Game of Hoops

"I think I'm the only player who looks at each and every center and says to myself, 'That's barbecued chicken down there.'"

-Shaquille O'Neal

It’s a beautiful morning in the world of Equestria. The birds are chirping, the older people are up and exploring, and the rest of such place is getting ready to jump start its day. You also get ready for the day by wearing a grey sweatshirt, black shorts and black socks with slide sandals, hoisting a duffle bag with some contents needed for the day ahead. You leave your house and lock the door behind you, walking down the street. It’s a little cool outside to the touch when you first get out, but it’ll warm up when you get to your destination.

You decided to get a little fun workout in by going to the basketball court a block from your house, just to get your mind cleared on what’s the main goal. Training has been a necessity for you ever since starting in Canterlot High. Football was your favorite sport, especially when you liked to weave around defensive teams like you were a fly that couldn’t get swatted, and if so, doesn’t go down easy. That’s what made you Captain of the junior varsity football team while in freshman year. But, basketball became your true passion after being inspired by so many ‘greats’ from the game. The passion was so great that you decided to join the basketball team as their new Point Guard in that same year.

You quit football in junior year to pursue more goals for basketball as you’re one of Canterlot high’s best premier athletes in that criteria. Everyone loves you for your love of the game; determination, emotion and confidence washing over your body from game-in and game-out. Every time you go out onto the court with your team, you become their floor general, giving out plays at the right time when they are needed or just making an easy pass to a teammate so he can knock down the shot. You even know your own moves around the court, making you look more presentable in style when the scouts look at you to see if you’re acceptable for their college basketball program.

But, as you know well than anyone else, practice makes perfect. Not every game comes your way when you’re doing good efforts to bring your team back, when you just can’t make any shots or good passes when the ball gets turned over multiple times on you; the Point Guard struggle is real. That’s why when at practice or some off time, like today, you give it your all until you barely have any energy to give on the court. As a Senior, you've grown to have a more mature mind. Way to go, champ!

You made your way to the outside basketball court at Canterlot High School. Nobody was in sight this morning when you get up to the court. Taking this opportunity, you take off your duffle bag and sat it on a bench that sits on the outside of the sidelines, opening it to take out the contents you need. You took out your Checkmark™ sneakers and replaced your slide sandals with this combination, tightening the strings to give the shoes a firm hold of your feet.

Next, you took out your phone and wireless sport earbuds. You like to listen to music comfortably as you play on these kind of standards when nobody is actually here, letting the earbuds hang off your neck until you’re ready. After syncing the earbuds to your phone and putting your phone in your pocket, you take out your cold Brainwater™ bottle with an EgoBooster™ energy drink and a professionally made Balling™ brown basketball. These kinds of basketballs tend to have better grip in your hands than any other third party. Ok, I’ll stop the product placement.

You put your earbuds in and played your music. When it comes to basketball, there’s always the great feeling of having a beat every time it hits the floor, like you follow the rhythm with your style of play. Maybe that’s one of the reasons that you’ve improved over time with your team through your four years being in school.

It’s going to suck to know that you may be leaving your teammates and classmates for an opportunity that you may never get again. There is one school that is looking at you that’s within the city. But, if you find better places, You’ll try to get back in times for some special seasons, like The Apple Family's’ Cider Season or Hearth’s Warming Eve; you just have to find the time.

You start to dribble the ball with a couple of crossovers before attacking the basket with a finger roll, close to almost touching the rim with your fingers. After you made the shot, you grabbed it and went back out to the perimeter, doing the same thing in different looks; also dropping in some jump shots, faders, and moving jump shots to get your groove in. Sometimes, you’ll give yourself a little celebration holler with the occasional dance from the music that bumps your ears loud. Think of yourself doing the 'Running man' or 'dabbin'; lookin' good out there, Anon!

When you got the ball again, you went back out into the perimeter to try going for a dunk this time. After getting a starting run, you gave a loud grunt and used all of the power your calf muscles can give before leaving the earth like you were heading into space for the moon. You succeeded the dunk, but your hands failed to give a firm grip on the rim, making you fall frontwards. You were a little prepared for this and set your feet onto the ground before sliding on the floor to face up at the lightly colored clouds.

It’s really beautiful outside and nice to take this kind of opportunity to bask in your surroundings, like students hanging around the school grounds or having a good sight of the women-ladies as they run on the sidewalk. However, you were stopped short of such actions as a shadow loomed over your head, following a blue colored girl with rainbow hair standing over you. You take out your earbuds and looked up at her.

“Sup, dude! How’s it hangin’?” She said with much enthusiasm. You get up from your position and looked up at the figure, just to see that it was your best friend Rainbow Dash in a white shirt and shorts with her usual shoes.

“Hey, Rainbow! Didn’t expect you out here in the mourning. What’s up with you?” You asked, getting your ball close by. When you see Rainbow, it’s usually her running from somewhere. She’s the captain and shining star of the track team and the soccer team for the school, being faster and more physical than her peers. So, you mostly see her running on the track or on the field. You barely see her in the mourning, especially here until now of course.

“I decided to run around the whole school to get my legs in shape for the game we have in a few days. We’re going up against the Appleloosa Cowboys and I gotta make sure I have my strength to show off, like I usually do.” She said with a smirk on her visage, wiping the sitting sweat from her brow. You go by your duffle to the water bottle and the energy drink bottle.

“Want some Brainwater™ to quench that heat in your body called ‘determination’?” You chuckled, throwing her the water bottle, which she caught with ease.

“Yeah. But, even when I do drink this drink that’s loaded with electrolytes, it may not be enough to stop it from having a fire.” She said with a chuckle, earning a good laugh from you. She opened the bottle of its liquid contents and lifted it to her lips, drinking in the cold substance to regenerate her body of much needed fluids. Some of the water trailed off the side of her lips, cascading off her chin and soaking her shirt some when she finished consuming it; she was very thirsty.

As that happens, you open and consume your energy drink, replenishing your electrolytes to continue playing the game you love. You close it back up and throw it back in your duffel bag. After that, you started to dribble the ball again just as before and took a shot, making the shot from the mid-range. Rainbow Dash looked in your direction as you retrieve the ball, observing your movements.

“Hey, lemme see that ball really quick.”  Rainbow Dash asked you, holding out her hand to get it. You looked at her and shrugged, bouncing the ball for her to receive. Once she gets it, she holds it to get a feel for the leather before dribbling herself. Once she was done with that, she took a perimeter shot - 3 pointer - and made it. You grabbed the ball and tossed it back to her for the same results two more times. Once she missed her fourth shot, you went for the rebound and held it in your hand, looking over to her. You’ve never actually seen Rainbow Dash play basketball before until now. She’s doing so well with these perimeter shots that it hits you a little hard that you may have a very unnoticeable contender.

“I didn’t know you play basketball. Where did this little talent of yours come in all of a sudden?” You said, chuckling as you tossed the ball back to her. She grabs it and looks back at you.

“I play every once in awhile in the gym. I do this just to help me with my quickness abilities.” She told you, taking another shot and making it. It seems that RD already knows what she’s doing when it comes to basketball, from straight pace runs to dribbling. Her body is slimmer than yours, which will make it easier for her to slip past you. Plus, fatigue won’t be a problem for her sense she plays soccer, and soccer players can run forever.

However, you have a much stronger body than hers to make it easy for you to drive to the bucket. But, even though you have speed, your fatigue is a little higher than hers because you only play basketball, a sport that just requires you to run in short distances. AND both of you have good ball handling skills. It’s almost like it can be an even matchup by estimation.

But, who knows? Only God, bruh.

You looked at her form as she takes another shot, drinking in her pose and stance to understand her better before doing anything you might regret like, asking her for a one-on-one game of 21, which you’re going to do like right….. now.

You grabbed the ball and put it in your hand. “How about I test you on your gameplay?” You asked, walking up to her as you do. She stands there with a questionable look.

“What’re you trying to do here, Anon?” She asked, answering your question with another question.

“I wanna see how you play your game. Play me in a game of 21. no free shots.” You told her, under tossing the ball at her feet. She grabs it and gives you a look of cockiness.

“What makes you think that you can beat me here? Trying to get shut down on purpose?” She asks you. You were so taken aback by this absurd question; doth she not knoweth who she speaketh to?

“Hello? Canterlot High’s best basketball player? Captain of said basketball team? Future #1 first round pick for the NBA Draft? I think I have the guts to beat you, Dash.” You explained to her, showing your own form of cockiness with a side of boasting. Without you noticing, Dash ran passed you and made a drive layup, making the shot. She grabbed the ball and dribbled back up to the middle of the perimeter. You stood there, dumbfound at the actions that just took place.

“1-zip!” She said, chuckling at the expression on your face right now. You look at her, flustered.

“What the hell? What was that?! Getting me while I’m not ready?” You said with some disappointment with a hint of unbelief. That ain’t right to call the game to play early.

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have boasted that whole time, then. Anyway, 1-zip.” She said, grinning while dribbling some more. You looked at her for another second before sighing.

“Alright, then. Wanna play that way? We’ll play that way.” You said as you’re heading over to your duffle bag. You put your earbuds and phone away, replacing them with two ankle braces and a knee brace. You took off your basketball shoes for a minute, putting on your knee brace on your left knee and both of your ankle braces on your feet before putting them back on again. You did a few foot arch stretches, getting accustomed to the newfound support for your feet. Lastly, you get a pair of wrist straps for your hand for support comfort. You put them on and gripped your hands to get a good feel for them.

Usually, when you get this prepared to play basketball, it’s about to go down on the throw down. But, you have a feeling that this is going to be somewhat tough, even if you are prepared to get dirty.

But, she doesn’t know about that last part now, does she?

“You ready to get beat by a girl, Anon? Or are you still trying to primp yourself?” She questioned while you walked over and in front of her.

“When I’m done with you, I’m gonna be stuffed with barbeque chicken.” You said, standing in a defensive position in front of Rainbow Dash. She looked at you, confused of what you said to her.

“Huh?”

“Never mind, let’s go.” You said, dropping the subject. She shrugs and starts her dribble again while you defend on her ball handling side. After paying some attention, you know that her strongest hand is her left hand. But, she might surprise you with some other things. With the ball in her left hand, she lunges to your right and accelerates.

You get prepared for her to drive up to the basket and try to lay it up. Unfortunately, as she gets close to your body, she pushed her right leg towards her body as hard as she could, creating separation between you and her and taking the shot. You tried to block her, but you weren’t close enough to contest the shot. She made it with nice swish and gloats some before heading back to the middle of the perimeter.

“That’s two! Keep up, slowpoke!” She said, trying to get under your skin. Surprisingly, it worked when she tries to go up for a layup and you block it, grabbing the ball and putting it back up for a counted point.

“Better get the barbeque sauce and flour out, because we about to start fryin’ up some chicken here!” You claimed, dropping the ball from your possession. Once she checks it to you at the perimeter, you drive right to the hoop with full acceleration with your right hand. She notices too late and catches up to you, at the same pace.

When she tried to get in defensive position in front of you, you immediately crossed the ball to your other hand behind your back, stopping instantly. This caught Rainbow Dash off guard.

“Whoa!” She yelped, unbalancing on her left leg from her speed and sliding backwards by the basketball pole. You take a second to look her over. Her shirt was a little up on her body after the fall, showing a little bit of what looks to be a sports bra under there. Her blue abdomen was well sculpted for the young girl, glistening in the shining sun from the sweat that currently resides on the surface. After looking at her like that, there was a hot funny feeling in your body that sends signals all around from your brain.

But, still taking the advantage you have now, you stopped looking and drove to the basket to laid it up, making it. You grabbed the ball and dropped it on the floor in an instant, going back to the perimeter.

“That’s two, Spectrum. That chicken is hot and crispy right now. I'm about to add in the sauce if you don't stop me!” You said, looking over to her just now getting up. She dusted herself before looking over at you with distaste on her visage, grabbing the ball off the floor.

“You know, I let you have that point. But, next time isn’t going to be as easy, Anon.” She told you, checking the ball in to you. You grabbed it and looked at her with a smug grin, adorning her distaste for you. You always love to see people hate you for what you do on the court when it comes to showing off, shutting down someone’s game, or just being a troll for the hell of it.

But, there’s something special about this little erupting feud: at least she has a competitive spirit that is able to take yours out. It’s like a warrior killing a dragon with an enchanted sword: it can kill you, but it only depends on the owner and their capabilities.

Gawd, you wanna touch yourself after this.

“If it’s going to that way, I might as well give you a good show, just like you did me a minute ago.” You said, dribbling the ball. Surprised, she looked down a little, flustered from what you said to her. You thought about taking this advantage to drive to the hoop. But, this actually gives you a warm feeling inside your body.

Before she notices, which you hope she didn’t already, you start to dribble size her up, catching her attention to you again and getting in a defensive pose. Just for the hell of it, you decide to shoot a three pointer. It hits an unfavorable part of the rim and Rainbow catches the rebound, going back to the perimeter.

When she does and turns around, you get close to her and immediately give aggressive defense, pressuring your body against hers for harder movement: wherever she moves, you move. She tried to push you back some to get room. But, you were much stronger than her, not making a single budge. The only ways she can handle this is try to pass you or make a fade shot.

She decides to do the first, getting little movement as you follow her. She was able to get in front of you though-thanks to her smaller figure-and was able to lay it up over your good defensive efforts.

This game really took a while. Both of you were neck at neck, surprising each other with other worldly moves you’ll only see from talented people. You may even take a further step to look like you were part with the AND1 freestyle players, showing off your moves to confuse the other. After all the point production that you both produced over a span of time, both of you came really close to your target goal of 21, both being at 19. You had the ball this time after she missed a jump shot, going back to the perimeter.

“Can’t wait to smash on you, Dash!” You say, dribbling the ball with mad success. Rainbow looked at you with much agitation in her visage.

“How about you shut up and play the game already, cocky much.” She said with some venom on her tongue. You locked your vision onto her eyes with a focused agenda, staring her down as you get closer with your dribbling.

“You hate me, don’t you? It’s because I’m winning, huh?” You say, dribbling the ball behind your back. You suspect that she is mad at you for winning in this game, because she has the attitude of a mad child that didn’t get a candy bar at Walmart; she might tear up some stuff as a form of complaint. Rainbow might push you on purpose to make you miss. Or probably do something out of the ordinary; something that would shock you.

That would be interesting, cuz.

“No, I just want you to shut up so I can focus on beating you, Anon. Your mouth is getting on my nerves. It’s like listening to a rapper that doesn’t shut up after the song actually ends!” She complained.

“Awe, I’m sorry baby but I think I’m goin’ crazy. I’ve just been drinkin’ some juice slurp with a little bit of sizzurp. You makin’ sure the life of you is superb and full of herbs, but Anon is coming in ya life ta put in some purple purp. Yeah, ya screwed naw, Rainbuh Dash! I’m comin’ in ya town, guurr!” You imitated in your best southern accent, sounding pretty fire for a first timer; 100 percent.

Rainbow Dash looked more annoyed than before and just decided to try and steal the ball, which she succeeds. You chuckled, noticing her aggression. She dribbles the ball in front of you with determination in her eyes, something you took notice of this whole game.

“You ready to win, Dash? Are you ready to take me out? Want to finish strong and let me wallow in shame? I bet you can’t do it because you too scurrrrrred!” You taunted, trying to get under her skin some.

“Oh, you are TOTALLY going down! And I’ll make sure that you do!” Rainbow said, now starting her charge on the left side of the court with the ball in her left hand. You get in front of her and try to stop her at her tracks. But, she crossed the ball to her right hand and shifted her body right to drive to the basket, catching you off guard. You got close to her from her right side to the basket to hang out when you knew she was going for the layup.

She does and takes a huge acrobatic leap to the other side under the hoop, tossing the ball underhanded over her shoulder to the basket above her. She misses however, hearing the ball hit the rim, but not swishing the net. You rebounded the ball and head back to the perimeter. Turning around, Rainbow Dash puts her body against yours to initiate tough defense. You shift the ball to your right hand and faced your left shoulder in her direction.

“Geez, Dash. Can’t give me some room to go past?” You asked, laughing a little bit at the persistence.

“I can make a compromise. Drop the ball and you can go past. Come on dude, be cool.” She said, keeping her upper body and right arm on your back.

“But that would ruin the fun, Dash. I wanna make you fly to the other side of the court, dude.” You said, jumping back some to get some room. You moved to the middle of the court and started dribbling.

“Come on… you got nothing on this.” Rainbow told you, staying an arm length away from you. You feel that she may be a little too heated from this exercise, sense this isn’t really a competition. Well, if not considering who’s better at what and how they’re better by performance. But, who cares? Not you, playmaker!

Staring her down, you pulled up in front of her and stopped immediately, with the ball in your right hand. After doing a couple behind the backs, you did a few crossovers in front of her to try to confuse her, which she tries to focus on the ball.

Perfect.

You made a gesture to your right side, making it look like you were going to attack on her left. She shifts her body to your right, which you hesitated quickly to cross the ball to your left hand and back to your right hand. After that, you switched back to your left hand and attacked the basket to her right.

She ran to your side to stop you, gaining up on you on your right. But you stopped as she kept going and crossed the ball over to your right, now driving to the basket. She tried to catch up to you, but one of her feet tripped on the other, making her fall on her back as you go for the layup. That was a savagely dirty ankle breaker for some good barbeque chicken. Making the layup, you realized you just won; 21-19.

“Wooo! Call me Uncle Drew because I make them legs tremble!” You boasted. Such a well fought victory for you and a heartbreaking defeat for Rainbow. Speaking of Rainbow, you turned to her just as she’s getting up and dusting herself off. You get close to her.

“Hey, you alright Rainbow?” You said, chuckling some but still having some concern for the athlete; she did hit the concrete pretty hard.

“Yeah, Anon. Nothing like the concrete to sooth the pain and agony of a loss.” She told you with some sarcasm, feeling annoyed that she lost to you. You wrapped an arm around her neck and pulled her close to you.

“Eeyyy, it’s all in fun and practice; you just weren't hungry. Maybe you’ll get it next time, Dash.” You chuckled, moving her over to the benches where your stuff is sitting.

“Of course I will. I’m still better than you by a long shot. I just let you win to make you feel good about yourself.” She explained, pulling herself away from your arm and sits on the bench to relax a bit. You did so as well, taking off your gear and replacing it with the ones you wore earlier.

“Whatever you say. So, you wanna hang later?” You asked, now taking off your hand supports and putting on your slide in sandals.

“Eh, maybe. I got some stuff to do with the girls at the mall around noon.” She said, getting up from the bench. You took out your phone from your duffle to check the time, which was around eleven-thirty in the morning.

“You might be running a little late. It’s eleven-thirty.” You mentioned, putting your phone in your pocket. Rainbow Dash stretched out some before starting to leave.

“I guess that’s my cue to go off stage. See ya later, dude!” She said, giving her goodbyes until next time, whenever that was going to be. You sit back for a second and looked up into the sky for a good minute. You really got nothing else to do today but lift weights and… that’s it. Maybe watch some TV or play some video games. You thought about going to see a movie or getting something to eat, but you didn’t feel like spending your money. Eh, you’ll think of something.

You took off your shirt and put it in your bag with your other stuff, seeing it’s hot outside now. Then, you put on your earbuds again to listen to your music on a relaxing and tiring trip back home. Maybe there’s some barbecue chicken in the fridge.