it," he said to himself before he walked into the coach's office. A large blue Minotaur was seated at his desk enjoying a meatball sub and yesterday's funny papers. He didn't notice Spike coming into his office.

"Coach Iron Will?" Spike said.

"I'm on my lunch break, right now" he said. "Whatever it is, you have 2 minutes."

"It's me, Spike Sparkle, the water boy. You told me to ask you if it was possible to join the hoofball team, today, as a player."

"I did?" Iron Will questioned as he looked at his calendar.

"Coach, I know I'm small, but I'm fast. Sort of. And I can take a beating. Please coach. I'll work really hard. I'll even keep being the water boy. Pretty please?"

"Listen, Sparkle, Iron Will likes you. That's why I gotta tell you the truth. I should've told you earlier but I can't have you playing for my team. I would completely murder a pony to have a dragon on Iron Will's team but one that isn't the size of the hoofball. Do you see what I mean, Sparkle? Take this time to bulk up and learn the ropes. We might be able to get you on next year. How's that sound?"

"Yes, sir," Spike said with disappointment.

"Alright, son. Now, is there anything else I can help you with? Tonight's the big game up against Windigo High and I'm doing everything I can to keep calm."

"No, sir," Spike said as he started to leave.

"Alright. See you tonight, son. Let's take the wind outta Windigo" Iron Will said before the door was closed.

Spike dragged his feet through the locker room. He was supposed to get ready to go to art class but he didn't feel like doing anything. This was one thing he wanted to go right for him. To hear that he couldn't have it caused him to think if whatever he does matters at all. He felt very unsure of himself and alone. Spike stopped dragging his feet to notice two towels on the floor. He sighed before picking them up and taking them to where they needed to be.

"Man, this sucks so much," Spike said as he took the towels to the equipment room. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's not like anyone around here cares about little ol' me. I'm probably too small to care about."

"Aw, don't say that, Spike," said a voice from behind the dryer. "I care about cha!" It was Babs Seed. She was finishing a cigarette. "So this is why I haven't been seein' ya. You're on the team! You're one of the big boys."

"Pfft, as if," Spike responded. "I'm just the water boy. I think that's all I'll ever be. My big brother was the quarterback for Princess Academy. I was just trying to be like him. But I guess it would help if I shared his blood. That's what I get for being adopted."

"Sweet," Babs said. "I'm adopted, too. I knew you and I would have stuff in common. Trust me kid, I've been there."

"You're adopted, too?" Spike happily said. "Finally, somepony who understands me! I mean I am eternally grateful to mom, dad, and my siblings for welcoming me but sometimes I wonder if they forget that they adopted a dragon! What's your family like?"

"My old lady is, like, the worst," Babs said. "She's an Equidae Saint. Everything she does she has to pray to Equus Christ about it, first. She neva' let's me do anything cool. I guess that's one reason I like coming to school." Babs took out a pack of cigarettes from her satchel. "We still got some time before the bell rings. You smoke?"

Spike paused at the sight of the cigarette offered to him. "No thanks," he said.

"Have you ever smoked before?"

"No."

"Why not? Nopony's stoppin' ya!"

"I shouldn't."

"Why? Because you were told you weren't big enough?"

"N-no! It's just that… well we're not supposed to-"

"C'mon, Spike. Show me the real Spike. Show me the Spike that knows what he wants. Be your own dragon for once."

Spike hesitated. He looked at Babs who was waiting for him to make a move. Then he looked at the cigarette. He remembered all the times he was mistreated at school, on the hoofball team, and even at home. He could tell this trend would continue if he didn't do anything about it. He was tired of being too small. He wanted to be a big shot for once. He took the cigarette.

"That a boy," Babs said. "Lemme getcha a light."

"Save it," he said as he took Babs Seed's cigarette out of her mouth. "I got this."

Spike lit both of the cigarettes with his signature light green flames. He gave one of the cigarettes to Babs Seed. She was very impressed by his resolve. However, when he tried to smoke his cigarette he started to violently cough. He was tearing up and even vomited a little. He spat up the vomit and the cigarette on the floor. Babs Seed found it to be very funny.

"I can't see how you can enjoy this," Spike struggled to say.

"Eh, it gives me somethin' to do when I come here to peek at naked boys. I get a rush from it and a cigarette calms me down. You're into that stuff, twinkle toes?"

"No way!"

"Good," Babs said as she walked up to Spike to fix his shirt or anything else out of place. "There's hope for you, yet. Finish this for me, will ya, babe?"

Babs placed her lit cigarette in Spike's mouth since Spike threw up on his. He watched her as she left the room. Before she left she looked back at Spike to give him a wink and off she went.

"Sure thing… babe," Spike said as he took another drag. This time it wasn't as bad. Spike actually started to feel good. He couldn't tell if it was from the nicotine in the cigarette of the fact that he was starting to find himself attracted to Babs Seed. He continued to daydream about her while he finished her cigarette.

It was 5:45pm and the kick off for the big game was at six. Twilight Sparkle was in the library finishing up any work she had. Her phone began to vibrate letting her know that the game was about to start soon. She looked up from her books and saw that she was alone.

"I guess I'm the only who isn't at the game yet," she said to herself as she started to pack up her things. She walked out of the library and she could hear the faint marching band music and cheering from outside. She headed toward the hoofball field to enjoy her little brother's first hoofball game.

Students and their families were in the bleachers cheering on the band as they performed several songs to warm up the crowd. Principal Luna and the Principal of Windigo High were seated together talking with each other with very concerned faces. It was a little chilly and the temperature was expected to drop throughout the game. When Twilight got to the field she took out a scarf from her bag and wrapped it around herself.

"Now then," she said. "I'll get some pictures of Spike and then I'll go find the girls."

Twilight looked for Spike but saw that none of the players were on the field yet. Twilight waited by the sidelines until the Buckaneers made their debut. When the band marched off the field a crowd of cheerleaders set up a breakthrough banner for the Buckaneers to burst through. Twilight got her camera phone ready to see Spike run through with his team and the other team staff. The band and the crowd settled when the announcer began speaking over the p.a.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, please stand as the band performs the Equestrian Anthem."

Every pony stood and placed their hooves over their chest. The band began playing the anthem as some of the crowd joined in to sing. When the song was over the crowd cheered and roared for the game to start. The announcer began his next announcement.

"And now, kicking off another year of hoofball is our very own Canterlot Buckaneers!"

POW! The school's hoofball team erupted from their locker room. Twilight prepared herself to record Spike but she didn't count on being nearly trampled by parents and students who also came to the sideline to take pictures of the players, too. But Twilight held her ground. Spike was one of the last to come out. Twilight got every second of him running twice as hard to keep up with his longer limbed teammates. Twilight thought he looked rather cute in his staff t-shirt. It even had 'SPARKLE' on the back of it. She was very proud of him.

Twilight retreated to the bleachers to try and find her friends Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. Twilight remembered the text she got from Fluttershy saying they would save her a seat. She searched each row until she spotted them seated together. But it looked like they couldn't save her a seat, after all. It was very crowded and Twilight feared that she may have missed her chance to enjoy the game with her friends.

"Hey, Twi," said Sunset Shimmer who casually bumped into her.

"Oh, hey Sunset," Twilight said in surprise. "I thought you couldn't make it tonight."

"Technically, I said I didn't want to make it," Sunset corrected. "But Adagio and the girls got some coolers and convinced me to come so here I am! Hey, you should come watch it with us."

"Well, I was gonna sit with my friends but, it looks like I was too late."

"Good," Sunset said as she put her hoof around Twilight. "Let's hurry. They're waiting for me in the parking lot."

Sunset Shimmer led Twilight toward the field parking lot. Before she was out of eyesight, Applejack looked over and saw Twilight walking off. She was about to yell and grab her attention but she saw that she was with Sunset Shimmer. Applejack nearly bit her tongue to stop herself from yelling. She thought it was unusual for Twilight to want to hang out with Sunset Shimmer considering how she was warned about her. But maybe she thought that she was jumping to conclusions. She refrained from telling Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash and decided to forget about it.

Sunset Shimmer pushed Twilight into a running car with the Dazzlings waiting for them. Inside of the car, the girls were blasting a popular Sapphire Shores song. The Dazzlings were singing along to it. They didn't even notice Sunset Shimmer and Twilight enter the car. When Adagio heard the door close, she took off. Sunset Shimmer also joined in with the singing. Twilight sat in the middle in the backseat and tried to look like she was enjoying herself. She was concerned about Adagio's speedy driving. But she took comfort in the fact that nopony else was worried.

Adagio drove her friends to a parking garage not too far from the school. She drove all the way up to the top deck. There were a few other parked cars as well but they were also students who had the same idea. They parked at the end of the deck where they got a big view of the hoofball field.

"Wow, do ponies come up here to tailgate?" Twilight said.

"That among other things," Sunset said as she got out of the car. "C'mon let's hurry and grab a drink before Sonata drinks it all."

"Hey," Sonata Dusk said as she too got out of the car. "I brought my own drink. I made it all by myself." Sonata took a sip from a large novelty coffee cup filled with a mixture of wine and grape soda.

"She's gonna end up on her ass, anyway," Aria said. "There's a whole bottle of wine in there."

"And I brought two more, just in case I get thirsty," Sonata said as she continued to sip from her beverage.

Sunset Shimmer fetched a cooler from the trunk of the car. In it they had bottles of wine coolers on ice. Sunset gave an appletini flavor drink to Twilight. Twilight took it but didn't open it. She was happy to be with her new friends but she still felt a bit out of place. The two have hung out with each other by going to movies and grabbing coffee together but they are still trying to figure each other out.

"Cheers," Sunset said as she took a sip from her drink. Twilight still held on to her drink but raised it to cheer with Sunset. "Well aren't you gonna drink it?"

"Well, I never drank alcohol before," Twilight said. "I'm not sure if this is how I wanted to experience my first time. Sorry for being a big party pooper."

"Twi, if you're feeling scared right now, then stop it," Sunset said as she put her hoof around Twilight, again. "You are amongst your peers. You are amongst friends. More importantly you're with me. You're totally safe."

"Well, maybe I'll have this one drink. With you. Just one, though. It is a school night."

"You are the cutest thing, ever," Sunset said with a laugh. "But that's fair."

Twilight and her friends enjoyed their drinks in fellowship. They hardly watched any of the game. They were too busy talking about other things like ponies they knew, popular television, and boys. Twilight even opened up and shared a few of her experiences with boys. Sunset admired her for opening up like that with them. She was happy that she was enjoying her time with her.

Meanwhile on the field, the Buckaneers were getting massacred by the Windigo Colts. The Colts managed to score 2 touchdowns and a field goal. The score was 3 - 24 and the first half was almost over. Spike was working really hard to keep his team hydrated. He kept knocking over things trying to get the players their beverage. He kept getting pushed, shoved, and knocked over himself. He looked as if he actually got tackled on the field. This isn't like practice at all, he thought. It was busy, crowded, and loud. Everypony on the sidelines were tense and aggressive. Coach Iron Will was busy barking orders at any and everypony on the team. He was far from calm.

Flash Sentry, the starting quarterback, got sacked for the 3rd time during the next play. He was hit hard and wasn't getting up. The game was put in delay due to injury. Flash Sentry ended up having to be carried off the field. Iron Will regrettably ended up having to put in Thunderlane who had a bit of stage fright.

"Thnderlane," Iron Will sternly said to the pony with his massive hands gripping the young black pony's shoulders. "Iron Will really needs that throwing hoof of yours to not buck up! Can you promise me that, son?"

"Well,..." started Thunderlane.

"That a boy!" Iron Will said shoving him off. "Go make Iron Will proud!"

Iron Will was desperate to win this game. This is his first year as coach at the school. Previous coaches before them didn't manage the team weal enough to win a lot of games. In fact, Canterlot High School had a notorious reputation for losing all of their first games of the season for the past 20 years. Iron Will had a reputation of his own as one of the best hoofball coaches who ever coached for the University of Canterlot. He quit his job to coach for Canterlot High because he thought it would be a worthy challenge to whip their team in shape. But he was starting to feel as though maybe he took on more than he could handle.

"I quit my job for this?" Iron will said to himself as he rubbed his forehead in frustration. Spike noticed how worried Iron Will was becoming. He found a heated coffee container and poured him a hot cup of coffee. He hurried to give it to him. Iron Will was surprised to see what the dragon brought for him. He smiled and took a sip of the hot beverage and splashed the rest on his face. "Ah, that felt good. Iron Will really needed that, Sparkle. Keep up the good work."

Spike was overwhelmed by the kind words. He smiled and said "No problem, coach." Spike hadn't felt good like that in a while. He started to think that maybe whatever he does did matter, after all. In his newly found confidence Spike began to walk taller and with purpose. However, he failed to see an auxiliary cord on the ground. He tripped over it and fell face first into the grass. When he lifted his head, dirt and grass blades fell from his face. A grass blade was stuck under his snout and managed to get in one of his nostrils. He huffed and sneezed blowing a blast of green fire. He didn't notice Bulk Biceps, a star defensive player, was standing in front of him. Bulk Biceps screamed in pain as the fire seared his hindquarters. He was frantically running up and down the sideline in a panic as flames lit his backside. Iron Will and other onlookers saw Bulk Biceps run around and tried to stop him but he was too big and strong. Spike rushed to help correct his mistake. He ran after him with a bottle of sports drink. He managed to reach him and put the flames out.

Meanwhile on the field, Thunderlane, was in the middle of a play. He was about to throw the ball downfield to a wide-open receiver. But the commotion caught Thunderlane's attention. He looked over to see what was going on for a second but a linepony from the opposing team came up from his left side and tackled him, causing Thunderlane to fumble the ball. One of the players on the opposite team recovered the ball and ran it all the way into the end zone, right as the clock ran out.

When Iron Will saw the scoreboard he became livid. He broke his clipboard in half by ripping it like paper. He flipped a table full of sports drink containers before he and his team ran back to their locker rooms for halftime. Principal Luna saw everything. All she could do was hang her head in shame. Everypony affiliated with Canterlot High School felt exactly what she felt. Everypony except Twilight and her friends, who were still far away from the field enjoying their time with each other.

In the locker rooms Iron Will banged on lockers as he tried to figure out what went wrong out there. He approached Thunderlane to try and shake an answer out of him.

"Thunderlane, what in the wide world of Equestria happened out there?" he yelled.

"Idunno," he stuttered. "I got distracted by the fire."

Iron Will peered at Spike for a second. Spike could tell he had his coming next.

"No excuses, Thunderlane," Iron Will said. "What has Iron Will always said about being on the field?"

"When you're on the field, keep your eyes peeled," Thunderlane recited.

"Exactly! That means when you have the ball in your hoof, you focus on the game. Not on the water boy who was roasting the ass of Iron Will's star Center!"

Spike cringed when he heard that. He almost wanted to sneak out and run away. He knew that he was to blame for that last score. Iron Will took a deep breath and counted to 5. He repeated this twice. His raged was doused and he started to talk without yelling.

"Listen, two of our best are out but the game isn't over. Iron Will has a plan to make the comeback of the century! Now gather round fellas."

The team went over a few strategies to try and turn this setback around. Spike prepared some drinks for the players as they went over plays and stats. Spike was determined to try harder as well. When the team was ready to go back on the field Iron Will called Spike over for a private talk. Spike's heart leapt to his throat when he heard his name come out of the Minotaur's mouth. Before the coach could speak Spike began to plead his case.

"I'm so sorry coach," he said. "I fell into the grass and sneezed and I didn't see Bulk Biceps and-"

"First game jitters, son," Iron Will interrupted. "Iron Will understands. You'll do better next time."

"Yes, sir. I promi- wait, next time?"

"Son, I have a foolproof plan to get us back on top. And part of that plan is to have you sit the second half out. Iron Will can't have that happen, again. I may have to reassign you or something. We'll see. Okay, son?"

Spike was speechless. His heart was shattered. Not only was he to sit out for the rest of his first game but he may also be assigned to something worse than water boy. He didn't even hear Iron Will call his name to get a 'yes, sir' out of him.

"Sparkle! Spike Sparkle, did you hear me?" Iron Will shouted.

"Huh?" Spike finally said.

"Iron Will asked you a question."

"Uh, yes, sir," Spike said, almost on the verge of tears.

"Good. Do the team a favor and get started on cleaning up a bit in here. Make sure all the towels are put in the baskets. Wish us luck, little buddy."

Iron Will and the whole team left the locker room and headed for the field. Spike found a sports bottle and through it at the door they left out of.

"I got your little buddy, you jerk," Spike yelled as he broke down and cried into his knees. He felt awful. He let the coach and the team down. He didn't like the sound of being reassigned. He saw it as a demotion. Spike just wanted to run away. He took off his staff shirt and left it in the middle of the locker room. He decided to quit the team.

Meanwhile Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were walking toward to locker rooms. The second half started but they didn't see Spike return to the field. They wanted to check up on him so they snuck in to see him. Sweetie Belle was worried that maybe he got hurt during the fire mishap earlier.

"So, Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo started to tease. "You gonna ask Spike for his autograph?"

"Ah bet she's gonna give him a good luck kiss," Apple Bloom added.

"Shut up," Sweetie Belle said. "I just want to see if he's alright."

"Yeah, right," Scootaloo said. "Hey, Apple Bloom. How much you wanna bet Sweetie Belle wants to peek at Spike's junk?"

"Oh my gosh, you guys," Sweetie Belle yelled as her cheeks started to blush. "Shut up!"

The girls teased each other until they approached the locker room. Before they could go in Spike came out with his sports bag. He was surprised to see his friends meeting him like that.

"Um, hey Spike," Sweetie Belle started. "The game started again and we wanted to know why we didn't see you out there. We saw what happened."

Spike began to hang his head. "Sorry guys but I'm done with hoofball," Spike said as he continued to walk pass the Crusaders.

"Spike where are you going," Scootaloo said as she went into the locker room to get Spike's shirt off the floor. "You forgot your shirt, dude!"

"I'm walking home," he said without looking back at his friends as he pitifully walked down the dark hall toward the exit.

"Here you go Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo solemnly said as he gave Spike's shirt to her friend.

"Ah ain't never seen him this down," Apple Bloom said.

"Me neither," Scootaloo added.

"I just hope he'll be okay," Sweetie Belle said holding Spike's shirt in her hooves with care.