"So this is the Cyclops' planet." Remarked Mark, looking around at the swampy landscape, "its…nice?" he questioned jokingly.
"Who cares what the planet's like? So long as we win this little cup thingy," grinned Micro-Ice.
"I'm looking forward to a good match," agreed Rocket, he walked over to a nearby wall where the match timetable was pinned.
"We're up against the Rykers first," said Rocket.
"Wow… the Rykers…" shivered Micro-Ice. Rose raised an eyebrow at this. "Don't look at me like that!" Cried Micro-Ice, "trust me, they're scary!"
"Apparently the Shadows have already beaten the Cyclops today," said Derek, with a small smile.
"That means they're already going to have 3 points," said Tia, "we're going to have work hard."
All eleven Snow Kids were sitting in the locker room, waiting for Aarch to announce who was playing in the Ryker game.
"Today is a test," said Aarch slowly. The Snow Kids looked to him, slightly confused. "What I mean is. This tournament is a chance for me to test all of you and see how you work today. Try your hardest, I'd like to take a trophy home!"
"Will do coach!" Grinned Mark.
"Alright here's the formation for the Ryker's game. In goal: Ahito."
Ahito nodded happily and then slowly drifted off to sleep, Yuki smiled a weak smile, but it was clear that she was annoyed she wasn't going to be in the first match.
"In defence: Mei and Derek."
Mei turned to D'Jok, who gave her a little kiss on the cheek. Mei and D'Jok had put the previous unpleasantness behind them, but D'Jok's cruelty was still in the back of Mei's mind. Derek shot Thran a smug smile and he glowered back.
"In Midfield: Mark and Tia."
"Sir?" Asked Rocket, unable to believe that he hadn't been chosen.
"Rocket, these teams are NOT my choice for the Galactik Cup, I just want to see how Mark and Tia work together. Now in attack: Micro-Ice and D'Jok."
Micro-Ice and D'Jok high-fived, laughing happily but Rose sat silently.
"Now those of you, who haven't been picked, don't worry. You're going to be in later matches in this tournament."
"Aarch, it's time to start the match," Said Clamp, clearly eager to get the players on the field.
"Thank you Clamp. Alright, team, go get 'em!" The seven chosen ones hurried out into the player's podium, leaving Rocket, Thran, Rose and Yuki to watch the match on TV.
The seven Snow Kids piled into the podium and felt the rush as it lifted them up into the air and out into the stadium.
"Wow, this is so cool," gasped Mark.
"You're going to have get used to it," smiled Tia.
The crowd was cheering like crazy for the current holders of the Galactik Cup. The players stepped out of the podium onto the pitch. Mark couldn't help but gaze around at the stands and the enormous pitch, floating in mid space. Derek, however, seemed unphased by it, as though he'd done it all before.
Tia glanced at her fellow players and then looked forwards to the opposing team.
The Rykers were intimidating opponents. Metallic faces with huge staring, red eyes. Each one more than six foot tall and 160 kilos of pure muscle. Their captain and goalkeeper, Kernor, wore black and knew the Snow Kids all too well, after being knocked out of the tournament by them last time. Kernor fixed Tia with a steely gaze before ambling over to her place in goal.
D'Jok went and stood in his usual place, right in front of where the ball would shoot up. A Ryker stood opposite, peering at him with its cruel, sharp face.
Suddenly the ball was launched into the air, the timer began to count above them. D'Jok jumped into the air, however, without the breath, he couldn't get high enough and fell back down to the floor. The Ryker took the ball and began to head up towards the Snow Kids goal.
"Get up D'Jok!" Cried Aarch.
"Strange, he didn't use the breath," said Dame Simbai slowly.
"Come on Snow Kids, you can do it!" Cried Rocket. Thran, Rose and Yuki watched as three Rykers began to advance on the Snow Kids half.
Mark ran at the Ryker with the ball, but she let out an eerie cackle and he fell to the floor, clutching his ears.
"Mark, don't get overwhelmed!" Barked Aarch.
The Ryker ran past Mark and headed into the penalty box. Mei slid towards her, but the Ryker span out of the way. The Ryker shot powerfully at the goal, yellow streaks flying off the ball.
Ahito used the breath as he leapt at the ball. He caught it in mid air and flipped up high landing on the crossbar of the goal.
"Nice one Ahito!" Yelled Thran in the changing room.
Ahito kicked the ball up field. Mark caught it on his chest and continued onwards. He sprinted up the pitch, dodging two Ryker defenders. As a third came at him, he booted the ball to the left. Micro-Ice latched onto the ball and continued towards the goal. He was about to shoot, when a defender barged into him, throwing him to the floor.
"Foul!" Moaned Micro-Ice, but no one was listening.
The Ryker streaked back up the pitch, flying past Tia and D'Jok who attempted to stop her. Derek ran at the incoming Ryker but she passed out to another Ryker on the left wing. Mei used the breath and sprinted towards the Ryker on the ball.
But the attacker booted the ball straight at her!
Mei was thrown to the floor by the force. She curled up on the floor, groaning in pain.
"Mei!" Gasped Aarch.
The Ryker didn't think twice. The ball had rolled back to her, she took the shot. Ahito, concerned about Mei, didn't see the shot coming until too late. The ball dissolved.
1-0 to the Rykers!
D'Jok sprinted down the pitch towards Mei. He skidded to his knees in front of her.
"Mei? Are you alright?" Asked D'Jok, looking fearful.
"I'm…ok," she wheezed, getting slowly to her feet, "just winded…"
"How is she Simbai?" Asked Aarch.
"She's alright, she can keep playing."
The ball burst from the floor once more, but this time Tia took D'Jok's place. She leapt into the air, blue flux spinning around her, the opposing Ryker did as well. Both of them kicked the ball mid air, blue and yellow flux smashing together. An explosion echoed around the pitch and Tia and the Ryker both fell to the floor.
"Tia!" Gasped Rocket from the locker room.
"Don't worry she's alright," said Rose reassuringly. Rocket was surprised. Rose hadn't ever spoken to him before.
Mark was on the ball again, heading quickly up field. He passed to Micro-Ice who bounced the ball off his chest.
Micro-Ice kick flipped over a defender and hurried into the penalty box. Micro-Ice took his shot. The ball flew at the goal, blue energy swirling around it. But Kernor was ready, letting out a grating metal yell. The yellow energy slowed the ball to a stop, guiding it perfectly into her hand.
"She's so good!" Growled Micro-Ice, hurrying back downfield.
The Rykers were on offence once more. Mark was barged past and Mei tackled empty space as the Ryker leapt out of the way.
Three Rykers were in the penalty box, without opposition. Derek slammed into the Ryker on the ball without a second thought. Throwing her to the floor. A buzzer sounded around the pitch. A red light flashed and a circular machine floated towards Derek.
"You idiot!" moaned Mei, "you just gave them a penalty!"
The machine let out a red screen which surrounded Derek. It then rose into the air taking Derek out of the action.
"Kernor's going to take the penalty, get ready Ahito!" Aarch said through the goalkeeper's earpiece.
Ahito watched as the Ryker dressed in black walked slowly towards the ball, laid out in front of the goal. She clenched her fists immersing herself in yellow flux, Ahito began to use the breath.
Kernor charged at the ball, firing it at Ahito. Ahito caught the ball head on.
But the force of it made him stumble backwards, over the line. The ball disappeared, leaving him empty handed.
2-0 to the Rykers!
"They've only got six players on the field at the moment," groaned Rocket.
"I hope they can turn this around," said Thran. Yuki was biting her lip nervously, she was certain that she couldn't have saved that penalty either.
"Ok, let's go, attack!" Roared Aarch.
Tia was on the ball, heading quickly up the pitch. She passed to Mark. Mark dribbled past a defender. Mark passed to Micro-Ice. Micro-Ice crossed it, high. D'Jok was ready. He knew what to do. D'Jok leapt into the air, preparing to overhead kick it into the goal. But it just didn't work like that.
Without the breath, D'Jok merely landed back down on his back. Kernor grabbed the ball and gave D'Jok a pitying look.
"What happened to you?" Kernor asked jokingly.
A buzzer signalled half time. The Snow kids returned miserably to the locker room.
"So, what was that?" Asked Aarch angrily, "you've beaten the Rykers before, it's like you've all forgotten how to play!"
"Derek cost us a penalty!" Cried Mei, eager to shift the blame.
"If he hadn't, they would have scored anyway because you came out too far Mei!" Roared Aarch, "you two were not working as a team!" Mei looked down to the ground, unable to hold Aarch's angry gaze. Derek smiled a small smile.
"D'Jok what's happened to you?" Questioned Aarch.
"Me?" Replied D'Jok, looking worried, "nothing. I'm just not getting any good passes." Aarch looked as though he didn't believe D'Jok but he carried on regardless.
"You are good enough to beat them," insisted Aarch, "so I'm not switching players around because I want you seven to act as a team! Now go show them how to play a real match!"
The ball burst out of the centre and the Rykers instantly took possession. Mark rushed in to try and stop the attacker but was blasted out of the way by the terrifying Metal Yell.
"Don't let them throw you around! Mei, Derek, stop them!" Screamed Aarch.
Mei sprinted towards the Ryker attacker stopping a few yards in front of her. Mei swirled her hands in a circle, creating a huge blue shield. The Ryker pulled to a halt and unleashed a scorching beam of yellow flux that crashed into the shield, shattering it to pieces.
However Mei had held the Ryker up long enough for Derek to take the ball out from under her feet and start a counter attack.
"See how much better it is, when you work together?" Smiled Aarch.
Derek passed the ball to Mark. Mark sprinted down the left wing, before crossing the ball into the penalty box. Micro-Ice was ready. Micro-Ice flipped into the air, the breath emanating from every pore in his body. He headed the ball towards goal with extreme speed.
Kernor was used to extreme speed, letting out a screech like nails on a chalkboard, Kernor shot a beam of yellow at the incoming ball. The ball slowed right down and drifted slowly into Kernor's outstretched palm. Kernor grinned maliciously.
"Damn she's good," growled Micro-Ice.
"We're good too!" remarked Tia, sprinting after a Ryker attacker.
In the locker room, the four remaining Snow Kids were cheering the others on.
"That Mark is pretty good you know," said Rocket thoughtfully, watching as Mark kicked the ball out from between a Ryker's feet.
"All he needs is the Breath and he can take your place," laughed Thran.
Mark hoofed the ball to D'Jok, who was waiting at the halfway line. D'Jok dribbled towards the goal, going round two defenders as he did. He was close to the goal now, almost in the penalty box. He knew that if he had the Breath then he could score from here, but he didn't have the breath. D'Jok pulled his foot back, preparing to shoot anyway.
Suddenly a Ryker smashed into him, throwing him to the ground. A buzzer rang out across the field. The Ryker offender was lifted up out of the match and a free kick was awarded to the Snow Kids.
"Go on D'Jok let's go!" Chattered Micro-Ice, eager to get back in the game.
"Yeh, but, maybe… Mark should do it," said D'Jok decisively.
"Why D'Jok?" Asked Tia.
"Mark's new to the team, he should have a chance to try a free kick," explained D'Jok feebly, but the others accepted his reasoning.
"Good luck Mark," smiled Tia, getting into position.
Mark gulped as he stepped in front of the ball. Ahead of him, three tall Rykers formed an impenetrable wall, to his left he could see Tia being held back by a Ryker defender, D'Jok hanging back far away from the penalty box, Micro-Ice and Mei jostling for position towards the goal. Kernor dropped into a low defensive stance, Mark began to wonder what there was he could do?
Mark swung his foot at the ball, hard. It soared around the wall and towards the goal. But it wasn't quite on target, it began to curl up into the air away from the goal. Kernor let out a scratchy cackle.
However, Mark's shot had been right on target. Not to score, but definitely for an assist. Tia leapt into the air leaving her Ryker defender stranded. Tia twisted her body and kicked the ball from upside down in mid air.
In the changing rooms Rocket gasped as the ball flew towards the goal, blue flux flying off the back of it. Kernor's eyes widened in surprise as the ball cannonballed its way towards her. She leapt through the air, arms outstretched, but the ball just slipped through her fingers.
2-1 to the Rykers!
"Great goal Tia!" Cried Aarch, "Now go get another one!"
"Just have to ask!" Grinned Micro-Ice.
"Do you think they're going to win?" Thran asked Rocket in the changing rooms.
"I can't say, this is going to be a tricky one," mumbled Rocket. The four of them watched the match from the view screen.
The Rykers were merciless. They dominated possession, smashed through defence and put Ahito on his toes.
However Ahito would not go down without a fight. Stopping every shot and holding the team together by the seams. They were exhausted. Sprinting up and down the pitch had taken its toll and all seven players were gasping.
"There's only two minutes left! You need to score!" Shrieked Aarch.
"Aarch, their vitals are lagging," tried Simbai, but Aarch ignored her, he was too swept up in the game.
The Rykers were on the ball once more, sprinting past an exhausted Mark and avoiding Tia. Mei skidded at the attacker but she wasn't fast enough. The Ryker changed directions and circled Mei.
Derek saw his chance. He barged past the Ryker, grabbing the ball and luckily not getting penalized. He booted it to Tia before collapsing to his knees besides Mei.
Mei lay, gasping, on her back. "We do work pretty well together," remarked Mei.
"Hmm," sneered Derek, "It seems I'm doing most of the work." Derek got to his feet leaving an open mouthed Mei, staring at his back.
Tia saw the three defenders ahead of her and knew she had to pass. Micro-Ice had no space, Mark had fallen behind. She had to pass to D'Jok. He might not have played his usual today, but she was counting on him. Tia passed to D'Jok.
D'Jok took the ball and began to head for goal, every fibre of his being begging for the Breath to initiate.
But it didn't.
D'Jok shot the ball at the goal with as much force as his fluxless body could give him. Kernor didn't stop it, but the crossbar did. The ball bounced off the goal and shot up into the air. D'Jok groaned, had he just lost them the match?
Suddenly D'Jok saw the ball fly into the goal, assisted by plenty of blue flux. Beside him, Micro-Ice dropped to the floor, grinning happily.
The scores are tied at 2-2!
"Oh yeh!" Laughed Micro-Ice.
The buzzer went. It was a draw.
"You played well in the second half," conceded Aarch, "but unfortunately it wasn't enough. A draw is alright but we wanted a win."
"D'Jok what happened to you, you didn't use the breath all match," asked a concerned Mei, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Leave me alone alright!" Barked D'Jok, shaking her hand off and storming off, out of the locker room.
"Mei…" Sighed Tia.
"I'm fine," she snapped, turning away from the team. They wouldn't see the tear roll down her face.
I hope you like this story! Continue to read and review!
