“Alright! We’re ready to start!” Rainbow Dash pumps a hoof. In front of the Castle of Friendship stands a quaint soccer arrangement. Two nets form the ends of a 30 yard field. It isn’t long until a crowd steadily forms around the area. Prying eyes scour the empty space before the Castle. Various oos, ahhs, and questions float along the fringes. “Okay, Rainbow.” Princess Twilight calls from the doorstep. “Just pick an opponent--if this is really what you wanna do,” she rolls her eyes. “Hmm,” Rainbow Dash rubs at her chin with narrow eyes. “I choose…” Her eyes pop wide and she emits a smiling gasp. “You! At the back!” She takes float and points across the field’s width. A dark figure twitches among the crowd. “Thoren! Get over here!” Surrounding ponies draw a breath and widen their eyes. They step aside and nudge forth the chosen one. A white earth pony with a black mane and trench coat steps forward. His brow furrows. “Why?” Thoren lowers his head. “Why does it have to be me?” Rainbow smirks. “Because if you don’t, you’re just gonna go home and stay there until you go to work tomorrow.” “And?” Thoren raises an eyebrow and his head. Vivid blue challenges moderate cerise. “You work the night shift, right?” “Yes.” Thoren half narrows his eyes. “So you’re gonna be stowed away between home and the Boutique for another whole week?” Rainbow feigns exasperation and throws up her forelegs. “Why do you care?” Thoren snaps, but catches and swallows it down. “Why does that matter?” He sighs it out. The pegasus floats toward and meets the earth pony face to face. “‘Cause you’re a shut-in,” her eyes narrow, then casually widen again. “Besides, I hear you’ve been kickin’ up a sick training routine. I wanna see what you’re made of.” She bumps Thoren’s shoulder with a hoof. “Er--okay,” he shrugs. “Does it have to be public? I was going to start training when I got home. You could’ve asked to join me.” “Hmm,” she fake-thinks. “Nahhh. I’m at a point of no return, and you never publicly compete. Think of it like uncharted territory!” Thoren mixes a sigh with a groan, and takes a moment to contemplate. “Fine. If you really--” “--Great!” Rainbow grins and extends a hoof. “I’ll see you in the center!” Thoren glances between her hoof and face. “Un,” he lengthens the U and bumps her hoof. . . . “Alright,” Twilight joins the competitors at field center. A pink-lavender aura swells around a soccer ball and keeps it airborne. “First to five goals wins the match. You guys ready?” She announces; eyes shifting between the two. “Ready!” They nod with unyielding gazes at the other. The whistle blows, a transparent magic barrier forms, and the ball drops from high above. Both contestants brace to move, and break out in unison as the ball falls. While they both begin at once, Thoren’s spring takes him just high enough above Rainbow Dash. On its way down, both players twist themselves in the air, but it is the stallion’s hind hooves that connect with the ball and send it screaming past his opponent’s ear. By time she finishes her gasp, the ball clears the field and slams into her net. “What?!” Rainbow’s jaw gapes. “Whoa!” Twilight announces. “Looks like Thoren got the drop on Rainbow Dash! One to zero!” The surrounding ponies gasp and hoopla in light of Thoren’s score, but the stallion finds himself uneasily moving his jaw. “Whatever!” Rainbow interjects. “Beginner’s luck, obviously. Think fast, edgelord!” She serves from her goal with a solid buck. The ball rockets along the ground. Thoren stands ready with his hoof brushing the earth. In one movement, he intercepts as it enters his radius; his hindlegs swiping the ball and whirling it around. Like a dance, he spins and relaunches towards Rainbow’s half. Both ponies race forth as Rainbow knocks it back his way. The window to react tightens. Thoren stops to lower his head to scoop the ball with his snout. It flies upwards and he prepares to strike back, but Rainbow Dash proves to be a step ahead: she’s already airborne as she bucks the ball straight into his goal. Stallion gasps, and mare chuckles. “Nice comeback!” Twilight calls out. “Looks like this’ll be a tight race!” The crowd goes wild, but now resounds a mixture of cheers between the two contestants. All the while, a spark seems to ignite in Thoren. The ball rolls out of his net, and he slowly wanders his eyes between it and his opponent. All of a sudden, he breaks out into a small smile. “Heh. Is that all you got?” He calls after Rainbow Dash for all to hear. Then, he serves the ball to give her a free kick, and taunts: “Come on, wimp!” Thoren gestures. The crowd hums in a collective “Ooo…” The mouth hangs open on the pegasus, but in the end, she stifles a snicker. “Gosh, the stones on this one.” Rainbow Dash smirks. “Get ready to go crying to mommy!” . . . The score is four even, just as Twilight predicts. Next goal on either side is match point. Practically combatants, Thoren and Rainbow Dash stand off from either end of the field, with the ball on the latter’s side. “Lookin’ a little...rundown there...Thoren,” Rainbow heaves and sweats. “You gonna serve the ball...or what?” He calls back. “Okay…” She forces a grin. “You asked for it!” As her last stand, Rainbow Dash deals her strongest buck of the game. The ball barrels through towards a steadfast stallion, who turns his side to absorb its blow. The object slams into him with a slight crunch. Thoren winces, but presses on. He musters just enough energy to kick it airborne and launch it straight back. “Oof!” The ball drives straight into his opponent’s face, in her pursuit of the final kick. “Rainbow Dash!” Thoren shouts through a gasp. He charges straight toward the other, and comes to a grinding halt before her. “Are you alright?” “Yeah, I’m...fine. Ugh,” she cradles her nose. “Let me see,” upon instinct, he produces a hoofkerchief from his coat. “Sweet Celestia…” His instinct reigns true. Surely enough, a thick line of blood runs down from her left nostril. “Damn it...I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. Would you mind if I--?” “Yeah, go ahead,” she huffs. “Thanks.” “Okay,” he nods and presses gradually against her nose. “I guess I got a little carried away, there.” “Oh yeah, same here,” Rainbow manages a laugh. “But look at it this way: you ain’t fooling me, Thoren. You had fun today!” “You think so?” “I know so! You came alive today, and that was a pretty good buck! And you know what else?” She wiggles her eyebrows. “What?” The brightest grin spreads over Rainbow Dash as she wraps a foreleg around Thoren’s shoulder and points towards his goal. A lone soccer ball sits snugly against the net. “I won!!!”