Mario Tennis, Power Shots: Part I: Ace's Story
Chapter Eight: Rivalry Rivals!"What? I only underestimated you, that's all!"
The ball went above her head, and Ace was almost blinded by the morning sun. She took a swing…and it sailed past Clay, right at Sophia. The girl just watched in amazement as it sailed past her.
"15-love!" shouted Mark. Ace caught the tennis ball from a sideman and bounced it on the court. The other players watched her, their surprise meter high. Even Mark was gaping at Ace. Clay grinned as he looked into Meg's fearful eyes. "That's my tennis double."
Ace tossed the tennis ball into the air again, this time putting a slice in it. Sophia hit it back and it hit the net.
"30-love!" Mark shouted. Ace relaxed a little as another ball was tossed at her.
"You seem to have gone speechless," Clay said to Sophia. "What's wrong? You can't take us?"
"You're making me mad!" Sophia said and she stubbornly hit the ball. Ace managed to hit it back, and it flew past Meg, who swung and missed.
"40-love!" Mark said. "Game point!"
The game continued until the last point of the last game. Meg threw her racket on the ground and Sophia almost burst out crying. The game only lasted three minutes.
"I'm sorry, Clay," Ace said, blushing. "I was too nervous, I wasn't playing at my best."
Nearby junior members stared at her in surprise, and the ones who had snickered at her earlier were laughing nervously now. Mark nodded.
"Ace, Clay; you're officially in the ranking," Mark said, applauding.
"We've lost our ranking now," Sophia said quietly.
"Now we can't use the practice courts freely anymore," Meg moaned. Ace frowned at Clay.
"That's okay," Ace said. "Can't we all share the practice courts?"
Sophia turned to her, seething. "That's right, we can! You should be with Clay should be on the senior courts anyway!"
"Yeah!" Meg agreed, just as upset. "The seniors get way prettier courts than we do!"
"Do you two have something against seniors?" Clay said, steam rising from his ears. Clay tried to advance on them, but Ace pushed him back. He looked angrily at her but she shook her head. "No point in wasting energy with sore-losers like them."
"You just watch," Sophia remarked. "We'll practice, and one day, you're going down!"
Sophia and Meg nodded at each other, then turned to leave the court. Meg paused and she turned to look at them, grinning slyly. "Oh, and about the court? We'll be using it after all."
Mark sighed and turned to look at them. "If you're going to keep winning you should get used to sore losers hating you for it. I've beaten a lot of people in my time, stole their dreams of making varsity…but I told myself, for every player I beat I'd work extra hard to make up for their dreams."
Clay and Ace looked at each other, then nodded, forgetting what had happened moments ago.
"So," Mark said, grinning. "We've got ourselves some winners! Well, it's a long way to varsity, so keep practicing and never let go of those winning shots!"
Clay and Ace exited the courts, sighing happily. "We're rank 4!" Clay said. "How awesome!"
"Nice play there, Clay," said a voice from behind them. Ace and Clay spun around. Clay grunted. Kyle was standing there, Chris at his side. "Although, I think I should be acknowledging Ace instead."
"Why don't you take this advice," Clay said angrily. "Take your compliments and shove them up your-"
"Enough!" Mark said as he rejoined them. "Clay, Kyle; either both of you stop it or-"
But Kyle was making signs at Clay from behind Mark's back. Without even thinking about it, Clay was tackling Kyle. Chris joined in, trying to beat Clay but Ace pushed Chris aside and she pulled Clay off of Kyle.
"If you plan on getting into even more trouble," Ace threatened, her voice full of anger. "I will trade you with Kyle for a tennis partner."
"He started it," Clay said, narrowing his eyes. Ace looked at Mark, hoping he wasn't going to suspend them, or worse, take their rank, but Mark looked as if he were thinking about how to punish them.
"Mark," Ace said, sighing. "If you don't mind, maybe we could have another ranking match?"
Mark looked at them, and then sighed. "It seems Clay has the energy for it. Fine, Mason, Chad; come here!"
A gangly boy with spiky green hair, and a stout boy with red hair, made their way over to them. The green-haired boy, Mason, smirked at them. "I'll crush you guys with my powers."
Once again, the juniors cleared the court and the four of them took their spot.
Ace threw the tennis ball up again, and smashed it. This time, Mason was able to smack it back. Clay jumped up and hit it back. Chad tried to hit it, but missed. Mason hit it back. Clay ducked is it almost hit him in the face, but Ace managed to knock it back, hitting Chad in the chest.
"15-love!" Mark said, bored. The game continued until Ace and Clay won the first set. When Clay came up to serve, Ace realized she was a better player when she stood in the front. She was always spiking the ball onto the other player's court. This game continued for ten minutes though. Eventually, Clay and Ace won the game.
"Ace and Clay won the ranking match!" Mark said, grinning proudly.
"What madness is this?" Mason said, angered. "That you two can bear a natural-born tennis phenom like me?"
"My partner's phenom powers were supposed to vault us into second," Chad said, sighing. "Instead we're stuck in fourth!"
Ace sighed as Clay spoke up. "It looks like your partner's phenom powers never kicked in…"
Mason glared at him. "You guys weren't tough enough opponents, so my Phnom powers didn't view you as a threat!"
Clay frowned.
"But if they did," Chad said, a wicked smirk on his face. "You'd be eating dirt right now!"
"Phenom, shmenom! Can't you play normal tennis?" Ace said, angrily. She was afraid she might jump someone.
"You'll eat those words, Ace!" Mason said. "One day my powers will arise and you will all be sorry!"
Chad's grinned stayed on his face. "Make your way to the top and leave so we can get our rank back."
Both of the losers left the court. Mark sighed. "I'd like to see these so-called "phenom powers" of his. Anyway, you guys are now at third. The way I see it, you guys will be at the top. So, would you like to go for rank 2?"
"Actually," Ace said, exhaling. "I think I'll reserve that for tomorrow. I'm tired and I need to eat."
Mark nodded. "Okay. I'll see both of you tomorrow."
Ace and Clay nodded then left the courts.
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Next time on MT: PS-
"ACE!"
Ace jumped and almost dumped her pumpkin soup on her plaid skirt. She looked around saw Sophia and Meg running towards her. Despite the fact that they had lost to her yesterday, they were on friendlier terms now.
"What?" Ace said, still upset that Clay hadn't come to get her that morning.
"Clay-is-," Sophia panted.
"Playing-Kyle," Meg said, catching her breath. "They're playing for rank 1 of the junior class!"
"What?" Ace said, jumping to her feet. Could Clay's rivalry be more important than their teamwork?