Prequeal
The green grass of Star Stadium had never been trampled on before than it had now. The patterns of dark and light green had now merged together with foot trails skidding pathways across them. The net that seperated the opposition was close to giving in as dark gray marks made their appearances known on the tape.
Unfortunately for Peach, it was do or die at this point and she was sweating bullets.
"Advantage Boo," the chair umpire announced.
'Get it together,' the Princess said to herself. 'Just get game point, and I can tiebreak this little punk'
Boo, who was known for his tricky spins, honed his skills after his embarassing fall to Birdo the previous year. No one loses to Birdo.
She looked across the court to look Boo in the eye, who in turn, gave her his signature laughter. Intimidation was one thing Peach never gave into, but at this current situation, that specific laugh was all it took to bring down her confidence.
'High margin of error,' she thought. 'High. Margin. Of. Error.'
She tossed the ball high into the air, purposely drifting it in front of her form. Her knees bent, her shoulders turned, her racquet dropped - it was now the moment of truth. Her eyes tightly came downward as her racquet rose up after the ball, swiftly kissing the top half portion and spinning it across the court. It sunk into the service square and peddled down the T-line.
'It's IN!' she let out in her head.
Boo rolled after it and returned it with a top spin lob.
'Crap!' Joy ended. 'He played it!'
The ball hit just beyond the service line but Peach anticipated the bounce to go beyond her. She began to hustle backwards, watching as the ball headed in her direction. Just as the ball reached her head level, she let out a ferocious crosscourt backhand that both neutralized the ball and placed her in the offensive. The ball sailed across the net and headed towards the ghost.
'Take that!' she thought out.
Boo held his racquet outwards and tapped the ball causing it to fly into the air. Peach kept her eye on the ball like a target and began to charge the net. The ball barely made it over the net and into the right service box, prompting Peach to take a swing. With both fists clenched unto the racquet, Peach let out a mighty forehand that drove the ball down the line and zooming past Boo.
"C'MON!' she yelled as she pumped her fist.
What seemed to be a celebration for keeping her nerves down was actually a moment of shock for audiences everywhere.
'What's the the matter?' she said.
"Net penalty."
"WHAT?!" Peach said. The words came out like vomit.
"Your racquet slammed into the net."
"It did NOT!"
"Watch."
She looked towards the big screen that captured the moment. It depicted her sprint across the court where she took a a swing at a forehand. The camera zoomed inward just a tad bit more, focusing on how the top part of her racquet clipped the tape of the net on the follow through.
"Match Boo," the umpire announced over the microphone." Seven games to six. Six games to seven. Seven games to five."
Peach dropped to her knees.
"What. The. Hell.."