Heating Up
Hello and good to see you again for the next game of the Strikers Road Climb. In the read we will go through the first game of The Fire Cup Finals and meet the champion who currently holds the trophy. Enough of me talking lets just right into this.
Once a again no I do not own Mario or Mario Strikers Charged all rights belong to Nintendo and Next Level Games.
VICTORY GRANTS MARIO CHANCE IN FINALS! The title of the report read with more below.
In a game for the ages Mario bested Bowser in the knockouts earning the plumber a ticket to the Fire Cup Finals. Many are planning to watch the best of three series of Mario versus an opponent even he does not know. Can this storybook run end on a happy ending? Or will it all come crashing down in a fiery mess for Mario? We can only watch and see how it plays out.
- Penny Pianta, Strikers Times
Fire Cup Finals week is here. The red hot Fireballs come with the intention of taking the cup that so perfectly seemed named after them. But they must beat someone they don't know twice. What do I mean by beat twice? Let me explain.
The finals will be decided in a best of three format. One team must beat the other two times in order to be victorious. The first game will be played on Sunday and the second one will be played on Wednesday. If necessary a game three would be played on Saturday deciding who would be hoisting the trophy.
Today game one is set to take place. The arena and home of the Fire Cup would be the location of the best of three matchups. The Lava Pit.
The Lava pit is what it sounds like. A large rectangle made of dark rock acted as the field surrounded by an ocean of molten lava. Lava poured in from continuous waterfalls flowing in the large body of lava. Bubbles formed on the surface of the hot substance popping releasing hot air. The heat was unbearable. The endless pouring of lava meant constant hot air circling the fire rock field.
The fans in attendance to watch the first game sat far from the field. Far off in the outskirts. The thirty thousands observers sat patiently waiting.
The teams' sidekicks and Kritter goalies were already on the black rock pitch. The electric fence was activated as a shield so the players wouldn't take a dip in the hot liquid. The six sidekicks gathered around center circle with goalies standing under goal.
"Are you guys feeling better?" Dean asked, aiming the question towards his two companions about their physical condition.
"Yeah don't worry Dean I'm ok but this heat is awful" Henry exasperated pulling his front collar with his mouth slightly opened and tongue out.
"For once, you're right Henry. It feels like we're in the middle of an inferno" Kenny told, wiping his nose with the tips of his fingers feeling the moisture as his fingertips glided across his skin.
Henry smiled. "Thanks I'm glad you could se-, HEY! Wait a minute!" Henry yelled, figuring out the underlining sneer of Koopa's sentence. Kenny chuckled at his hot headed friend's reaction looking away with his hands behind his head.
"Are you calling dumb?"
"What? No that's like calling the kettle black"
"YOU JUST DID IT AGAIN!"
Henry crossed his arms murmuring how Kenny was a big jerk. Dean witnessed the entire scene struggling not laughing his skull off. His hand covered his mouth suppressing his non stop laughter. Finally composing himself Dean spoke;
"So still no idea who the other captain is?" He questioned.
"Nope not one clue" Kenny responded folding his arms. Henry's eyes opened and a small smirk formed on his face.
"Well if you're so smart why don't you figure who their is with that big brain of yours" The Hammer Bro challenged. Kenny glared at Henry. Never liking his intelligence scrutinize he accepted the dare.
The red trio looked to the other side. On the left half of center circle stood a Koopa, Hammer Bro and Monty Mole. They were just keeping to themselves waiting for the captains to arrive.
They were dressed in yellow jerseys and shorts beside Monty no pair was big enough for him. All of them had matching body pads and cleats. Hammer Bro and Monty wore helmets the same shade of yellow as the rest of their gear.
Kenny eyed the yellow three. Peach, Bowser and DK were obviously not the leader they just been eliminated. Kenny then thought of captains that used a yellow design for their uniforms. The sweat flowing down his head did not help his concentration. The extreme heat was starting to get to him until he got a match.
"Excuse me," Kenny politely asked, trying to get the attention of the three they were soon going to tussle. The three stopped their chatter when they heard the plea. All six of their eyes gawked at the red Koopa.
"Is Wario by any chance your captain?"
The yellow three exchanged looks. An uncomfortable silence proceed with Kenny getting ever more restless. Done with the waiting Kenny was going to tell them to hurry. Before he could open his mouth he was interrupted by something.
The yellow trio started giggling, then chuckling, until full blown laughter was all the three sidekicks were doing. They didn't try hiding their amusement with hands on their stomachs and eyes becoming watery. They calmed down letting out a few more laughs and finally answered Kenny's inquiry.
"No, of course not" The Koopa in the end said catching his breath.
"Why would we want to be led by that fat slob" Hammer Bro explained, rubbing his eye out.
Henry snickered. "I guess all knowing Kenny doesn't know this one huh" Henry said in a mocking tone with a toothy grin. Kenny didn't acknowledge the face but wore a scowl not happy with the comment.
"So who is your captain?" Dean whined desperately tired of all the secrecy. Monty spoke;
"Well, if you must know our captain is b-" He started off but was interrupted by Hammer Bro standing next to him with his arm held out in front of the mole.
"No no, they will find out when it's time. We don't need to ruin the surprise" The yellow dressed Hammer Bro calmly explained to his Monty Mole teammate. Monty reluctantly agreed and kept his mouth close much to Dean's dismay. Some time passed before the talking resumed.
"So you think you're winning?" The opposing Koopa curiously put forward to the red three. Henry scoffed at what he thought was a preposterous question.
"Of course we're winning. You don't go through seven weeks of back breaking labor and not expect to be champs" Henry bluntly said. On the last syllable Henry pronounced Mario dropped in crouched with one hand on the ground and the other on his leg. The Fireballs captain stood up and with a small smile he said;
"I-a agree Henry, I-a agree"
The yellow three lour at Mario. The plumber however paid no interest to their sour faces, he looked at their gear. He focused on the front of their chest plates, He saw a small but visible orange logo. The symbol looked eerily similar to Bowser's but more kiddie. His demeanor soon grew lazy.
"Oh mamma mia," Mario silently muttered, shutting his eyes tight and bringing his index finger and thumb to his face grabbing his temples.
Suddenly someone made his long awaited arrival. He landed on his shell pulling his knees to his chest the Fire Cup champion spins a few times. Then the captain struck a pose with his elbow on the ground and hand under his face. His other arm was lazyly over his side and legs were laying closed.
He was wearing yellow spike bracelets on his wrists with matching knee pads with two spikes on each. A black collar was securely wrapped around his neck tight. Lastly his small shell was covered by a tough plastic exterior with the number six on the back.
"You ready to dance?" He asked rhetorically in his squeaky voice that still has yet to develop. Henry stepped out of Mario's shadow and his mouth dropped.
"You gotta be kidding me. It's him?"
The small leader stood up. "Yep the one and only. The son of the king and heir to the throne of the Koopa Kingdom, Bowser junior" He said triumphantly describing himself in the third person.
Bowser jr was correct. He indeed was the son of Bowser and was the successor to the throne when his dad kicked the bucket. Bowser jr lived up to his name by being the spitting image of his father in looks and personality with his short temper and bad attitude. He was a troublemaker loving to cause havoc for Mario, especially often joining in his father's plans and only worsening when plotting with his step siblings the koopalings. He was bratty and spoiled stealing whatever he deems his. But at the end of the day he was still only a kid.
He was energetic like any kid should be having a hard time standing still in one place. The boy was fearless jumping into battle alongside his dad no matter the situation. BJ was fascinated by machines pulling them apart figuring out how they work and even building some of his own most impressively his junior clown car. He was remarkably smart for his young age far brighter then the elder Bowser ever was at his age and even now.
Bowser jr stood proudly in front of his most hated adversary. Prince Bowser was an offensive mastermind. Like his father his shooting power was top notch. He outshines his dad in passing creating as many chances as he does scoring goals but for his outstanding attacking tool set he lacks heavily when he didn't have the ball.
His tiny strides meant it took him a while to travel on foot. Anybody could really catch him in race meaning he could never break away from someone if they were following him. Bowser jr also had poor defending skills. He did not have that same monstrous range or muscle of his pops.
Mario looked almost tired, eyes droopy and frown slowly forming. He lazily looked at the child before him still with a sleepy look of disappointment. BJ smirked taking it as fear.
"What, cat got your tongue? I understand I'm pretty awesome" He said in his high pitch voice arrogance just oozing out of his posture. Henry had enough and decided to point out the elephant in the giant lava pool.
"Is no one questioning how a preschooler is our mystery opponent?" Looking around baffled by his teammates' mild reactions. Bowser Jr was enraged by the underhanded comment.
"HEY! I'M TEN! I'M NOT A BABY!"
The scream was so loud everybody from Mario, the sidekicks, the goalkeepers and the people in attendance pressed the palms of their hands on their ears. Removing their hands a persistent and numbing ringing sound replaced the screech. Mario opened his eyes and saw Bowser jr with a grim look looking up at him.
"Your blabbermouth of a Hammer Bro just cost an easy beating plumber. I was going to show mercy but now, you are in for a world of pain" The younger Bowser warned, trying his best to sound menacing before walking away with his head held high from the portly plumber. Mario did the same walking to his three sidekicks telling them to huddle.
"So what do we do? Do we sing him a lullaby?" Henry generally put out there still not coming to terms a toddler was the champion. Mario sighed at what he thought was another one of Henry's attempts at being funny.
"Shh! Do you-a want him to-a scream again?" Henry shook his head quickly not wanting to endure the shrill tantrum of the Koopa prince once more.
"Don't-a overlook Junior, he might be-a young but he's-a formidable" Mario advised his loyal teammates. They broke up their huddle and lined up.
Bowser Jr. did the same, commanding his troop to their positions. Mario and BJ stepped forward as de facto strikers. Kenny jogged over to left field stopping at the midfield line. Pumping himself Kenny was startled by a voice.
"A fellow left fielder Koopa huh? Cool" BJ's Koopa said, making his way towards Kenny, stopping before the halfway line. "I heard you were Mario's left fielder during his Super Bowser Cup run" He continued now in front of Kenny.
"Yes I was, we even won the entire tournament"
"Interesting, well let's have a good game" The lively Koopa said offering his hand out. Kenny smiled and shook the hand presented in front of him offering his own good luck.
Henry walked with no clear emotion or feeling. He made it to the bottom of the field. He looked at the electric fence. The amount of lava made him sick physically and mentally. The heat only seemed to be increasing and the red Hammer Bro was scared of the lava overflowing the field drowning his friends and him in the molten mess.
"You afraid of a little lava?" The cocky enemy Hammer Bro coolly walked towards Henry wielding both hammers with a loose grip. Henry's brow scrunched from the shot taken at his manliness.
"Me scared? No way" Henry tried his best sounding unbothered. A bubble suddenly popped near the edge of the field. Henry jumped frightened by the faint pop sound. The observing Hammer Bro chuckled.
"Yeah you are, you're more jumpy than your captain over there" aiming a hammer in the vague area of Mario. Henry gritted his teeth. BJ's Hammer Bro chuckled at the angry stare he was getting and decided he had his fun.
"Don't worry you'll get used to her" referring to the field. "I was scared of this place but it goes away after a while" Hammer Bro reassured with a small smile. Henry's scowl faded away morphing into a straight face.
Hammer Bro's smile grew before lifting his mallet to Henry. "How about a hammer bump for good luck".
Henry, never one for good sportsmanship made an exception. He reached for a hammer and tapped his on the mallet offer to him.
"Thanks but you're still going down" Henry boastfully jabbed. The rival Hammer Bro smirked.
"In your dreams, your run ends now"
Dean and Monty were defenders on their sides and Kritters were in goal. The spectators not audible to the players were cheering off the top of their lungs. Both ready the horn was set off starting the first game of the Fire Cup Finals. Mario's Fireballs as the challenging away team versus Bowser Jr's jokesters the reigning defending champion home team.
Mario and Junior both went for the still ball. Mario reached the idle ball kicking it up to Kenny. Kenny dribbled forward heading towards BJ's Koopa. Kenny withdrew into his shell dashing past the unprepared Koopa.
Behind enemy lines Kenny cut off his straight path running in the direction of the goal at a downward angle. In the middle of his run Kenny lobbed the ball back ahead of the net. Mario contorted his body in the air getting upside down kicking the ball with an off balance bicycle kick. Bowser Junior's Kritter jumped up and grabbed the ball with a save.
The Kritter goalie wasted no time throwing the ball back out on the igneous rock pitch. Monty stopped the rolling ball waddling before passing the ball away. Hammer Bro lowered his hammer to the ground using the face of the head to seize the ball. Henry hammer in hand was ready to bash his fellow Hammer Bro while his back was turned and strike. BJ's Hammer Bro was aware of the incoming attack.
He did a rainbow flick with assistance from his hammer. The yellow Hammer Bro stepped out of the way and pivoted avoiding the hammer slam with ease. After making Henry look like a chump Hammer Bro repossessed the metal ball and passed the ball.
The ball went into Mario's territory along the right sideline. However the ball started curving to the inside. Small at first until the ball no longer went straight but to the left.
Bowser Jr was streaking ahead running to meet the ball in its path. Dean was catching up sprinting as fast as he could. For as small as he was Bowser jr was not nimble.
Dean slid for the ball reaching out with his shoe. The ball rolled past evading Dean's attempt of interference. BJ still running kicked the steel ball with his bare foot. Kingston was unenlightened of the prince's power and nearly paid the price.
The metal sphere zoomed past his head and hit the right post. The ball ricocheted and went to the bottom right corner of the field. Dean got up and with BJ being too sluggish to compete with Fireball speedster in a race Dean made it to the ball and kicked it away.
Thirty seconds had gone by and it was still nil nil. The temperature was rising with every second that ticked by. Mario and Junior were the only ones not bothered by the high humidity. Bowser jr living in lava castles his entire youth and Mario invading said castle for many years.
Mario had the ball hurrying along the right sideline. Crossing into BJ's side, Bowser Jr and his Hammer Bro went to corner the plumber. Mario stopped at the two standing side by side. He pondered what his next move would be but he couldn't think, the heat without warning spiked. The heat was coming from above so Mario looked and his eyes slowly opened.
"Oh, no," He whispered to himself
A giant lava ball hit the field. A natural anomaly science could not explain balls of lava would jump out of the pool and fall onto the field. After the initial impact a large circle of fire would stay on the pitch until cooling off and going away.
Mario, Bowser Jr and Hammer Bro were hit by the flying lava ball. They caught on fire. Mario and Hammer Bro went high in the air and were caught in the electric fence. BJ landed on the ground but suffered the wrath of the burning flames caught on his tiny body.
A second fireball hit the field but landed in a far part of the field no one was at. Everybody not hit by the explosive fire watched in horror. The great burst of orange hit their eyes. The cries of pain made them cringe and seeing the aftermath of destruction was almost as bad as being the one hit.
The ball sensitivity to the hotness of the lava bounced to center circle. Henry chased after the now white glowing ball but was tackled by Monty. Monty Mole took the ball and wobbled a short distance. Narrowly in Mario's side of the pitch Monty took a midfield power shot. Kingston leaped and defended well stopping the fully charged ball.
The ball rolled out back on the pitch because Kingston couldn't get a hold of it. Dean recovered the full power glowing sphere. Turning around Dean was confronted by Monty. Monty tried for a lunging head tackle but was struck from behind.
"Yeah! That's whatcha get" Henry proudly remarked, happy he got Monty Mole back. Henry looked at Dean. "What are you doing Dean? We got a game to win!"
Dean woke up and nodded. He blasted running at a diagonal angle. Breaking through into Prince Bowser's side in the top right corner. He stopped and charged for a bit until launching his shocker shot. Like clockwork it stunned the keeper with high voltage electricity and the ball came back to Dean as if it was a magnet.
BJ's Koopa midfielder sprinted towards Dean looking to take him out. Right when he was ready to tackle Kenny came to the rescue checking the yellow Koopa. Koopa was sent into the electric fence. Dean now safe jumped and headed the ball back. The steel sphere passed the paralyzed yellow armored Kritter and rolled unopposed in the goal. The Fireballs lead one zip with Dean's score at the forty four second mark.
After some dancing on Dean's part. He was quite good at doing the worm. Everyone was back in position to start. Mario and Bowser jr were not looking the best. Less than a minute in playing and they were already feeling the effects.
Mario's gear was burnt. His shorts were singed and burned ever so slightly. The back of his red cap was charred with black ash. The only thing that made it out in one piece was Mario's hair and iconic mustache still bushy as ever. Bowser Jr only had small burns on his body. He had some soot on his nose that tickled his nostrils causing the prince to sneeze.
Bowser Jr. passed the ball, continuing game one of the Fire Cup Finals. Fireballs one Jokesters nil with four sixteen left.
Hammer Bro received the ball and ran back. Henry was relentless in his pursuit of BJ's Hammer Bro sidekick. Henry rushed smashing his hammer on the rocky terrain all in effort to crush Bowser Jr's hammer holding minion. Hammer Bro ran all the way back until he made it to the bottom corner.
Henry, like a lion seeing wounded prey attacked the vulnerable yellow Hammer Bro. Using his old reliable hammer Henry swung for the fences and connected with Hammer Bro's cheek with stomach turning force sending him in the nearby electric fence.
Henry with the ball free took a quick close range shot from the bottom left corner of the field. The Jokesters' goalie swatted the attempt away with a lighting fast overhand. The ball returned back to Henry who again shot the steel ball back. The off-balanced Kritter rejected the try on goal but more under pressure. Henry once again regained the ball and charged for his skillshot. Henry was about to leap in the air before he was taken down.
Koopa sprinted from sideline to sideline and ended Henry's shooting spree. Koopa Troopa was able to get the ball in his possession and took off. Bowser Jr's balance sidekick dash forward was hindered. Mario stood in the Koopa's way acting as a wall in the turtle's path. The yellow dressed Koopa Troopa kept running and Mario made his move. Mario stepped and shoved his shoe trying to poke the ball out from Koopa's control.
BJ's well rounded underling spun around the plumber. Doing a full spin dancing around Mario's mediocre defensive effort. Continuing his march ahead Koopa made it deep into Mario territory and charged the ball. The small ball of metal grew tenfold. The massive steel koopa shell was kicked at Mario's goal. Kingston, who was in goal only had two words.
"Oh great." he muttered before getting obliterated by the skillshot.
The ball escaped from within the humongous steel koopa shell and flew back on the field. The Jokesters' left midfielder scurried for the rebounding ball. He was frozen with three blue shells fired by Kenny. Kenny took the ball away letting Kingston recover from his daze. The ball back in Kenny's grasp team Fireballs passed the around building power within the small sphere. Junior and his Monty Mole tried their best to steal the ball back but were too slow.
Mario cleared a path with a ginormous Bob-omb sending BJ and Monty in the air. The Jokesters' defense utterly crippled Mario and Kenny ran through. The all-around pair passed the ball back and forth charging the ball to its maximum power. Bowser Jr's Kritter was all alone, his head moving side to side following the steel ball.
Mario had the ball fully charged and dribbled heading towards the left post. The crocodile goalkeeper shifted to the left side of the goal leaving the right side exposed. Mario caught the over commitment and jumped at the mistake.
Mario passed the ball back up to Kenny. Kenny kicked the ball at the open right side of the net. The yellow armored Kritter eyes popped and beads of sweat were on his face. He dashed over and leaped to his right post. Even with the great effort the ball had sailed by already and Kenny scored.
Mario's Fireballs two Bowser Jr's Jokesters none Kenny ran off withdrawing into his shell sliding then popped out from his walking fortress with his hands up and a smile. Mario caught up to his Koopa sidekick high fived and briefly hugged. Henry and Dean were waiting for the two to get back on their side, after some pats on the shell they got lined up for action.
Bowser jr was moody walking to center circle. Dragging his feet and occasionally kicking the ground. He was sulking, down two goals his cocky demeanor was now all gone replaced by spite and malice. Standing in the middle of the field Bowser jr stood ready with evil in his eye. The whistle blew ready to resume the action with two fifty two remaining.
Bowser jr ran electing not to pass the ball off. BJ jumped in the air and crushed Mario under his spiked shell. The thorns on Junior's shell were not developed so they were dull but having the full weight of BJ on his back Mario was in deep pain.
Bowser jr got up and took a shot. The ball didn't reach Kingston. Dean was in the way of the metal ball and caught the flying sphere with his head. The ball dinked him causing him to fall over with his skull spinning.
Kenny looked to retrieve the ball and to check on his undead friend. Bowser jr made the stop with some well timed bananas blocking the Koopa's way. Bowser jr took another shot closer then his last try. The ball reached Kingston this time and was caught easily with all the time the Kritter was given to prepare.
The Fireballs goalie threw the ball out. The metal sphere flung to Kenny and put ahold to the breakneck velocity of the weak charged ball. Before Kenny could move BJ's Koopa took down Kenny slide tackling him from behind. Now on his back Kenny didn't give up and snatched the Koopa's ankle causing the fellow left fielder to fall face first.
With the small ball rolling away the two Koopas briefly exchanged looks. The two left fielders quickly got up and raced for the ball. The pursuit stayed clean until Bowser Jr's Koopa held out his foot tripping Kenny. In the clear the cheap Koopa had the ball. Without realizing he was forced into the high voltage fence by a hard hit.
Dean recuperated from his headache and saw the chase occurring between the two Koopas. When the yellow armored Koopa caused Kenny to stumble he jumped to his boney feet to intervene. He checked the rival Koopa into the fence and took back the ball.
Kenny smiled glad to see his pal alright. "Good job Dean! Now lets-, OH NO WATCH OUT!" the tone in his voice changed from contented to panicky.
Dean wondered what the commotion was about. Until he noticed the ground beneath him darken. He looked up and saw the great ball of fire flying in. Dean gulped at the hot doom.
More lavaballs flew onto the field. The first one hit catching Kenny and Dean in the collision. Soon after his mangling from the electric fence Bowser Jr's Koopa fell backwards on the pool of lava left in the aftermath from the ginormous fireball. The seconds one landed but no one else was caught.
The top middle and middle of the left sideline on Mario's side were blocked by the lake of lava. The metal ball was bouncing around back and forth the circles of lava. The ball hopped back on solid earth red hot.
Mario reached the small sphere. When he got the ball in between his feet he hissed in pain. The ball was piping hot, even with his cleats and socks the sizzling steel ball steamed his feet and legs. Mario persevered dribbling but kicked the ball ahead of himself periodically preventing his legs from being cooked. Mario's motion was then grinded to a halt by a check from the side by Monty.
The mole led with the crown of his helmet and smashed into Mario's arm. The arm was pinned between Monty's head and Mario's ribs, the ribs he previously injured. Mario was knocked by the hard smack.
His suffering wasn't done as he fell into the fresh lava catching on fire and getting caught on the high part of the electric fence. After being burned and shocked at the same time Mario fell far down taking all impact on his back. The flames disintegrated but the volts surging through the plumber's body making him cry in agony.
Monty did not care for the red hero's wellbeing and wobbled with the now cooled off ball. With short slow steps Monty Mole made it to his desired spot. Close but not too close to Kingston. The mole dug under the field and tunneled his way towards goal. His efficiency was impressive, digging away rock like it was dirt.
Monty Mole came up from under the rock diving for the goal. The ball led first and Kingston deflected it away. Kingston never knew Monty was still diving forward and collided with the keeper pinning him under his weight.
The ball rolled back on the pitch. Bowser jr was in the right place at the right time and kicked the ball. The white glowing ball went right down the middle of the net scoring his first goal. Bowser jr got so excited he spun his head around like a rockstar. He did it too fast and got dizzy for a moment.
Monty cheered his captain for the score but a pair of gloves shoved in his face a rough voice soon started speaking;
"Get off me you fat wad!"
The groundhog obliged getting off the Kritter bolting off before the disgruntled crocodile could get ahold of him. Kingston got up and slammed his fist on the ground near him. Letting his anger wash away he tossed the ball out.
Mario, Kenny and Dean staggered swaying a little back to the middle. Henry saw his leader and teammates limp along. For Kenny and Dean it was their first time getting caught on fire. Mario however has now both times been set on fire and sent in the air to get caught in the electric fence and fall on his back.
"Look at you three, all burnt and cooked. I guess you could say you guys aren't doing...snicker… so hot." Henry bit his bottom lip but failed to hold letting out some light laughs.
The three angrily side eyed the chuckling Hammer Bro walking off with Henry following behind. The onfield Strikers lined up, Mario stood ready to kick off. He may have been exhausted but the portly plumber had much work to do. A one goal lead was too narrow BJ specializes in offense so no lead was safe. The same high pitch whistle was sounded for the fourth time. A minute two remained in time.
Mario ran down with the ball. Bowser Jr went after the running plumber hot on his trial. Henry jumped in the way and swung his hammer. The mallet head slammed on the younger Bowser's foot. BJ let out an ear deafening shriek holding his smashed foot.
"OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!" little Bowser repeated holding his swollen foot.
Mario used some well thrown bananas to slip up BJ's Hammer Bro getting past him. The red captain continued his advance down the right sideline all the way to the bottom edge. He crossed the ball lobbing to the middle.
Dean was in the area of the ball direction. The skeleton jumped flipping his body upside down. He kicked the ball with an overhead kick. The shot was good but lacked power, Bowser Junior's Kritter caught the ball with ease. Not wasting the little time they had left to take back the game the keeper threw the ball out.
BJ's Monty Mole took the ball going as fast as he could. The badger gave the ball down to Hammer Bro. Hammer Bro had gotten up and controlled the incoming ball with a hammer. The Hammer Bro never saw the giant freeze shell hit coating him in a thick layer of ice.
Henry threw the blue shell and retook the ball. Henry immediately lobbed the ball to Kenny who was on the opposite sideline from Henry. Kenny jumped securing the ball with his feet. Landing BJ's Koopa boosted in with a mushroom stealing the ball. Still moving forward with the mushroom Koopa stood up passing the ball down.
Bowser Jr waited for the ball to roll to him. His right foot, his predominant foot was still aching. Kicking a metal ball would make the pain worse. So he shot the ball with his left instead.
The shot was wildly inaccurate going high. The glowing sphere went above the net hitting the electric fence above the top crossbar. Kingston caught the soft slow dropping ball with his hands hugging the steel sphere to his chest. The red armored Kritter tossed the ball shortly after in the middle to Dean.
Dean used his disappearing juke getting past Bowser Jr. He rushed over to Prince Bowser's side. Dean gave the ball off to Henry, the Fireballs' Hammer Bro started off by crushing Junior's Hammer Bro using his jumping hammer deke. Coming back down Henry cruised jogging down, Monty who got back in his defender position saw Henry causing some trouble and waddled his way to stop him.
Monty Mole made his way closer and went for the tackle. Henry smirked, Henry jumped again and thwack his massive black head mallet on the lava rock. The big gopher could not dig down in time and he was flattened like a pancake. After whacking the mole Henry gave the ball to Mario.
"Ok bossman it's all up to you!"
Mario obtained the small metal ball. He flashed a thumbs up to his right fielder before kicking the ball up and flying following it. Mario turned metal, the sun fried his alloy skin. He smashed the ball into four with his foot. The yellow armored Kritter prepared and waited, never taking his eyes off the balls.
BJ's Kritter dove to the left but was too slow to react. He again dove but missed the ball sneaking past his edges of his hand. The next attempts aimed for the middle of the goal and both times he jumped. He caught the real ball. He was furious, he allowed a two goal Megastrike but instead of holding responsibility he threw all the blame on his teammates.
"WHY. DON'T. YOU. HELP. ME. AND. PLAY. SOME DEFENSE!" He gritted through his teeth and chucked the ball at the first yellow thing he saw move.
BJ's Hammer Bro hobbled. His entire body was sore, all the brutal hits he took from Henry really were taking its toll. Now four one down how could his day get any worse he thought. Seconds after he fell down sliding on the hard rock pitch scraping his face. Something heavy targeted the back of his head leaving a for sure bump. The metal sphere soon entered his field of view rolling ever so slowly before stopping in front of him. He rolled his eyes in the back of his head letting his face fall on the ground groaning.
Mario was already over on his side with his team with the opposite vibe. A firm three goal advantage relieved the side of any fret Prince Bowser could win. Kingston even joined in the impromptu celebration and the Fireballs' keeper never left his net unless told.
Once Mario and his team were done they lined up. Bowser Junior stood in the middle to kickoff. He seemed on the brink of tears but refused to appear weak in front of Mario who he hated more than anyone. Three seconds remained and he wanted to get out of there already. He kicked the ball back and told his Monty to run out the clock.
The gopher did what he was told and held onto the steel ball. The time ran out and the first game ended. Mario won four to one in the hot hard hitting match. Kenny and Henry went to shake the hands of their positional rivals showing respect. Mario had no chance of doing the same as Bowser Junior dragged his team on a boat leaving the arena.
Many hours later Mario was in his cozy home.
Mario got out the shower drying his shiny brown hair. He wrapped the red towel around him preparing to walk to his room. He took a cold shower in a way to fight off the burns he obtained from his dip in lava. The plumber stopped and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn't take too many bad hits and left with few bruises. He turned off the lights and left his bathroom and made his way to his bedroom.
Mario opened the door and flicked the lights on. The first thing he did was look at his alarm clock on his bedside table and read the time.
11:22 pm
Seeing how late it was, Mario got dressed for sleep. He did the last button on his red and white striped pajama top and after turning his lights off he went to bed. He tucked under his bright red covers. Closing his eyes he quickly succumbed to his drowsiness and fell into deep sleep. Dreaming about lifting the Fire Cup in two days.
Author's Notes
Hi! Hope you had a amazing New Years.
Sorry for the long wait for the next chapter. Like I mentioned New Years got in the way but its here! Thank you as always for reading and make sure to be back in a little for the next exciting chapter in Strikers Road Climb.
Take care