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Rising for Sunset [Part 3 - Wednesday]
By StarswirlCreated: 2021-07-16 21:31:33
Updated: 2021-02-04 04:23:45
Expiry: Never
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1.
>Wake up.
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2.
>Grab things.
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3.
>Quick breakfast this time.
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>Feeling pretty good about things today.
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5.
>Head for school.
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>You happen to meet up with Flash on the walk over.
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>"Well, well. Someone's looking confident today."
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8.
"After all of the crap that I've gone through over the last couple of days, I think I'm feeling good."
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9.
>"Good for you, man."
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>You talk to chat with Flash for a bit about music during your trip.
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11.
>Eventually you reach Canterlot High and step inside.
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"Look, I understand why you like Rush. Nobody will disagree with it. But why is Xanadu your favorite track of theirs?"
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>"You just don't get the artistic value of it, Anon."
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>As you're about to give your rebuttal as to why that argument is bullshit, Fluttershy comes up.
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"Good morning, Anonymous."
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>Damnit, she's so cute.
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"Hey there, Fluttershy. What's up?"
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>"It's nothing really. I was just wondering what you thought of the English assignment that we have due for today."
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>You were in such a hurry to leave the class on Monday that you forgot to write it down.
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"Oh... Well... What was it again?"
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>"Anon, you really shouldn't put off your homework like that."
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"Yeah, I know..."
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>Fluttershy writes down the pages that you were supposed to read for today.
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>Just about then, you hear a voice call your name.
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>Rainbow Dash approaches you.
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>"I heard about your little 'competition' with Applejack yesterday."
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"Yes. And?"
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>"You may be good in her book, but you haven't proven yourself to me yet."
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>Fluttershy speaks up.
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>"Rainbow Dash, I'm surprised at you. Haven't we given Anonymous enough trouble this week?"
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>Another voice pipes up behind Rainbow Dash.
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>"Yeah, Rainbow. Anon's a decent feller."
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34.
>You never would have thought before this week that anyone from the Main Six would really care about what happens to you.
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>Now Fluttershy AND Applejack have come to your defense.
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>You put your hands out to your sides.
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"It's fine, you guys. Really."
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>They seem a bit surprised to hear this response.
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>The only person that isn't phased by this is Rainbow.
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40.
"What's it going to be, Rainbow Dash?"
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>"Half an hour after school lets out. Meet me out at the soccer field. And you better not chicken out."
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"Don't worry. I won't."
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>She turns and leaves without saying another thing.
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>Everyone else is looking at you like you're out of your mind.
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>Flash is the first to speak up.
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>"Anon, you know she's the star of the soccer team, right?"
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"Is she?"
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>Fluttershy looks worried for you, because you seem to be unprepared for everything today.
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>Applejack starts to lay on the skepticism.
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>"You know that this isn't like yesterday, right? You can't just learn to get good at a sport in less than a day."
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"Sure."
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>They all look less sure.
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"Look, I'm telling you guys, I'll be fine."
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>You turn towards the hall that leads to your next class and start walking.
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"Really. You don't have to worry about me today. I've got this."
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>At that moment, you see Pinkie Pie walking by.
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>She turns and calls out to you, without stopping.
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>"Nonny, I told you that you should get some new shoes!"
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>What is she talking abou-
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>It's happening again.
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>You feel the world fall out from under you.
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>IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY DAY?
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>Just before you faceplant, you come to a realization.
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>You forgot your new shoes at home.
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>You're wearing the old, shitty ones.
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67.
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>Nothing saves your ass this time.
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>You eat shit.
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>You can hear your comrades behind you.
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>A sharp breath in.
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>An "oooh..."
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>An "eep"
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>Before any of them can ask if you're okay, you stick out your hand and gives them a thumbs up before peeling yourself off the floor and dusting yourself off.
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>The rest of your morning passes without anything else going wrong.
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>Well, almost.
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>A power outage happened while you were typing a paper and you lost half of it.
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>You came pretty close to having that solution blow up in your face during chemistry.
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>But you made it to lunch just fine.
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>You get your tray filled up and have a seat with Flash.
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>After a little while, you hear your phone go off.
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>Looks like you've got a text.
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>You don't recognize the number, but you check it anyway.
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>"I hope you don't mind, but I got your number from Pinkie Pie."
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>Okay, so that explains that much.
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>It still doesn't explain how PINKIE has your number, but you know it's better not to ask.
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>"I'm really sorry about all of this. Would you be willing to meet with me before school tomorrow so we can talk about it?"
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>It's from Sunset Shimmer.
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>She wants to clear all of this up.
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>Maybe today is as good as you thought it would be after all.
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>As the bell rings for classes to resume, you send her a text back saying that you will.
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>Your next class period passes uneventfully.
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>That leads you up to... English again.
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>"Today I'd like you to fill out these worksheets on the reading."
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>That can't be good.
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>You only skimmed the reading after Fluttershy gave you the page numbers-
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>"I will allow you to partner up for this.
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>The room is instantly a massive shift of people trying to sit by their best friends so that they can chat.
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>After the room settles, you're sitting next to Fluttershy.
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>She didn't notice you for a moment and nearly jumps out of her seat.
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"So... partners?"
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>"O-okay. Sure, Anon."
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>You both work on the worksheet packet.
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>But mostly Fluttershy.
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>You help out where you can, but it requires a lot of reading the text thoroughly for the first time.
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>It's going well, but it seems like there's something else on her mind.
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"Fluttershy?"
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>"Yes, Anonymous?"
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"Are you still worried about how I'm going to deal with Rainbow Dash later?"
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>"N-no, of course not..."
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>That doesn't sound convincing.
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"Really? Because you sound nervous."
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>"Well.. maybe a little bit. Rainbow Dash is a really good athlete, and I just don't want you to feel bad if you can't win."
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"It's really okay, Fluttershy. Thank you for being concerned about me, but I promise you that I know what I'm getting myself into. So don't worry about it anymore, okay?"
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>"O-okay. If you say so."
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>She gives you a small smile after you reassure her.
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>You two wrap up the assignment and write your name on it.
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>She has beautiful, cursive handwriting.
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>Damnit, everything about her is adorable.
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>The bell rings and you split off from Fluttershy to go wait for your challenge against Rainbow Dash.
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>It's almost time.
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>You're ready.
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>You KNOW that you're ready.
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>You throw open the door and step out onto the field.
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>"Looks like you didn't chicken out after all."
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>Rainbow Dash is standing at midfield with a soccer ball trapped under her foot.
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>Scanning the field, you can see Fluttershy and Applejack are both sitting in the stands to watch this.
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>No Flash this time though.
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>Your eyes settle on Dash again.
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"Nope."
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>"That's fine with me. I'll beat you anyway."
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>She kicks up the ball and catches it.
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>"First to score ten goals wins.
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>You nod and take your position on one side of the line.
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>Dash places the ball.
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>Fluttershy lines up at the center from off-field.
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>"Ready?"
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>There's a long hesitation before she finally blurts out:
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>"Go!"
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>Before you can even move, the ball shoots past you with Rainbow Dash in hot pursuit.
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>You try to maneuver around her to get it back, but she is FAST.
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>She shoots...
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>She scores.
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>The game just started she's already ahead of you by a point.
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>She turns to look at you and the look on her face is SO SMUG.
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>"You sure you don't wanna just give up now?"
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>You put on your game face.
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"Never."
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>You reset for the next one...
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>Ready to go this time, you manage to get the first kick in and start dribbling the ball down the field.
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>She hasn't caught up to you after a couple of seconds, and this is starting to feel good.
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>Even if your soccer technique is awful.
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>Just then, it happens again.
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>You slip in the grass and Rainbow dashes by, stealing the ball.
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>By the time you right yourself again, it's already too late to stop her.
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>She scores again.
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>And again.
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>And again.
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>And again.
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>It keeps happening until she has nine goals to your zero.
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>Then it happens.
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>"ANON! CATCH!"
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>You turn to see something sailing through the air towards you.
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>You catch it.
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>It's the new tennis shoes you bought yesterday.
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>Flash is here.
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>You grin.
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"Flash, you son of a bitch! You broke into my house for a pair of shoes?"
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>"Just lookin' out for you, man!"
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>You look to Rainbow Dash and call a time out.
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>You kneel down and start untying the shoes that have been causing a lot of shit the past few days.
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>"What difference is a pair of shoes going to make? I only need one more point to win!"
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>You block her out.
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>Flash is amping up the mood the only way he knows how to:
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>By playing his guitar.
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>You slip your feet into the new shoes and tie the old ones together by the laces.
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>You turn and throw them hard.
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>They land in a nearby dumpster with a satisfying thud.
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>You turn to Rainbow Dash.
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"It. Is. ON."
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>You walk up to the starting position again, ready and raring to go.
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>Rainbow Dash is surprised this time when you actually slip past her with the ball.
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>You can feel the fire within.
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>Dash is quickly catching up to you.
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>Pushing yourself, you can see that you're approaching the goal.
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>You're NOT going to slip this time.
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>She's outpacing you.
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>This is all you.
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>She's ahead of you now, but you see an opening.
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>You shoot!
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>Everything happens in slow motion.
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>Your foot makes contact with the ball.
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>It streaks through the air.
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>Rainbow Dash whips around and throws a kick.
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>It connects with the ball.
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>Everything suddenly speeds up again as a black and white shape blurs over your head.
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>You turn around to pursue it.
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>It looks like a rainbow just shoots right past your face.
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>She kicks the ball...
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>And it's over.
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>Rainbow Dash scores her tenth goal.
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>Flash stops playing instantly.
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>Everyone in the stands generally just looks down.
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>Rainbow Dash immediately starts gloating.
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>"AW, YEAH! Who's awesome? I'm awesome!"
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>She turns to you.
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>"So, what do you have to say NOW, Anon?"
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>You stand your ground.
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"Re-match. Right here. Right now."
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>"Wha? I just THRASHED you ten to nothing and you want to go again?"
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"That's right."
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>There's a moment where she doesn't know how to respond.
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>"F-Fine then. Have it your way. But don't start crying if you lose again!"
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>You won't go out like this.
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>You refuse to go out like this.
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>The game starts again.
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>You keep putting your all into it.
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>Rainbow Dash keeps walking all over you.
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>It's a total blow-out.
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>Again.
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"Again."
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>"Ugh, are you kidding?"
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>You play her again.
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>You get stomped again.
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>You're both starting to get tired, you more than her.
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"Again."
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>"What is your DEAL Anon? It doesn't matter how many times we do this, you're not going to win!"
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>You look at her with a fierce look in your eyes.
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"Because I won't back down. Not anymore."
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>She looks surprised to hear this.
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>You think back to your encounter with Sunset on Monday.
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"I already made the mistake of getting in my own way, and I'm sure as hell not going to let anyone, even you, stop me either."
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>There's a long silence as you stare her down.
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>The air is still, no one says a thing.
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>Rainbow Dash walks over to you...
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>"You just stood up for what you believe in. You have guts dude. A lot of guts."
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>She extends a hand to you with a smile.
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>"You know... you're alright by me, Anon."
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>You shake Rainbow's hand, which quickly turns into a fist bump that you almost don't manage to reciprocate.
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>Fluttershy, Applejack, and Flash are cheering from the stands.
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>You smile.
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"Thanks Rainbow Dash. You're probably not so bad either."
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>She rolls her eyes.
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>"Yeah, well, I AM pretty awesome. But you're cooler than I thought you were. Good luck working things out with Sunset."
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>You nod to Rainbow Dash before departing from the field.
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>You spend the walk home talking to Flash, laughing about the whole thing as he recalls just how bad you got wrecked.
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>When you get home, you go straight to your room and lie down on the bed.
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>You're exhausted from going three rounds with Rainbow Dash.
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>But that's not surprising.
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>Not giving up had been your plan all along.
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>And tomorrow morning, you're going to meet with Sunset Shimmer and settle this whole mess.
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264.
END OF WEDNESDAY.
by Starswirl
by Starswirl
by Starswirl
by Starswirl
by Starswirl