DJ started walking towards the two other players. Kendrick and Tyler, their fists were flying in a mad furry to bash the other's face in. Normally, DJ would sit back and watch the fight. But now wasn't the time. They were just days away from the state championship game against Guthrie. Kendrick was small, but knew how to flow and cover if the end would peel off. Tyler was bigger, not by much though, but a little. He knew how to fill the hole. DJ got closer to the Sam and Willie backers. He reached his arms out, fist grabbing Tyler by the right shoulder, throwing him to the ground, then turning to Kendrick, placing his hands "right on his tits" as his coach told him back during freshman year, playing as a linemen. DJ stared into Kendrick's eyes. "You need to calm down!" He looked back at the backer on the ground. "And you too! This is ridiculous!" He threw Kendrick on the ground. He looked at the O and D line. They were suppressing giggles. "You think this is funny? We are just days from the most important night of our lives!" He looked over to the backers lying on the ground. "We are seniors, dammit! This is our last chance!"

     "But h..." Kendrick started. 

    "I don't care what he did! You two need to pull your head out of your ass and get to work! I couldn't give two shits if you never talk to one another in a week, but this is now!" His voice rising. "This is a multi million dollar stadium! Thousands of dollars of equipment! Years of practice and training, and you two are acting like you just got the memo! We will be the first Noble football team to win a state championship!" He looked over to the coaches. "They want it just as bad as we do!" He looked back down at the two backers, starting to get up. "You want it, right?"

     "Of course!" They said in unison.

     "Then act like it! Damn..." He said as he tightened the straps on his helmet. DJ wasn't just another backer. He was the middle linebacker. The Maniac. He was responsible for the whole field, and everything on it. He was six foot four, two-hundred and twenty pounds. He had a killer instinct, he was a head hunter. He would be your best friend in the world, but if you were on the other side of the ball, he would hate every fiber of your being. Just for wearing the wrong colors. That's all he was. A hateful monster. But, he wasn't a brainless jock. He was in the top five percent of the school in academics. But, being as Noble was a school full of drugs and people who just didn't care, it wasn't a hard task. 

    The coaches noticed DJ had stopped talking, and took this as a chance to teach their positions. Barrett walked over to the linebackers. "Alright, what happened before you two went at it?"  

     Kendrick spoke first. "It was a counter, to the left. I didn't read the line, only the backfield. The QB lied. He dropped back, and I followed, only to realize my mistake, but I already took two steps, I had to regain myself, then started for the ball, following my path, but slightly curved." 

      He looked over to Tyler. "You?"

     "Same, I kept my eyes in the backfield." 

    The coach looked at DJ. "What happened?"

     "As much as I hate to blame it on others, I saw the pulls, immediately flowing. However, the D-end didn't get hands on their read. The linemen hit me, I had little time to fight him off, and I did, but I was already a second behind where I needed to be." 

    Barrett nodded. "Run it again!" He yelled, which received an immediate 'yes sir!' and the shuffling of players to their proper places. Barrett looked at the band on his wrist. "Let's go Black 9."

_______________________________________________________________________

     "I'm so bored!" Princess Luna said as she flopped onto her bed. With all her royal duties done, she had a couple hours to kill. She rolled over, covering her head with a pillow. "There's nothing to do!" While yes, the bars and clubs were open, it wouldn't be proper for the princess to go there. I could always prank somepony? No, did that last night. Maybe rearrange the stars? No, too much work. I could steal Tia's cake? A smile formed on her face. I've got it! Tia always uses her magic to detect disharmony, then she helps the pony out! Her smile got even wider. I'll do even better! I'll save something from another world!

      Luna hopped out of her bed, and started for the library. She started to sing a little phrase. "Tia's gonna be proud of me, Tia's gonna be proud of me!"

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    DJ laid in the bed of 'Lil' red,' his 2002 Chevy S10. The little truck had done so much for him. In the spring, summer, and early fall, they would spend hours driving all over, mowing the lawns of multiple people. He smiled at the thought. He was making hundreds of dollars in a few hours, one day a week, while his friends were making minimum wage at Kanes and McDonalds. They worked all week, spending countless hours taking orders and flipping burgers, while DJ was either at the gym, sitting at his desk with homework or film, or in his gaming chair, staring aimlessly at the screen, watching as the ships would fly past the AA gun he usually manned in Planetside 2. But, it was Monday. For an hour every Monday, around ten, he would drive behind the railroad tracks, past the baseball fields. He put is tailgate down, and laid back. Staring at the moon and stars. Mainly the moon.

     It's silver surface giving light to the dark world. Sure, it was really the sun's light, but if it wasn't for the magnificent piece of rock, there would be no way the sun could reach the dark side of the Earth. It almost made me smile. Perfect teamwork. It's idiotic! Two rocks work together better than eleven men on a football field. His thoughts stopped when he heard vehicles approach his truck. He sat up in the bed, he saw a black and blue Ford Raptor, and a green Pontiac Firebird. He almost laughed. What are these idiots doing out here?

    Corben and Tyler hopped out of their vehicles. "Dude, it's like, ten thirty! What are you doing out here?"

     "What I do every Monday. How the hell did y'all find me?" 

    "We asked Momma." Corben said. He shook his head. She knows I like to be alone.

    "So what are y'all doing out here?"

     "We texted you, asking if you wanted to hop on PS2, but you didn't reply, so we decided to hunt you down!" Tyler said.

     "By asking my Mom?" 

      Corben started laughing. "We told here we thought you were in trouble!"     "You guys are assholes." He said as he stood up, going to grab his phone from the cab. Damn, thirty missed calls...

     "So what are you doing out here?" Tyler asked, leaning against his car. 

    "Just amazed that two rocks can work together better than eleven men. Well, three rocks if you think about it." The moon's gravity and water levels.

    "So, want to head back? Some bitch ass platoon was tryin' to take our biodome in Amerish when we left."

     He laughed. "If it's the same platoon as last time, you don't stand a chance against their air support. Yeah, I'll head home."

     Corben took the phone out of his pocket. His face dropped as he started a little hop to his truck. "They just brought in three squads. We gotta go!"

     He laughed as he hopped in his truck. Amazing, we collaborate better as a team when a virtual base is being taken then when someone is running with a football. He looked up at the moon, still there, still shining bright in the sky. I am kinda upset I didn't get to lay there longer.  

    "Left side, two transport ships." Corben's voice came over. 

    His mouse swipped on the pad, wipping the guns around. "On it, two transport ships. You forgot to mention the TR fighter tailing them." He pressed on the mouse, the red X appearing on the screen. Eventually popping up the kill points. "One down, one to go. Anyone got a lock on the fighter?"

     Blake's voice came in. "I got a rocket headed his way." About that time, a rocket slammed into the side of the fighter, bringing a large cloud of smoke. 

    "Fighter hit." The second transport blew into pieces as well. "And transport is down. How you guys doing inside?" 

    "They got a max in here somehow! And it has three engineers!" Tyler's voice cried out. 

    "If there's a medic, take him down, then the engineers, then the max! Come on man, this isn't the first time they've got one in here." 

    As night descended on the virtual continent, he couldn't help but notice the night sky. He usually passed it off, but this time, he moved the guns to observe the night. Much more colorful. Much more... he spun the weapons around, hitting a landing transport, some players ejecting early, trying to maybe survive the fall. None of them did. Violent.

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

    Luna smiled as she found exactly what she was looking for. A book containing an ancient spell, one that could open a portal to a new dimension. And the spell Celestia used to find sources of disharmony. I wonder what thing I will save? Or what I will help! She started bouncing up and down. She could barely contain her excitement.

_________________________________________________________________

    DJ walked into his physics class. His music blaring at maximum volume. The violen and bass mixture giving him a calm feeling, but still energizing him for the next night. He could barely sleep, and was hoping on getting some sleep this hour after the few problems he had left to do. As he walked through the doors, his teacher almost sprinted by him. He gave her a weird look as he walked into the class. He dropped his bag by his desk, turning to the unusual occupant in the desk behind his.

     He wasn't just sitting there, oh no! This was Noble! The kid was having violent seizures in the chair, drool coming out of his mouth. DJ took the headphones out of his ears. "What's up with him?" He asked. 

    "Pills, we're guessing he OD'ed on Oxycontin." 

    He looked over at the student, his body locked up right as he looked at him, his head slamming on the desk. DJ just shook his head. "Idiot." 

    Coach Barrett, the principal, and the teacher all entered the room. "Y'all need to go to the gym." He said as he and the principal wrapped their arms around the student.

     "Need any help, Coach?" He asked.

     Soloman looked over at DJ. "No, you need to go to the gym."  

      DJ just nodded his head. "Yes sir." 

      DJ made his way to the gym. His bag slung over his shoulder, music still blaring. Being fourth hour, it was freshman lunch. DJ took a seat near the exit. He didn't want to be bothered. He took out his physics work, finishing the last few questions, and laying his head back. The bass was pounding his ears. At this rate, I'll be deaf by age twenty. He felt a tap on his shoulder, his left eye to view whoever was disturbing his nap. He took out his left bud. "Hello?" 

    The kid was wearing a blue hoodie, with a yellow lightning down the middle. The hood had... ears and goggles? His shirt had a mint green unicorn, sitting in a weird position. Under the pony, the word. 'Believe.' "Are you new here?"

     He kinda laughed. "Not quite. Been here for a while. Can I help you with anything?" 

    "Than why haven't I ever seen you in here before?" 

    "I'm not a freshie, buddy." He gave a weak smile. "Senior." 

    "Really? Are you going to college? Where are you going? What do you do for fun? How has your day been?"

     He put his hands out. "Listen, as much as I would love to answer all your questions, I would really like to catch up on my sleep."

     "Oh! Okay! I'm sorry!" He held out his hand in a closed fist. "Brohoof?"

     He stared at the kid for a second, turning the music in his other bud down. "I'm sorry?" 

    "You know, brohoof!" He demonstrated by hitting his fists together.

     DJ sighed. "Listen, I'll fist bump you, but I won't brohoof you." He couldn't stand bronies. He had nothing against the show, but it was the community that got on his nerves. Random pictures on websites with 'I'm a brony! Got a problem with it?' And it annoyed the hell out of him. So much, that he actually went back, watching every show in their series, even the most recent of season three. Why did he do this? For ammo. He would target the weak, newer bronies, using information from the show to back his arguments. Oh how he loved to see people pissed and confused as to what happened. "Fist bump?" He asked again.   

    The kid sighed. "Fine, fist bump."

______________________________________________________________________

     Luna started preparations for the portal. It would require a massive amount of energy, but she could do it! She knew she could! She placed the enchanted gems on the floor of her room in their correct places. Luna looked at the strange drawings on the ground. She took a deep breath. "Come on, Luna! You can do this! If Tia can, you can!" Her horn started to glow, raising the gems from the floor. A small blue dot forming in the center. Luna started to smile. "It's working!" Right as she said that, the doors to her room opened.

     "Lu-Lu, how wa... what is that?" Celestia spoke in her calm voice. The blue dot quickly vanished, and the gems fell to the floor. Luna sat there panting.

     "Tia! I almost had it!" She complained.

     "Luna, what were you doing?" Celestia walked into the room further, observing the gems and symbols.  

      Luna hid the book under her flank as she sat on the floor. "Nothing..." 

    Celestia's eyes widened as she recognized the symbols on the floor. "You were trying to create a portal!" 

    Luna looked down. "Yeah, I was. I was just trying to impress you!" She cried out. 

    "Lu-Lu, you don't have to impress me." She wrapped a hoof around her sister. "Besides, this is very dangerous. You never know what kind of thing could come through!"

     "I guess you're right..." Luna said. That doesn't mean I won't try tomorrow! She hid her grin. Tomorrow was going to be very interesting.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

     DJ's heart was pounding. Faster than it probably should. He sat at the locker with his stuff, in an alien locker room. The music blaring in his head. His 'angry' music. He kept his eyes straight ahead. He girdle was starting to itch, but he ignored it. He was trying as hard as he could to remember every defensive play. All ten. The blues, greens, and blacks. The blacks being his favorite. He usually blitzed on a black play. He looked down at his wristband. Damn, I mixed blue two and green five again...

     He felt a fist hit shoulder, he looked up, taking his buds out. "Hey, Coach." 

    Coach Allen stood over him. "You ready, bud?"

     He nodded his head. "Yeah, just nervous is all."

     He slapped his head on DJ's shoulder. "Just do your job, and trust everyone else to do theirs, and you'll be fine."

     He nodded again. "I understand. It's just..." he looked around the room. "This is most of the senior's last game. I have a scholarship to a small college. Yeah, it's small, but who cares? Still free school!"

     Allen let out a breath of air. "Yeah, that's true. But hey!" He started to walk away. "At least they left their mark!" 

    The team formed a circle around the four leaders. DJ, Kendrick, Corben, and Tyler. They started their chant. Their ritual before every game. "Dear, Lord. The battles.we go through life." 

    "Dear, Lord. The battles we go through life." 

    "We ask for a chance to spare." 

    "We ask for a chance to spare."

     "A chance to equal our strides."

     "A chance to equal our strides."

     "A chance to do or die."

     "A chance to do or die."

     "If we should win."

     "If we should win."

     "Faith and honor held high." 

    "Faith and honor held high."

     "If we should lose." 

    "If we should lose." 

    "We'll stand by the road."

     "We'll stand by the road."

     "And cheer as the winners go by."

     "And cheer as the winners go by."

     "DAY BY DAY!"

     "DAY BY DAY!"

     "WE GET BETTER AND BETTER!"

     "WE GET BETTER AND BETTER!"

     "SO WE CAN'T BE BEAT!" 

     "SO WE CAN'T BE BEAT!"

     "WON'T! BE! BEAT!"    

     "WON'T! BE! BEAT!"

     Everyone jumped up, screaming. You could feel the energy coming from the players ready to do whatever they could to win the ballgame. DJ put his helmet up in the air. "Seniors! This is it! Our last game! Let's go out with a bang, shall we?"

     He got an "Oo-ra!" As a reply. Most of the players were joining the Marines after highschool. They don't have anywhere else to go but the military. While DJ did still have the Air-force in the back of his mind, he still wanted to either fly private aircraft or design video games and do networking. 

    "Alright! Let's show these Guthrie bitches we mean buisness! Bears on three!"

     The whole team erupted. "One! Two! Three! BEARS!" 

    The team started jumping all around, ready to go. DJ on the other hand, he had a mission. He made his way over the biggest D-tackle. He grabbed him by the shoulder pads, looking him in the eye. "I swear to God, if you do anything stupid out there that will jeopardize this game for us, I will personally beat the living shit out of you!" 

    He gave a smartass look to DJ. "I'm an Atheist, your threat doesn't affect me."

     "Fine. I swear to science, you ungrateful douche." He pushed him away, leaving the linemen to sink in what was just said.     DJ walked over with his fellow linebackers for the coin toss. They decided they wanted to receive first, let the offense set up some points before defense would hold them back.

     It was gonna be a hell of a game.

___________________________________________________________________________

     As Luna's eyes opened, a smile formed on her face. In just one hour, she would prove to Celestia that she too could save things in a state of disharmony! It would also help her image, as many of the Equestrian citizens still feared her. If she could save something, it would make her look like a hero. She hopped out of the bed, getting the enchanted gems and chalk. I know I can do this, Tia knows I can too!

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

    Fourth quarter. Score 14-17, Bears winning. Ten seconds remaining. Guthrie had the ball. Third down, on the five yard-line. DJ was about to explode. His heart was pounding, adrenaline pumping through his body. Cuts on his arms that were wrapped, just well enough for him to continue to play, but would easily get infected. He didn't care, as much as he loved scars, he would want it to get infected, so he could pick at the scab, leaving a story on his skin.

     DJ looked over at his coaches. Barrett was pointing at the ground, while Allen held up five fingers. DJ nodded. "Green five! Green five!" The call echoes through the field as every player repeated the call. DJ looked down at his band. "Alright, base it is then." He lowered himself down as the QB got under the center.

     "Motion!" Kendrick called, DJ' eyes darted to a receiver running across the field.

     "Watch the fake!" Tyler screamed. 

      The QB started the count. "Ready, ready! Blue ten.... bluuuue ten.... seeeet. Go! Go!"

     DJ watched the linemen. Their steps were not in the forward aggresive motion, but instead, a backwards motion. This signalling a pass. "Pass! Pass!" DJ yelled, dropping back into coverage. DJ's eyes saw what the receiver was doing, he planted, heading at a forty-five degree angle towards him. "Bubble! Bubble!"

     "Got him!" Tyler screamed. His body slammed into the receiver, two yards in the backfield. The receiver dropped the ball. "Ball!" Tyler yelled, reaching for the egg shaped ball. 

    The whistle blew. "Damn..." DJ said under his breath. An incomplete pass. DJ looked over to the sidelines once again. This was the last play of the game. His coach pointed to his hat, while the other held up one finger. "Blue one! Blue one!" He yelled.     The QB came back up to the line in shotgun. "Ready! Ready!" 

    DJ ran up to his line. "Don't jump! Don't jump!" He screamed, returning to his spot. 

    "Seeeeet.... Go! Go!" The QB yelled. Not a single person moved. He looked over to the ref. "Timeout!" He said as he made a T with his hands. The whistle blew, and the teams ran to their sidelines.

     DJ held out his right hand, which was quickly filled with an ice cold water bottle. He squirted the icy liquid down his throat, easing the pain in his burning throat. He closed his eyes, letting the water run down his face and jersey. Chills formed on his body when a northern wind blew across the field. He heard voices, but wasn't listening. He knew what to do. He knew where his fit was. The short break ended, DJ handed the bottle back to one of the managers, and ran back to the field. 

    He eyed the formation, recognizing it immediately. "Trips! Trips! Check forty-two! Check forty-two!" He yelled, pushing Kendrick over into coverage. DJ looked at the QB. Try it and see what happens.

     "Ready! Ready!" This is it! "Green eight! Green eight!" He's gonna do it! "Seeeeet.... Go! Go!" The offensive line took a hard step forward and to the right. DJ followed exactly. He saw a hole start to form as the QB tucked the ball into his arm. Huh-uh, bitch! Not in my gap! DJ planted his right foot, shooting straight through the B gap. Fear entered the QB's eyes when the backer broke through, untouched. Then, both players made a potentially deadly mistake.

     They lowered their heads, colliding head on.

     DJ's butterfly collar absorbed most of the blow, but his brain still shook in his head, colliding against his skull. The QB however, was not as lucky. He lost consciousness immediately. DJ drove him to the ground, his feet still kicking once the two slammed into the ground. He opened his eyes, a smile forming on his face. We did it!

     DJ stood up, trying as hard as he could to hide his new condition. Come on, you were able to hide a broken back and torn hip for months, don't let a hard hit stop you now! He was thrown to the ground by his teammates. Smiles all around.

     The locker room was filled with laughter and tears. They did it! The first Noble football team to actually win the state championship! While all the other players rejoiced, though, a single player sat with his headphones in, a smile on his face, tears in his eyes. We did it.... we really fuckin' did!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

    Luna started up her horn. The gems started floating once again, the blue orb forming. You can do it, Luna! The portal was at its maximum size, a large blue hole. Nothing on the other side. Just blue. Alright, now, to find a source of disharmony! Her horn grew brighter, allowing different colors to come from the portal. It was eventually fully open. "A forest?" She looked at the strange portal. Then, a deer hopped in front of it. 

    "I thought I made a portal to a different world?" 

    As the deer started to walk away, the portal followed closely behind. The deer's head then shot straight up, looking into the distance. What do you see? Then, four wolves started running for the animal. Luna' face was filled with fear and excitement. So I will still save something! However, the deer was not pulled through the portal. Instead, it continued to follow the animal, until it jumped over a wire fence. Wait, did that have spikes on it?! As the deer ran, another noise became present. On the black smooth surface, the portal shifted, revealing two bright lights. A machine of some sorts. The machine tried to turn away from the animal, but one of its wheels hit a hole in the smooth surface. It started to roll, coming straight to the portal. As it neared, Luna realized she was in immediate danger. She jumped out of the way, cutting off her magic, but not before the portal emitted a loud pop. The machine rolled into the room, slamming against one of the walls.

     Luna stared in horror as the portal closed and the gems fell to the floor. The machine was red, and had four wheels. It had a small amount of white smoke coming from the front end. Its noises had stopped, except for the occasional small pop. She started to walk towards the machine. It was a mess. Dirt covered half of it, while scratches covered the rest. A machine is a source o... her eyes got as wide as the moon when she heard a faint groan. She inched closer to the front. The shattered glass revealed something. Luna didn't know what it was, but it had a look of pain in its face. Blood trickled down the side of its head. Luna started to run from her room, towards Celestia's, screaming her sister's name.

______________________________________________________________________________________

  DJ let out a small sigh. Can't even see straight, this shit isn't safe... He shook his head. Gotta prove a point. Can't let Shelby know I got a concussion. Shelby was one of his good friends, but didn't play the same sports. Shelby wrestled while DJ played football and ran track. Shelby didn't play football, mainly because of the amount of concussions he had received in both sports. But wrestling was to Shelby as football was to DJ.

     Their life.    

     DJ heard a small ringing noise, he reached down, grabbing his phone from the passenger seat. What does he want right now? "'Ello?"    

     Corben's voice came over the cell. "Hey man! We're headed over to Shrabe's for a party, you want to come?" 

    "You know damn well I don't party."     "Come on man! We just won state! You can't say you don't want to!"

     DJ laughed. "I'm fucking tired. I need sleep!" 

    "Don't be a pussy, bitch ass, nigga!"

     "Shut the fuck up, Corben! You're a fucking cracker! I'm going home and going to bed, fuck you! Oh, and tell Shrabe I said hey!" He clicked end call.

     DJ's head was spinning as he sat behind the wheel of the 2002 Chevy S10. The usual blaring speakers were silent. He had a destination. Home. And he'd be damned if he let the most important night of his life, and the biggest hit of his career stop him from laying in the soft bed for his dreams to be filled with the flashy ring. The ring champions wore. And he was a champion. He smiled, closing his eyes to think of the ring. What would the booster club put on it? Would it look like his class ring? Would it have his name or number on it? He opened his eyes to see a deadly sight. A deer. Jumping a fence. Heading right into the road. He tried to swerve, only for his truck's tire to hit a large pothole. He felt the vehicle go airborne. The roof of the cab caved in, just centimeters from his head. The truck continued to roll as he heard a loud pop, he assumed were the airbags. The vehicle came to a rapid stop, smashing against something very sturdy. Very hard. As he lost consciousness, he heard a voice. At first, he thought it was God. But it couldn't be? God wasn't a women. The voice yelled the same thing over... and over... and over... getting farther and farther away as his world turned to a black abyss.

     "Tia! Tia! Tia!"

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Edited by Sanity Next Chapter: Are you serious? Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 40 Minutes