In Guts and Glory

It was a beautiful summer afternoon in Canterlot, the air was fresh, the sky was clear and the sun was still high in the sky. The time was about 2:30pm, ponies walked the street, high school students from the Canterlot Secondary school departed, teachers left for home, only few remained at the school. Among those were the high school cheerleading squad members and football players, ‘The Royals’ were the team name and their mascots were alicorns, in respect for the princesses. Inside the gymnasium the cheerleaders were practising for their upcoming tournament against ‘Aero-Cats’ from Fillydelphia. “Okay girls let’s try and get this right for once” Diamond Tiara scoffed, irritated at the performance level of the team, despite the team performing exceptionally well she wanted them to be perfect. “But we are doin it right” Applebloom piped up, Diamond Tiara shot her a cold glare, “did you just argue with me? Ten push ups” Diamond ordered Applebloom who obliged reluctantly.

“Now if any-pony wants to argue with me they might as well get down and do ten push ups as well” Diamond yelled at the group “NOW LET’S GET THIS RIGHT”. Multiple cheerleaders looked at each other then back to Tiara and started doing their exercises and practising. The Pegasus cheerleaders started doing aerial acrobatics while the rest of the cheerleaders did regular acrobatics and started their chant. “Go, go, go team go” the team chanted but Tiara once again interjected “STOP, JUST STOP” Tiara yelled and the team just froze, “can we please just get this right for once” she screeched. “But what exactly are we doing wrong?” Sweetie bell asked, Diamond Tiara shot her a cold glare just like she had Applebloom “push ups, now” Tiara ordered, Sweetie Bell sighed in irritation and Tiara took notice “30 push ups” she ordered. Silver Spoon snickered at her friends mean punishments to the team.

Outside the football team was practising for their upcoming Championship game against their long-time rival the ‘Rodeo Dogs’ from Manehatten. “Blue 65, Blue 65, down… set HUT” Thunder Shot yelled, as his name would imply Thunder Shot had a terrific throw and was one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The offensive and defensive lineman clashed together, many groans of pain were emitted as linemen tried to conquer the other. Rumble, despite Pegasus’ mainly being receivers was on the offensive line and was truly a dominant lineman. Thunder Shot passed it forward to Molasses Sauce who caught the ball perfectly and flew for another 20 yards before being air tackled by Heckler.

“Yeah buddy that’s what I’m talking about” Thunder Shot yelled out. Masterson, the defensive captain let out an angered roar “DEFENCE STOP THEM WERE THEY STAND” he yelled out and they got back into formation, ready for another play. Thunder Shot told the offensive team the play and they all got in their positions. “Blue 65, Blue 65, Down… set HUT” Thunder Shot ordered. The linemen once again clashed into one another. Pipsqueak, who now had outgrown his name, ran forward and Thunder Shot passed him the football as he passed. Pipsqueak charged for an opening, despite having outgrown his name he was still by far the smallest team member, and slipped through a gap in the line.

Rumble and Hammerhead, both left side linemen exchanged glances and left their defensive lineman to further cover Pipsqueak. Rumble and Hammerhead both had tremendous physique and charged past the line of scrimmage and past Pipsqueak, a linebacker tried to launch himself to tackle Pipsqueak but Hammerhead slammed his body into the linebacker and the linebacker was knocked to the ground. “Yo Pip this way” Rumble yelled and cleared a fine path through the remaining opposition, which Pipsqueak took advantage of and followed Rumble in quick pursuit.

Hammerhead quickly raced up beside Rumble and created a small wall in front of Pipsqueak, all that was left was the safety. Sugar Cane, the defensive safety, gulped in fear at the two hulking lineman and Rumble slammed his body through Sugar Cane and both Rumble and Hammerhead split off and let Pipsqueak through and he ran the ball in for a touchdown.

Masterson let out an angered roar, “hey chill M” Thunder Shot said calmly “not a lot of schools have an awesome line like us, besides Hammerhead and Rumble are 2 mean sons a bitches, catch my drift”. Masterson let out a sigh of irritation “I just wish the D would step it up” Masterson sighed, “hey man don’t worry, in the game they’ll do fine” Thunder Lane assured Masterson. Hours passed and both teams continued their practise.

Now late in the evening, about 6:00pm, the football team rapped up practise. All the doors except the back door had been locked, and the coaches had given the team the key, so long as they left it on his desk for him to get in the morning. “Man to bad coach couldn’t make it” Rumble told the team, “yeah but man, he had that meeting to go to” Hammerhead replied, “yeah I know it’s just shit ain’t the same without the coach you know?” Rumble asked rhetorically. The football team entered the school with their cleats still on, despite the janitors constantly scolding them for it. Thunder Shot locked the door behind him and went to the coach’s office and tossed the keys onto the desk.

The cheerleading team was still practising, on account of Diamond Tiara making threats to the team that any-pony who left early would be suspended during the tournament. “Okay, I’m not sure how many time we’ll do this but I’m willing to stay here all night until we get it perfect” Tiara scolded the team, multiple groans could be heard as the team got back into formation.

Back in the change room multiple football members conversed about the after game party, supposed to be held by Pinkie Pie herself. “Man I don’t give 2 shits yo, I’m getting absolutely wasted man” Molasses Sauce boasted, “hey man save it for after we win” Heckler chuckled. Molasses shot him a comical look “oh yeah and who’s gonna beat us? The puppy dog saints” Molasses laughed and the whole team burst into laughter. Thunder Shot raced into the change room “hey boys you won’t believe it” Thunder exclaimed. They all went quiet then Roller broke the silence “Pipsqueak’s gay?” he asked jokingly and the team burst into laughter once again, “hey” Hammerhead yelled out defending his small friend. “Hammer it’s okay it’s just a joke” Pipsqueak told Hammerhead, “yeah Hammerhead slow the fuck down” Roller laughed, “ain’t what your mom said last night” Hammerhead joked, the whole team looked to Roller and laughed “Ooo” the team taunted. Roller simply had a hearty laugh and chuckled “man that ain’t right”.

The attention was turned back to Thunder Shot, “guys listen… the cheerleaders are still practising” Thunder Lane informed the team and they all shot up and raced out of the change room towards the gymnasium bleachers