Mario Tennis, Power Shots: Part I: Ace's Story
Chapter Five: Close Call"I'm so happy…they came back to see me."
Ace shrugged in her chair, uncomfortable. She had to wait for the headmaster to return to his office, and it was Terra who was sitting with them. The headmaster was outside, saying his farewell to the masked players, and Mark had summoned Terra and the school front desk operator, the green-haired Sharon, to take Ace and Clay to the office. Sharon had forced them to sit down on the soft white couches, but Ace was somehow uncomfortable. Voices could now be heard down the hall and the double doors opened wide, the headmaster and Alex stepped in.
"Why, if it isn't Workout Ace," the headmaster said, frowning. "What brings you to my office?"
"These two were interloping in vital affairs!" Terra said. Ace wondered why Terra was using such big words just to say, "they were being nosy!" She wasn't going to impress the headmaster like that; Ace had heard him using slang words like "c'mon" and "y'know."
"I don't think they were the only ones," the headmaster said, flashing a small glare at Terra. She flushed and looked at Sharon to back her up. Sharon cleared her throat.
"Section 3, rule 4 states that 'Academy players will respect any coaches or other players private matters.' It says it in the handbook, sir."
"I'm well aware of that," the headmaster said as he sat at his desk, observing Ace and Clay. "This girl has been trying to get into this academy for two years. I'm not going to deny her entry to this academy. She has every right to this school just like the other kids."
"Yes sir," Sharon said as Terra opened her mouth. "But she, and her tennis partner, both need to be disciplined for breaking the rules."
"She's only been here for a day," Alex said, standing up for Ace. "She can't memorize all the school rules. I'm still learning them and I've been here for a long time."
"Alex," Terra said, her tone suggesting that he back down immediately. He declined.
"Sharon," the headmaster said. She perked up, happy to hear that he'd give in and suspend Ace after all. "If this had been Elroy, or Alex even, would you still try to suspend them?"
Sharon's face flushed too, and soon Sharon and Terra were both tongue-tied.
"Sir, you misunderstood," Terra said, but the headmaster cut them off.
"I will take into count Ace's childish behavior," the headmaster said. "She won't be able to play tennis for the rest of today."
Ace's heart jumped happily. There was only three hours left until everything closed up. She glanced at Alex who winked at her. Sharon and Terra, however, had different reactions.
"But sir-!" Terra was saying.
"-it's stated in the rulebook-!" Sharon said.
"-sir, she broke the rules!" Terra finished.
"-must be disciplined!" Sharon said finally. The headmaster held up a hand.
"I run this school," the headmaster said, clearing his throat. "You are part of this school, so I run you. Now, listen to me or I'll have both of you cleaning out all the trophies in the trophy room."
Terra and Sharon pouted, but left the room without saying a word. The room was quiet after they left, and Ace wondered if she should leave or not. The headmaster looked up at Ace, his eyes meaningful.
"I'm sorry if my staff gave you trouble," the headmaster said sincerely. "They have a hard time realizing rookies have feelings too."
"It's okay," Ace said. "I understand."
"You should keep them on a leash," Clay muttered under his breath. Ace stepped on his foot.
"Perfect," Alex said as he sat in the couch in front of them. "I'm Alex, by the way."
"Ace," she said back.
"Hi Ace…and if it isn't Clay too," Alex said as if he had just realized him.
"Hey, Alex," Clay muttered back, rubbing his foot.
"What's wrong, Clay?" Alex asked, frowning. "You seem kinda…down."
The headmaster observed them. "More like 'let down' if you ask me."
Alex laughed. "They were just being harassed by Sharon and Terra. I would too."
"It's not that," Clay said, but his voice faded. Alex and the headmaster both looked at them.
"A-ha!" Alex said as something clicked in his brain. "You wanted to see the masked warriors, right?"
"Well…" Clay said as he squirmed in his seat. The headmaster laughed.
"Of course! Why else would they have gone through all this trouble?"
Alex walked to the window of the room behind the headmaster's chair. "I'm so happy…they came back to see me."
Ace and Clay looked at each other. "You know them?"
Alex turned around and nodded.
"Who were they?" Ace asked, more to herself then Alex.
"We…I can't tell you," Alex said, his smile melting off of his face. "After all, considering the position they are in, it's best to give them some room, huh?"
Ace nodded in agreement. She didn't want to pester the people who had just saved her tennis career, but Clay was opposite.
"Who were they?" Clay exploded. His angry voice shook the large office. Even Ace backed away from him.
"I'm sorry, Clay," Alex said, sympathetically. "But it's not right."
Clay frustration turned into sadness and he looked down at his hands, sighing. Ace put a comforting arm around him.
"It pains me to see such sad faces," the headmaster said. He looked at Alex.
"If I tell you a way to meet them will that cheer you up?" Alex asked, his smile returning. Ace looked at him and nodded. "Of course, any information will do."
"Great," Alex said as he tilted his blue baseball cap to the side. "Okay then, they said if you want to meet them personally you have to win the Island Open tournaments. Got it?"
"The what?" Ace asked, frowning.
"It's a famous tennis competition," Clay said, looking up in surprise. "Between four school. However, only the top two varsity ranks get to go. You think we can do this?"
Alex nodded and a spark appeared in his eyes when he looked at Ace.
"Well, you two best be going," the headmaster said. "You'll be having a long road to victory if you plan on getting there."
After exchanging goodbyes, Clay and Ace left the office, and exited through the back entrance of the academy. There were few people outside now, seeing as it was dinnertime and the courts would close in another hour. The streetlights flickered on, signaling that it was six o'clock.
"You think we can do this?" Clay said as he paused on the large square of the park. Ace froze.
"What do you mean 'can we do this?'" Ace said, tired and exhausted. The last thought in her head should be a peaceful one, not a nagging pessimist.
"Do you really think we can get to the Island Open?" Clay said, his mood was way below zero.
"Of course we can, you idiot!" Ace said. "You've got me, and I heard you're a Senior player! If we can't get to the Island Open then at least we had fun!"
Instead of being angry and yell back, Clay looked at her, smiling warmly. "You're right, I'm sorry about that."
"It's nothing," Ace said, her temper vanished after his expression. "What do we do now?"
"Oh no!" Clay said, his eyes widening.
"What?" Ace jumped, looking around.
"We never got to eat!" he moaned back. Ace almost fell over. "C'mon, it's dinnertime, let's get something to eat!"
Clay took off running. Ace started to run after him when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. It was the moon, it's pale rays bounced off of the surface of the pond, giving the park a nice glow. Maybe it was the moons ray too, but the golden star on top of the stone memorial also twinkled brightly. Ace inhaled as she realized how beautiful the academy was.
"Come on, slow-poke!" Clay called as he came back. "Last one there has to give up their dessert!"
"You're on!" Ace said as she took off after him. Maybe it was a coincidence that the masked players showed up when Ace joined the school, but either way, the star memorial gave a wink to the moon as the academy started to settle down.
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Next time, on MT: PS-
"Look at this!" Clay said as he threw a magazine on Ace's table. It was dated from back about three years ago, just after Alex had joined the academy. Ace frowned and turned back to watching the television program.
"So?"
"'So?'" Clay repeated, surprised. "Read this article! It says 'This years competition was amazing at the Island Open as Academy brought home both first-place trophies in singles and doubles. The amazing young boy who managed this was Alex, a first year at the Royal Academy. Officials were stunned when the boy and his teammate, Harry, helped the Royal Academy to bring home both trophies. 'The competition was tough,' says 13-year-old Alex. 'But the Island Open belonged to academy this year.'"
Ace looked away from the TV, surprised.