The asthmatic sports star

The coach blew the whistle and the girls were fighting over the ball. Spitfire was the first to take it away from Lyra, who was in their enemy team for training, and with a swift kick shot it over to Fleetfoot, who stopped the ball and ran with it at her feet towards the goal, but was stopped by Vinyl and she had to pass it over to Dash.

The goal kicking champion didn't hesitate a second, accepted the ball and made a beeline for the goal. She had to make a full stop when suddenly Lyra, Bon Bon and Raindrops came from all sides.

To their dismay, they got a different reaction of what they thought they would get. Dash smirked.

She made a move that made it seem like she would pass it back to Fleetfoot, and in the moment where they were fighting over getting the ball and running into each other, Dash quickly shot the ball into the goal.

The audience and especially her friends were cheering loudly.
Dash just wiped the sweat from her forehead, then had a high five round with her team mates. Even though the teams were with both girls and boys, it was mostly Dash who had the ball. Like the boys just wanted to look like winners or something.

Thunderlane and Soarin were both staring at Dash. They would never admit it, but they were jealous of her. She was the best player of their team. At a sport that was only for men not even twenty years ago.

"Okay team, let's show them how it's done!" Dash said, already a little out of breath. Holding out her fist, the others put their fists to her, forming a sun of some sort.

The coach whistled and another round started.

It went on like this for the next two rounds until they took a short break. Dash was more than glad about it. Even though it was 3:0 (big surprise I know) and she's known for bragging about winning, she just wanted to be off the field now.

The act didn't go unnoticed. Her team mates had noticed but didn't say anything. Sunset frowned and went back down the stairs.

"Sunset! Where are you going?" Pinkie asked.

"Just getting a drink real quick." Sunset lied.

"Don't be long, game's about ta start soon again." Applejack said.

"Sure."

* * *

Dash was in a bathroom stall taking the third push of her inhaler. She felt so stressed for some reason. She had felt watched out there on the field and it was making her totally stressed out, which didn't help with her tense lungs.

"Dash? You in there?" Sunset's voice called suddenly, startling her.

She put her inhaler into her pockets and opened the door. "What are you doing here?"

"What's wrong? You don't look so good." Sunset said as she took in the girls appearance.

"Have you seen someone, anyone, that isn't from our school?"

"What?"

"I feel like I'm being watched. And I don't like it one bit."

"Are you getting paranoid now? Dash relax, no one is here except us. You know that other students aren't allowed on school grounds aside from events." Sunset explained.

Dash frowned. She didn't believe her.

"Sunset I'm serious! A few days ago when I stayed after to train, two girls from Crystal Prep have been watching me. And they know." She whispered that last part.

Sunset gasped, finally understanding the problem.

"I'm gonna keep my eyes open. Don't worry, it will be fine."

The reassurance didn't help any and Dash had one of her, by now pretty well known by Sunset, coughing attacks.

"Oh no, are you alright?" Sunset asked, the deep concern evident in her voice.

It had gotten her team's attention. Spitfire went over to check on her as well. "Wow that sounds painful. Are you sure you're up for the game on Monday?"

Dash took a few deep breaths to calm herself and nodded, the determination set in her eyes.

Spitfire shrugged and went back to her bag for another drink.

"Dash I'm really worried. Maybe you should lay back a bit, at least for now. Let the others play more. They need the practice after all." Sunset tried to reason.

Dash sighed but nodded. This wasn't going to be easy. If anything, she was the one dominating the others all the time, a side effect of being team captain and Rainbow Dash. Not a healthy combination.

And definitely not in this case.

"Alright girls! Come on out, the guys are already waiting on the field!" The coach yelled from the outside of the door, being a man he couldn't go in.

"Please Dash, listen to me." Sunset said before she quickly left the room to get back up to the others.

"Ready, Dash?" Spitfire asked. Dash nodded, feeling weird being asked that from a fellow team mate. Spitfire held out her hand for Dash to grab and they went out together, Fleetfoot only watched.

Sunset came up the stairs again, panting from not being used to running up and down stairs so often.

"I thought ya were gettin' a drink?" Applejack asked, noting how Sunset came back empty handed.

"Oh, yeah, uh, I kinda didn't know where the drinks dispenser was, hehe." She lied yet again.

"And why were you with Dashie?" Pinkie asked.

"To.. ask her where it is. Being the schools best athlete and all, knowing the gym blind in her sleep, ya know?"

The girls shared a confused look, but shrugged and Sunset sat down again.

"So, it's looking pretty good so far." Sunset stated.

"Well, the other team isn't exactly put together with the best players..." Rarity said.

"Point taken. But the more practice the better, I always say." Sunset said.

The girls shared another confused look.

"You.. never say that." Pinkie stated the fact.

"Oh, right." Sunset said, laughing at her own stupidity.

"Are you alright, Darling?" Rarity asked, getting concerned for her friend.

"Oh me? I'm fine!" She said, waving off her hand.

The others only raised eyebrows and shrugged.

Yep. The lying wasn't going well with her. That much was for sure.