Chapter 10: Upperclassmen true abilities: The passion of the setter~
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Applejack.. She's really talented, we can all see that from her perfect tosses and quick thinking but.. She's lacking something.

Sometimes her tosses were too high and the spikers aren't able to connect it. But when we try talking to her about it, she would immediately look away and ignore us.

I know I still have a long way from going to Nationals but in order to make that path, I need to settle things and make harmony within our team, starting with the girl I envy the most.. Applejack.

Our score was now 11 for CHS and 16 for Saint's Academy which means our opponents have a bigger gap in the score.

As soon we heard Signing Armor call a time out, we immediately made our way to the bench and drank some water to refresh ourselves while the coach discuss or game plan.

Sa: "Alright Wonderbolts, were clearly loosing but dont worry!"

Ts: "Nice speech big bro." Twilight stated sarcastically before drinking her water bottle.

Sa: "Thanks Twi but we need to serious now."

Ts: "That wasn't a compliment."

Sa: "Whatever, I watched all of your moves and I gotta say.. All of you really suck."

"WOW! THANKS COACH." The upperclassmen yelled at the same time with anger across their faces which made Shining armor jump in shock.

Sa: "Just hear me out okay?!' He started, sighing and glancing at us with a serious look. " What happened to the team last year? When we made it to nationals.. All of your skills has decreased because of one defeat?"

Me and Aj just watched them in confusion cause were only freshmen but it was clear that our upperclassmen were disappointed at the time.

R: "That was a long time ago coach."

Pp: "We all stoped going into practices since we lost the match against Crystal prep."

I noticed that Applejack's eyes were wide open when she heard her old school being mentioned into the conversation so I just placed my hand on her shoulder, fully extending my arm to literally reach her shoulder. She just smiled back and listened to the upperclassmen's past.

Ss: "Yeah.. Is was a devastating defeat coach Armor.. Im sorry."

Sa: "But are you girls really gonna be affected by one defeat? We can go back to Nationals.. With the help of these two freshmen." Our coach said in confidence while pointing at me and Applejack.

Rd: "W-what?" I asked in confusion.

Sa: "I've been watching you two and I can really tell that the both of you are passionate about Volleyball.. But you two lack cooperation and communication.. We'll train about that when this match is over."

Rd: "Well its clearly Applejack's fault, her tosses were too high and sometimes short to even reach the spiker."

Aj: "Oh wanna go shrimp?!"

Rd: "On a date? Oh I'll pass." I replied with a teasing grin.

Aj: "W-what?! That's not what I meant you du-" She growled back as her cheeks redden.. And I don't know why.

Sa: "Girls! Ehem, Cowgirl, you should ask your team about feedbacks about your tosses so you can adjust them."

Aj: "I.. Yes coach."

Sa: "And Rainbow,"

Rd: "Yes sir?" I responded while doing a solute position to make the others laugh to make this serious matter lighten up a bit.

Pp: "Rainbow Dash dont do that." Pinkie pie laughed while patting my back.

I giggled softly before facing back to our coach with a serious face.

Sa: "Listen kid, you gotta stop chasing the ball everytime."

Rd: "What?! Im not even touching the ball because cowgirl over here wont toss my the freaking ball."

Aj: "You goddamn shrimp!"

Ss: "Girls!" Sunset yelled while shoving both our heads at the back.

"OOF!" Me and Applejack gasped, even though we get hit a lot by our upperclassmen, we still know that its just for fun..

Aj: "Sorry coach!"

Sa: "Its alright. Now Rainbow, you gotta call for the ball when you'll get it, not by swiping in and taking the ball for yourself okay?"

Rd: "But.. Yes Coach."

Sa: "Oh and we really gotta work with your receives and the guess blocking by my sister once were done."

Rd: "Okeh coach.."

Sa: "Great, all of you, back to your positions." Shining Armor lastly said as soon we heard Flash blew his whistle again to resume the match.

But before Sunset and the others go to their positions, they first approached Applejack so I made my way to her too.

Ss: "Hey Applejack, can you lower your tosses for me?"

Aj: "I can try.."

R: "And for me too darling! My arm needs some treatment when I reach for your high tosses."

Aj: "I can.. Try.."

Rd: "Oh and can you toss me the ball now cowgirl."

Aj: "I'll pass on that shrimp." She replied with a grin while walking back to her position.

Rd: "You freaking giraffe." I mumbled in slight anger before going to my middle blocker position.

"Rainbow your up!"

I looked beside me and saw Flash holding a bal which made me scared and panic.

Rd: "Wait.. Its my turn to serve?!' I asked in shock.

Flash eventually nodded 'yes' to answer my question while tossing me the ball. I nervously catched it and carefully walk to the back while my body is shaking as heck.

When I heard Flash blew his whistle, I took a deep breath before trying this float serve I've been practicing for a while.

So I threw the ball upwards and waited it to drop down for a bit to jump and slam it at the right time but..

CRAP!

I accidentally jumped to early and spiking the ball with wrong force, leading the ball spike directly behind Applejack's head which made her gasp in shock.

Well crap..

I just stood there with a nervous smile while watching Applejack look back at me with her usual angered eyes. Suddenly, the rest of my team laughed  unexpectedly.

Ss: "HAHA! Good aim Rainbow!" Sunset laughed while watching Applejack control her rage.

Pp: "Rainbow nice kill do it again!"

Rd: "I-it was an accident!" I yelled in nervousness.

I then sighed in disappointment, knowing that I just gave our opponents a free point. I just can get this heavy feeling off my chest, Applejack is gonna beat my ass afterwards and the other team is closer to winning this set..

As soon I got back to my place, I immediately saw Applejack giving me a scary look which I nervously tried to ignore but whistling and pretending that nothing happened.

When Flash finally resumed the match, Saint's academy served the ball which dropped to Sunset's line.

S: "Pinkie cover!" Sunset yelled while going to Aj's left.

Pp: "Got it!" Our libero yelled back as soon she received the ball and passing it to Applejack for her to toss.

As soon the ball finally touched our setter's fingertips, she to set the ball towards Sunset who was already mid-air.

At last, we gained another point when Sunset successfully spiked the ball into the other team's base.

R: "Sunset Darling nice kill!"

Rd: "So cool.."

Ss: "Shh~ my little protégé, dont want to make the others rage out again do we?" The captain asked with a cool grin.

"Ehem. "

Ss: "Okay we'll talk about this later!" She nervously yelled back when she heard Twilight cough obviously at the back.

The game then continued, Rarity served the ball with fineness, as usual. Making the other team receive it and tossing it to Fluttershy so she can spike once again.

But as soon she spiked the ball, Twilight was already in front of her with her arms wide so she can block Fluttershy's attack.

We thought that Shy will do a straight shot but no.. She immediately changed her mind and did a cross shot instead which was countered by Pinkie.

The ball then flew up in the air again but this time, it fell directly at Applejack, creating a chance for her to toss the ball.

She then took a deep breath before tossing the ball to Rarity in the distance.

But.. Her toss was too short.. Again

We just stared at the ball bounce outside the court, counting as a point for the other team. Aj on the other hand was still shocked.

Ss: "uh.. Dont mind!" Sunset yelled with a sincere smile but the cowgirl ignored her as she formed a fist with both her hands.

I just sighed and decided to approach her before she could even rage out again.

Rd: "Applejack.. Its okay." I said softly while placing a hand on her shoulder, hoping that she wont tackle and attack me again so I immediately closed my eyes.

But.. She unexpectedly dint rage out which shocked me. So I opened my eyes again and saw she was smiling but she was hiding it when she slightly bowed her head.

Rd: "You okay?"

"The fact that I just made a toss, and no one was there to connect it is truly frightening. "

She replied with a soft broken voice. Suddenly, I quickly realized the pain and the guilt feeling of every setter when their tosses dont make it. I guess Setters are an important role in volleyball after all.. And I doubted Applejack about it.

Rd: "Hey its gonna be okay.. Dont make a scene you dumbass.' I said with a soft giggle.

Aj: 'That's my line you jerk but yeah.. Im fine. Im just not used to being treated like this.. It feels-"

Rd: "Nice?"

Aj:"Yeah.. It do-" before Aj could even finish, we were both interrupted when we heard someone yell at the distance so we looked back and saw Gilda.

G: "Can you please stop talking and just continue with the game already?!"

Rd: "Can you maintain your ass for just a danm minute Gilda?" I growled back, making the other members in her team laugh at her which made Gilda pissed as heck.

I then returned looking at Applejack's emerald eyes. I dont know why but the strange feeling came back. Even though I tried to get rid of it, it just got even worse everytime I look at Applejack.

Rd: "Ahem, anyways.. Are you scared of not fitting right in the team?"

Aj: "I.. Dont know.. We'll talk later shrimp, Thanks." She lastly replied with a smile before shoving me in a playful way.

I laughed back before going to my place and preparing my blocking stance, but when I realized that I was facing Fluttershy across the net, I noticed that she was giving me a weird look but I dint think of it much at the time so I just waved at her but she ignored me.

Since the other team won the last set, they got to serve the ball to our side. So Rarity received the ball and passed it to Twilight.

But when Twilight tossed the ball for Sunset to spike, 2 blockers immediately blocked her attack which made the ball bounce back to our base.

Luckily Pinkie quickly dived in and saved the ball before hitting the floor. So the ball then flew to Applejack's direction which means she can toss the ball to us spikers.

Suddenly, my instincts quickly took over my body as I ran fast as I could and jump about 2 inches away from Aj.

As soon she tossed the ball, her expression changed when she noticed that I was already in mid- air.

So I lastly closed my eyes and slammed my right hand into the air while hoping that my hand will feel the impact of the ball.

But when I felt the ball im palm, that was the moment were I felt alive the most.

Is this what they called a quick attack?

Cause it feels so freaking good.