A Sunset Within The Darkness

The stands were empty, save for Y/N, who sat quietly in the front row, gazing out over the immaculate green turf of the stadium. The championship game. Canterlot High versus Crystal Prep. His breath was visible in the crisp evening air, and the floodlights above cast a bright, almost dreamlike glow over the field. Four quarters, fifteen minutes each, sixty minutes in total. Those would be the most important sixty minutes of not only his, but more the rest of his team's lives.

This was it—the day he’d been working for since stepping foot in Canterlot High. The weight of the game pressed on him, but it wasn’t just the championship riding on this. It was personal.

Sundrop.

Y/N’s hands clenched into fists as he thought about Crystal Prep’s quarterback. Sundrop had been more than just a rival at his old school—he’d been a constant source of torment. Taunts in the locker room, pranks when he felt it was necessary, even public humiliations in front of their classmates, and then the false accusations of sexually assaulting one of his friends. Leaving Crystal Prep hadn’t just been a choice; it had been a necessity.

But now, fate had brought them full circle. Y/N wasn’t just fighting for Canterlot’s first championship in years—he was fighting to prove to Sundrop, and to himself, that he wasn’t the same kid who had been beaten down back at Crystal Prep.

“I know what you’re thinking,” came a familiar voice from behind.

Y/N turned to see Sunset Shimmer, her fiery hair glowing under the lights as she climbed the steps to the bleachers. She wore a long Wondercolts jacket, her hands shoved into its pockets. Despite the chill, her smile was warm.

“Oh yeah?” Y/N asked, raising an eyebrow.

She sat beside him, the metal bench cold beneath them. “You’re picturing the game. Running plays in your head. And... probably imagining Sundrop eating dirt.”

Y/N couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know me too well.”

“Hey, it’s not hard to guess,” Sunset teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow. Her expression softened as she looked out over the field. “It’s finally here. The big day we’ve all been waiting for. You nervous?”

Y/N hesitated before answering. “Yeah. A little. I mean... this is it, Sunset. Canterlot hasn’t been here in years, and now it’s up to me to make sure we don’t blow it. I don’t want to let everyone down.”

“You won’t,” she said firmly. “I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked. How much you’ve pushed yourself, even when things looked impossible. And you’ve brought this team together, Y/N. They believe in you. I believe in you.”

Her words settled something inside him, calming the storm of doubt that had been brewing all day.

“Thanks, Sunset,” Y/N said, his voice quieter.

She smiled again, softer this time, and leaned closer. “Good luck out there, quarterback,” she whispered before planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard, but before he could respond, Sunset stood up quickly, adjusting her jacket.

“W-Well it looks like it's time to go get ready. See you on the field,” she said with a playful wave, before quickly disappearing back down the stairs.

For a moment, Y/N just sat there, his fingers brushing his cheek where she’d kissed him. A small smile crept onto his face as the weight on his shoulders seemed just a little lighter.

“All right,” he muttered to himself, standing up and heading toward the locker room. “Time to do this.”

The air inside the locker room was thick with tension and anticipation. Y/N could hear the muffled roar of the crowd outside as more fans poured into the stands. The Wondercolts were gathered around, lacing up cleats, adjusting pads, and exchanging nervous glances.

Coach Iron Will stood at the center, his muscular frame towering over the players as he paced back and forth. His booming voice broke through the silence like a clap of thunder.

“All right, team! Listen up!” he barked, pointing a finger at them. “Tonight isn’t just another game. Tonight is the night you prove to everyone—Crystal Prep, the crowd, and yourselves—that you’re champions! That you’ve worked harder, fought tougher, and played smarter than any team in this league!”

The players cheered, the energy in the room beginning to build. Looking around the locker room, no longer were there nervous glances, the fire in everyone's eyes was pouring out, and that made Y/N feel more pumped up.

Iron Will’s gaze swept over the team, his voice lowering but gaining intensity. “We’ve spent all season preparing for this moment. Blood, sweat, and tears. And now, you’re standing on the edge of greatness. So I ask you—are you ready to take it?”

“Yeah!” the team shouted in unison, fists pumping in the air.

Iron Will put his hand to his ear. “I can’t hear you!”

“Yeah!” they roared louder.

Iron Will grinned, nodding with approval. “That’s what I like to hear. Now get out there and show ‘em what the Wondercolts are made of!”

Y/N sat at his locker, methodically tightening his shoulder pads and putting on his cleats. He paused for a moment, staring at the Wondercolts logo on the side of the helmet.

This was it. No turning back now.

With a deep breath, he stood up, grabbed his helmet, and jogged toward the door where the rest of the team was gathering. The noise from the stadium was deafening now, the sound of the crowd thundering in his ears as the door opened.

The Wondercolts walked in unison through the tunnel, their cleats clicking against the concrete floor. The stadium lights grew brighter with every step, and the roar of the crowd grew louder.

Y/N was at the front of the line as he put on his helmet, his heart pounding in his chest as he led his team toward the field. Beside him, Flash clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s go make history, man.”

Bulk then clapped him on his other shoulder. "We got your back!" Y/N nodded, his focus razor-sharp as they emerged onto the field.

The crowd erupted into cheers, blue and gold flags waving in the stands as the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers. “And now, the Canterlot Wondercolts!” The team ran onto the field, the energy from the crowd electrifying. Y/N stayed behind, taking a deep breath. He was ready. "And their quarterback, Y/N L/N!" Y/N ran out of the field, screaming out loud with passion. He clapped his teammate's hands as he ran past them. The team then went to the sidelines as they prepared to get ready.

Across the field, Crystal Prep’s team stood in their dark purple and silver uniforms, Sundrop front and center with his trademark smug grin as he watched Y/N talk to his teammates.

Y/N’s eyes locked onto his old rival and bully, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to slow down. The sound from the fans was silent, the only ones that were in the stadium were Sundrop and Y/N. Nothing else mattered. This was the moment he’d been waiting for.

No more running. No more doubting. It was time to win.

The sound from the crowd came back as both Sundrop and Y/N turned to their teammates, raising a fist in the air. “Let’s do this!”

Both teams roared in response, their voices blending with the cheers of the crowd as they took their positions on the sideline.

The championship game was about to begin.

Y/N warmed up his arm on the sidelines, throwing the ball to Flash who caught the ball with ease. He scanned the crowd, looking at the stands that were filled with Canterlot and Crystal Prep fans. Y/N's eyes widened, there next to Rarity were his mom and dad. He didn't know they would come down to watch him play.

He had called and told them about joining the football team and making it to the championship round. When he did they were happy for him, saying they were proud of him. However, with them being across town, Y/N didn't think they would be able to make it. He had asked if they could but they had said they weren't sure if they could come. But seeing them there to watch him play for the first time, in the championship game nonetheless, made him smile. Y/N was happy to know that his family would be there to watch and cheer him on. It made him only want to do his best and play the best game of his life.

Y/N smiled as he waved to them, hoping they would see him. His mom and dad smiled as they waved back. Next to them was Rarity who smiled at her cousin. The three of them were proud of Y/N and no matter what happened, whether Canterlot won or lost the game, they would still be proud of how far Y/N had gone. Next to Rarity was Sunset who was sitting down. Y/N and Sunset made eye contact and waved to one another.

'I haven't forgotten my promise to myself. If we win this match, I will ask her out.' Y/N turned around and started to get some last-minute practice in with his teammates. They all needed to be at their best if they were to win. This would be a team effort, they were going to need everyone.

"He sure has grown a lot in these past few months." Y/N's mom said as she looked down at Y/N who went back to practicing with his team.

"He sure has. I didn't know the champ had it in him to play sports. He used to be so wrapped up in his anime and video games." Y/N's dad watched as he threw a perfect dime to Bulk who caught it with one hand. "Wow. If he throws like that the whole game he really will be a champ. A champion." Y/N's dad laughed while Y/N's mom and Rarity giggled to themselves.

Rarity looked over next to her where Sunset was sitting down, she looked worried. "There's nothing to worry about, Sunset. Y/N will do his best out there!"

Sunset looked over at Rarity, she was calmer and smiled, but she was still worried. "I know he will, that's what he always does. I know how much this game means to him. He wants to win and beat Sundrop. He's been working so hard, he deserves this victory." Sunset held hands together. "You can do this, Y/N. Do your best."

Rarity smiled as she noticed the look in Sunset's eyes. "Have you told him yet?" Sunset flinched before looking at Rarity. "Have you told Y/N, I mean. About your feelings?"

Sunset blushed, a smile on her face as she looked down at Y/N who was talking to Iron Will. Seeing the determined expression on Y/N's face made Sunset smile. "He's focused on the game, if I told him before it might distract him. After the game, when they win I'll tell him."

"When?" Rarity raised her eyebrow before giggling. "Oh my, you sure are confident. Well, you know what, so am I." The two friends smiled at one another. Y/N's mom heard everything and smiled, happy that someone like Sunset liked her son.

The teams marched to the middle of the field, the stadium alive with deafening cheers and rival chants from both sides. Y/N stood tall, leading the Wondercolts captains toward the center where Crystal Prep waited. Sundrop was already there, towering over everyone else with his smug grin that hadn’t changed since the last time Y/N saw him.

“Well, well,” Sundrop said, his voice dripping with mockery. “If it isn’t the Canterlot charity case. Nice of you to show up, Y/N. Guess you didn’t learn the first time you couldn’t hang with me.”

Y/N didn’t flinch. “Talk all you want, Sundrop. When that final whistle blows, we’ll see who’s still standing.”

Sundrop chuckled, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. The referee, a tall man in black and white stripes, stepped between them, holding up a silver coin.

“Gentlemen,” the referee said, his tone commanding as it boomed throughout the stadium. “This is the championship game, and I expect good sportsmanship from both teams. Canterlot, you’re the away team. Call it in the air.”

Y/N nodded as the referee placed the coin in his hand. “Tails.”

The referee tossed the coin high into the air, the silver glint catching the floodlights as the entire stadium seemed to hold its breath. It hit the turf with a soft clink before settling: tails.

“Canterlot wins the toss,” the referee announced. “What’s your decision?”

Y/N exchanged a quick glance with Flash and the other captains before answering. “We’ll defer to the second half.”

Crystal Prep’s captains nodded, smug confidence radiating off them as the referee recorded the decision.

“All right,” the referee continued. “Canterlot will kick off. Let’s have a clean game.”

The players shook hands—more out of obligation than respect—and headed back to their respective sidelines. Sundrop leaned in as they parted, his voice low enough for only Y/N to hear.

“Better enjoy this while it lasts,” he sneered. “By halftime, you’ll wish you never came back. I'll beat you just like I used to!”

Y/N didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His focus was already on the game ahead. As both teams went to their sidelines, they watched as the special teams walked onto the field and got into positions. The kicker got ready as the football was placed and everyone waited for the whistle to be blown. The beginning of the end was now.

The opening whistle blew, and the championship was underway. Canterlot’s kicker launched the ball deep into Crystal Prep’s territory, and the returner brought it back to the twenty-five-yard line before being swarmed by blue-and-gold jerseys.

Sundrop walked onto the field, a smirk on his face. Crystal Prep opened with a conservative run game, testing Canterlot’s defensive line, while Canterlot’s linebackers responded with quick tackles, stopping gains before they could build momentum. On third down, Sundrop dropped back and went to pass. He threw the ball to one of his receivers but Canterlot's linebacker stepped in front and got a hand on it as the ball hit the ground. The crowd cheered as Crystal Prep started to walk off the field to punt the ball.

Sundrop was surprised, his eyes widened before smirking. 'Looks like they're going to give it their all. This'll make it even better when I beat them.'

When Canterlot got their first possession, Y/N tried to set the tone early, calling a series of quick slants and out routes to spread the ball around. But Crystal Prep’s defense was just as prepared, their secondary swarming the receivers and shutting down passing lanes. Now it was the Crystal Prep fans who cheered. With it being fourth down the Canterlot offense walked off the field to punt.

The first drive for both teams was fruitless, a back-and-forth battle for field position. But it didn’t take long for one of them to strike first.

Midway through the first quarter, Sundrop began to pick apart Canterlot’s defense. He threaded a perfect pass between two defenders, hitting his receiver in stride for a 40-yard gain. Two plays later, he kept the ball himself, faking a handoff and sprinting into the end zone untouched.

The stadium erupted, Crystal Prep fans roaring as the scoreboard flashed: Crystal Prep 7, Canterlot 0.

On the Canterlot sideline, Y/N gritted his teeth. “Shake it off,” he told his team. “We’ve got this.”

Crystal Prep's kicker kicked the ball as the kick returner downed the ball in the end zone for a touchback. Y/N stepped onto the field with a quiet determination. The next drive was methodical, a mix of runs and short passes that wore down Crystal Prep’s defense. As the Wondercolts crossed midfield, Y/N called for a play-action pass.

The defense bit hard on the fake handoff, and Y/N launched a deep pass to Flash Sentry streaking down the sideline. The ball sailed through the air, landing perfectly in Flash’s hands for an 18-yard touchdown.

The Canterlot fans exploded with cheers, blue and gold pom-poms shaking wildly in the stands as the score evened: 7-7.

Y/N jogged to the sideline, bumping fists with his teammates. The message was clear—they weren’t going down without a fight. Sundrop watched and smirked. 'They've gotten better. Good. At least make this fun.'

Crystal Prep wasted no time striking back once they got the ball. Sundrop led his team on another efficient drive, mixing quick passes with power runs to keep Canterlot’s defense off balance.

During the middle of their drive, the clock hit zero. Sundrop was about to hike the ball but the referee whistled blowing the play dead. "This is the end of the first quarter!" When the first quarter came to an end Crystal Prep went to the sidelines to strategize. Y/N watched, hoping his team could get another stop. The score was 7-7 to end the first and the game looked to be a good one.

Starting the second quarter, Sundrop one the first play to start the second quarter looked deep as he threw it to his receiver for a 45-yard touchdown, giving them a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Things looked to get only worse when Canterlot went three-and-out and had to punt the ball to Crystal Prep. With the ball back in his hand, Sundrop started to lead his team down the field. They were near midfield when the miracle happened. When Sundrop dropped back, Bulk, who went on the field as a linebacker, got past the offensive line and slammed into Sundrop. The pressure from him slamming into Sundrop, made him lose the ball as it bounced on the ground. Spike picked it up and ran as the cornerback and Bulk blocked for him, taking it back for the touchdown!

The scoreboard now read 14-14 as the crowd went wild. Sundrop gritted his teeth, that was his first-ever fumble and he was mad. 'All right then. No more playing nice. I wasn't giving it my all up until this point, toying with you, but now...' Sundrop looked over to Y/N who had a big smile on his face. 'I'm going to destroy you!'

The game was shaping up to be a shootout, and the tension in the stadium was palpable. Canterlot's kicker kicked the ball to Crystal Prep where the kick returner grabbed the ball and took the knee for a touchback. Crystal Prep came out and started at their own 25, prepared to get revenge for the previous play.

As the clock ticked down in the second quarter, Crystal Prep got the ball and was ready to take back control. Sundrop’s pinpoint accuracy and aggressive play-calling carved through Canterlot’s defense once more, ending in another touchdown to make it 21-14.

Canterlot tried to respond before halftime, but Crystal Prep’s defense tightened, forcing Y/N and the Wondercolts to punt once again. With just over a minute left, Sundrop capitalized, driving his team into field goal range. The kick sailed through the uprights as the half expired, extending their lead to 24-14. The Canterlot fans groaned while the Crystal Prep fan's cheers filled the stadium. Y/N and the rest of the team sighed, the first half wasn't going to plan like they had hoped it would.

The whistle blew as the referee made the call. "This is the end of the first half!"

The Wondercolts jogged off the field, their heads hanging slightly lower while the Shadowbolts jogged off the field, happy and content. Sundrop smirked as he jogged off the field. 'Just a little bit longer and it'll all be over.'

The Crystal Prep fans were celebrating loudly, confident their team had already sealed the victory. But the game wasn't over, there was still the whole second half. Thirty more minutes, the most important thirty minutes of their lives. Canterlot's fans didn't stay quiet though, despite being down by ten at the half their fans still cheered for their team as they walked into the tunnel.

Y/N looked up at the stands looking at his parents and friends. Although he was down by ten at the half, his parents still smiled and cheered him on. Looking over, he looked at Rarity who was also cheering him on along with the rest of her friends. His attention then drifted to Sunset who held her hands tightly. Although she had a smile, Y/N could tell even from where he was that it was forced and she was worried.

'I won't let your advice be for not. You gave us insightful information about them, and we won't take it for granted.' Y/N then looked over to Rarity and her friends. 'Ever since the start you've done nothing but cheer for us, we won't let your cheering be for nothing.' His attention went fully to Rarity. 'At first I thought nothing of us. Even though we were cousins we didn't have that good of a connection. But once I started living with you and we started talking, we connected. I'm glad to call you my cousin.' Y/N smiled before looking at his parents. 'You came down here to watch me. Thank you, for coming to cheer me on. All of you have helped me so much, and I refuse to let your support end here. We will win!'

While the team walked down the tunnel back to their locker room, Y/N looked down, he was upset that he wasn't playing as well as he hoped in the first half, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He hadn't given up yet, and he wasn't going to start now.

As he pulled off his helmet, sweat dripping down his face, he looked around at his teammates. They were tired, frustrated, but not defeated.

“This isn’t over,” Y/N said, his voice steady. “They think they’ve already won, but we’ve got thirty minutes left to prove them wrong. We’ve been fighting all season for this moment, and I’m not about to let it slip away now. Are you?”

The walk back to the locker room was quiet, the only sound coming from their footsteps. That was until Flash nodded, before placing his hand on Y/N's shoulder. “No way. Let’s take it back. This game is ours for the taking!”

One by one, the team began to rally, the fire in their eyes reigniting. Y/N tightened his gloves, a determined smile creeping across his face.

This was just the beginning.