Revenge Round
Yo how's it going and welcome back for some more Strikers Road Climb. By the way happy belated Christmas and New Years and I hope all went well. With that out the way lets get into this.
As always all rights belong to Nintendo and Next Level Games.
Tenison was plentiful arriving to the knockout finals. An unexpected combination of the Fireballs and the Thorn Bushes headline the last game before the championship best of three series. Mario entered the finals with a perfect eleven and zero record. Waluigi stumbled his way to the hype game with a less impressive five and six win loss stat.
The Wastelands was decided where the high stakes match would take place. Some history would be relieved among the two sides as their first games came together on the ice field. The reds could smirk about the now ancient game score of six to one. With the location pinpointed the Fireballs were awarded home field advantage because of their superior record.
The isolated arena was packed to its capacity. The frigid conditions made everyone bring some sort of winter clothing for the almost below freezing temperature. The players would have no luck getting comfortable, having to bear the brunt of the shivering weather. Breathing out their mouths the players could see their own breath as a cloud of white smoke.
The time was approximately eight thirty pm. A bad thunderstorm like always hovered over the stadium's head. If it were not for the dozens of lights it would be pitch black and impossible to see. All participants in the game were prepared, all left to do was await the arrival of the captains for their respective sides.
Though they might not show it, both teams were incredibly nervous. Reach a plato as prestige as the finals meant a lot, you were one of the two very best competing in the league. Everyone was skittish knowing in the back of their minds this would be the end of one of their magical run.
Waluigi landed right behind the field's halfway line. He attempted jumpscaring the home side sidekicks with his unpleasant facial feature. After his shrill screech the pink nosed no good doer was stoked to see Mario's sidekicks petrified, except they weren't. Dean was looking at Waluigi with a puzzled face, Henry seemed bored with his arms folded and half open eyes and Kenny missed the purple leader's entire entrance with his gaze upwards awaiting a certain plumber's arrival.
Waluigi's face tightened and his ire rose to his breaking point. All the spectators were staring straight up as well mimicking the turtle. Had no one noticed his own arrival after jumping from the sky? The act of disrespect gave him another grudge to hold against the Mario siblings.
The red brother of the duo enters from above with an unrelenting glare. The past seven days were purely about smashing Wario's best friend into the pavement. His overprotective nature overwhelmed the older sibling, Luigi was the only family he had left and anything that threatened him made Mario tense. His dislike for Waluigi would be nonexistent if it wasn't for the constant torment of his younger brother.
"We meet again, Mario." Waluigi sounded miffed, the usual for his jealous personality.
The plumber didn't back away, holding his ground firm. "You-a weren't exactly who I-a wanted to see."
The purple captains smirked, he enjoyed ruining anyone's mood whether intentional or not. "I'm guessing you were expecting your pathetic brother's little girlfriend." the unruly man chuckled
"Those two are perfect for each other when you think about it. Both of them are under achieving losers who always fall short."
Mario gritted his teeth, listening to the distasteful words of the opposing captain. "If anyone is a loser it would be you!" he shouted in frustration, meaning every word he spewed.
Waluigi's self pity was targeted and his ego damaged. The two almost came to blows before being pulled by their sidekicks. Besides the high stakes of the game, honor and bragging rights were on the line. Mario fought for his family and friends while Waluigi only thought of himself.
Mario's own team knew all too well only Wario and Waluigi brought an unquestionable anger out of the plumber. The sidekicks and goalie's best plan was to assist the plumber in toppling the purple pest. The lights shined brightly and everyone was watching as the game began.
Mario and Waluigi threw their weight at each other, ignoring the ball. Both clashed their shoulders knocking both down from the collision. As they stumbled the six sidekicks three red and three purple had their own fight over control of the metal sphere.
The purple jersey Hammer Bro, Boo and Monty Mole battled the red Fireballs in the center of the field. The round ghost escaped the pack with the ball flying out through the space between Kenny and Henry.
Boo swapped out of his intangible form returning to his normal state. While his attention wasn't locked Mario rushed down the apparition. Boo couldn't react to the short man as he launched a wild haymaker.
A savage beginning to the final of the knockout rounds brought great thrills. Boo and the ball bounced across the ice field, the steel sphere found its way to the electric fencing. Dean and Waluigi raced for the free ball matching stride for stride, the pink nosed leader pulled a foul tactic tripping the Dry Bones with a leg sweep.
Wario's best mate traveled along the slippery field while most struggled to maintain their balance. He skated effortlessly weaving to avoid Mario's tries at pummeling him, his run concluded with an unsuccessful power shot at Kingston. The reptile goalkeeper threw the ball deep, pinning down Kenny from the crowd.
The turtle didn't possess the sturdy sphere for long, giving the ball to Henry. The Hammer Bro fought with his footing desperate to keep up with his head pointing downwards. In relation to his view and mind being distracted he was ambushed by the rival Hammer Bro and Monty Mole.
Unknown to everyone the sky started to rumble as the clouds grew larger and darker. A booming noise from the clouds thundered above warning of a soon natural disturbance. Mario's eyes lifted to the sky and saw the imminent threat.
"EVERYONE! STAY AWAY FROM THE-A BALL!" the mustached plumber shouted, sprinting in the opposite direction.
The purple Hammer Bro and Monty Mole glanced at each other with Henry groaning by their feet. Soon lightning struck the field, gravitating towards the steel ball. Waluigi power shooters were captured in the radius, both were electrocuted immensely in correlation of being near the ball. Henry endured the shockwaves not having the opportunity to escape.
Once the cloud strike mellowed the aftermath became visible. The purple and black sidekicks collapsed, passing out from the continuous electracation. Henry laid motionless, suffering another round of volts further injuring the snapping turtle.
Dean was first to gain the free ball dashing through the pile of bodies. Mario and Kenny followed the dead one's lead. Only Waluigi and his Boo were standing for the away team at four to three disadvantage.
Mario's Dry Bones curled into a ball, a puff of dust concealed his vanishing. For the time all were on alert of the ball carrier. All stayed quiet, not willing to break the silent search for the Fireballs' defender.
The Thorn Bushes' Kritter's guard was on edge, combing his sight across the field he spotted him. Not far from the goal box a cloud of smoke covered the newly moved dead creature. His juke teleported him near halfway vertically, he was the person the Kritter had to keep his eye on. Though not powerful his elvisuveness and ability to warp made him a swiss jack of trades.
Dean kicked the ball away from Waluigi's goalie, returning the sphere to the middle.
Kenny grasped at the nicely placed metal ball and connected his sweeping right foot to shoot the ball. The power shot streaked by the bipedal crocodile into the goal.
The Fireballs hooked the lead with a routine score fifty seven seconds so far in the game. Mario and Dean were glad and displayed their glee by celebrating with the balance turtle. The plumber while cheering felt something was missing, more like someone.
"Henry!" Mario screamed in his head.
The man bolted from the group, surprising the Koopa and Dry Bones their captain's sudden exit. Mario sprinted to the area of the lightning strike recalling his offensive minded sidekick last being there.
While not focusing the mustached Italian tripped. Landing face first his nose took the brunt of the damage leaving an annoying sting that would linger for the next hours. Turning his head back to see what was responsible for misfortune, only to find who he was on the search for.
Henry was torched, the lightning did a number on the Hammer Bro Waluigi's own player didn't look any better in similar or worse condition than Henry. The red leader started to shake to revive his teammate hoping he would wake up.
"Yahoo! Henry, you-a still there?" Mario asked concerned, snapping his fingers in the snapping turtle's face. The red right fielder's eyelids weakly began to rise, uncovering his tired eyes.
"Hm? What do you mean am I still here?" Henry said coughing after answering Mario's worried question.
"Good you're-a awake, you think you can stand up?" the full blooded Italian smirked with his small jab towards his teammate. Holding his hand out the red leader offered Henry scoffed at the remark playfully reaching for the metal glove. "Don't have to ask me twice."
Soon Kenny and Dean made their way to Mario and Henry. The Hammer Bro was informed about his best friend's score boosting his morale. Once the injured players recuperated the game resumed with four minutes and three seconds.
Once again the reds had superior numbers of healthier players. Henry was quite hurt but still fortunate enough to be able to run. The Thorn Bushes heavies, Hammer Bro and Monty Mole were at the epicenter of the lightning enduring the strongest, most painful volts from the black cloud. The two were clearly struggling to stand let alone play a full contact sport at a high level.
Kingston scooped the ball after Mario passed to him. The crocodile wasted a few seconds to catch his breath, his mind was somewhat scattered. The Kritter, not one who wore his emotions on his sleeve, was feeling mounting pressure. It was vital for him to assist his fair share and hold the mental mistakes to a minimum.
"Hey goalie! If you don't throw that ball I'll have to penalize you for stalling!" an assistant Toad referee behind the sideline warned him, prepared to raise his yellow and orange flag.
The Fireballs' goal defender complied and punted the metal ball. Waluigi abused his height, winning the header. The purple away team pressured the home team with a chance of tying the score. Boo slithered undetected by Kenny for Waluigi to pass the ball closer to Mario's goal.
The ghost attempted a weak shot but failed as Mario's goalkeeper stopped it with little trouble. Kingston used his powerful arm, tossing the ball in the area the string bean leader wasn't occupying. Henry, with how battered he was, managed to jump and contest the ball into his possession.
The reds couldn't find their rhythm against the underdog purples. Waluigi is one of the best defensive minds and capable players in the league. His extraordinary range with his checks and slide tackle could reach were absurd, a safe distance from someone else was child's play to the potato nosed captain.
Henry was blindsided by Wario's purple friend by his sudden burst of speed. Waluigi stole the ball back for his team. A mess of a battle began for the ball, when one person had the steel sphere not long after it was taken from them.
Monty Mole dug underground with the ball leaving the crowded midfield. He tunneled below the field poking out from the ground once a few feet away. He pushed the ball up back onto the arena and he was ready to lift himself from his hole until he was attack blind.
He heard an ominous line before the bonk. "Don't think you're in the clear, I always loved a good game of whack-a-mole." soon after a downward strike to the crown of his head connected.
The big boned gopher sunk down in his tunnel while his head felt dizzy. The red sidekick returned his mallet to hang on his shell. "Using my reliable hammers will never get old I tell you!"
Henry laughed bombastically, holding his stomach. After his laughter died down and lungs caught some oxygen Henry regained hold of the ball and traveled into hostile enemy territory.
The red Hammer Bro jogged around a line of five bananas littered from earlier in the game. Henry's run was interrupted by his fellow hammer wielding snapping turtle on the opposite team. Mario's right fielder knew he was at the advantage and waited for a chance to counter.
Waluigi's offensive player foolishly charged and was flattened by a massive mallet designed to do some damage. Henry resumed his dash, slowly but surely nearing the Thorn Bushes net. The red sidekick smacked the metal sphere, the shot was powerful but nothing too difficult for the purple crocodile.
The Kritter laughed boastfully, crushing the ball between his palms. As he was distracted lightning suddenly landed, being pulled in by the steel ball held by Waluigi's goalie like a lightning rod.
The goalie was struck by the powerful strike, waves of electricity flowed from the area short wiring the electric fence for a while. The tall reptile collapsed after the thunder died down with the ball falling out his gloves, free on the ground. Henry, who remained on the outskirts of the lighting, jumped at the golden chance by tapping the ball across the goal line.
Two zero with two minutes and thirty nine Mario's Fireballs were holding steady and controlling the pace of the game. The beaked faced sidekick made a solo run all by himself crushing both Monty and the purple Hammer Bro with the help of his trusty hammers.
"We might have this game in the bag, we just gotta be careful but I have no doubt we can pull through!" the optimistic hammer head as he was called by Kingston thought walking his way back to his team side of the field.
Arriving to the left side of the turf Henry was torpedoed with compliments and congrats from Mario and the rest of the reds. A brief flustered by the show of appreciation Mario reeled them all back to return to their formation saving Henry from anymore embarrassment.
While down by a two goal deficit the purples were on the ropes. If the score didn't flip in their favor they would be done for the year. Some would treat losing in the finals as an accomplishment, content with how far in comparison the rest of the teams but not Waluigi.
Waluigi despised being best at anything, especially if the person being defeated and made a fool of is him. The defeat would be even more bitter coming from one of those two Mario brothers. How he hated Mario's guts for having what seemed to be world eating from the palm of his hand the purple punk so desired.
The center portion of the pitch became a slog of short passes and defensive minded style of strikers. The Thorn Bushes were desperate for some sort of spark in their offense but the reds were already prepared. Mario's brilliant ability to read his opponents knew the right time to change his formation and counter the rival team's attempts of rallying against him.
Dean stuck to Waluigi like a mosquito refusing to be pushed away. The purple trickster knew Mario had ordered his best defender to shadow him, only the dead Koopa could match his blazing speed. The Thorn Bushes' leader had no alternative plans besides one and vanished.
Dean dashed in for a shoulder tackle only to whiff, running into a cloud of mist. "What the?" the perplexed Dry Bones muttered.
"Woah! He just did a Dean!" Henry shouted from across the field, noticing the similarities of Waluigi and Dean's jukes. Similar wasn't the right word, copy was. Waluigi disappeared from view and the search began for his whereabouts.
After crucial seconds ran off the clock a big puff of smoke around Mario who stood near the sideline. The sudden thick air caught the plumber off guard causing him to cough. In the middle of his lungs being attacked the mustached shorty was pushed into the electrical fence. His pain was clear to hear as his time with the unforgivable voltage wall ended with him falling back first on the ice rink.
A cruel howl bellowed though the stadium belonged to one man. The other half of the Wario duo reappeared still with the ball. Done with his gloating, Waluigi soared high in the air unleashing his thorn vine whip, whipping the ball splitting into five.
Kingston clapped his hands taking account of the locations of the five shots. His focus razor sharp the beginning four attempts were punched, vaporizing them on impact. The final sphere was caught one handed displaying an air of arrogance rubbing salt into the wound of the purple man's pride.
Waluigi's face was fuming and burning red. His jaw was clenched and he seemed ready to pull his hair and rip them from their roots. The megastrike shutout was such an unlucky break for the Thorn Bushes in their uphill battle to remain competitive.
The Fireballs' keeper returned the steel sphere to play, rolling it to a neighboring Kenny Koopa. The turtle remained cautious drawing nearer to the dangerous middle infested with the away side. Mario still unconscious meant the reds were at the disadvantage five four.
The balanced Koopa avoided confrontation as best he could by his try at playing kept away. Monty Mole waddled in the path of the left fielder determined to pound the reptile into the ground. The menacing gopher loomed over preparing his dash before being blindsided.
Mario's Dry Bones drilled the mole with a reckless but ultimately effective tackle. All the speed translated to massive power, Monty's skin vibrated from the impact and crashed to the ground knocking his lights out. The crowd hissed in pain, able to sense what a hit similar to what they witnessed could do.
"Looks like you could use a hand." Dean chuckled, panting with raspy mouth breathing. "Thankfully I was around!"
Kenny briefly grins, thanking his dead counterpart. The two traveled along one another into the right half of the field. They glided along the ice, speeding their pace considerably to the naked eye. Boo was on the chase after the two, struggling at poking the ball out as the two Fireballs kept exchanging control of the sphere.
Dean shifted the ball to Kenny who took a gamble and shot the ball. The ball soars with incredible speed, the Kritter was slow to act and wouldn't be able to put his hands up to block. The metal sphere continues looking certain to dive into the back of the net, only to hit high of its target.
The ball bounced off the top crossbar, the audience gasped expecting to see the third score, nothing changed besides Waluigi almost suffering a miniature heart attack. The goalie pounced on the ball, throwing it out quickly.
Waluigi's turn his way near the midfield wanting to cross back into Mario's side of the pitch. He found an open crease in the Fireballs' lackluster zone defense; the defensive guru could spot the mistake from a mile away. He took off squeezing by Henry and Dean.
The slender man zoomed laughing inwardly at the stupidity of their scheme. While thinking in his mind how much of a superior captain he was in comparison to the red heroine, a great force struck his ribs. Mario rushed in, crashing his weight into the unsuspecting purple punk knocking the air out of him.
The ball became free from the devastating check landing in between the feet of Henry. The red Hammer Bro became the focus of everyone on the Thorn Bushes and made a beeline for the right fielder. Time was of the essence with a little over forty seconds left on the scoreboard. A slim chance of a miracle was very much on the table for possibility, first they needed to steal the steel sphere.
Kenny passed the ball upwards after being chased by Boo. The ball hit the chest of Mario near the right edge of the field, still feeling the after effects of the electric fence on his worn body. Waluigi jumped at the plumber from behind but narrowly missed as the Mushroom Kingdom's protector rolled away. The red capped heroine dashed away, the act was against his better reason but his condition made him reconsider the less confrontational option.
Mario dodge the purple leader's attacks, splitting the needle narrower and closer than before. The traction on his cleats were wearing and slipping, high paced movement was risky with the almost guaranteed outcome of falling.
Waluigi closed the distance between the two leaders just about to step on the heels of the fire hand usar. The purple away captain swung his right foot, the kick clipped Mario's legs from under him. The plumber was airborne heading for a bad landing. By instinct Mario put his hands forwards cushioning his fall.
The man in red rolled on his back returning to his feet. During his scare the ball flew loose from Mario's feet. Waluigi was already sprinting for the free sphere while the red plumber was on one knee. The portly Italian was about to chase after Waluigi until a loud boom startled him, Staring up to the source of the deafening noise Mario took account of the darkening clouds, raising to his feet the plumber dash away.
"Heh heh, so the all mighty Mario is running away like a puny scaredy Toad!" Waluigi jeered in his head at the man in red dashing in the other direction. The pink nosed captain recovered the ball, a huge shadow eclipsed around Waluigi causing the skinny leader to tense.
Lightning struck the steel ball electrocuting Waluigi in the process. All the other strikers were at a safe distance watching the carnage unfold with the Thorn Bushes' captain's painful screeching piercing the ears of all in the vicinity. Once Luigi's eternal rival was fried and twitching on the field Mario swooped in and kicked the ball far away as the clock hit zero.
The Fireballs defeated the Thorn Bushes two to zero and earned the right to compete in the Crystal Cup Championship. Mario and his team were running and jumping all over, exchanging hugs and high fiving with joyful smiles. Meanwhile Waluigi was throwing a massive tantrum, swinging and slamming his arms and legs while tossing and turning.
"Yikes someone needs their pacifier aye," Henry jokes, pointing with his thumb at the embarrassing scene.
"That would probably be you if we lost." Kenny quipped, chuckling at his small jab at his friend.
"Nuh uh!" The Hammer Bro retorted, blushing furiously.
"Alright, alright." Mario interrupted the two wingers' little banter. "You-a all played great! If we can-a continue on this level I'm-a sure we can win the Crystal Cup!"
"Yeah!" the red sidekicks and Kritter said in unison.
Mario raised his fisted hand above his head. "I-a can't hear you."
"YEAH!"
Author's notes
Well once again almost at the end of another season. Thank you once again for taking the time out of your day to read this I hope you thoroughly enjoy. Also thank you all for the support and it keeps me going to continue until the eventual conclusion of this adventure.
Until then I'll see you next time, see yea!