Highlights in the world of sports!
Buckball fever has swept Equestria!
What started as a backyard hobby for fruit farmers
and the like has blossomed into a literal phenomena,
with something for everypony.
Unicorn, Pegasi, and Earth ponies alike can't get enough
of this breakthrough sport.
And with its popularity still on the rise,
buckball fans want—nay,
demand—an institution catering to their new obsession.
And the ponies of Appleloosa answered the call,
delivering a state-of-the-art locale
where fans Equestria over can celebrate
their passion: the Buckball Hall of Fame.
Though given the game's recent nature,
the only inductees so far will be the members
of the current championship team from Ponyville.
Do you think they know we're here?
I think they have a pretty good idea.
A pretty good idea about what?
I can't believe the ponies of Appleloosa built this place.
Yeah, especially after their team lost to us.
They must really love buckball.
Omigosh!
It's you!
I can't believe you're you!
I mean, here!
I mean, Team Ponyville!
Yeah!
Yep, it's us.
How much for an autograph?
Bits for autographs, eh?
Snails, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?
What is the sound of one hoof clapping?
Yeah!
I mean, uh, no!
How many of you would pay
for an autograph from my best friend Snails?
I can't believe I'm about to get his autograph.
That's a lot of writing.
I'm so proud they decided to honor us.
I never thought I'd get to be in anything like a hall of fame.
Me, neither!
Unless you count a Royal Order
of Party Planners Memorial Library,
which I don't,
because every party planner gets one of those eventually.
I hope Snails finishes signing autographs soon.
We can't play without him.
And if we lose or forfeit one game,
we'll be out of the tournament.
Well, he better get his flank over here then!
You have to win the first few games without me cheering you on.
Oh, why?
Applejack was too busy to come,
so she made me promise to go
to all the museum exhibits and tell her about them.
I'm gonna try to get in first and beat the crowd
so I can get back to the tournament faster.
Then you'd better hurry.
Looks like there's already a line.
What?!
The doors aren't even open yet!
What kind of sports fan camps out for a museum?
The real question is what kind of sports fan doesn't?
Quibble Pants?
Rainbow Dash, fancy meeting you here!
Fancy meeting me?
I'm a sportspony, of course I'd be here.
What's fancy is you being here!
If "fancy" meant confusing.
There's nothing fancy or confusing about it.
You can't keep me away from that...
that...
that buckball rink.
I'm... I'm the biggest fan there is.
Eh, it's a buckball field, and you are?
Oh...
sure.
What w-with all th-the bucking and the balling,
uh, uh, on the buckball field,
w-which is where they play buckball.
I-I-I...
I wanted to be first inside to experience the grand history of the sport,
I guess only a real fan would understand that.
What?
Oh, perfect timing.
Rainbow Dash, I'd like you to meet Clear Sky,
the most amazing pony I've ever met.
Um, you've met Daring Do,
so that's probably an exaggeration.
No offense.
None taken.
When it comes to describing your special somepony,
a little exaggeration's normal.
And I felt the same way about you.
And who is this?
This is my daughter Wind Sprint.
And she is pretty amazing, too!
Wind, did you thank Quibble for camping
out so we'd be first in line?
Thanks.
No problem.
I-I-I probably would have done it anyway. I mean, I...
I can't wait to see the, uh...
evolution of the buck basket from farm to field,
I mean, that sounds just, I mean, oh, wow!
There is a lot to see!
I'd rather see the game.
Oh, I mean, I mean sure.
Th-th-that makes sense,
we should just go to the tournament instead.
No!
Quibble planned this whole thing for us
and you can be a little more appreciative!
I kinda wanted to skip the museum, too.
But I promised a friend that I'd check out all the exhibits.
All of them?
Y'know, I-I'd like a chance to catch up with Rainbow Dash.
Why don't we split up?
We'll cover more ground that way, and...
So...
You and Clear Sky, huh?
Oh, yeah, she's great.
Honestly, I've never been happier...
Which is why I need your help!
I don't know what any of this stuff is!
What do you mean?
S-See this?
I-I don't know what it is.
A ball?
W— And this?
I-I — No idea!
It's a basket.
How do you not know what these are?
I'm not even a hundred percent
sure what bucking is.
I literally know nothing about buckball, or any other sport!
Well, I figured you weren't the sportiest pony in Equestria.
But Wind Sprint is, and her dad was some big athlete, too.
I-I can't compete with that.
I really want things with Clear Sky to work out,
but if Wind doesn't like me, I-I might as well give up.
Uh, why?
They're a family.
Even if it's okay with Clear Sky,
I wouldn't ask them to make me a part
of it if Wind Sprint isn't on board.
I thought if I could convince Wind
I was a big buckball fan,
we'd have something to bond over,
but I'm — I'm pretty sure she's on to me.
here.
Give it a shot.
It's easy.
Yeah, I don't think she's fooled.
Could — Could you talk to her?
I mean, you're a famous sportspony.
Y-You'd know what to say.
Maybe you could talk me up a little.
No problem.
I've totally got your flank.
Trust me, the game's a lot harder to play with apples.
You play?
Who do you think taught them?
Of course, being a Wonderbolt takes up most of my time,
so I don't get tot practice as much as I'd like.
Wait, you're Rainbow Dash?
The Wonderbolt?
Whoa, my dad was a great flyer, too.
Hmm, you don't say.
You know, Quibble's pretty sporty, too.
If you say so.
I think I've seen enough of this museum for three Applejacks.
Let's go watch some buckball!
That sounds awesome!
Oh, but first, I got you a little surprise.
A book.
Oh, not just a book.
It's a buckball almanac.
This thing has every buckball fact and statistic ever recorded!
Wow.
I know!
I never realized there was so much math in buckball.
I-I mean, this game's got more numbers than Ogres & Oubliettes.
Thanks?
I-I-I guess I could hold it for you.
You know, so you don't have to carry it.
Can we go to the game now?
Sure, honey.
Listen, Q, this trip was a lovely idea and the book was sweet,
but you don't have to try so hard.
Everything's gonna be fine.
Not even my presents are in the ball court.
Uh, do you mean "ball park"?
Do I?!
I don't know!
One thing's for sure: Wind is never gonna like a pony like me.
Of course she will.
She just needs to see your sporty side.
I don't have a sporty side.
Everypony has a sporty side, and we're gonna find yours.
By the end of the day,
I've gonna turn you into the sportiest pony in Equestria!
Look, I'm not saying it's a terrible idea,
but it's a terrible idea!
You can't turn me into an athlete!
It's impossible!
It's either that or be yourself
and bond with Wind over comic books
and role-playing games.
Uh, I have a 17 charisma, right, don't you think I tried?
She doesn't even like Daring Do.
She thinks she's not athletic enough.
What?!
We need to get started on Operation: Sportify ASAP.
To figure out what your sporty side is,
we just need to see what your skills are.
Everypony's got something.
Speed.
Strength!
Agility.
Of course, heh, some ponies can a-do it all.
You're amazing, but what about me?
Right.
We should probably start small.
I'll pass the ball to you, and you just pass it back to me, okay?
Okay.
And...
buckball!
Ow.
Okay.
Maybe agility's not your thing.
Ready?
If I say no, do I still have to run?
Yep.
Can we get on with this?
Snails and I did so well with the autographs,
we decided to expand.
And these souvenirs are not going to sell themselves!
Remember, think speed.
Got it.
On your marks, get set...
Speed.
Go!
Speed!
Okay!
What a race, right?
Oh, so much for speed.
Eh, this was fun, but I've gotta get back to work.
Come on, Quibble.
You got this!
I...
got...
this!
I...
This is hopeless.
I-I don't have any skills.
Not agility, not speed, I-I can't even lift more than one book,
and I love books!
If we had time to train,
I know I could mold you into the perfect sportspony.
Or at least a sportier pony.
Who knows how long that would take?
I-I need to get Wind to like me now.
Maybe you're not the best athlete in Equestria,
or the most coordinated, or the fastest, or...
even a little bit strong.
I-I'm sorry, wait.
Is this supposed to be making me feel better?
Because it's not.
But none of that matters
because I just figured out how to sportify you!
And with that score,
the stars of Team Ponyville advance to the next round.
If they keep winning like this, they'll never get off the field.
The players from Ponyville are so good!
They sure are.
Quibble, where have you been?
I was hoping we'd all watch the tournament together.
Oh, I've just been arranging for us
to hang out with a few of my close friends from Team Ponyville.
That is, if Wind's up for it.
This is wonderful, Q,
but I still feel like you're trying too hard
to get Wind's approval.
This is so great!
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are the best players out there!
Well, you can thank Quibble.
Wonderbolts, buckball stars,
he's friends with the sportiest ponies around,
so he must be pretty sporty, too, right?
Ooh, so this is Quibble Pants.
Rainbow Dash told us all about how you two spent
a whole Daring Do convention geeking out together about books!
And even though at first she thought you were
the most annoying fanpony she ever met,
you two eventually became friends.
Uh...
I guess even sportsponies agree.
Quibble's a pony you'll like more and more over time.
Knowing sportsponies isn't the same as being one.
What's it like playing in front of all those fans?
Um...
I guess you'll find out.
What do you mean?
Yes, what do you mean?
I think it's time we told Wind about your next surprise.
Q, Wind really doesn't need any more surprises.
Is it another book?
A.
Books are awesome, and B.
This is way more awesomer than that!
For the tournament halftime show, you and Quibble
are gonna play a game of buckball against Team Ponyville!
We're what?!
Uh, you should probably stretch.
No amount of stretching is gonna make this okay!
What were you thinking?!
Look, you wanted to impress Wind Sprint,
and this just made sense!
Really?
How does making a fool of myself in front of her,
Sky and a billion buckball fans make sense?
Don't worry, I've got your flank.
I already talked to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.
They're totally gonna make you look good.
Oh, okay, well, maybe this isn't the absolute worst idea ever.
Mares and stallions, foals and colts!
Put your hooves together for today's half-time presentation,
as buckball's biggest stars take on a team of fans just like you!
And that's one for the Ponyville champs.
Looks like these fans don't know what they signed up for!
Oh no.
Quibble's wide open and I'll never get there in time to block.
Looks like our fan team needs to work on their passing!
And the fan team finally scores!
...for the other side.
That makes three, team Ponyville wins!
It says very clearly on page 647
of the expanded buckball tournament rules that 'a goal
is scored when an earth pony
sends the ball into a basket',
but it doesn't say which basket!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure everypony knows
you're not supposed to score in the other team's goal.
But the rules don't say that!
That goal is ours, it's only two to one,
and we can keep playing.
I don't want to!
You're not a sports pony,
it's not fun playing this game with you.
I was just trying to get her to like me.
I know!
But I told you you didn't need to.
You and I need to rethink all of this.
What are you doing out here?
Apparently this book is as close to sports as I'll ever get.
Come on!
That goal you scored for the other team was amazing!
Thanks for trying, Rainbow Dash,
but I think we can both agree the whole 'sportify' idea was a big flop.
What?
We haven't even gotten started!
I've got, like, seven more top-notch ideas
to turn you into a super-sporty pony!
Wind's already made up her mind, and so have I.
Time to throw up the towel.
It's throw in the towel.
And that's ridiculous!
You can't just give up!
Wind and Sky deserve a pony they both like in their lives.
Besides, Sky wants to rethink things so I'm just beating her to the lunch.
It's beating her to the punch,
and it's barely a sports reference.
How do you not know that?
Because I don't know anything about sports!
And pretending I did just made things worse.
So you should stop pretending!
Look, you are terrible at sports.
You're uncoordinated, slow, weak--
Okay, again, not really making me feel better.
And you're completely clueless
about anything having to do with athletics.
But maybe I'm not the pony you should've come to for help?
I wish we didn't even come here.
Quibble thought you'd like it.
Well I don't, and I don't like him.
Why do you like him?
Because he's kind, and smart,
and his friends certainly seem to care about him,
which is always a good sign.
I don't care how many ponies care about him,
they're not gonna make me forget about dad.
Oh sweetheart, I know Quibble's trying too hard,
but he doesn't want you to stop loving your dad,
he just wants you to like him.
And I think maybe there's enough room in your heart to do both.
Hey there.
Glad I found you, because I have a confession to make,
I know it's hard to imagine but I'm...
really not all that sporty.
No!
I'm sorry I was trying so hard to convince you otherwise,
I just really wanted us to get along, but I guess it backfired.
Do you think we could start over?
Maybe we could watch some of the tournament together,
and you can teach me some sports stuff?
Okay.
That's their ball.
I'll try to remember that
if I ever decide to play buckball again.
But I probably won't.
Oh look, Pinkie Pie's gonna flip and triple bounce
the ball into the goal.
How did you know that?
It's right here.
Pinkie flips and triple bounce bucks
over 83 per cent of her shots from the north west section
of the field when the wind is blowing from the east.
I guess this book's kinda cool after all.
Look, Sky,
I know you're thinking of calling it quits between us,
and after today,
I don't blame you,
but Wind and I just made a connection!
Calling it quits?
What are you talking about?
You said you wanted to rethink things.
Yeah!
Things like having your friend help you pretend
to be a sportspony so Wind would like you.
Wha- I don't- I- I- Oh!
I, I didn't...
What...?
Mom, look what Quibble showed me!
When Fluttershy flies higher than the other pegasus,
Pinkie scores 92 per cent of the time,
and that just happened!
Wow!
You'd better watch out or you'll start to like books.
I guess that wouldn't be so bad.
Huh, looks like you didn't need sportiness,
famous ponies or lavish gifts to bond with Wind after all.
Technically he still needed to buy her the book, but that's it.
Subtitles: MLPSubtitles
http://mlpsubtitles.org/
Transcript: OmegaBowser
Sync: OmegaBowser