Ponyville Rec Center Ice Hockey Rink, 3rd Quarter, 3 Minutes left in the game. (Actually did my research on high school hockey for once.) The score is 2-2. The rec center is the most crowded it's been all season. Every seat in the bleachers, and many areas around the rink are full of students, and fans from both Ponyville High, and West Manehatten High. This is a huge game for both teams. It's the last game of the regular season, and both teams need a win in order to make it to the playoffs. Just as both teams have been playing their hearts out in the rink the whole game, the students, and fans have been cheering just as hard. The Ponyville High pep band keeps the enrgy high with stand tunes, and the school's fight song after every Ponyville High goal. At a table off to the side of the rink, two broadcasters from the local country music station give radio commentary on the game. Somewhere on the streets of Ponyville, Asuka listens in to the game in her ambulance between calls.  West Manehatten High gains possession of the puck after a blocked shot from Ponyville High third line forward, Galvin Steel. Ponyville begins to fall back to defend as West Manehatten moves to counter-attack. The puck is passed up the rink, but a shooting attempt is stopped just in time by Ponyville's right defenseman. A brutal back and forth ensues, with neither team managing to score for around 50 seconds. During one attempt on West Manehatten's goal, Galvin shoots a shot that gets deflected by the left defenseman. The puck bounces off of the wall of the rink, and is scooped up bu West Manehatten's forward. The Ponyville Defense has a gap on the left side, which he sprints through just before it closes. Ponyville's right defenseman tries to get into position, but is just half a second too slow. A shot goes off, the goaltender's glove shoots up. A light goes off above the net, signalling a goal.  "Goal for West Manehatten!" The words make Asuka's heart drop. With 2 minutes left in the game, and the way this game has been going? It's probably over.  (https://youtu.be/2J0nwayNM78?si=N6LvlDagbcYcEmdq) "Time!" Nar throws his hands above his head in a time out gesture. The referee blows his whistle, and puts his hands up to signal a time out. Both teams skate back to their benches, where Ponyville's third line swaps out with their first. Nar can see the looks on his team's faces. They're demoralized, worried, and defeated. Except for one. Before Nar can open his mouth to give his team a speech, Glint addresses his teammates. "Two minutes!" He thrusts a finger over towards the game clock. "We have two minutes to tie it up! Remember what coach told us a few games ago? As long as there's time on the clock, there's time to fight!  " His eyes scan his teammates. A few faces begin to harden, but not all. "If we lose, there's a chance there won't BE a hockey team next year!" He continues. "I don't care what you all think, but I don't intend to be the reason that happens! As long as there's at least one second on that clock  " More faces harden. Beside Glint, Earl nods in agreement. When he speaks, his voice is full of resolve. "Right! We have two minutes! All we need is one goal to tie it up! One goal, and we still have a shot at the playoffs, and saving the team! We've come back from worse before! Let's win this!" Afterwards, Nar quickly takes control to discuss strategy with the first line before the timeout ends. Too quick for Nar's liking, the referee blows the whistle, signalling the end of the timeout.  (https://youtu.be/kmv4ICM5u6w?si=dVB9qnMXDmNXU-3D) Glint Goldensnaps takes his position at the face off line. He takes one look at his opponent, who has a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. Smug BASTARD! I'll wipe that damn smirk off your face! Glints eyes lock on the puck. It drops to the ice, and sticks fly out. Glint manages a pass backwards to Earl, and Ponyville's desperate fight for survival begins. Earl flicks a pass up the rink to their left wing, Blitzer. He weaves around West Manehatten's right winger to find a passing route to Glint. Glint takes possession of the puck as WM's right defensman closes in. The puck doesn't stay on his stick for long. Before the defenseman gets too close, Glint passes the puck to his right, off to his right wing. The right wing closes in on the goal, searching for an opening in the goaltender's defense. Then, something heavy slams into his side, and he lands on his back on the ice. He got so focused on scoring that he forgot about the defenseman closing in on him.  The puck glides down the field as the defenseman passes forwards. WM's forward rockets a pass to his right wing. Before the winger can even think to pass back, Big Red returns the favor WM gave to his teammate with a devastating hip check. 250 pounds of meat, and farm muscle slam into the winger, sending him tumbling to the ice. The back and forth continues again. Ponyville high's desperation mounting with every second that disappears off of the clock.  "Thirty seconds!" Nar's shout is urgent, but not panicked. Ponyville Goaltender Ember Wick steels himself as WM's forward comes in for another shot on goal. At the last second, Big Red closes in for a check, and the puck is passed. 'Crap! Gotta adjust! Quick!' Ember shifts to follow the puck. The tension in his chest eased slightly when he sees Earl's stick intercept the pass. Earl passes forwards, giving Glint a shot on goal, but it's block. Shortly after, Ember finds himself back in the same situation as before. Only this time, Red isn't able to get there in time. A shot goes off, Ember gets his blocker up just in time to stop the puck from going into the corner of the net. "Loose puck!" He screams as the puck bounces into the rink's wall. Blitzer scoops up the puck. 10 seconds left. He takes a hit that causes him to lose possession of the puck. 8 seconds. Big Red moves in, and slaps the puck up the rink before WM can gain possession. 5 Seconds. Glnt gains control of the puck. His path to the net is wide open. WM pressed the attack too hard, leaving him wide open. 3 seconds. Glint closes into the goal. 2 seconds. A flick of the wrist, and the puck hops into the air. 1 Second. The goaltender's stick flashes out.  "Goal! With one second left, Ponyville High has tied it up!" Asuka clenches her fists, and tucks her lips in to bite down on them to avoid screaming. She shakes with excitement. Her driver stares at her, both confused, and a little worried.  Ponyville high's fight song blares from the pep band as both teams return to their benches to prepare for a shootout. Glint's helmet is assaulted by gloves as his teammates cheer him on for scoring a last second, game saving goal. The Ponyville student section fills the rec center with screams and cheers. Behind the Ponyville bench, with her little earmuffs on, Cookie jumps up and down excitedly as she cheers on her papa, and his team. The teams discuss their strategies until the referees signal for the shootout to start.  Glint moves into position. Across from him, WM's goaltender waits in his net. Glint takes possession of the puck, and closes in. The goaltender tightens his stance. Glint maneuvers the puck with his stick, making the goaltender guess where he'll shoot. The goaltender closes up to his left, close to where Glint will pass. A flick of the wrist, and the puck leaps up over his shoulder.  1-0. Ponyville, Ember clears his mind as WM's first line forward glides up to the puck. The forward closes in quickly, trying to catch Ember off guard. He attempts a wrist shot between Ember's legs, but Ember manages to react in time, and gets his blockers down. The puck bounces off, to the immediate roar of the crowd.  1-0. Ponyville. Ponyville 2nd line forward, Thunder Struck closes in for his shot. WM's goaltender stays open. Thunder attempts a wrist shot over the goaltender's tight shoulder, but it's blocked. 1-0. Ponyville. Ember closes up as WM's 2nd line forward closes in. His stick flashes out. Ember reacts, but there's no puck there. He tries a desperate dive to block the shot he knows is coming, but is too late. The puck sails into the net behind him. !-1. Tied. Galvin Steel takes possession of the puck. This could be the game winning goal, if Ember manages to block the next one. If he doesn't score here, then WM could score, and win afterwards. Galvin pushes those thoughts aside, and moves in towards the goal. The battle is less than a second. The goaltender's glove flies up, but just half a second too late.  2-1. Ponyville. This is it, Ember. Stop this, and we go to the playoffs! Focus! Keep a close eye on his movements! WM's third line forward shifts his stick back and forth. Ember's instincts tell him to close, and cover up. 'No! That's what he wants me to do! He wants me to second guess, and give him an opening! He expects me to play it safe because the stakes are so high! So, DON'T!' The forward's stick raises for the briefest of moments. In that moment, Ember's stick flies out, knocking the puck away. The whistle is blown, signalling the end of the game, (https://youtu.be/X-Z03n3YKuM?si=jV-nqMG0Hsut2kwB) "A poke check from Ember Wick stops West Manehatten in their tracks! For the first time in 5 years, Ponyville High is going to the playoffs!"  Asuka's screams cause her driver to jolt in his seat.  The roar of the crowd fills Ember's ears as he watches his teammates all pile onto the ice. They quickly surround him. With gloves coming up to pat his mask, back, and shoulders. Back at the bench, Nar claps alongside the crowd. He is so unbelievably proud of these boys. They fought through many setbacks, and a ton of adversity. Now, they're going to the playoffs! This is DEFINITELY worth a pizza party, but they can't slack off now! They need to be playoff ready! Looking back into the crowd, Nar is met by the face of his daughter, parents, and youngest sister, all cheering him, and his team on. His smile falters ever so slightly. He really wishes Autumn could be here to experience this. Then again, this kind of energy might be a bit too much for her. He'll just tell her the good news when the doctors finally let him visit.