Team Star

Sunset had waited years for this moment. Though, while every pony there would share that sentiments, it meant more to her. Two years prior she had been offered an invitation to study at this very school, along side her brother. It was clear Celestia intended to have a team of two brother-sister pairs, but her dream did not come to fruition.

Sunset’s parents did not believe in the way of the huntress. A stallion, however, could be a hunter, but a mare… they would never allow her to go. So, Sunset waited. Waiting until she was an adult pony who could make her own decisions. And as such, she left. A scrunched-up paper note was all that her bigoted parents had to remember her by.

As she stood in the courtyard, Sunset understood her place in Equestria. She wouldn’t let any pony else dissuade her from chasing her destiny. Her stern and serious demeanor, however did not dissuade other ponies from attempting to make small talk with her. “Oh Miss Sunset, you don’t mind if I stand next to you once more, do you?” The pony who’s sat beside her finding her way back.

“Oh, Rarity, right?” Sunset scratched her brain for the name of the gorgeous mare before her. “Sure, yeah, any pony can stand anywhere they want out here.” She replied awkwardly.

Before her, a cloaked stallion strode across the platform they were intended to stand on. He was very evidently in a sort of leadership role. “Please stand behind this line.” He said, as he traced his hoof over the painted line on the concrete. His voice sounded oh-so familiar.

Sunset and Rarity slowly scooted their front hooves off the yellow paint, following his direction. He paid them no mind, and went on to the next group of incoming students standing over his beloved yellow line. “What a stickler.” Rarity said half whispering to her new acquaintance.

Sunset broke a smile as a small chuckle left her lips. “I feel like I know that pony.” She said. “I just can’t put my hoof on it right now.”

Apple Jack’s hooves clamored against the concrete cobbles. As a farm pony, dirt roads and black-top paths were more her speed. And though, she wasn’t exactly opposed to coming all the way to Canterlot, she was already starting to miss her home and her family.

She stood in the courtyard, along the back line of students. Sighing out, as she tried not to look pitiful in a crowd full of wide-smiles.

“What’s got you down?” A soft almost inaudible voice said. Apple Jack hadn’t even heard the patter of wings or the tapping of hoof-steps. The sudden interruption of her thoughts caused her to jump at the sound.

“Oh, I’m really happy to be here, I just… I’ve never stayed away from ma’ family before.” Apple Jack confessed. The mare had the most compassionate eyes and soft pink mane. Her entire aura read as trustworthy and sympathetic.

“It’s alright to be sad…“ she said “…I’m Fluttershy.” She added comfortingly, though, her voice couldn’t have been more than a whisper. Apple Jack could hardly hear her above the noise.

Apple Jack cracked a smile. “Oh I’m Apple Jack, pleasure ta’ meet ya’”.

“Fluttershy!” A booming voice filled with rasp came over them. “I told you! Don’t go fluttering away!” She was colorful and hard to take one’s eyes off of. “All you wanna do is be all ‘quiet’ and ‘nice’, but it’s not nice when you run away and I can’t find you!”

Fluttershy lowered her head between her shoulders, though a small smile crept across her lips. “Sorry, Rainbow…” she whispered uncomfortably.

“And who are you even talking to?” The loud-one insisted. Apple Jack looked her over. She had never seen a pony so mesmerizing. Her mouth fell agape, and for once she was at a loss for words. “Huh, well, are you just going to stare at me; I know I’m super easy-on-the-eyes, but you can speak when spoken to!”

Apple Jack gulped down a lump of discomfort, “Im-a… Apple Jack.”

“Well, Apple Jack, I’m sure the pleasure is all yours to have met me.” She snapped. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

Fluttershy shuttered uncomfortably mouthing a sheepish “sorry” as she was pulled away.

Celestia appeared, like she always had. In a flamboyant burst of teleportation glow. Standing just beyond the yellow line, the students had been instructed not to cross.

“Welcome once more, fillies and gentle-colts.” She began. “I’m sure you’ve all heard how we will be deciding your dorm assignments, correct?” She asked as if it weren’t rhetorical. The sound of crickets chirping in the distance was all the answer she needed. “Oh of course not, that is one of the well-kept secrets here at my school.” She chuckled, deciding herself a jokester. “I shall explain it to you here, and then we shall begin!”

Celestia took a deep breath as the four cloaked ponies took to her side. Removing their hoods to reveal: A bulky white stallion with a blue mane, A pink coated, tri-colored maned unicorn mare, an orange coated stallion, with a complimenting mane, and lastly: a purple coated unicorn mare with a tri-colored mane as well.

“These are just a few of your upperclassmen, they will be watching over this exercise to ensure safety.” This earned a few confused responses from the audience. “But, worry not, this is hardly a battle course!” Celestia insisted in an attempt to calm their nerves. “As you go into the course, take great care. You will need to find talismans hidden throughout the forest. Though, there is only one for every four of you present.” This statement also earned confusion from the crowd. “You must partner with the first four ponies you lay eyes upon, and work together to find one of these talismans and bring them to the altar.” As she spoke, the ground began to shake, as a counter-like altar lifted from the ground. “These ponies will not only be your dorm mates, but your teammates for the rest of your time here.” Celestia swallowed her excitement. “So, when you are all ready, we shall begin.”

Sunset looked them over… the cloaked pony with a pattered coat and circular glasses. She did know that pony, as a matter of fact he was her very own brother… only Sunburst hadn’t even spoke to her… he couldn’t have forgotten her. It seemed more probable that he was simply ignoring her.

Perhaps he agreed with their parents, he didn’t see her as a huntress. She sighed out, turning her attention away from him. Prepared to prove her worth.

Starlight stood at the edge of the slope, watching as the other students made their way into the forest course. “Hey, Trix, just look for me down there, okay?” She said seriously, looking over at her friend.

“So we can be teammates?” Trixie’s voice said, wiggling her eyebrows with enthusiasm.

“Yeah…” starlight smiled. Though her intentions were more protective than that. Starlight was aware that Trixie was not the strongest among them, and honestly, she was dumbfounded that she had even been invited to study here in the first place. But, she loved her friend, and was glad to have a familiar face around… so, she wanted to protect her. “Just find me down there, alright?” She insisted.

Trixie nodded enthusiastically, throwing a puff of smoke before making her sliding descent. Leaving Starlight to choke on the cloud and wave her hooves aggressively.

Pinkie Pie hopped joyfully through the forest, ahead of all her classmates. “I wonder who will want to be on my team!” She said aloud to herself. “Oh any pony would want to be on my team!” She said cheerfully inflating her own ego.

As she hopped into a clearing, grunting and groaning could be heard in the surrounding trees. Soon, and as expected, a mare pulled a lassoed manticore through the trees.

Pinkie Pie rushed to the strangers aid. “What are you doin’?” She asked as she took hold of the lasso to assist with pulling the large lion-like creature into the open.

The orange mare huffed out an exaggerated breath. “Clearly, capturing this here critter?”

“But Why?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Cause the darned thing attacked me!” The other pony exclaimed.

“A creature!” Cried out a soft yet suddenly loud and urgent voice. “Release that creature at once!” Demanded the familiar face. The mare turned to face the pegasus that was making demands.

“Fluttershy?” The stranger said, it was clear these ponies knew each other, leaving Pinkie Pie the odd-man-out. “This thing attacked me, I’m well with in my rights ta’ capture it.”

Fluttershy rushed over to the creature, which spared no time, attempting to swat her out of the sky. “He’s hurt!” She said inches away from the ferocious beast.

“Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” The raspy voice sounded through the forest.

“Apple Jack! Let him go! He’s hurt!” Fluttershy insisted, Pinkie Pie complied, letting go of the lasso she had been assisting in pulling.

Apple Jack, on the other had, was not as willing to relent, her body jerking forward as Pinkie Pie’s assistance ceased. “I don’t care if he’s hurt, darn thing can’t go around attacking ponies!”

Fluttershy sighed, staring deeply into the eyes of the manticore. Soon, all of its aggravation and pain seemed to slip away. Slowly but surely, the creature laid down peacefully, no longer straining against its bounds, no longer wailing or fighting.

She fluttered to her hooves, as Pinkie Pie and Apple Jack moved to her side, watching her for the next move. Fluttershy gently lifted the front paw of the manticore, revealing something lodged between its paw-pads. “It was hurt, Apple Jack… it was only reacting out of pain. Your actions only aggravated it further.” The trio made eye contact. “If we are going to be teammates, we will have to work together.”

Apple Jack gently took hold of the item lodged in the creatures paw, dislodging it with great care. “You got it… um, Apple Jack?” Pinkie Pie asked carefully.

“I’m real sorry, I guess I was just reactin’ too. We ain’t so different.” Apple Jack insisted. Holding up the splinter. “Looks like we found our talisman.”

As she spoke, the Rainbow mare took the corner into the opening. “Fluttershy there you are! We need to…” her voice trailed away, as disappointment washed over her “seems like you’ve already picked our team for us…” she looked over the two earth ponies and rolled her eyes, focusing on the pony she’d met before. “…and found the talisman… awesome!” She said sarcastically. “I guess we’d better head back then.”

Rarity sat, organizing strange stones she’d found along the forest floor. “Hey, you.” The lavender-coated stranger said. “Have you seen a happy-go-lucky blue unicorn running around here.”

Rarity shook her head, not looking up at the stranger. “No, darling, I’ve hardly seen any pony. I’m going quite out of my way not to make eye contact so that I may have a better team, oh well you do understand.”

In her rush to find Trixie, Starlight had clearly forgotten the team-making rules. “Oh, so you’re saying I’m not good enough to be apart of your team?” Starlight asked, clearly offended.

“I did not say that, darling. Though, with that type of insecurity, it may be true.” Rarity said, assembling her rocks in no particular order.

“I’ll have you know-“ Starlight began, revving her horn with anger and frustration. “I graduated top of my class, any pony, especially some pony like you would be lucky to have me as a teammate!”

Rarity looked up at her, a coy smile playing on her perfectly made-up face. “Fine, teammates it is.”

“What!” Starlight stammered, falling back onto her hooves. “I didn’t mean-“

“This is what you quite wanted, is it not?” Rarity said. “I’m Rarity, doll, just Rarity to you. And who might you be?”

Starlight fumed, feeling like she’d somehow been bested. “Starlight Glimmer.” She answered reluctantly.

“Fine, Fine. Let’s be off to find your friend, then, Starlight Glimmer.”

Sunset Shimmer revved her magic quickly, before blasted a path through the trees. She was not a huge fan of mazes, and was hardly a fan of scavenger hunts. So, to her, this was a huge waste of power and time.

“Quite the skill you’ve got there!” A strange voice came from behind.

Sunset turned slowly, with a tinge of regret as she looked the pony over. “… thanks.” She said awkwardly. She turned back toward the opening and made her way through.

The stranger pattered her hoofs after her. “Now that we’re teammates, can I recommend a little more… showmanship?”

Sunset’s eye twitched. “What?” She asked, turning around.

“Something a little like this…” She threw down another smoke bomb and began bouncing to and fro. From tree to tree, movement hidden behind the smoke screen.

Sunset shielded herself in an orb of magic, “That’s… nice, but I’m trying to find a talisman, not put on a magic show, sorry.” Sunset replied, bursting the bubble as the smoke cleared.

Trixie huffed, leaning back and allowing herself to fall from the uppermost branch on the tree. Somehow, landing squarely on her hooves without any indication of pain.

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Are you coming with me or not?”

“No, see, because it is you who shall be coming with me.” Trixie said cockily. “For I have found the talisman.” She said, pulling the chess piece from her cloak.

“What!?” Sunset cried out in surprise. “When?”

“It was in that tree.” Trixie said simply, a large grin playing on her face. “I saw it before you blasted your little clearing through the forest, maybe you should be a little bit more observant.”

Sunset grumbled. “Well, then, what was all that extra malarkey?”

“Slight of hoof, if you will!” Trixie said excitedly. “Though, I believe we’d ought to find two more teammates before we head back.”

“There’s some pony I know”

“I too, know some pony.”

“Then, let’s get a move on.”