Chapter 3: The Cheer Squad

At Summer Valley High School, Aaron, Smolder, Paul, Kyle, Megan and Slab were all sitting at a table eating lunch. Smolder was in her dragon form, and all of them were eating chicken tenders, fries and fruit. Smolder was studying her Spanish Flash cards while she was eating.

"Smolder, why don't you put down the flash cards and eat?" Aaron said.

"I can't," Smolder said. "We got a test in Spanish Class today, and I have to study. Hopefully Ocellus's flashcards are enough help to get me through this."

"Wow, she is stressin' harder than when Pa was tryin' ta keep the ol' barn from bein' blown away three years ago," Megan said.

"Blown away?" Slab asked. "Did you have explosives in your barn?"

"No, it was tornado season," Megan responded.

"Yikes," Smolder said. "I read about the tornadoes of this world in science class last year. And I seen the movie Twister. I can see that those things can do a lot of damage."

"Ya got that right," Megan said. Just then, the PA system buzzed and the Principal's voice came from the speakers.

"Attention, students. The Cheer Squad will be holding auditions. All who wish to be cheerleaders report to the gymnasium during Free Period. That is all."

Aaron looked towards Smolder and said, "Guess that's your cue to get ready, huh?"

"That would explain why I was told to bring some exercise gear today," Smolder said. "I should go change." She finished eating and then took her tray away.

"She was a big hit back in middle school," Paul said. "No way she'll get rejected."

"Hey, Megan, why don't you sign up?" Kyle asked.

"Nah, Ah'm more into rodeos than cheerleadin'," Megan said.

"I guess everyone has their own interests," Slab said.

"You got that right, Slab," Aaron said. "C'mon, guys. Let's get some practice in." Then Aaron, Paul and Kyle got up and went over towards where their trays would be taken to be cleaned.

In the gymnasium, Smolder, in human form, came into the gym. She was wearing an orange shirt, purple yoga pants, and orange sneakers with purple marks colored on them by a purple marker. There were at least twenty other students with her.

"Is everyone here auditioning to be a part of the cheer squad?" Smolder asked.

Just then, one girl wearing a cheerleading outfit came up. The girl had dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail and she also had brown eyes.

"Alright, all of you, listen up," the cheerleader said. "I'm Brittany Lang, and I'm in charge of picking the best of the best for the cheer squad. So, let's see what you all got." Then about five students stepped up, Smolder not being one of them. Brittany then took a look at them. "Let's see..." She then pointed at one girl. "Ears are too big. You're out." That made that girl drop her jaw as she was insulted. Brittany then pointed at one girl who had glasses. "Too nerdy." That one girl gritted her teeth. Brittany then pointed at a boy. "Too chubby." That made the boy make tight fists and stormed off. Brittany then pointed at one girl. "You're pretty enough. Come on." Then the girl who was chosen walked past Brittany. Then Brittany pointed at the last girl who walked up. "Too short." That girl walked towards the wall where Smolder was. She then grabbed her stuff.

Smolder walked up to her and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I was hoping to be one of the greatest cheerleaders in high school, following my family tradition," the girl said. "My family has been cheerleading since it was invented. What's my mom gonna say when I tell her I got rejected?"

Smolder then looked towards the head cheerleader. So far, only five of the students who auditioned went up to her. Smolder then said, "She's only picking those she finds pretty? Not cool." She then walked up as the last of the students were being judged.

"Okay, let's see," Brittany said. She then pointed at one girl with a mole. "Nope. You're not joining with that ugly bump." That girl gasped and stormed off angrily. Brittany then pointed at a girl who was really skinny. "Too skinny." The skinny girl then walked away. Then Brittany pointed at a black haired girl with a nose spreader over her nose. "Lose the spreader." The girl did so. "Okay, you're in." Then that black haired girl walked over towards the chosen few. Smolder was the last one to be judged. "Let's see..." Brittany got a good look at Smolder. She then shook her head. "Too ugly." That made Smolder angry.

"Ugly, am I?" Smolder asked.

"That's right," Brittany said. "Not only are cheerleaders supposed to be highly skilled, but very pretty and handsome."

"Are you kidding?!" Smolder asked. "Cheerleaders are not supposed to be judged by their looks, but by their skills. If you can't see that..."

"I'm sorry, but the gym is only for cheerleaders only," Brittany said. "So, bye-bye." Smolder then got angrier. She then transformed into her dragon form and grunted with her eyes closed and flames coming out of her nostrils. Smolder then glared at Brittany. "Whoa! Looks like you've gotten more uglier!"

"The only thing here that's ugly is your attitude," Smolder said. "Looks... aren't... everything!"

"Get out," Brittany said. "The cheer squad doesn't have room for ugly things." She then walked towards the chosen few students she picked.

Smolder then walked towards the one girl and said, "Oh, you just made a big mistake, Brittany." She then wrapped her right arm around the girl and asked, "What's your name?"

"Valentina," the girl answered. "Val for short."

"Well, Val, we gotta head on over to the Principal's office," Smolder said. "We gotta tell her about that girl's obnoxious behavior." Val then got a good look at Smolder.

"Hey, you're Smolder," Val said. "From My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic."

"Yeah, that's me," Smolder said. "You've seen the show."

"You kidding me?" Val asked. "You are one of the female roles that's an inspiration to many fans. To be honest, you're my second favorite of the Young 6."

"Second?" Smolder asked. "Who's the first?"

"Yona," Val answered. "She's funny."

"Makes sense," Smolder said. "Let's go." Then Smolder and Val headed towards the Principal's office.

In the Principal's Office, Principal Sanders was working on some paperwork. Then a set of knocks came from the door.

"Come on in," Principal Sanders said. Smolder then came in with Val next to her. "Ah, Smolder, what brings you here?"

"We came here to talk to you about that one cheerleader, Brittany," Smolder said.

"Brittany Lang," Principal Sanders said. "She's a bit of a brat, but she knows talent."

"She wasn't picking anyone by skill and talent," Smolder said. "She picked some because of the way they looked. And booted us. She said I was ugly, in both forms."

"And she said I was too short," Val said.

"What?" Principal Sanders said. "But I specifically made sure to have you be a part of the cheer squad."

"Brittany doesn't seem to know that," Smolder said.

"I'll make sure she knows about this," Principal Sanders said.

"Hang on," Smolder said. "I got a better idea."

On one Saturday morning, Smolder, Val and a bunch of other students who were rejected by Brittany from the tryouts were all gathered at the community center, the same one where the Globetrotters had trained the Young 6 to play Basketball.

"Is that everyone?" Smolder asked.

"Yeah, that's all of them," Val answered.

"Good," Smolder said. She then stepped up to the group. "Alright, all of you. Who's been wanting to be a part of the Cheer Squad?" They all raised their hands. "Okay, looks like we all have work to do."

"Yes we do," came Marissa's voice. Everyone looked towards the voice and saw Marissa coming in.

"Marissa?" Smolder asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Ronnie and I did some cheerleading in High School," Marissa said. "We were basically the captain of the squad. So, I'll be training you on how to be a great cheer squad."

"Wow," Smolder said. "Guess that was a lot to do when you were in High School."

"Yeah, but we managed," Marissa said. "Now, let's get started." Then everyone got into a straight line. "Before we start cheerleading exercises, it's important to stretch first." Then everyone started stretching.

At the football field at Summer Valley High School, a lot of students were there. Aaron, Paul, Kyle, Megan and Marissa were all in the bleachers, watching the game.

"Are we sure that we should be here?" Megan asked. "What if Smolder and those other cheerleaders don't make it as good as the other cheerleaders?"

"Oh, I'm positive they'll be as good as the other cheerleaders," Aaron said. "Smolder is gonna help her group blow the socks off of those watching 'em."

"Plus, Smolder was not supposed to be rejected from the Cheer Squad," Paul said. "She and Aaron are both the school mascots for the school. A mascot should not be kicked out of the Cheer Squad."

"Just wait and see," Aaron said.

Then the referee blew the whistle and called out, "Half Time!" The crowd applauded as the Dragons lead their opponents, the Lakeland Dreadnaughts, 17-12.

"Alright, everyone!" came the Principal's voice. "Give a hand for our very own Summer Valley High School Cheer Squad!" Then a bunch of cheerleaders came up out of the field.

"Ready, okay!" Brittany said as she and the other cheerleaders were about to start their routine, but it was interrupted.

"Hold up," the Principal said. "It seems that the Cheer Squad is missing two things."

"What?!" Brittany asked. "No way! I made sure all of us are here!"

Principal Sanders came up to the Cheer Squad with a microphone and said, "It seems that we're missing one of the school mascots. Oh, Smolder, where are you?"

"Up here!" came Smolder's voice from the speakers. From the top of one of the lampposts, Smolder was there, in dragon form, wearing a cheerleader outfit custom made for her dragon form. She then flew down and landed in front of the Cheer Squad.

"Why is she here?" Brittany asked. "And why is she wearing a Cheerleader Uniform?"

"She's supposed to be a part of the Cheer Squad," Principal Sanders said. "But you rejected her for being... ugly." That made the audience gasp. "You don't reject them for how they look. In fact, you weren't supposed to reject anyone. And the other thing that's missing is a Cheer Captain that doesn't care about how her squad looks, but how much Spirit they bring. You're off the Cheer Squad."

"WHAT?!" Brittany asked. "But I already submitted an application for college for a Cheerleader's scholarship! You can't do this to me!"

"Then you shouldn't have rejected anyone," Principal Sanders said. "Why were you voted to be Cheer Captain this year?"

"Because she bribed all the Seniors of last years Cheer Squad and bought her way to being head cheerleader," another senior cheerleader said. "I should know... I was a shoe-in to being Head Cheerleader this year."

"Alright, then," Principal Sanders said. "Since Brittany Lang is now kicked off the Cheer Squad, you are now in charge, Lindsey Price."

"Thank you, Principal Sanders," the cheerleader, known as Lindsey Price, said. "I won't let you down."

"I know you won't," Principal Sanders said. She then escorted Brittany Lang off the field.

"This isn't fair!" Brittany shouted. "I'm the Head Cheerleader!"

"Not anymore," Principal Sanders said.

"Alright, everyone!" Lindsey said. "Including all who were kicked out of rehearsals, let's see what you got!" Then everyone who was at the rehearsals for the Cheer Squad auditions came onto the field. "Ready, okay!"

Then the Cheer Squad started doing their routine. A lot of the girls started doing cartwheels. Some girls were getting ready to be picked up and thrown into the air, one of them being Smolder. Another girl, Val. Smolder flew up and started breathing out smoke screens, making sure it doesn't get inhaled by the other cheerleaders. Then they finished their routine with three pyramids. Two pyramids were made out of six cheerleaders, and one pyramid out of twenty-one cheerleaders, Smolder being on top of the big one. The male cheerleaders were supporting the bottom two rows of the twenty-one person pyramid.

The routine then finished when Smolder landed on top of the big pyramid, tilting her face up, and let out a burst of fire from her mouth. That made everyone in the audience applaud and cheer.

After the game, Aaron, Marissa, Paul, Kyle and Megan were meeting up with Smolder, Val and Lindsey. Smolder, Val and Lindsey were still in their cheerleader outfits.

"Seriously?" Smolder asked. "You and Val are sisters?"

"That's right," Lindsey said. "My little sis and I come from a long line of cheerleaders in our family."

"Yeah, we're trying to keep up the family tradition as long as we can," Val said.

"Smolder," Aaron said, getting Smolder's attention. "You did great."

"Thanks," Smolder said.

"C'mon, kids," Marissa said. "Liam's got us a table at the Cheesecake Factory."

"Cheesecake Factory?" Smolder asked. "Isn't that a sweet shop?"

"No, it's actually a restaurant," Aaron said. "Although, they do have a small area where you can buy cakes and take 'em home. Whether it's in a slice or a whole cake."

"Sounds good," Smolder said. "Then let's go."

"I wouldn't eat too much, Smolder," Lindsey said. "We got training during Free Period tomorrow."

"Got it," Smolder said as she, Aaron and Marissa started heading towards the car.

Author's Note

Okay, sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter. I've been busy. But, as you can see, I've gotten it done. And the votes have been tallied, so you'll know who'll be teaching Home Economics for the rest of the school year. See you all next time.