Training had become a fairly sombre time of late. The team were thankful that Aarch's largely consisted of team bonding sessions, which often meant playing rather than having to have particular focus sessions which required them to think. With three players leaving and an unknown tournament approaching, The Snow Kids needed serious work if they were to return to their best.

With the draw for the competition taking place this afternoon, the two time champions had to be prepared for anything. Paradisia's multi-flux tournament would consist of four groups of three teams, with the top two advancing to the quarter finals. With the new system, it meant that just a single loss could leave the team struggling to qualify.

Rocket pondered this thought as he watched the game go by. Clamp's holo-trainer had pitted the team against the illustrious Lightnings, who Aarch had placed in the 'speed' category for the way they play. He had wanted to text The Snow Kids against various styles in the build up to the tournament, and The Lightnings were exemplars when it came to speedy play and counter attacking football.

And this natural talent for rapid movement was being perfectly exhibited as the computer generated Lightnings ran rings around the clearly lacklustre Snow Kids. Rocket was forced to watch as Warren, the infamous number 9, skipped past both Thran and Lun-Zia before striking in his third goal.

The familiar sound of Aarch's fist slamming the desk of his viewing screen could be heard through each of the team's earpieces as he showed his frustration. 'So Warren has a hat-trick before any of you decide to turn up? Was I dreaming or did this team win the Galactik Football Cup not once, but twice?...'

Rocket's ears in particular had become deaf to the rhetorical questions his uncle consistently asked when the team performed badly; he didn't seem to advise anymore, had he lost his touch? The Snow Kids captain quickly removed the thought from his head, intent on pushing questions out of his mind and focusing on his football. But the team hardly improved and were at the mercy of Warren's clone as he fired goal after goal beyond Ahito.

As the holo-trainer slowly faded away, The Snow Kids headed off towards the changing rooms to change; not a word was exchanged between them and their coach as they left the room. The girls and boys divided at the end of the corridor to enter their separate changing facilities.

'We played so badly; let's hope we don't get The Lightnings in the group stage.' Ahito sighed as he removed his gloves. The keeper of the team had particularly felt the pains of their latest training session, being on the receiving end of Warren's ruthless play and that was just a hologram! How would they cope against the real Lightnings striker...?

Paradisia was a hive of activity as the draw for the Multi-flux tournament was close to being made. Representatives of all 12 teams were present, as well as commercial interests and many of the large fan base that surrounded Galactik Football. The concept of a group and knockout format excited many, and city streets were packed as the tournament brought with it a whole euphoria never before seen.

Lun-Zia and a few of the other Snow Kids went to play a small match with the former's native friends; The Wambas. The beach was pretty crowded but the small troupe managed to find a small spot to play, despite attracting the attention of the fans that lined the shore.

Meanwhile, Rocket and Aarch headed to the main conference room where the draw was scheduled to be held. All managers and players who were expected to attend the press conference that followed the draw were requested to be present, and would then be transferred to the interviews at the relevant time. As the manager and captain, it was decided that the uncle-nephew partnership would be the ones to tackle the media especially in the wake of D'Jok's move to Team Paradisia, the striker being their starlet both on and off the pitch.

As the duo entered the large building known to them as Paradisia headquarters, Aarch noticed the far spreading counter above him and decided to ask for directions.

'Hello, my name is-'

'Aarch,' replied the woman behind the counter simply. 'And this is Rocket I see, I expect you want to know where the main conference room is?'

Aarch stuttered a bit. He knew that the team was famous across the galaxy but the idea that this woman had been expecting him threw him off guard a little. He was able to regain what little composure he had left to simply nod at the assistant.

She greeted his response with a broad smile. 'Head up to the top floor, then right outside the elevator is a set of double doors which leads into the main conference room, the draw doesn't start for another fifteen minutes so it would be a good idea to just get yourself sat down.' The woman concluded her instructions with the same smile with which she had opened it, and now had Aarch mumbling a hurried 'Thanks' before speeding off towards the elevator.

After finding the correct floor, Aarch quickly glanced at his watch to ensure they were making good time before following the directions he had been given. Soon he came to the double doors, and entered to find a gathering that any fan of Galactik Football would quite literally have died at the sight of.

In the seating area were representatives from every club competing in the Paradisia Tournament; Kernor and Shekmut from the Rykers, Lune-Zeara and Woowambo of the Wambas, Warren and Sarlight representing The Lightnings. Aarch regrettably noticed three of his former players, seeing Yuki with her new coach Zyria or The Elektras, Mei and Sinedd sat together near the front for The Shadows, and his former star striker D'jok sat with his new team and the hosts for the tournament; Team Paradisia.

Hosting the draw was Lord Phoenix, the revered individual who had made all this possible. He, along with 3 other yet to be known people would draw the teams that would eventually form the groups of the newly organised tournament. Aarch and rocket took the seats allocated to the two Snow Kids representatives as they awaited the beginning of the draw, and the beginning of a new tournament that was sure to be as eventful as the ones before it...