Trustfall || Sanders Sides Equestrian AU

Chapter 27 - Horse of Steel

Stroking Puzzle's soft fur was overwhelmingly comforting as Virgil and his team stood outside the ring and watched the rival rider and horse clear their round.

"A nearly-flawless round by Williams," the announcer's mechanical voice came through the speakers. "Riverside really do know how to choose their team. Finishing at 73.60 seconds, with four penalties. And up next, we have Logan Takahashi on Blazing Black, presented by Daybreak Stables, trained by Laura Garcia."

Laura nudged Virgil's shoulder to get the team's attention. "That's Logan's cue. Wait until their round is done to cheer for them, okay? So you don't get him out of focus."

"Like anything in our power can make those two trip," Roman yawned. "Their rounds are always so boring, I haven't seen them have a single knockdown or God forbid a refusal once in my life."

"Yeah, that's a good point..." Laura's eyes scanned the ring along the rest of the curious eyes from the crowd. "That's weird. Why aren't they entering?"

Virgil failed to shoo away the new spark of anxiety rolling around his stomach. "Oh, crap."

"Don't freak out, Virge, they must be at the entrance still."

"I'm freaking out, Laura."

The disturbing silence across the stadium lived on for a little longer.

"Logan Takahashi?" the announcer echoed. "Please enter the ring."

Virgil's gaze was so focused on the gates to the ring that he forgot to blink up until a burning sensation in his eyes reminded him it was necessary. His hand tapped against the fence at a rapid speed.

"He's not showing up, Laura."

Patton grabbed his hand gently, and it stopped tapping. He removed his friend's hand from the fence and placed it on Puzzle's shoulder. "Just pet the pony, Virge. There's no way they're going to bail, guys, relax."

"Do you see them in the ring?"

"Well, no..."

"Then they bailed."

"Logan Takahashi, you have three minutes to enter the ring before you are disqualified."

Virgil's hand clutched Puzzle's fur. The horse drew his ears back in discomfort. "Oh my God, Logan and Nexus bailed. That means the competition is actually doomed. I can't do this. Fuck, I can't do this. I am not going up there, no, Sir. And if I don't go up, and Logan didn't go up, that means it's up to you two alone, and oh my God, can we even score enough to beat any team like this??"

"Virge, relax, you're spiraling," Laura hissed. "They're going to show any moment now."

"They're our strongest pair, Coach. If they don't show up-"

"They're going to show up. Give them a moment."

The longer the time stretched on, the more Virgil's skin crawled. By the time the announcer gave Logan and Nexus their final call, even the hopeful Roman's hand was petting Puzzle's fur so fast that surely it couldn't have been relaxing.

"Laura...?" he piped.

Their instructor's hands clutched the fence, and her eyes were torn open at the ring. Her lips were pursed with worry.

"Logan Takahashi and Blazing Black, you are unfortunately announced disqualified."

The final words rendered the team silent. Like a slam to the gut, not a single member said a word. Every pair of eyes – even Puzzle's – turned to Laura by instinct. Her face was paper-pale.