Green eyes glanced out over a massive stretch of grass, tracing the white lines laid out in a formation that resembled a playing field. Silently criticizing the less than professional paint job, Spike spat onto the grass, accidentally spitting out his mouthguard too. Grumbling incoherently, he scratched his back as the almost decade old football jersey fell loose over his back, patch jobs aplenty and mystery stains making up the school colours. A bitter, squeaky laugh snapped him out of his minor trance and he glanced ahead to the girl in question.

Up ahead, Rainbow had her finger on the tip of a football standing vertically atop a small black square on the grass. Eying it, Spike saw it was lined up perfectly with the goal post. Spike tapped his new cleats against the grass, digging the protrusions into the turf as he made sure his grip was absolute. Taking in a deep breath, Spike calmed himself down with some basic breathing techniques.

“Yo spiney-headed runt,” Rainbow shouted out once more while she touched the back of her head, lifting the short hair up between pointed fingers into spines to imitate Spike’s green hair’s natural prickle. “Before the tourney’s end, please.”

Spike’s calm face was replaced with irritation as he bent his knees, leaning forward before pressing off the ground with his feet. His legs tensed up as he pushed off the ground and darted forward, ignoring the seven sets of eyes watching him as he proceeded to direct his anger towards the pigskin. Approaching the brown, leathery ellipsis, he stomped his left foot into the ground as his cleats rooted like a cement block. Bringing his right foot back, Spike grunted as he threw all his leg power into this kick.

Instead of launching the ball, a pair of hands yanked the ball back. Rainbow quickly rolled backwards, snickering as Spike’s kick flew into the air, not connecting with anything. The momentum caused him to tip backwards as his right foot swung out in front of him. He staggered a bit through the shifting of his weight and tried to get his footing back desperately. As he noticed his left foot no longer against solid ground, Spike found himself tumbling backwards in a fit of clumsy flailing and mild fear. His head hit the ground, mostly protected by the helmet though he could feel his teeth chattering in his head as he twitched once or twice.

Rolling firmly onto his back, Spike was a bit dazed as he tilted his head up to see the rainbow-haired girl in hysterics. Three boys, jocks that Spike expected to see there, laughed at the commotion while Applejack rolled her eyes and shook her head. Though she was not surprised by Rainbow’s casual prankster attitude, she was somewhat bothered that the captain had directed it at the less than confident boy. Spike could not see the reactions of the other couple of players, but the reactions he could see embarrassed him enough already.

“Rule number one, spiney: never give it all your strength in practice to show off. Otherwise you’ll throw out your leg much too fast,” she told him with a smug smirk. “At least, from what I’ve seen of past kickers.”

Spike muttered another cuss as he relaxed against the pointy, fresh cut grass. He stared up at the clouds, laying flat on his back as he felt the sun’s rays caress his body. Spike shut out the sounds of laughing or chatter or whatever quips the jocks had and watched Rainbow smile down at him. Another figure appeared above him, his face silhouetted by the sun.

“Need a lift, chap?” the voice said, a distinct foreign accent to it.

A hand was outstretched and Spike squinted his eyes to see who helped him. Blindly, he grabbed the hand and was yanked suddenly to his feet. In front of him stood a taller boy with paled skin and hazelnut brown hair. Looking more like a professional athlete rather than a high school football player, Spike muttered a thanks as the boy smiled back at him. He wore a “MANEHATTAN FOOTBALL SQUAD” t-shirt that looked over 20 years old; one of the tryouts.

“She’s right, might not wanna take ‘er too rough, at least for a bit, don’t wanna end up arse over elbow too oft’, do you? Give it yer all out on the field when it really matters,” the boy said as he patted Spike on the shoulders.

“Pipsqueak,” a voice shouted and stunned them both stiff. “Get the fuck back to stance training!”

Spike glanced over to spot Rainbow barking orders all of a sudden as Applejack watched on silently, nodding in approval. The laugh or lesson was over, now she was back to doing her job. Several of the other wannabe linemen tensed up, namely those three guys that were just yuking it up with Rainbow. Pipsqueak sheepishly apologized and started a sprint back towards the line of tires. The now-serious girl stood up to full height, though she did not have much of that to talk about, and glared at them.

“You jerkoffs done standing around like useless dipsticks? Dumbbell, take your dumb friends over to their dumb positions, otherwise take your dumb friends off of my fucking playing field,” she shouted as she pointed to one side. Spike blinked in surprise, having spent the summer mostly alone or with his sister and not so often with Rainbow Dash, he had forgotten quite what a mouth that girl had on her.

All three put on scowls as they jogged past, muttering cusses that Rainbow either didn’t hear or ignored entirely. She turned her attention to Spike as she still clasped the football. Blindly, she threw the football over her shoulder and without needing warning, Applejack easily caught it. If there was one thing Spike remembered about those two, which seemed just as plain that day as ever it did, it was that they had an unspoken kind of friendship that bound them together in a way that always made Spike kind of envious. Rainbow stepped to the side as Spike shrugged his shoulders, awaiting any orders for him that might come at a deafening decibel.

Like a bullet, the football left Applejack’s hand. Next thing Spike knew, his arms were reacting and he clasped his gloved fingers tightly around the football, his fingers like claws digging into the seams as the ball stopped in his clutches. Yet, it still hit his solar plexus, knocking the wind right out of him. He stumbled back and fell over, watching Applejack’s now extended arm fall back over to her side. Spike let out several coughs as he once more was laid out, staring up at the skies. Glancing over, he could spot identical amused smirks on Rainbow and Applejack’s faces.

“Not bad. That was pretty fast. I guess you do have potential to be a receiver, if you can pay enough fucking attention. Or maybe even our tight end,” Rainbow said as her words drifted into thoughts. She muttered for a few more seconds, walking in a circle, arms folded. Spike clambered to his feet just as she seemed to finish. “Sure, we could give it a shot later if we don’t get a tight end, but for now, lets see what that leg of yours can do.”

Rainbow outstretched her hand as Spike tossed the pigskin towards her. It was a wobbly throw but she still caught it and didn’t bother pick at him about it. Once more, she knelt over and set the ball atop the kicking tee. Skeptically, Spike walked backwards as he eyed Rainbow. This was something she seemed to clue in on.

“Don’t worry kid, I’m not going to do that shit again. I can’t prank my friends too often, then they’ll expect it,” she said, shooting him a big grin to assure him. “Besides, Applejack scolds me if I don’t keep focused on the team, you know? Don't get me wrong, I like a good spanking when it comes from AJ, but she hardly gives me a break!”

‘Friends? Sure… that sounds nice,’ Spike thought as he dug his cleats into the soft soil.

He grinned as he leaned forward, planting his first foot into the ground. He didn’t check for grip that time and nodded to Rainbow. She nodded back.

‘Here we go.’

Spike put all his weight forward, pushing off with the tip of his right foot. Unfortunately, he happened to have placed the tip of his shoe on the mouthguard he had spat out, which rolled in the grass and caused Spike to tumble over once more. He landed face first into the ground, the wind leaving his lungs once more. Rainbow and Applejack simultaneously let out hearty laughs as Spike rolled over onto his back.

“Goddammit,” he muttered in a sigh, realizing the blue skies that hung above might well become a familiar sight to him.

“All right boys, girls, bastards, and bitches, you know the drill. Run the circuit one at a time, then three laps around the field. Once we're all warmed up, we can play a down or two and show you what a game might actually look like.” Rainbow Dash called to the field as she clapped her hands and paced around, directing with her fingers as she went, “Quit standing around here listening to me and get to it!”

Spike panted a bit as he cleared his first lap. He wasn't used to running, which seemed to be the case for many others still trying out. Clenching his teeth, he continued at his same pace, even through the burning in his legs. Several others, including Applejack and Rainbow, were practically sprinting the whole way. Of course the farmer and athlete were in first, it was no surprise they would be competing regardless of this being a warm-up. Spike watched as they shoved each other a bit, passing by him with ease. Once more, Spike pondered staying on the team at all, but considering he got on it before first tryout, he sucked back whatever complaint he had and persisted forward.

Up ahead, he found himself gaining on Pipsqueak, who was anything but his namesake. Pipsqueak seemed to be having a harder time running, even if he was quite possibly the largest on the team.

"Pipsqueak, right? You’re looking a little tired, you alright?" Spike asked anyways between huffs.

"Never had this problem b’fore,” Pipsqueak spat out between his panting.

Spike stared skeptically as a sharp frown carved into his face. The two took the first turn of the second lap as Spike slowed his stride to let Pipsqueak catch up. It did seem odd that the large, tall and seemingly fit boy was having trouble keeping up with someone like Spike. The green-haired boy was silent as he considered the implications only to realize what he had seen Pipsqueak doing earlier.

"Right, you just exerted a bunch of strength pushing the other linemen, you’re probably just exhausted from that," he muttered, slapping himself in the head.

"Oh,” he started, pausing to gasp for air. "Right." Pipsqueak sheepishly grinned as he slowed down to just barely a jog. Spike matched his speed.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, why do you seem so familiar?” Spike asked curiously.

Pipsqueak swallowed whatever saliva built up in his mouth and glanced over to the shorter player.

“Ten years ago or so,” Pipsqueak started as he took in a large breath to speak with. “We met briefly on Nightmare Night. Y’know, the whole fiasco when the Vice Principal attempted to cancel the holiday for the school.” He paused to gulp once more.. “I’m, well, I’m pretty sure it was because of all the pranks kids were pulling.”

“Kids like Rainbow Dash, if I remember correctly,” Spike murmured as he glared over at the aforementioned girl, who was teasing Applejack by running backwards and making faces until the farmer shoved her out of the way.

“Course, when I think back, I find m’self imagining a whole lot more than just getting candy-crazed and crying,” he said, pursing his lips at the thought.

Spike thought back and remembered the incident in question; indeed, he had met the transfer student around the time the VP had threatened Nightmare Night to the school. With that out of the way, Pipsqueak spoke up once more.

“If… if you don’t mind my asking you something a bit more personal,” he paused to heave a great breath. “You see at the time I thought it was just your costume. Y’know, you being a dragon that year and all, but—” Pipsqueak glanced back at Spike as they started the next straight. Spike returned the glance. “Your eyes, they’re rather remarkable, an odd green hue with those slitted pupils and all, I’m sure you’ve noticed. Is there any story to that?”

Spike gulped as Pipsqueak mentioned his eyes. He looked forward and his face darkened as memories flashed through his mind. Bitter thoughts best left forgotten, yet one found its way to his mind.

The sounds of schoolchildren’s laughter was deafening, but so common it went almost unheard. Spike watched his own two feet as he jumped down the few steps on the stoop of the old elementary school house, a place that had at first seemed so bright. Everyone around him was laughing and piling out of the front doors, the time spent indoors for that day finally coming to an end.

Spike was in a rush, a rush to get back home to his older sister. She had told him to come straight back, she had taken the time out of her own schedule to teach him advanced science, several years above his current education’s level. Spike thought it was so cool, and Twilight was his best friend, the person he looked up to most at the time.

He was so hurried that he didn’t even notice bumping and nudging another young boy from his place standing in the middle of the crowd, taking up the whole sidewalk. The other boy frowned and turned around, watching Spike, who was much smaller than himself, try to hurry off without so much as an apology.

“Wait right there,” the larger boy spoke as Spike was yanked backwards by the handle grip on the top of his backpack. Spike found himself turned around to meet the gaze of that same taller boy, one he recognized from his class. “You’re not even gonna ’pologize for that?” his words were not pronounced correctly, as his education had not taught him all of that yet.

“Oh, sorry. I’m just in a bit of a hurry.” Spike nervously tried to pull away, scratching his shaggy green hair as he held the eye contact. This was before he had become so cautious about them, about those eyes that the taller boy seemed more than interested in.

“What’s with your eyes, kid?” the boy scoffed and snorted a laugh, finding it amusing. “You’re like, you’re like an iguana or something!”

“An iguana?” Spike repeated questioningly. Right, they had been studying reptiles in school, so it was no wonder he knew such a word. Still, Spike was not pleased to hear this, and his dissatisfaction appeared on his face. “No. That’s not very nice.”

“Nice? Who said I was nice?” The taller boy shoved him into a stumble and glared hard at Spike, now more irritated than ever. “Listen you little jerk, you made a big mistake running into me and talking to me like that.”

“I don’t even know who you are, but I really have to go, okay? My sister is expecting me home.” Spike tried to reason with him, but the taller boy shoved him again, following close as Spike retreated a few steps back.

“Let me introduce myself, then.” He grabbed Spike by the shirt and roughly shoved him against the red brick wall, lifting him onto the tips of his toes with force. “My name’s Felix. And you’re going to be a bit late today.”

“Spike?” Pipsqueak’s voice chimed in, and Spike flinched to realize he had not been paying attention, “Thought I lost you for a minute there.”

“Hah! Pick up the pace, kids, unless you really like the taste of dust!” Rainbow Dash shoved from in between them as she raced past, knocking them for a loop.

“Rainbow,” Applejack muttered as she ran around the two boys, nudging Rainbow in the side and gesturing back at them.

“Oh, right,” Rainbow cleared her voice as she turned back around, running backwards as she brought her hand to her mouth to strengthen the shout, “Quit your fucking yapping and move your damn feet! Don’t make me come back there!”

Applejack chuckled a bit as Rainbow Dash turned back around, and the two continued to finish their warm-up jog before heading to the middle of the field. After a few more moments, the rest of the team came around, and though Spike was still huffing and heaving with mild exhaustion, there was little time to rest.

Rainbow Dash yawned loudly and obnoxiously as she stretched, leaning back close towards Applejack and opening one lazy eye towards her, “Right, so, how do we do this?”

“You’re hopeless.” Applejack shook her head and laughed before speaking to the rest of the team, “All right, those o’ y’all who are better at defence, stand on my left. Offence, my right. Those o’ you who dunno yet, stay in the middle and Ah’ll put’cha somewhere.”

Applejack and Rainbow Dash conversed a bit while the team split up to either side. The halves were uneven and small, but the two girls did their bests to make it even. They directed the stragglers to either side and handed the defence a set of yellow pinnies to differentiate them from the offence.

“All right you scrawny little brats.” Rainbow Dash clapped as the teams were settled, and she looked around at them. “In case you didn’t figure it out yet, whatever Applejack says, you listen. Is that clear? I may be our captain, but on the field, most of the plays will be called by Applejack. And yes, that does mean exactly what it sounds like. Applejack, she’s our quarterback. And besides that, she’s my bitch, so mess with her and you mess with the Dash.”

“Yes ma’am,” the team agreed, though their words were not synchronized and rung about in different volumes.

“Don’t go tellin’ ‘em crap like that, Ah ain’t no one’s nothin’,” Applejack growled, slapping Rainbow on the shoulder in a quick swipe.

“Shhh, I got this babe. Newbies, trust me when I say, my girl here’s got one hell of an arm and some awesome accuracy,” Rainbow Dash warned readily, shaking her finger at some of the less than invested players. “So don’t even think about ignoring what she says or disrespecting her, because she’ll snipe your giggleberries without a second thought.” A few of the men on the field shuffled uneasily and thought of their privates.

“Ah ain’t gonna do that,” Applejack muttered blankly, and Rainbow Dash shot her a shut-up glare.

“All right, as our star player, I’ll shoulder the gold. As always.” Rainbow Dash snatched up a pinnie for herself and adorned it, posing a bit as Applejack rolled her eyes. “You take the offence, Applejack. And do try to make it fun.”

"Anytime, sugarcube," Applejack responded quietly, tempting her aggressive captain.

Rainbow Dash punched Applejack’s shoulder roughly as she administered the challenge. Applejack returned the daring smile as Rainbow Dash jogged over to her half of the team to coach. Applejack did the same and went over to her own team, gesturing for them to move a little ways away from the line. She looked them over once or twice before she decided to speak.

“'kay, those of you who’re linemen, Ah need you t' line up right here.” She gestured at an area, and a few of the players did as they were told. She frowned at the lack of numbers and went to rectify the situation, “Spike, we ain’t gonna need a kicker in this drill, so be a lineman, will you?”

“Uh, okay,” Spike anxiously agreed, falling into line behind Pipsqueak, who patted him on the back to show his support.

“You two, think y’can catch well enough t’be my receivers for the day?” she spoke to a few more players, who nodded and agreed to the terms. “Good, the rest a’you, just try and hold off that there defence. Now, huddle up.”

Applejack directed the team a few yards farther away and nodded them in closer. The players still just sort of ambled about sheepishly and unsurely. Groaning in an exasperated sigh, Applejack grabbed the padded shoulders of the two players closest to her, yanking them into a tight huddle. The others followed suit, concerned about their giggleberries if they didn’t.

“Al’right, so somethin’ tells me Rainbow’s gonna be tellin’ her team to push hard. But see, Ah ain’t exactly in the mood to get sacked today.” Applejack’s eyes ran around the group, determination ringing true in them. “Think y’all can keep ‘em off o’me for a spell? Ah want my receivers to go long and keep a good watch for my toss. Easy ‘nough?”

“Yeah.” Some of the team nodded and agreed.

“Right, break.” Applejack slapped her knees and pushed the nearest players away, guiding them back to the line where Rainbow’s half of the team already waited.

“You ready yet? I’m falling asleep over here!” Rainbow Dash faked another yawn, but broke into a loud laugh as Applejack playfully flipped her the finger.

Spike nervously settled in beside Pipsqueak; he had never been this close to the action before. Applejack went and grabbed a football, spinning it around in her hand as she returned to the middle of the field, making certain her team was correctly positioned against her friend’s defence. She had told one of her teammates to provide the snap, and passed him the ball to start the down.

Spike grew terribly afraid as it all went rather quiet around him, the only sound being the monstrous breathing of the larger men beside and before him, and perhaps the squeaking of new cleats as feet bent up in anticipation. He heard Applejack shouting some words, but nothing that seemed to hold any value. That is, until the one word he recognized rang out.

“Hike!” And just like that all of the bodies around him and in front of him ran into each other; shoulders, arms and helmets locking. His knees buckled a bit as he held the others off, leaning on Pipsqueak for something of help, knowing the larger boy had it easier than he did. Still, he noticed the way his body felt powerful as he staved off a physical assault, and his adrenaline pumped through his body ecstatically.

Applejack leaned back and looked over the clashing bodies before her, hoping her linesmen were enough to hold the other half of their team at bay. She could vaguely see her target receiver, but she hardly got much of a chance to get into the throw as someone burst out of the tussle in front of her.

Applejack's eyes widened as she avoided the initial tackle, stepping a few paces backwards as her aggressor regained her footing for another assault. Despite the way the helmet covered her bright, multi-coloured hair, Applejack named her opponent as Rainbow Dash. The grinning Rainbow Dash's feet moved quickly and made chase, and Applejack instinctively ran from her, holding the ball securely in her arms as to keep it out of her enemy's hands.

“What the heck happened to my line?!” Applejack yelled to her half of the team as she ran forward around their lines, angered by their lack of skill in keeping the others off of her.

“You'd better quit talking and keep running, AJ!” Rainbow Dash laughed maniacally as she kept at Applejack's heels, forcing her down the field in a full sprint.

“Rainbow, quit chasin' me, this is just a drill!” Applejack called over her shoulder as she realized how near Rainbow Dash actually was to catching her.

She turned to evade one attempt at a grab from Rainbow, but found herself yelping and hitting the ground as Rainbow leapt through the air and grabbed her around the legs. The pair hit the grass with a hard collision and were silent as they reeled from the hit. Rainbow lifted her head up, her arms still around Applejack's legs. Applejack merely groaned and shifted a bit, glaring back at her friend over her padded shoulder.

“I totally got you, Applejack!” Rainbow Dash cheered as she pushed herself up a bit onto her elbows, proud of herself for stopping such a force.

“Yeah, yeah, get off'a me, will ya?” Applejack grumbled as she wiggled her feet from under Rainbow Dash's prone body, which only served to give her a nasty idea.

“Mmm.” Rainbow grinned this devilish grin and regained control of her hands, sliding them up Applejack's thighs sensually. “Make me.” She grabbed at her friend's ass, squeezing rudely and raising her eyebrows suggestively.

“Rainbow!” Applejack shouted as she tried to knock the girl off of her, squirming a bit as her face went bright red beneath her visor. Rainbow Dash responded by lifting herself up and wrapping her arms around each of her friend's legs, getting to her own feet and dragging Applejack across the grass.

“What are they doing?” Spike asked while the rest of the team relaxed, stretching out and watching the antics of their supposed leaders several yards away.

“You'll get used to it,” Pipsqueak told him absently, checking the strap on his helmet as the rest of the men leisurely strolled about. “Tried out last year, found ‘em always screwing ‘round like that. They’re rascals, t’ put it lightly. Then again, If Rainbow Dash wasn't around, I swear Applejack ‘ould work us to the bone n’ back.”

“I thought Rainbow Dash was the captain though, isn’t she?” Spike inquired with curious eyes.

“She is, but Applejack’s the one who’s got i’ out fer us with all these intense trainings and such, she gives Rainbow lots o’ ideas about that sort of thing. Keeps her on track... well, most o’ the time.” Pipsqueak’s expression rotated between several before he settled on rolling his eyes.

“Oh. Well, I knew that they liked to roughhouse, but nothing like that.” Spike nodded as he watched his friends bicker physically and verbally.

“What's wrong, quarterback?” Rainbow Dash dragged her across the ground, though it took great effort to do, and Applejack scowled with a very displeased expression. “Thought you were all about keeping your feet on the ground? Where’s that level-headed composure now?”

“Ah'm too busy keepin' your crazy head outta the clouds.” Applejack murmured as she turned over, holding the football still in her palm. With a quick and forceful toss, she hit Rainbow Dash squarely in the helmet, knocking it a bit crooked.

Rainbow Dash stopped towing the girl and blinked in surprise, dropping one of Applejack's legs to adjust the helmet. Her eyes narrowed suddenly as she pouted a bit. “Oh, that does it!” she shouted as Applejack scrambled to her feet and evaded Rainbow's initial tackle.

“Watch that temper, partner!” Applejack reminded her friend as she expertly maneuvered the assault and turned Rainbow's momentum back on herself, grabbing her tightly in a headlock.

“AJ! AJ, quit it!” Rainbow Dash whined loudly as she struggled against the superior force, wriggling to try and get free or pry her friend's arm off of her. She settled instead for shouting something she thought might get her to back off willingly. “You're suffocating me with your fucking boobs!”

“C'mere, you.” Applejack dragged the protesting young athlete back to the group, only releasing her once they were in front of the team again. “Al’right, now this here knucklehead's got a point,” she told the team in a loud and commanding voice, watching as Rainbow Dash scowled and rubbed her neck grouchily. “It don't matter if we're in a drill, we gotta give it our all, right? Ah wanna see one-hundred percent in every drill, every practice, every game. Got that?”

“Yes ma’am!”

After the practice game, Spike looked out over the field as the rest of the team packed up. He was a little disappointed that he never truly got to kick and the rest of the players were still misfits enough to remove any resemblance of a football team. They ran out, played a game and ended, just to see where they all were. Spike couldn’t help but think that it was hardly different than a usual physical education class. Spike glanced over at his phone, noting the time of 5:48PM. Another day of school had been successful, and with a sigh of relief, he wiped his face.

Rainbow had thrown out a ball that got deflated after a lineman pileup occurred to the beaten, battered ball, and was lazily making her way to the bleachers. Applejack sat several feet away, sipping back a sports drink with her eyes seemingly trailing the rainbow-haired team captain, a dull grin on her face as she enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. It even made Spike relax.

Pipsqueak sat down between Applejack and Spike on the bench, letting out several huffs as he didn’t bother waiting for the locker room. He removed his shirt as well as his cheap underarmour, his arms aching just to move. His clothing was dirty, not seeing much use prior to the game, and his muscular build showed itself as it was peeled off. Applejack glanced over passively, seemingly approving of the build with a nod or a shrug before turning back to the team captain as she collected the footballs that were used. Most others had left the field already, going to the showers while the last four players basked in the nearly setting sun.

“I wasn’t the best out there t’day, but I sure do think I could be a righty lineman,” Pipsqueak said as he took the bottle of sports drink Applejack offered, squirting a bit into his mouth before handing it back. “I recently had a growth spurt, and ‘ave been trying t’ build muscle to match my height. I’m still getting exhausted and sore easily, and tired due to the suddenness. But I’m glad I tried out this year. Football… it’s a good way to build character.”

Applejack let the statement settle with a polite few nods, but Spike pondered the words carefully before responding.

“I don’t know, sports are just games, after all. Real stuff seems to do a better job of that. I think that it’s suffering that builds more character, in my eyes. Anyone who’s had a perfect life, everything handed to them, they wouldn’t know the fruits of a hard day’s effort or that life can just… be awful for no reason.” Spike leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs as he looked at the ground between his feet. Pipsqueak and Applejack’s eyes, as well as an incoming Rainbow, looked to him seriously as he dropped the mood to something more bitter. “Even little things, like making friends, can be tough.”

Not wasting a second, Pipsqueak gave him several hard pats on the back, not knowing his own strength. “Well, righty-o, then. Consider us mates. No difficulties involved.” Recovering from almost being knocked off the edge of the bench, Spike glanced back up at the larger boy incredulously.

“R-really? Just like that? Well… yeah, okay,” Spike agreed warmly, sitting upright. He checked his phone once more, seeing only a couple of minutes had passed. Pipsqueak outstretched his hand in the direction of the phone, drawing Spike’s eyes to it instead of the screen. “Huh?”

“Lemme give you my number, no foolin’. I figured if we’re gonna be mates as well as teammates, it’d make sense, right?” he proposed as Spike slowly handed the phone over.

“Woah woah woah, what makes you think you’re on the team in the first place, kid?” Rainbow asked as she dropped the ball bag next to the bench and leaned her elbow atop Applejack’s head, causing the farmer to grunt.

Pipsqueak punched in his information into Spike’s contact list and he grinned awkwardly at the phone before responding. He checked the details and gave the phone back to Spike and clicked his tongue before setting his eyes on Rainbow once more. He flexed his arms which perfectly showed off his physique.

“Cap’n, look at me. You honestly think you can afford to let me get stiffed with the basketball team?” he asked, attempting to put an edge to his voice.

Rainbow stood up straight, setting her hands on her hips as she hummed in thought, squinting her eyes at the muscular boy. She didn’t seem particularly interested in scanning him, but she objectively did just that. Her lips twisted as she hummed in thought before rolling her eyes and shrugging.

“Meh, got no witty retort for that. Congrats, you fucking Pipsqueak, you’re our first official lineman,” she stated with a thumbs-up gesture and a smirk.

Rainbow immediately retrieved Pipsqueak’s phone from his bag next to the bench without waiting for approval. Spike found himself stifling a chuckle at Rainbow’s obnoxiousness, finding it comforting that she had not changed. Even though Pipsqueak’s expression shifted from discomfort to confusion, he let her have her way with his phone. After a few clumsy attempts, she unlocked the phone and punched in hers, Applejack’s and Spike’s information.

“There, teammates are in… or, the official ones, at least.” Rainbow Dash snickered a bit, “Who knows how long these fucking wannabes are going to last. Applejack and I are guaranteed in this year, I mean no one can debate me being the captain, and no one throws like my girl Applejack.”

“No questions asked?” Spike wondered with a light voice, glancing down at his phone.

Two days and two more contacts; he couldn’t stop a grin from being painted on his face as his body warmed up to the prospect. The face of another girl popped into his mind once more; one he spoke to not that often, but enough that his heart was completely dead set on her. She hadn’t dated for most of her high school life, at least from what he could see, yet he couldn’t help but feel he didn’t compare to her standards. The mention of her name broke him out of a trance.

“—and she’s creating our uniforms again this year. I’d love it if we could get some quality fabrics or whatever, but, like, cheap quality,” Rainbow said, pounding a fist into her palm as she talked to Applejack.

“Rainbow, there ain’t so such thing as ‘cheap quality’. Ya either have one or th’ other,” Applejack argued back.

“I’m sorry, who, again?” Pipsqueak said, giving Rainbow and Applejack a sheepish grin. “I missed the name, no offense. I was just a bit dazed there, I was.”

Spike swallowed and fiddled nervously with his hands as images of the girl flashed in his mind once more.

“Who? C’mon, kid, did you like just transfer or something? She designs the uniforms for all the teams in school, the fucking plays and nerdy shit too,” Rainbow said, slapping her palm against her forehead.

“Her name’s Rarity.”