Phoenix

11:37AM

“What. The. Hell!?” Fireside was shocked to say the least as she walked out of the school and onto it’s athletic’s field with the rest of her team, her emotions shared by all the students present of the two schools. What she vaguely recalled about the field was gone, it had been entirely changed, completely constructed over with wood and dirt. There was an obstacle course that looked like it lead to an archery range, two pairs of targets making different movements on a wooden backboard. A wooden track, it’s oval shape curving around the ‘corners’, encircled the obstacle course, itself encased by a peak and trough ridden course for… were those motocross bikes?

“Shotgun! I call dibs on the bikes!” Indigo Zap shouted excitedly, sprinting towards where Principals Celestia and Cinch, Vice Principal Luna, and Dean Cadence stood. Sugarcoat sighed in her usual tone before walking after her fellow Shadow as Fireside paused to look around the mock stadium. Two sets of wooden and metal bleachers stood all around them, the seats full of teens from both schools. Bon Bon, Lyra, Octavia and Vinyl all waved from the CHS section, the surrounding teens sharing weird looks with the four girls, whilst Adagio, Aria, Sonata and Twilight waved, and cheered in Sonata’s case, from the Crystal Prep section.

“Now,” Cadence started as Fireside arrived, “How would you girls like to split up who will compete in which leg of the race?”

“Dibs on the bikes!” Indigo reaffirmed, shouting as her hand shot up, as the entire team’s eyes trained on the goggled teen.

“Er, anyone… else?” Cadence asked, tired smile on her face.

“Why don’t we ask the Captain?” Lemon Zest stated, taking her headphones off as she turned to Fireside.

“M-me?” Fireside took a step back as everyone turned to look at her. “I, er… I don’t really know sorry…”

“How about I help?” Sugarcoat mentioned as Fireside shifted to looking down at her feet, everyone now turning to the glasses wearing girl. “Me and Indigo on Motocross, Sunny and Lemon on the track, and Sour and Fireside on the obstacle course?”

“Works for me.” Sunny Flare nodded, looking around at the rest of the girls who did similar actions of approval. “Is that okay, Dean Cadence?”

The woman smiled as she nodded, jotting down the names into the proper slots on her sheet before heading over to Celestia, Luna, and Cinch.

“So…” Fireside started as she looked down at her uniform, grabbing the bottom hem of her skirt. “Are we supposed to compete in these?”

“I’m gonna go ask Dean Cadence quick.” She said as all six of the teens looked around at one another, each of them unsure of the answer, before she jogged off to catch up to the educator.

“Dean Cadence?” Fireside asked when she got closer, Cadence pausing what she was talking to Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna.

“Yes, Fireside?”

“Me and the girls were wondering if we are supposed to compete in our uniforms or not?” She asked, hands pulling her burgundy blazer down.

“Oh, right! They are waiting for you six in the boys change room in the gym!” Cadence nodded as Fireside turned back towards the rest of her team. “You six go get changed then come back out here as fast as you can!”

“No problem!” Fireside smiled as she retreated from Cadance. “I’ll let the girls know!”

“Hey, what did she say?” Sour Sweet asked as Fireside came close.

“We’re supposed to go change in the boys change room in the gym, that’s where they left our uniforms.” The amber teen turned around and jogged back towards the school once more. “We should hurry up and go change!”

***

“The first leg of the race shall be the Obstacle Course.” Celestia called out, obviously forced smile on her face as she shared the commentators booth with the other three women. “The competitors shall start one at a time, and must get a bullseye before the next teammate can start their attempt.”

Fireside looked over the obstacle course. Hay bales had to be vaulted before reaching a hill with a pit that had to be crossed by swinging over on a rope, but not before grabbing a bow and quiver of arrows first.

“Once both members of the first leg get their bullseyes the second portion can start.” Fireside turned to observe the Short Track as it had been dubbed, Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare joking and laughing as Pinkie Pie and Rarity looked at one another with hesitant expressions. “Each team needs to make eight laps, which shall only be counted when the last member of the team crosses the line. Once all eight laps are done the Motocross racers shall start.”

Indigo was constantly revving her engine, probably wearing a huge grin the whole while, her helmeted head turned towards Sugarcoat. Rainbow and Bulk Biceps, as she recalled the massive white boys name, sat patiently on their bikes. Fireside stood there wondering if the bike could hold the massive weight of the muscled mountain of a teen that was mounted on it.

“The winner of this event shall be the team who has their competitor cross the finish line first!” Luna added, standing up as she regarded the two teams before her, with Cadance standing up next, air horn held firmly in her grasp.

“For the obstacle course, a combination of speed and accuracy shall determine who is eliminated. Now if the competitors can line up.” Fireside nodded to Sour Sweet, the girl had put her normal pigtail into a pair of buns, while Fireside had tied her hair back in a short ponytail, thanks to the length it had gained over the last few months.

Sour Sweet walked up to the starting line, stretching briefly before getting down into a sprinting position, Fluttershy having gotten down into the same position after flipping her own braided ponytail over her back. The two teens were not down for long before the air horn sounded and the two started their way through the course.

Sour Sweet vaulted the bales with what seemed to be practiced ease, while Fluttershy slowly slid over them, and gained a substantial lead. She ran up the hill, her boots giving her a steady grip as she reached out and grabbed her bow and quiver, sliding them over her shoulders before jumping and grabbing onto the rope with both hands. Once she cleared the pit she leapt off, hitting the ground before rolling and knocking three arrows, loosing them in a spray. Two of them landed in the outer ring of the target, it’s back and forth motion continuing until one landed just inside the bullseye, stopping it. She smiled cockily, before looking back at Fireside.

Fireside nodded, ignoring the look Applejack was giving her before starting her own way towards the goal. She vaulted over bales as if they were hurdles, not even touching them before her feet found purchase on the ground past them, making amazing time as Fluttershy finally started to knock arrows of her own. She covered the third bale, the fourth, and the fifth, all before Fluttershy had even come close to hitting the target, before rushing up the hill and grabbing the bow and a single arrow.

Time seemed to slow down as shock started to cross over Sour Sweet’s face, the girl looking at the single arrow Fireside carried in her mouth like a pirate would hold a knife. Fireside remained calmed as she continued her pace, foot landing on the edge of the pit as she launched across, grabbing the arrow from her mouth before knocking it and letting loose mid air, the arrow rocketing out of the bow and towards the circling target, landing in the direct middle as Fireside hit the ground on the other side of the pit, rolling to her feet.

The stadium grew silent as Fireside stood up fully, her hand brushing her ponytail back over her shoulder, everyone in shock at the girl’s action. Fluttershy wasn’t even paying attention as she let go of her bowstring, the arrow flying through the air and embedding itself in the center of the horizontally moving target. Sunny Flare and Lemon Zest both shook their heads before starting around the track, not wanting to waste the large lead they had received from Fireside and Sour Sweet. Applejack started sprinting her own way towards the target, hoping to get her teammates started as soon as possible in hopes of catching up to the pair of Shadowbolts.

“Nice shots there, Sour!” Fireside complimented as her hand shot out to the still gaping teen. The girl finally came to her senses and started to chuckle darkly as she took Fireside’s offered extremity in her own.

“Ever the humble one, aren’t ya, Fireside?” the teens tone was playfully snarky, the girl smirking as she shook her head. “You know you had me worried there! Like, what if you missed?”

“Good thing I didn’t then, huh?” Fireside shrugged as the pair got down off their piles of dirt. “Look, are you gonna take the compliment or not?”

“Sure, sure. I may have shot a nine out of ten, but you shot a fucking twenty!” Sour Sweet swatted playfully at Fireside’s shoulder, the girl laughing harder at the action. “I think I finally understand why Aria and Indigo fan girl over you so hard now.”

“Wooo! Go Sunny! You can do it Lemon!” Fireside was too engrossed in cheering to pay any heed to friends comment, Sour Sweet chuckling softly as her friend ignored her. “Well? Com’on, Sour! We should head to the finish line and cheer those two on! Lemon looks like she could use the motivation!”

The two made their way towards the finish line, walking around the bales of hay that they had crossed on the way to the archery range. They noticed little excitement in the stands, Crystal Prep students were watching boredly or playing with their phones, while the students of Canterlot High had arms crossed and looking incredibly unhappy at how behind they already were.

“Looks like they’ve consigned themselves to their fates finally.” Sour pointed out, head jerking towards the section of bleachers that CHS remained in. “Well, most of them at least.”

“You know you like them.” Fireside jokingly nudged the other girl with one arm, while waving back at Octavia and the other three who were busy waving at her.

“Whatever. I don’t know why we need to be here.” Sour shrugged as the pair stopped a little ways away from the wooden track. She looked at the track as all four teens were now making their way around, “We’re gonna win anyways and it looks to me that Sunny is going to win handily.”

“Just means I need to cheer harder for our resident music lover then.” Fireside winked at the girl before continuing on with her cheering for the green haired girl.

“Hey! Over here, ponygirl!” Fireside looked around, jumping as a soccer ball fazed through her head at a lightning pace and landing directly in front of Rainbow Dash, the teen not hesitating for an instant and delivering a power kick that sent the ball rocketing past the Wondercolt net minder.

“Good, now go grab me my water bottle.”

“S-Sure thing, Dash.” came the timid response from the reoccurring voice, this time sounding like it was struggling to not speak out at the treatment it was receiving, a sad tremor ringing in it.

“Well Ah guess ya can sit with us.” the scene shifted away from the soccer field full of students to one with just five students sitting down around one another.

“T-Thanks.” the voice sound happily nervous now, the ground indenting as if the figure was walking across the grass, but nothing was there, just the five of the Rainbooms and this mysterious ghost. “S-So, uh… How have your day’s gone?”

There was a noncommittal grunt, followed by the sound of multiple voices going through a fast forward. The ground around the invisible specter moved again, this time looking like the figure was getting up.

“S-Sorry… I’ll, uh… I’ll leave you girls be…” the voice sounded crushed. Defeated. Devastated, as it walked away from the five, pausing, as if looking over its shoulder, before softly whispering. “I’m sorry…”

“A sleepover, huh?” Twilight’s voice, inquiring as it often is, the girl once again with her hair down as she faded into view. “Sure! That should give me time to come up with a counter!”

“Awesome! So the six of us, all at my place immediately after school! Rarity and AJ will-” Pinkie Pie sounded surprisingly excited, her voice starting to squeal slightly as she ran out of breath, only for Twilight to step in and interrupt.

“Six of us?” the girl looked around in confusion, and only then did Fireside notice how far away they were, and down by her feet, the grass stood displaced.

“Mhm! You, Me, Flutters, Rare, AJ, and RD!” Pinkie Pie nodded happily as she bounced up and down in excitement. “Oh! You can meet my sisters! They-”

“What about ******?” the glitching returned, causing Twilight’s voice to raise and lower, speed up and speed down, seemingly infinitely repeating what had already been said.

“W-What about her?” Pinkie gave a nervous grin as she looked towards Fireside, or rather the ghost beside her.

“Well shouldn’t she be invited as well?” Twilight’s tone was bemused, the girl smiling as she looked over her shoulder at whoever was beside Fireside. “I mean, she’s our friend, isn’t she?”

“Oh, n-n-no worries!” came the voice, the grass crinkling as it took a step backwards. “I really shouldn’t be out-”

“Nonsense, ******! If I’m going, then so are you! You’re my friend after all!” Twilight strode forward, reaching a hand out towards the invisible figure, before looking back at the group of girls behind her. “Right, girls?”

Fireside waited.

And waited.

And waited.

However the scene seemed frozen, everything starting to waver slightly as the invisible figure started to waver in, starting with the feet. Boots, big and black with magenta-

“Hey! Wake up, will ya!” Sour Sweet shouted as she shook Fireside back and forth, the girl having somehow slid to her knees. “Jeez, don’t scare me like that!”

“S-Sorry, Sour.” Fireside chuckled as she looked up at the girl, before pausing as she struggled to push herself up. “Just these flashbacks of mine.”

“Well, are ya sure-”

“I’m. Staying.” Fireside said, a dangerous edge to her voice as she shot up. “I am fine, and I don’t need to go, alright?”

“Alright, fine.” Sour’s hands flew up in front of her, the girl giving an uneasy smile.

“...Haaa… Sorry, Sour. Just dealing with a lot is all.” Fireside let out an exhausted sigh, mentally punching herself for snapping like that.

“Hey, it’s fine. I of all people should know what it’s like to be bipolar some of the time.” the girl chuckled as she slapped her captain on the shoulder. “Besides, now I can rub it in your face that Sunny beat Lemon.”

“What the hell kind of maneuver was that, Fireside!?” Lemon called out as she descended the ramp, roller blades slung over her shoulder. “Aria an’ Indigo have every damn reason to fan girl after you pull shit like that outta your ass!”

“Hey, language!” Sunny Flare bellowed as she slapped the audiophile across the back of the head. “Though you did pull of quite a feat there, Fireside.”

“Heh, it was-”

“Awww, don’t be so damn humble girl! You’re a fu-bloody monster!” Lemon cowered when she realized Sunny had raised her hand again, her eyes carrying the treat of what would happen should the girl finish her sentence.

“Hey! Watch where you’re spraying that dirt!” Sour Sweet shouted as Indigo and Sugarcoat roared past her on the upper dirt track, said dirt flying all around the four girls. “I swear that hooligan is half monkey…”

“At least she’s having fun?” Fireside offered, watching as Pinkie Pie and Rarity finally crossed over the line, finishing their last lap and allowing Rainbow Dash and Bulk Biceps to start on their leg of the race.

“FIERY!” came the instantly recognizable, beyond excited shout of the approaching Sonata Dusk, the other two sisters waving as they approached.

“Damnit, Glow. Why do ya gotta be my sister, huh?” Aria laughed, before doubling over hacking as Adagio delivered a vicious gut busting elbow to the purple girl’s core.

“What I believe Aria meant, was good job, dearest sister.” Adagio nodded, her smile and gaze telling the four other students to forget everything about what had just came out of Aria’s lips, and what the girl earned by saying those words.

“Thanks, Addy! Heya, Twilight!” Fireside beamed as she waved to the girl coming along slowly behind, her eyes glued to the now noticeably beeping and buzzing device in her hands. “Er, Twilight?”

“Huh, Wha-? Oh! Er, Fireside, hi! Great, um… shot…?” the girl gave a sheepish smile as she stopped mere inches away from coming into contact with the taller girl’s bust.

“What’s up with Ethyl?” Fireside asked, chuckling as the girl ducked back to a respectful distance.

“I… don’t know, to be honest?” the girl looked perplexed, and not in her usual manner as she looked at her measuring tool. “It’s been slowly getting more and more readings, but it’s unable to pinpoint where they are coming from for some reason.”

“Weird. Sorry I can’t be of any real help there, Twilight.” Fireside rubbed the back of her head as she looked at the girl. “It’s sorta beyond my knowledge base.”

“Oh! Oh my god!” everyone paused to look at Sour Sweet, the girl’s face a gaping maw of shock and awe.

“W-What? What is it, Sour?” Fireside said, looking over her shoulders as Sour pointed towards her slowly.

“You don’t know something!”

Laughter erupted from the group as Fireside slumped, her own face slowly morphing to a grin as she couldn’t help but start to chuckle along with her friends and sisters.

“Just give her the books,” Sonata managed to get out between song like giggles of amusement. “She’ll learn through osmosis!”

“And Crystal Prep crosses the line first!”

Fireside was about to reply to her sister’s comment, only to hear Dean Cadance’s voice call out, silencing the group of girls and directing their attention to the podium booth where the four women resided. Indigo gave a loud whoop, directing the attention of all eight girls to her and Sugar coat, the peach girl raking her fingers through her wild crown of hair.

“Woah baby, was that a rush!” she called out as she walked the bike down the smooth slope running parallel to her fellow CPA students, before parking it and jogging towards them. “Not as much of a rush as Red here gave me though!”

Aria and the peach girl slapped their outstretched hands together as the other girls groaned, or giggled in the case of Sonata, at the competitive teen’s comment. Aria grinned as she wrapped an arm around her comrade in crassness, a crude grin starting to stretch across her face.

“Just in time, Zap!” Aria commented with a grin, pulling out and snapping taught a fifty dollar bill before handing it towards her tallest sister. “You can pay me back later.”

“Please tell me you aren’t still all caught up in this?” She asked, even though her hand shot forth and grabbed the bill and deposited the bill in a bra strap.

“Says the girl who accepts the cash with no remorse.” Indigo giggled as her hands reached forward. “Now roll that sleeve up, Red!”

Sunset sighed as the girls around her giggled, slowly grabbing the sleeve and rolling it up her firm arm. “I swear, you two are worse than guys…”

“Congratulations to both teams of competitors!” Vice-Principal Luna’s voice rang out across the field, everyone stopping to look at the woman. “Now before we continue, We think you should all take a moment to rest, and join us in the cafeteria for lunch.”

“Oooh! OOOOOOOOOOH!” Sonata started jumping up and down, drool starting to build at the corners of her mouth. “Do you think they have tacos!?”

Everybody groaned.