Wall
Hi and here we are again with another piece of writing of Strikers Road Climb for you here today. I don't have much to say so let me shut my mouth and let you enjoy my work.
Like clockwork I do not own Mario or Mario Strikers Charged all rights go to Nintendo and Next Level Games.
Opening day had arrived. The Crystal Cup regular season commenced with even more hype than the beginning of the Fire Cup. Mostly new faces and Mario and Bowser Junior's return made for some exciting match ups. Three games were played on Sunday striker kickoff at various times.
At one pm Wario traveled to Konga Coliseum to face BJ. The game was close till the bitter end until Bowser Junior's offensive savvy pulled through. Four to two was the deciding score with BJ taking the win.
Later in the day at four twenty five Daisy hosted Yoshi at Thunder Island. The game was high scoring in defiance of the constant threat of falling off the side. Daisy's speed and hard nose defense prove to be the key factor beating Yoshi seven to five.
Last on the prime slot of eight thirty was Mario's game. Waluigi would be his first test. The Wasteland was chosen to be the field of the first primetime game of the Crystal Cup round robin play.
The Fireball sidekicks and goalie were standing ready to go. Along with them were Waluigi's team named the Thorn Bushes. His team comprised of a Hammer Bro, Boo, Monty Mole and Kritter. All that was missing were the two capped captains.
"Oh man I'm so pumped!" Henry declared with elation.
"You're right Henry I can't wait to pound some shell!" Dean couldn't agree more throwing some shadow punches.
"Big deal, you fireballs are about to be put out." Boo ridiculed doing a side spin.
Henry winced at the cheesy comeback. "Nice one, you thought of that one all by yourself?"
"Henry can you ever go one game without giving the other team a reason to pound you?" Kenny sighed.
Henry was about to crack back until a thud impeded him. Waluigi himself had dropped in. He was wearing dark royal purple with black as the secondary color as the rest of his team. The lanky man had metal gloves just like Mario and cleats with his upside down L on the in and outside of the shoe and black mid calf sock.
"WAH!" Waluigi screamed tongue out precariously and fingers wiggling next to his head.
Dean hid his face with his hands unable to see Waluigi's terrifying face anymore. Henry needed to take a step back to process what he saw.
"Gnarly," he whispered.
"But look who's here!" Kenny announced, pointing up at the cloudy sky.
Mario fell from above, arms spread gauging the right time to land. He stopped his ascent and started intensely at the purple pest.
Waluigi was an odd fella. He was Wario's right hand man willing to do anything to ruin someone's day without hesitation. No one knew what Wario and Waluigi exactly were. Some said they were brothers but Mario wasn't definite on that one.
Mario had his own theory on the pair. They were just lousy troublemakers who happened to find each other and the rest was history.
For all the times he's encountered the pink potato nosed man Mario hardly knew anything about him. All he knew is he hated his brother and made it his life's mission to make Luigi's life as miserable as possible. That's where Mario's problem lay with Waluigi, his nonstop maliciousness towards his younger brother.
Waluigi targeted poor weegee for two reasons. One, Waluigi was jealous of how well liked Luigi was and that rubbed him the wrong way. But the main grounds of Waluigi hatred was he had a soft spot for Daisy, as in Princess Daisy. Of course she does not return the feelings and he blames Luigi for stealing the ruler of Sarasaland's heart from him by dating her.
"Where's that pathetic brother of yours?" Waluigi crudely asked in his nasally voice. "He's been asking for a beating."
Mario's face hardened in vexation. "Leave him out of this!"
"No and besides, if he didn't have you as a brother he would be even more of a loser then he already is." the tall man in purple gear scoffed.
Mario smirked. "That's-a rich, that like-a calling the kettle black."
"WAH!" Waluigi shouted with fury. The two hat wearing captains were nose and nose teeth gritted.
Lightning struck the outside of stands, luckily no one was harmed. The loud scare spooked Mario and Waluigi from their stare off. Both walked back not before glaring at each other one last time.
The plumber approached his three sidekicks. "Same-a strategy, overwhelming offense and punishing defense."
The three nodded and spread out. Meanwhile Waluigi was shouting at his helpers demanding them to play mistake free.
Mario could never understand how someone would voluntarily follow Waluigi but he somehow found three sidekicks and a Kritter who would.
Mario and Waluigi step up to the forward position. Kenny and the purple Hammer Bro took the left side. Henry and the Boo stood by the right sideline and Dean and Monty Mole stayed in the back of their sides.
The high volt fence switched on and the inhabitants from near and far kingdoms demanding action. The officials blew the horns starting the primetime game in The Wasteland.
Before Mario could move Waluigi zoomed by and took the ball. He glided on the icy turf, his long legs gave him long strides when running so he's a speedster. Mario attempted to catch the purple pest but it was no use. He lost traction and fell on his back.
Waluigi soon flew by Henry. The red Hammer tried his best but he was no match in terms of pace. The tall mustached man with no problem sidestepped the hammer swing.
The elf eared man took his favorable openness taking a power shot. Kingston expected a fast one to reach him and planted his feet. The ball reached him alright, just differently.
The steel ball barely lifted from the ground and stopped at Kingston's feet.
"Oh," was all the underwhelmed goalie said but was glad to know Waluigi was no threat to him for future reference.
Waluigi was a good player but only in certain areas. He was a purple blur running but those legs lacked power and accuracy shooting the ball. Anything involving touching the ball Waluigi was dim dribbling like his shoelaces were tied together.
Off ball the pink nosed nuisance was more comfortable. He enjoys strikers for one reason, the checking. Waluigi was notorious for landing some of the most bone crushing hits seen in play. One of those hits left Luigi on the sideline for two weeks all those years ago.
Kenny had the ball doing his best staying on his feet and not getting smushed by two of the Thorn Bushes. The red Koopa jumped into his shell and bolted by Boo. He re emerged from his indestrubile back fortress passing the ball forward.
Mario now had the metallic ball. Before he could think of what to do next he was struck from behind. Waluigi sprinted the length of the field just in time sending Mario to eat the frozen field. The pointy chinned man ran laughing the entire way.
Waluigi had his head turned admiring his dastardly work. He was never aware of a hammer being smashed in his abdomen. Henry was the attacker putting everything onto that swing. The Thorn Bush captain choked on his tongue as saliva dropped on the field. He keeled over on his knees, holding his stomach with one arm and the other to hold him up.
Henry chipped the ball over allowing it to move freely without any trouble. Kenny Koopa chased for the prime goal scoring opportunity. He jumped and dove using the crown of his head connecting with the steel ball.
The ball sailed past Waluigi's Kritter, failing to act in time. The ball bounced off the inside of the right post rebounding into the net. One zero was now the score Mario leading first.
There was no time for gloating as more thunder struck the pitch. The fence almost short circuited but it was fine and the game was allowed to resume.
Waluigi stood at midfield and ran down without the ball. Henry caught Waluigi in the corner of his eye but not fast enough. The purple armored man planted Henry with a gut wrenching hit that was sure to be felt weeks from now. Henry fell on the back of his shoulders rolling back into the super charged electric fence.
Everyone staggered at the elf eared man. He without hiding it targeted Henry in retribution for the hammer attack. All the Fireballs were enraged but none more than Mario. How could he just ignore the injustice and not retaliate, so he did.
Steam blowing out his ears he knocked onto Waluigi's back with his full weight. The purple captain flipped in the air and airborne his cap somehow still on. His soaring abruptly ended as he planted upside down back first on the electric fence. Waluigi let out a painful WAH as a result of being zapped by high volts.
During the violent turn of events Dean seized the moment and took the ball. Everyone else still focused on Mario, Waluigi's sidekicks turned their heads only to see Dean break through them without them noticing. The push could have been dangerous but the Dry Bones' weak shooting prevented him from scoring a fast one.
Waluigi's Boo controlled the ball with his otherworldly powers. The round ghost floated easily using dropping bombs clearing the path. Crushed rock dust puffed into the air and from the giant mushroom cloud flew out Boo.
The ghost couldn't see while in the flying dust so her never saw what type of trouble he put himself in. He flew into Kingston's goal box as vulnerable as a sitting duck.
The Kritter smirked, picking up the ball. "I'll be taking that,"
He then planted his other gloved hand on top of the spooked phantom. "As for you, you can get out of my sight!" tossing the mischievous spirit away.
Kenny dribbled down the left sideline. His march was short lived by being smashed into the electric fence by Monty. Monty Mole took the ball passing down over to Hammer Bro. Waluigi's Hammer Bro went to work crushing Mario and Dean under his hammer deke.
Henry could only watch his friends get decimated. Next the purple Hammer Bro went after him. Henry could only run to the sidelines as the rival snapping turtle nipped at his heels.
Once at the right sideline Henry had nowhere to turn. Henry put his back abutting the wall watching Waluigi's Hammer Bro approaching. Right as he started the action to pummel the defenseless Henry, he was frozen.
He was broken out of sturdy freezing ice by a hefty force. Henry stepped out of the way dodging the hurling Hammer Bro face planting into the electric barrier. Only one person had the vigor to make someone tumble like that Henry thought, turning his head.
"Thanks bud," he thanked, taking the ball in his hold.
"No worries!" Dean replied, giving a thumbs up back.
Mario recovered from his ditch caused by the large sledgehammer. He shook his head straight, fixing his eyesight. They widen seeing his team with the ball.
"Henry!" the red captain shouted, running out of the deep crater. His power shooter nodded and gracefully forced the ball to Mario. The steel ball traveled perfectly reaching Mario in stride. With no hesitation Mario sent the ball up for a Megastrike.
Waluigi wahed in worry and sprinted to the plumber. His speed and absurd tackling would be his greatest tools in taking down the leader of the Fireballs. In monumental time the strong jaw captain closed the gap between him and Mario. He took one step closer but fell. The purple uniformed man was tripped by Mario's Koopa, buying him enough time to fly in the air. His skin turned the same material as the ball, Mario split the ball five ways striking them down.
The Thorn Bush goalie swallowed his tongue but stood his ground nervously. The first shot hit the ground before reaching the goal but bounced through the open gap of the purple Kritter's legs. The second and third ball sailed in on the right side scoring twice more with the forth one sneaking into. The fifth and final one was caught preventing entry but Mario scored four increasing his leading margin to five.
Waluigi was beyond himself, jaw on the ground. In a little over three and a half minutes the score was extremely lopsided. He clenched his fists tightly slamming one of his metal gloved hands on the ground in frustration. The sharp chin leader glared in resentment seeing Mario running his hands up.
After Mario's gloating and Waluigi's tantrum, both sides lined up. Waluigi stood idle in the middle of the playing field. He hung his head low covering his eyes with the brim of hat. Done with waiting the whistle sounded off restarting the soccer match.
Waluigi skedaddle turning away from the Fireballs. Mario and Henry gave chase trying to keep up with the tall quick stepper a hard task indeed. The sky started darkening as ominous thunder boomed getting louder with each thud. Lightning flashed from the angry clouds making direct impact on the field.
The steel soccer ball acted as the lightning rod attracting the dangerous weather hazard. The paralyzing electrostatic discharge wave caught Mario, Waluigi and Henry causing them to be shocked and temporarily immobile.
Waluigi's phantom right fielder recovered the ball from his static captain. He flew a short distance before being steamrolled by an enormous green turtle shell. Dean hopped over white ghost's trampled body accelerating to the free ball.
Dean was soon pounded from the side by Monty into the electric fence not too pleased to be reacquainted with her. The mole awkwardly jogged to the ball, rotating and waddling back over to Mario's side.
"Over here DUMMY!" Waluigi scolded ordering for the steel ball. The tubby defender kicked the ball over to the scrawny troublemaker.
"Wall-Luigi time!" the arrogant man declared using his special trump card.
Wall-Luigi was Waluigi's captain ability he could use during strikers games. If not already too slippery to catch his wall power up doubles his speed, even faster than Mario using a star!
Second and the most crucial, it spawns a thorny purple vine ten feet tall divider. The pseudo wall was a unique tool that could be used in many creative ways like cutting off routes someone was taking, trap the opposing team in a square shaped cell or Waluigi could lock himself within the thorn bush sealing himself from endangerment.
The potato nosed leader boosted ahead in a display of speed over in Mario's half of the field. Waluigi cutted to the left and turned to the left again and again. He made a complete square trapping Mario's main defender.
Dean never saw it coming, Waluigi was a big blur unable to get a clear view of him running at sound breaking levels. In the eye adjusting moments the purple pest taped the still skeleton in the prickly vine bush sealing him from intervening.
The boney captain's face gave an arrogant look of pleasure looking at his handy work. He soon chipped the ball back, the ball spun backwards through the sky. Hammer Bro the Thorn Bushes' left fielder galloped to the left half of the field awaiting the ball's arrival.
The purple sharp beaked turtle jumped before the ball. Slamming a powerful mallet on the steel ball, the sphere careened to the Fireballs' net with a white streak following behind.
Kingston dove to the right aiming to block the top corner. The ball took a different direction tucking in the bottom right corner gaining a point on the scoreboard for the Thorn Bushes.
Waluigi taunted, smugly relished his sidekick's goal. Crotch chopping the heavy Fireball leaning crowd. He did not get a widely accepted warm response as some made an effort to throw litter at him. Waluigi shooed them off and walked away, head faced up in self apporivingness. Yet it could not blind the ugly truth.
The purple away team still looked at a four goal deficient. Hardly any time remained meaning some hope of a miracle comeback was fleeting. The game carried on with no delay from the power of whistle blowing.
The red home side passed the glowing sphere around in a big diamond shape building energy and squeezing the little time left on the board. The Thorn Bush team knew exactly the short plumber's intentions and charged forward all together.
Mario with his back facing Waluigi thrusted an elbow. The attack cracked on the tormenter of his brother's jaw fully connecting. The prankster dropped like a sack of potatoes from the strike.
A big brawl started from the belligerent hit. Shells flew bouncing and ricocheting back, battering the players unexpectedly. Kenny sprung up from the skirmish with the ball solely his.
The well rounded left winger distanced himself from the all out war fight dribbling way. Clear of any threat Kenny grew shielded thinking he was out of any danger. Hard cold reality hit him at once with Waluigi.
Back on his branchy legs Waluigi's bruised chin was begging for an ice pack but he brushed off the pain. Hatred filled his eyes brewing down all the way from his soul looking at running Koopa.
Almost identical as checking Henry, Waluigi slammed into Kenny with a stomach churning tackle of magnus proportions. The poor Koopa was airborne for what seemed like forever before landing roughly on the unforgiving field rolling uncontrollably from the shoulder tackle. The fans watching live gave an audible ooh, some had to tap their eyes in inability to watch the left winger crash and burn.
Waluigi displayed no regret but a creepy smile did, enjoying letting off some steam. He took the now unseized ball passing it up closer to the Fireballs' goal. Monty was the random winner of the metal ball as he was right where Waluigi kicked the ball. Pulling his foot back he shot the ball for a goal.
Kingston slapped the ball back, returning it back on the pitch. Monty trotted to the ball but got slugged by Dean bringing him down. Mario's half dead teammate escaped with the steely sphere leaving the bloated crowd near Kingston's goal box.
Lightning reappeared coming down to find the ball touching it again. Dean suffered the direct impact of the cloud rod with Waluigi and his Hammer Bro getting caught by the aftershock waves pulverizing them.
Henry in a grand chance ran by, scooping the ball after the lightning's aftermath eased up. Moving slightly nearer Waluigi's Kritter Henry leaped up and tossed his assortment of personal whackers embedding the goalkeeper and scoring the open goal.
Henry strutted away with a swagger in step tipping the scale in the Fireballs favor.
The rival captain could only lay on the ice sheeted field knowing the game was finished before the whistle said so. Waluigi pushed himself from the pitch and walked to midfield ignoring his Hammer Bro sidekick's hand asking for his hand to help him up but the vain man just strolled past.
Waluigi demanded the ball immediately to be given to him so he ended the wretched game. When the whistle was blown to let the last seconds pass the skinny captain kicked the ball past Mario hitting the endline electric fence by Kingston in one more act of poor sportsmanship to seal the deal.
Once the time expired Waluigi headed straight for the exits with his team on his heels snubbing the plumber of an aftergame handshake. Mario however had no plans of shaking the hand of his brother's bully and took great satisfaction of walloping him six to one.
"Guess we're not rusty at all." Henry commented pushing the locker room door open.
"Yeah, it's-a our first game and we-a performed to par." Mario appalled his team for their part in the win. The captain rotated his wrist trying to bring back feeling into the ligament.
"Lets-a pack up and go! I'm-a tired." the plumber advised, the Fireballs nodded and went to recover their belongings.
Mario sat by his cubby waiting on his three sidekicks and goalie to finish. He thought of today and how fast it came. The summer months flew by him never taking his mind off when he could return to playing strikers. That hunger lingered craving for more and now that it's here he could put all his focus into it, unless Bowser plans to do something in between but that was unlikely.
"All set, let's beat it." the green scale Kritter threw his bag over his shoulder. Everyone else showed they were prepared and together the quintet departed for home, hopefully no lightning decides to aim for them.
Author's Notes
Hey, heh..., long time no see. Sorry about the large gap between updates a lot has happen recently. Still in school I just got s job and my now already packed schedule is now even more stretched. I have little free time so what ever time I have to myself I sleep or am writing. Sorry again and I'll try to do better.
See you sooner hopefully, bye!