A Sunset Within The Darkness

The tension was palpable as the Canterlot Wonderbolts arrived at Crystal Prep’s imposing stadium. The air was thick with rivalry, and the Crystal Prep crowd was already jeering from the stands, their loyalty evident in the sea of purple and silver banners waving proudly. When Y/N walked onto the grounds of Crystal Prep he was immediately given looks by classmates he once knew.

Y/N looked at the field as he walked past it to get to the stadium. Very soon he would be facing his old school and his old bully who made his time there hard. And sooner or later he would be come face to face with Sundrop. But surprisingly, Y/N wasn't nervous, if anything he was fired up and determined to beat them! 'I'll show Sundrop and everyone just how much I've changed. I'll prove that today by defeating them!'

Y/N adjusted his helmet under his arm, his heart pounding not from nerves but from sheer determination. This was the game he’d been anticipating all season—a chance to prove himself against Sundrop, his old bully, and Crystal Prep, the school that once made him feel small.

As the Wonderbolts stepped onto the field for warmups, the Crystal Prep team emerged from their locker room, Sundrop leading the charge. His confident swagger and smug grin were enough to ignite a fire in Y/N’s chest. Sundrop spotted Y/N almost immediately and made his way toward him. Sundrop was caught off guard to see Y/N on the football team, much less the Quarterback.

“Well, well,” Sundrop said, stopping just a few feet from Y/N. “Look who it is. The kid who couldn’t cut it at Crystal Prep. Guess they’ll let anyone play quarterback at Canterlot these days.”

Y/N’s jaw tightened, but he held his ground. “I’m not the same person I was back then, Sundrop. And tonight, I’m going to prove it.”

Sundrop chuckled, shaking his head. “You? Prove something? Don’t kid yourself, Y/N. You’re still the same pathetic loser you always were. Enjoy the show while it lasts because I’m about to run you and your team into the ground.”

The words stung, but Y/N refused to let them get to him. He stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them. “We’ll see who’s pathetic when the game’s over.”

Sundrop’s grin faltered for a moment before he shoved Y/N back. “Careful, or you won’t even make it to the game.”

Y/N stood his ground, the tension between them boiling over. Players from both teams began to gather, and the shoving escalated as tempers flared. Coaches and referees rushed to break up the scuffle, shouting for everyone to focus on the game. The game hadn't even started yet but the people from the stands could tell they were in for a match.

From the opening kickoff, it was clear that Crystal Prep wasn’t going to play fair. Their players pushed and shoved after the whistle, their hits late and deliberately aimed to injure. The referees seemed blind to their antics, calling penalties on Canterlot for even the slightest infractions while ignoring Crystal Prep’s blatant fouls.

Despite the uneven playing field, Y/N rallied his team. “Stay focused!” he shouted in the huddle. “Don’t let them get to you. We play our game, not theirs.”

The Wonderbolts responded with grit and determination, fighting back with clean but aggressive plays. Y/N connected with Flash and Bulk on multiple drives as they continued to march down the field but came up shorthanded every single time. While Crystal Prep, led by Sundrop’s precision passing and calculated runs, matched them score for score but for them scoring touchdowns on each and every drive they had.

At halftime, the scoreboard read 21-6. Y/N sighed as he walked toward the locker room feeling the eyes of someone looking at him from behind. Turning around, Y/N saw Sundrop across the field with a smirk on his face.

In the locker room, Iron Will addressed the team, his voice steady but firm. “They’re trying to rattle you, Wonderbolts, but you’re stronger than that,” he said. “Stick to the game plan. Defense, tighten up, and force turnovers. Offense, keep pushing. We’re still in this.”

Y/N looked around at his teammates, their faces a mix of exhaustion and determination. “We’ve come too far to let them win,” he said. “This is our game. Let’s take it.”

The team roared in agreement, ready to give everything they had in the second half. If they wanted a shot at winning this game, they would have to increase the intensity. Y/N got up from his seat and with a determined expression, made his way to the field, prepared to defeat Sundrop and show him just how much he had changed since they last saw each other.

Both teams came out swinging in the third quarter, using every trick in the book to gain an advantage. Sundrop launched two long touchdown passes, giving his team a 35-9 lead. But Canterlot refused to back down.

Y/N led a masterful drive, hitting Flash for another score to cut the lead, although just by a bit. The defense tried to step up to slow down Crystal Prep's offense but no matter what they tried nothing worked. The score knotted at 35-9 heading into the fourth quarter, and Crystal Prep looked to run away with the game. However, what came as a shock was at the start of the fourth quarter Sundrop went to the bench and sat down signaling he was done for the night. That gave Canterlot a bit of hope, without Crystal Prep's star that could be their chance at coming back, albeit a very small chance.

But Crystal Prep’s dirty tactics continued. Late in the game, with Canterlot driving for a potential go-ahead score, a blatant pass interference on Flash went uncalled, resulting in a turnover on downs. Their backup Quarterback although nowhere near as good as Sundrop capitalized, leading the team to a decisive touchdown. That touchdown sealed the game and when the clock hit zero, the scoreboard read 45-9 as the clock hit zero. Once again, Crystal Prep had once again held up their opponents to single-digit points. And once again, Y/N had lost to Sundrop. This was Canterlot's worst loss this season and as harsh as it was to say, Y/N knew deep down that Canterlot wasn't ready to win the championship at this rate.

As the two teams met at midfield, Sundrop approached Y/N, his smug grin firmly in place.

“Guess some things never change,” Sundrop said, clapping Y/N on the shoulder with mock sympathy. “You’re still the same loser who'll never beat me in a million years. Once a failure, always a failure. Someone like you will never defeat someone like me.”

Y/N’s fists clenched at his sides, his anger boiling over as he watched Sundrop walk away, laughing and celebrating with his team. Sunset ran to Sundrop, throwing her arms around him as they hugged triumphantly. She looked past Sundrop's shoulder and looked at Y/N, a smirk on her face.

The sight was salt in the wound, and Y/N felt a deep sense of frustration and defeat.

Back in the locker room, the Wonderbolts sat in silence, the weight of the loss heavy on their shoulders. Iron Will stood in the center of the room, as he watched his team held their helmets in their hands.

“This one hurts,” he admitted, his voice breaking the silence. “But we’re not done. We’re still 5-2, and we’ve got the rest of the season ahead of us. We’re going to learn from this, get better, and make sure we’re ready if we see them again.”

Y/N and the rest of the team nodded in agreement, their spirits lifting slightly at his words. As he looked down Y/N couldn't help but feel as though Sundrop was right. Even though he was the Quarterback for Canterlot, he still fell short, and he couldn't help but feel he was that same failure back when he was at Crystal Prep.

Later that night, Y/N sat on the bleachers at Canterlot’s empty field, replaying the game in his mind. Rarity found him there, her expression one of sympathy and support.

“You played an incredible game, Y/N,” she said, sitting beside him.

Y/N wanted to yell at her at that moment. He had not played great and the score showed it. Sure calls were missed but he couldn't blame the refs, that was what cry babies did. “It wasn’t enough,” Y/N replied, his voice heavy with disappointment. “We lost, and Sundrop...” He trailed off, shaking his head.

“Darling, one game doesn’t define you or this team,” Rarity said gently. “You’ve come so far, and you’ll go even further. This isn’t the end—it’s just a setback. And who knows? You might get your chance for revenge in the playoffs or even the championship.”

Her words sparked something in Y/N, a renewed determination that burned brighter than ever.

“You’re right,” he said, standing up. “We’re not done. I’m not done. I promise, Rarity—Canterlot won’t lose another game this season. We’re going all the way.”

Rarity smiled, proud of her cousin’s resolve. “That’s the spirit. Now, let’s make it happen.”

As Y/N left the field that night, he carried a renewed sense of purpose. The road to redemption wasn’t over—it had only just begun. 'Just you wait Sundrop, we will meet again, and the next time we meet it'll be different. We'll be the ones to defeat you and you'll be the one you would have fallen short.' The two cousins smiled as they walked home together, as they both looked forward to the future.