Episode 42: Ratoniik: VS Ratoniik Eleven part 1
"Tsurugi!" Tenma called to the team's ace striker the morning of the game. The captain was still unaware that Tsurugi was fake.
"What do you want?"
Tenma smiled, "It's finally the semi-final today. We're counting on you."
Tsurugi thought for a bit, "Yeah..."
After the captain went on ahead, the fake Tsurugi sneered, "Foolish earthling. You make it too easy."
"Grand Celesta Galaxy A-Block, Semi-Finals; Earth Eleven VS Ratoniik Eleven! We bring you the match on the Green Planet, Ratoniik. Who shall prevail in this match to win the ticket to play in the finals against Faram Obieus!?"
"I shall announce the line up;
Forward: Tsurugi, Matatagi, Midfielder: Matsukaze, Kusaka, Shindou, Kurogane, Defender: Morimura, Minaho, Manabe and Zephyr, Keeper: Ibuki." Kuroiwa announced.
"Yes!"
"Looks like they have two guys this time..." Minaho pointed at the Baran brothers announcing something to the Ratoniiks on the other bench.
"Wonder what they'll be like." Manabe added.
Both teams took their positions on the field and awaited for the starting whistle to be blown.
The game started with Tsurugi passing the ball to Matatagi, who kicked it back to their captain.
"Move up!" Tenma yelled. "Kusaka!"
Kusaka started to dribble the ball up. I have to make this game the best for Banda!
However then, a Ratoniik midfielder came and stole the ball from him.
"Shoot!"
Shindou went to stop him.
"Mushroom Hop!" Conjuring mushrooms underneath his feet, the Ratoniik avoided Shindou.
"Argh...!"
The ball went to a Ratoniik forward, and he immediately went to use a hissatsu. Stepping the ball into the ground, it sprouted into a large beanstalk-like plant towards the net, "Gigant Vine!"
Ibuki clenched his fist, gathering power and slashed it out in front of him, "Rising Slash!"
However, the ball seared through the energy and into the net. Ratoniik was suddenly ahead 1-0 and barely anytime has past.
"E-yeah!" The Ratoniik's cheered.
"Nice shoot!"
"Nice try, keeper!"
"Urgh!" Ibuki punched the ground in frustration.
"Ryugel-nii! Aren't we going to do anything?" Gandales gasped.
"Be patient, Gandales. Situations like this require impact! Just wait for the best moment." The older twin grinned.
"Wow, Ryugel-nii! You're awesome! So cool!"
"They're so stupid..." Minaho sighed.
Zephyr breathed in deeply. He needed to focus on the match.
The team continued trying to get another point, however neither side was giving in. Both team's defenders were stealing the ball and the forwards continued trying.
Zephyr went to stop the opposing forward, but the Ratoniik leaped over the Melfen's slide.
"Urgh...!"
Luckily, Minaho and Manabe covered for him and were able to clear the ball.
"Zephyr, your movement is 11.4% slower than usual." Manabe informed.
"Is it difficult to navigate because of all the plants around?" Minaho asked.
Zephyr shook his head, "I'm fine! I'll stop him this time...!"
The two defenders exchanged glances, "Alright..." They said before returning to their positions.
The play resumed with Ratoniik's throw in. Zephyr, wanting to make up for his previous mistake, leaped in front of the ball. However, it was taken back almost immediately.
"Shit...!"
And because Zephyr left his position, it left an opening.
"Gigant Vine!"
The ball rocketed towards Ibuki.
"Rising Slash!" Again the keeper's hissatsu was broken.
However, right before the ball went into the net, Shindou, who had run all the way back, stepped in front of the ball, "Einzats!"
Gathering energy on his foot, the midfielder kicked the ball away from the net.
"Zephyr! Don't be hasty! Stay in your position!" He yelled.
Zephyr just clenched his fists in frustration.
The game was still live. The ball Shindou kicked had gone to Alsius, and she started to bring it up.
"Let's go, Matatagi, Tsurugi!"
Tsurugi gasped, "m-me...!?"
The three players started run around the ball creating wind energy and kicked the ball up the tornado they created, "Jet Stream!"
The ball rocketed towards the net, however curved over it.
"Huh?" Matatagi gasped.
"Ah..." Alsius remembered that Tsurugi wasn't the real one.
Matatagi was frustrated, "Who's mistake was that!? It sure wasn't me!"
"Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Don't fight!" Tenma tried to calm the forward.
"Tch. Why bother with combination hissatsu... It's better to just let me shoot alone." Matatagi growled as he went to his position.
"We're only one point behind, let's get it back, one at a time!" The captain yelled to cheer his teammates.
"...Zephyr." Minaho started, "Something is bothering you, isn't it?"
"Huh? What are you sa-"
"Ever since we were caught in the illusions..."
"..."
The orange haired boy smiled, "I thought so. Are you willing to talk about it?"
"..." Zephyr let out a sigh. He slowly took off the large mittens he always wore revealing large green claws.
Minaho's eyes widened.
"Zephyr..." Komori whispered.
"I used to have a partner, Kaenmaru. He was a Raeros, so his eyes didn't see. During one of our missions, I messed up... he warned me, but I ignored it. Because of that we were caught. Our bodies were used for an experiment; merged together."
"Huh?"
"Is that even possible? Combining two different beings into one...?" Manabe gasped.
"At first, I was scared; suddenly blind and the feel of my arms felt strange." Zephyr rubbed his claws together, "But I was still able to hear Kaenmaru's voice... It soothed me, kept me strong. I was able to escape thanks to it... But after that, I couldn't hear him anymore... I never felt so alone; so abandoned. This was all my fault; if I had listened to Kaenmaru's warning; he wouldn't of disappeared."
"So the voice you heard in the illusion was your partner's?" Minaho comfirmed.
Zephyr nodded.
"It's all beyond my world," the orange haired boy chuckled.
"Yeah..."
"But I'm pretty sure your partner isn't hating you; after all, he saved you."
"Huh?"
"The dead don't come back; that is an absolute. But they continue to live in our hearts; like how my father continues to live within me."
"...Minaho..."
"We have live the best we can for them. At least that is what I believe. Was I any help?"
Zephyr smiled softly, "A bit perhaps. Thanks..."
The Ratoniik keeper kicked the ball back into play. The midfielder quickly brought it up.
Zephyr stood in front of the Ratoniik, "I won't let you through...!"
A blue light enveloped the black haired boy and a large reptile beast emerged from it. Thick scales covered the beast's eyes. Zephyr let out a loud roar, stunning the Ratoniik, then proceeded to grap the ball within his fangs.
"Soul!"
Zephyr returned to his original form and shot the ball, "Cyclone Beast!" Leaping into the air, the Melfen kicked the ball downwards, enveloping it in wind energy.
A large venus fly trap appeared behind the Ratoniik keeper, moving along with his hand motion, the keeper clamped the ball within the plant's mouth, "Big Mouth...!"
The ball broke through the keeper's hissatsu scoring Earth Eleven's first goal.
"Yes!" Tenma cheered. "Zephyr, your soul's amazing."
"It's not mine, Kaenmaru's" the boy smiled.
Tenma didn't understand, but nodded, "Everyone, keep it up!"
Ratoniik started with the ball passing it quickly among eachother. Shindou however stopped them, "Move up!"
He passed the ball to Tenma when out of the blue, Ryugel leaped in between intercepting the pass.
"What!?"
"Let's go, Gandales!" The white Faram grinned.
"Okay Ryugel-nii!" The younger twin smiled.
The Baran twins ran past Earth Eleven's defense by quickly passing the ball back in forth between eachother. They were in front of the net in no time.
Ryugel conjured an golden apple, proceeding to take a bite from it. He then through it over his head towards his brother. Gandales took a deep breath before letting out a loud scream causing dark energy to gather around the apple. The two then kicked the ball together, "Scream of Eden!"
Ibuki had no time to react and the ball soared into the net.
"Goal!"
The whistle blew twice along with the call indicating the end of the first half.
"Remember this Gandales," Ryugel smiled, "You can't show your true strength until the very end of the game; that way it stays in everyone's minds."
"Cool, you're so cool, Ryugel-nii!"
"Don't say anymore; don't say anything more, Gandales."
"So cool!" The black haired Faram kept cheering.
"It's only the end of the first half..." Aoi laughed nervously.
"They're very strong," Mizukawa stated, "Though very stupid..."
As the game continues, Kusaka gets more and more worried about not having a soul and whether he is playing well enough for Banda's first and last game. Banda is worrying about not being able to shine. What will be the outcome of this match? Episode 43: Ratoniik: VS Ratoniik Eleven part 2.
