Author's note: Yay, Fanfiction! This is my first one ever published, so I hope you guys like it! Send comments to my Neopets account, drum_hero325. P.S. Sorry if later in the story I bash one of your favorite players or teams. I'm just trying to characterize the...characters. O.O Well, enjoy!
Finally. Time to kick back and relax for a few weeks before training camp started up for off season. The Altador Cup and Yooyuball were finally things of the past. Or so I thought.
I practically fell through the threshold of my apartment, tossed my suitcase to the side and collapsed onto the sofa. Inhaling the fresh scent of the cushions, I heard footsteps, and then a heavy weight was pressed down on my entire body.
"Xana! I missed my little sister."
"Get off!" I shouted, but since my face was smashed into a pillow it probably sounded more like a muffled groan.
"Xana, tell me all about the tournament. How's it feel to suck?"
"Suck on this," I grumbled, striking out with my foot. I heard a satisfying yowl of pain as the weight lifted, and I rolled over to see my older brother, Kintaro, rubbing his back. After glaring at each other for a few moments longer, he lunged at me and pinned me down against the sofa.
"Stop it, seriously!" I shouted, punching him in the chest. This roughhousing was normal for us. In reality, I wasn't that mad, and he could see it in the smile I failed to mask.
"Oh, by the way," he said after a few moments of having me flail helplessly beneath him. "You got a letter while you were gone."
I raised my eyebrows. "From who?"
"I don't know," Kintaro exclaimed, throwing his hands up in innocence. It couldn't hurt to ask; I've known him to go through my fan mail, scanning for any creepy, obsessive guys.
"Well where is it?" I asked him.
Kintaro shrugged, but was smirking. I set my jaw. "Give it to me!"
"Good Fyora, chill, it's on the kitchen table," he said, pointing in the direction of the kitchen as if I'd have forgotten.
I pushed past him, and I heard him mutter under his breath, "If looks could kill..."
I got to the kitchen, and saw on the table a nice, neat envelope. I picked it up and examined it. The return address read "Fellsy Dango, Maraqua." I felt my forehead crease in confusion as I tore the envelope open and unfolded the letter inside.
Dear Ms. Xana DiLanche,
Congratulations on your performance in the Altador Cup this year. I'm sure you are very excited for the long season to finally be over. But before you become too relaxed with your time off, I have a request for you.
You've probably heard of the All Star Yooyuball tournament which takes place in the Virtupets Space Station during the Month of Collecting. This tournament, of course, is not as renowned as the Altador Cup, but is still widely popular and vital for rookie players looking to get signed to an international team, like your own Shenkuu.
I coach one of the eight teams that participate in this event, the Dartails. I have chosen you to be the first string goalkeeper in this competition for my team.
Naturally, funding for the tournament pays for transportation to the Space Station and back, as well as your stay at a hotel there. Also, you will be paid extra for this event.
Please arrive at the Space Station by the fifth day in the Month of Hiding at 3 o'clock PM to meet me and the rest of your team. I am very excited and looking forward to a season of working with you and the others.
Sincerely,
Fellsy Dango
"What's that?" Kintaro asked.
"Taro!" I shrieked, whipping around. "You scared me to death!"
He laughed and crossed his arms, earning him another punch. After pretending to be mortally wounded, he asked again, "What's the letter about?"
"Some guy wants me to play for his team in the Space Station. In the All Star tournament?" I looked at my brother. "Have you ever heard of it?"
Kintaro frowned and shook his head. "Hey, you're the Yooyu-ball player of the family. Shouldn't you know?"
I sighed, and at that moment my cell phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw a text from Mirsha.
Meeting at the Shenkuu Teahouse tomorrow at 1 to discuss off season :)
-MG
Good. Maybe one of them would know what this All Star nonsense was about. I walked to my room and tucked the letter away on my dresser. Then, exhausted from the train ride back from Altador, I collapsed onto my bed and fell into the best sleep I'd had in months.
I woke up late, considering I had fallen asleep pretty early. I emerged from my room to a quiet apartment; Kintaro had probably already left for work. My stomach growled as I made my way to the kitchen and poured myself some cereal. After I was finished, I took a shower, then watched a little TV until the time came for the team meeting, which I barely remembered in time.
I walked through the corridors of the apartment complex and got to the parking garage, finding my bike locked up. I undid the lock and hopped on. Yes, I know, I should be able to afford a car, being a professional Yooyuball player, but I don't like being the center of attention. And with a car, in Shenkuu where the main mode of transportation is a bicycle, I would have a lot of attention on me.
I pedaled for a few minutes before reaching the Shenkuu Teahouse, a common gathering place for citizens of Shenkuu as well as the team. Coasting to a stop, I locked my bike up and walked into the Teahouse.
It took me awhile to find them, but I finally spotted the other four members of Team Shenkuu seated at a table. Antola saw me, grinned, and beckoned me over. The rest of the team turned and smiled.
"Always the last one," Foltaggio taunted playfully.
Acting like he'd let out a big secret, I raised a finger to my lips and took a seat.
"Okay, well, first things first," Mirsha began, clasping her hands together on the table. "Who's going to the All Star tournament this year?"
"Me!" Antola nearly shouted excitedly.
"And I," Foltaggio grunted.
I had completely forgotten about the tournament until now. "Oh, I'm going too. But, um, I don't know what it is. I mean," I decided to rephrase upon seeing their stunned faces. "I've heard of it before. I just don't really know much about it."
Mirsha exhaled through her teeth. "Well, Xana, it's where you play with people from other teams – like our rivals – only there they're your teammates, and then there's a second string, the rookies who aren't in Altador Cup. They're looking to get signed-"
"Yeah, that's how I got signed with you guys," Antola said, looking around the table. Larcy nodded in agreement.
"So this is really all a show for the rookies?" I said calmly, though I was feeling a little peeved.
"Not quite. You get a chance to play alongside others that you wouldn't play with during the on season tournament."
"So there are going to be pets from teams that we play against playing with me? On the same team as me?" I asked.
Mirsha nodded. I grimaced. "I swear, if I'm on the same team as a Pirate...or one of those Haunted Woods morons!"
"You mean the letter didn't tell you who your other team-mates were?" Foltaggio questioned.
"Nope."
"I'm stuck with a pirate," Antola mumbled. "Ealyn Hawk-shanks."
"He's not the worst of Krawk Island," Mirsha interjected. "That Nitri Cassale is a real b-"
"Are you going, Mirsh?" I interrupted.
Mirsha shook her head. "Captains aren't allowed to be chosen for the teams."
"Okay, so it's just me, Folt, and Tola. I think I can deal."
Foltaggio and Antola exchanged a confused glance. "You mean going to the Space Station, yeah," the Mynci remarked. "We're all on separate teams, though."
"What? Why?" I cried, outraged.
"That's just how the tourney works," Mirsha said in an attempt to comfort me. "Coaches aren't allowed to choose more than one player from a team."
"So my entire team is going to be pets from other teams?"
"And newbies," Antola pointed out.
"Ugh," I groaned. "This is dumb. I wanted Yooyuball to be over with."