"It had been a couple mere days since The Mosaic Group gave the frame to Prof. E Gadd. It was morning and Mosaic and his group didn't have any plans for the day, and therefore, he made the decision of checking up on Prof. E Gadd to see how his research was going."
I: Invitational
"Hey there E. Gadd, me and the group had nothing planned today," Mosaic stated through his phone. "So I figured today would be a good time to check...how is your research on that thing I gave you the other day going?"
"Heh, well youngster, sorry to tell you, but I have yet to make any concrete deductions on it, however, I may be on to something," E Gadd answered.
"Really? What exactly?"
"Well, that round thingamajig you and your group found appears to be rather old."
"I sorta figured that it was considering it's condition, And did you find anything else about it?"
"Didn't find much else out yet sorry to say chap."
"Ah...I understand, well, thanks for telling me how your research has been going, see you another time."
"And I'll see you another time chap, so long!"
Upon hearing his reply, Mosaic hung up.
Afterwards, Mosaic went over to his bed, and laid across it, staring at the ceiling, and began to talk among himself.
"Hmm, considering E Gadd hasn't found anything, it's 10 o'clock in the morning and nobody's bothered me either on the phone or in person, looks like I'll finally be able to relax today," Mosaic said to himself. "Yep...I'll finally be able to rest...not being bothered by anyone...absolutely no one at all…"
As Mosaic continued to ramble, he slowly closed his eyelids, enjoying the silence.
…
…
Suddenly, after just a few seconds, Mosaic's phone began to ring. Mosaic, hearing this opened his eyes back up and sighed, a bit annoyed.
"Or not…" Mosaic stated. "May as well see who it is I guess."
As such, Mosaic picked up the phone and hit the "answer" button.
"Hello?" Mosaic asked.
"Um, isssssss thissssss Mosssaic?" the voice on the other end asked.
Upon hearing the caller's voice, he recognized them immediately.
"Ah! Yes it is, hey there Glow! Haven't seen you for a couple days," Mosaic responded.
"And greetingssss to you Mossssaic," Glow replied. "Now, I wanted to ask," he continued. "Do you remember going to that place in Dinosssssaur land one time called Dino Ssssstadium?"
"Hey...I think I do recall going to a place called that one time."
"Well, assssssss it turnssssss out, they're going to be having a game over there today."
"Hm, so which sport are they going to be playing over there?"
"From what I heard, they're going to be playing ssssssoccer over there."
"I see, and who's competing?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I think we'll sssssssee a ccccertain 'familiar someone' there," Glow answered. "And I guessssss I should jussssssst get to point now," Glow continued. "Do you and the othersssssss want to go to it?"
"Huh, let me think for a second," Mosaic responded, then thinking for a bit. "You know, I think that'd be a fun activity for the four of us to go to."
"Really? Great!"
"Now, I'm gonna put you on hold to check with the others to make sure they're okay with it,"
"Of courssssssse."
After he finished the discussion, Mosaic hurried down the stairs to inform the others. When he arrived at the bottom, he saw the three in the living room, Hoops on the floor, gamepad in hand, while Rosy and Berry sat on the sofa, each holding a white game remote. The three of them were playing the Wii U.
"Hey, guys, I wanted to talk," Mosaic announced, interrupting their playing session.
Hearing his buddy, Hoops clicked the small white house shaped icon on the handheld and turned his attention over to him.
"Oh? What's it about Mosaic?" Hoops asked.
"So basically just now, a certain fire breathing friendly neighborhood reptile just gave me a call."
"You mean...Glow right?" Rosy asked.
"Yeah, him," Mosaic began to answer. "He just told me over the phone that they're going to have a soccer game at the stadium in Dinosaur Land," Mosaic explained. "And as such, that brings me to my question: do you guys want to go to it?"
"Sure why not?" both Hoops and Rosy said simultaneously.
"Jinx! You owe me-" Hoops began.
"A container of nail polish."
"Dang it…"
Berry gave his personal opinion, not sounding the most agreeable on going.
"You wanted to stay to play Mario Kart?" Rosy asked Berry, which Berry confirmed.
"Well Berry, the issue sorta is that all three of us want to go and I swear I've just been over why leaving you here alone is a bad idea," Hoops explained.
Berry, though hesitant to agree, understood him.
"And Berry, you three have been playing all morning," Mosaic began to point out. "and playing video games too much is bad for your eyes," Mosaic continued to lecture.
"Oh? When did you find that out Mosaic?" Rosy asked.
"...nothing you need to know about..." Mosaic embarrassingly responded. "But anyways Berry," Mosaic resumed. "You guys should shut that off and collect your things so we can get ready."
Berry gave a response accepting his direction.
As such Hoops shut the console off and the three began making their way over and up the stairs to get ready.
"Hey, they accepted," Mosaic started off in his return call to Glow.
"They did? That'ssssss great!"
"We should be there in about an hour," Mosaic informed. "So we'll see you there."
"Alright, I'll sssssssssssee you around," Glow replied, then hung up.
After finishing preparations, the group made their way south of the house, recalling there being a warp pipe heading to Dinosaur Land there. After a short stroll down the southern path they make it to the pipe. Just as they're about to enter, Hoops asked Mosaic a question.
"So, you sure this will take us to Donut Plains?"
"I was taken down here once by Glow when we went to this same stadium a few months ago, so it should definitely take us there."
"Oh, then what are we waiting for?" Hoops rhetorically stated, then made his way into the pipe, in which the others followed suit.
The four emerged on the other side of the pipe one by one, then observing the surrounding scenery.
The atmosphere of the area was much like that of how Mushroom Plains looked, but with a few differences. Like Mushroom Plains, it was lush and green, had ? blocks and bricks in various places high and low, and many pipes of vibrant, diverse colors. Unlike Mushroom Plains however, it also in distant spots had several sets of rolling hills and the occasional bush, lush with yoshi berries. The Mosaic Group was in the Donut Plains.
"So Mosaic, would you mind leading the way?" Hoops asked his buddy. "Me, Berry, and i'm pretty sure Rosy haven't been here too many times so I'm pretty you'd know the way better."
"To be honest, I haven't been here too many times either," Mosaic explained. "But I do remember going north after going through this pipe, so we should try going off my memory."
"Haven't you said before your memory is bad?" Hoops pointed out.
"Well, SOMETIMES it is, not all the time though."
"Fair enough."
and as such, he and the group made their way up north.
II: Gathering
They traveled north for awhile, and now were not too far from the stadium. Along the way they had gotten a bag of donuts from a vender and were each munching on one of the circular pastries.
"Good that they actually had donuts here," Hoops stated.
"Oh? Why?" Mosaic asked somewhat confused.
"Because I would've made a petition to sue the people who named this place if there weren't any for false advertising."
Berry asked something in response.
"How many signatures would I have gotten? At least four."
"Uh, who would they have been from?" Mosaic asked.
"They'd of course be from you, Rosy, Berry and-"
"Hey guys, I see the stadium," Rosy interrupted. "And there seems to be a large crowd gathered there."
As such, Hoops postponed his chatter and took a look in Rosy's direction along with Mosaic and Berry. The crowd consisted mainly of Yoshis, Birdos, the occasional toad, and dinosaur-like dragon creatures.
Said creatures, like Birdos, had a lot of similarities biologically to Yoshis. they stood bipedally and generally wore shoes on their feet like them, but past that, the differences were numerous, though not to the extent of Birdos. Their underbellies were orange and striped, with their rest of their bodies being primarily blue, red, or purple in most cases. Other notable traits included their small horn, wings, and spikes that ran along their tail. Their horn and spikes were both short and pointed, and their wings were too small to fly with, and as such, these features didn't serve much purpose past aesthetic. These dinosaur-like dragons were known as Rexes.
"Would your fourth signature have been yourself?" Mosaic asked.
"Maybe…" Hoops replied.
"Figured…" Mosaic responded. "Now let's get to the stadium and see what the crowd is doing outside like this," Mosaic then continued.
As such, the four made their way over to the crowd around the stadium, once they closed their gap from them, they stopped.
They then began to survey the crowd a bit, as they did so they noticed that, to their surprise, all of Team S.M.B.X was there, and had Yoshi with them.
"Hey, Mario!" Mosaic recognizing him called out.
Mario noticed him and gave him a wave, which got the attention of the rest of the group and afterwards the Mosaic Group made their way over to them.
"So how did you guys know this was going on? Were you called about it?" Mosaic asked Mario.
"Indeed we-a were," Mario replied. "I got a call over the phone about it from-a Glow, and he filled me in on-a it," Mario began to explain. "And then I-a told Luigi about it, and then we-a called Peach and Toad about, and as I'd presume, they told-a Link about it," Mario explained.
Noticing a detail missing in his explanation, Mosaic asked a question.
"How did Yoshi find out about the game exactly?" Mosaic asked.
"It's-a funny, we hadn't actually thought about inviting him, but we-a ran into him on our way-a here, so just decide to-a bring him along," Mario explained.
"Huh, I see," Mosaic replied.
"Hmm...now I have someone to mess with…" Hoops said quietly to himself.
"What was that Hoops?" Rosy asked.
"Oh, umm...nothing…" Hoops dishonestly responded.
Yoshi then looks over, and eyes the bag Mosaic was still holding hungrily, in which Mosaic noticed.
"You want one?" Mosaic offered, taking a frosted one out of the bag and preparing to throw to him one.
Yoshi gives a sign that he does, and as such Mosaic throws him it and he catches it in his mouth.
"So...why's everyone waiting out here and not in the stadium yet?" Rosy asked.
"Well, the entrance is-a locked, and nobody here has the-a key, so we've all been waiting here for someone that has a key to come and open it," Mario answered.
"I hope someone arrives soon, we don't have all day," Peach added to the conversation.
"So here's the stadium..." someone spoke in a distant conversation
"Yeah, but what'ssssss with the large crowd there? it usually issssssssn't like thisssssss."
"Hey...are those voices who's I think they are?" Mosaic stated.
"I suppose you could say that it's quite unusual that they're...hoarding the entrance?"
"...That'sssss sssssso bad…"
"Sorry, guess i'm a bit rusty today,"
"I think it is," Rosy stated.
The group then looked in the direction they heard the voices coming from, finding that they were indeed who they thought, being Glow and Beryl.
"Glow! Beryl!" Rosy shouted to them to get their attention, in which Glow looked her direction.
"Would you look at that, it'ssssss Mosaic and the others," Glow informed Beryl, having noticed them as well.
"Hey you're right…" Beryl replied. "How did they get here before us I wonder?" Beryl then stated.
"Peculiar question," Glow responded. "But hey, let'sssss go chat with them," Glow suggested, and as such the two made their way to them. "Hey there you guyssssssss, how'ssssss it been?"
"Well, it'd say we've been-a good!" Mario started off.
"Er, minus err, umm, every-athing," Luigi inputted.
"My guess is that you've been flight over fight like usual am I right?" Beryl asked.
"I...guess-a so," Luigi responded.
"If only he knew just how 'flighty' Luigi was that day on the flagship…" Mosaic thought to himself.
"Yeah...I'd say that the Mario Brothers' accounting has been...accurate for the most part…" Peach said, tripping on her words a bit being a bit nervous around Glow herself.
"Other than the fact that we, kinda, are trying to solve a problem," Toad joined the discussion with.
"Oh? Do you mean the problem with mushroom orphanage?" Glow asked.
"...Yes actually, how'd you know?" Toad said, pausing a moment.
"Heard it from the newssssss," Glow answered.
"Oh…" Toad replied.
Link and Yoshi however didn't have many comments regarding Glow and Beryl showing up since neither knew the two much at all other than a couple instances, the crowd shortly after however then took notice of Glow and Beryl's presence and a specific yoshi called out to them.
"Hey mates! Look who it is! Glow and Beryl!" the yoshi called out, which seemed to get the crowd pumped, with them cheering.
"Does the crowd know Glow and Beryl or something?" Mosaic asked.
"I'd ask Yoshi," Peach suggested.
"Okay," Mosaic responded, then proceeding with Peach's suggestion. "Yoshi, does the crowd here know Glow and Beryl?" he asked.
Yoshi responded.
"Could someone translate?" Mosaic asked.
"He said 'I guess they do, though I haven't seen them too much'," Hoops translated.
"Ah, thanks Hoops," Mosaic replied.
"Hey Slippy, we've been waiting here awhile," The jersied Yoshi continued in reference to Glow. "Have you seen your buddy along with his feathered friend today?" The Yoshi then asked.
"Oh? Are you referring to Ssssstriker and Elemental?" Glow asked.
"I am," The yoshi answered. "I'm asking because, not only is he one of the only ones with a key, but he and his friend are basically our two key players if we want to win, being the best on our team," the yoshi continued to explain. "And I hope they get here soon, this ain't like them," the Yoshi finished.
"Yeah, i'd called this situation to be a real…'Striker', eh?" Beryl said, with the crowd finding a bit of humor in it.
"Striker...and Elemental…" Link said quietly to himself. "Isn't Striker that rex I just meant a couple months ago that seems to be practically sport obsessed?" Link then asked Mosaic.
"Yep, that's him," Mosaic replied.
"Thought so," Link reacted. "Now, about Elemental, I don't think I remember as much about her, think you can fill me in a bit on her?" Link asked.
"I think Rosy or Peach should know more than I do," Mosaic answered.
"I see," Link responded. "Rosy, what do you remember about Elemental?" he then asked her.
"Well I do know that she's an Ostro Striker befriended at some point," Rosy answered.
"Ostros? Those pink road runner creatures we've encountered in subcon time to time?" Link asked.
"I'd say they look more like ostriches, but yeah, those," Rosy replied. "But in Elemental's case I recall her feathers are black," Rosy continued.
"So we're waiting here for them to start the game huh?" Link asked.
"That, or if sssssomeone else with a key sssssuch asssssss the manager were to show up, we're waiting here in the meantime," Glow explained.
"Alright then…" Link replied.
"And Mosssssaic there'ssssss sssssssomething I wanted to tell you while I can," Glow began.
"Ah? And what was it exactly? Is it about Striker and Elemental?" Mosaic asked.
"Yeah, when the two of them show up, you and the othersssss should put away your donuts," Glow explained.
"Huh? Is there any specific reason?" Mosaic questioned.
"Well, you know how Ssssstriker is when it comessssss to junk food correct?" Glow asked.
"Oh yeah you're right!" Mosaic exclaimed, realizing it. "I'll try to remember when he gets here."
"Hey guys...I see someone...or two in the distance…" Beryl informed the crowd.
As such the crowd looked in the direction Beryl was facing, seeing that they were making their way over quickly.
"Hey...that kinda looksssss like-"
"Look out!" one of the two shouted, and such the crowd quickly made way for them.
One of the two that had arrived was a rex. Said rex had a green body and eyes shaded amber, unlike the common color of a rex. This rex in particular however was wearing an outfit, being a jersey and shorts, which were blue and yellow respectively.
This rex was also, was riding on something, or more specifically, someone.
It was a large ostrich-like bird creature. it's full body other than it's legs and beak were covered in feathers, in most cases pink, with the unfeathered parts both being yellow in color. It was an Ostro.
This wasn't just any ostro however, this one had black feathers, eyes violet as amethyst and wore a pendant with a gold chain and a mystic purple gemstone attached to it.
This Rex and Ostro were Striker and Elemental respectively.
"Elemental...you know you could have slowed down a bit, it's fortunate no one was knocked down," Striker lectured.
"Hey bud, at least our abrupt entrance is all that happened," Elemental rebutted with a bit of attitude. "And hey, I didn't use my pendent to shock them or anything like that, so that's something," Elemental continued.
"Hey regardless, their arrival was still quite...shocking, right Glow?" Beryl whispered to Glow.
"Yep…" Glow agreed.
"Hey! Looks like our top players finally made it!" The yoshi from before shouted aloud, in which the crowd reacted with a cheer.
Striker at this point had taken notice of Glow and got off of Elemental's back to greet him.
"Hey buddy! Glad to see you!" Striker eagerly shouted to him, then embracing him with a big hug.
"Irk! Ss-Sstriker, y-you're sss-sssqueezing me," Glow exclaimed.
"Oh,"-he said as he began to release his grip on him-"Sorry about that bud," Striker apologized.
"Yeah, I'd agree on that," Elemental commented.
"Oh, umm...hi there Elemental," Glow stated, blushing a bit as he said it. "Umm, why were you two late exxxactly?" he then asked.
"Oh, you know, we were just-"
"I think we should tell everyone Elemental," Striker interrupted.
"Ah okay," Elemental responded, then clearing her throat as if she was preparing a speech, then speaking loudly. "When we were on the way here, the two of us were talking on the way, and STRIKER didn't tell me what was up ahead, and I ended up getting tangled in a bunch of vines," Elemental began to explain. "And not only did my pendent get tangled up not letting me just burn the stupid thing, but Striker tried to get me out for awhile, but nothing worked…" she continued. "We then got into a debate about our situation and I was about ready to tell Striker to go find someone to help me, but then-"
"Er, how did you get out?" Beryl asked, his body converting to a purple tone.
"I was getting to that…" Elemental replied unamused. "Anyway, I was fed up with being stuck, but then someone showed up," Elemental continued. "It was some rex wearing a green robe, not to mention he was green himself…" Elemental revealed.
"That guy's about...a week and a half early for St. Fungus Day it sounds like…" Toad commented quietly.
"He asked me and Striker to close our eyes, and that he'd get me out, we did, and well, he did what claimed he would," Elemental explained.
"I'd say that's pretty accurate to what happened," Striker added. "And afterwards, he asked us for directions to Mushroom Plains, so in a way to return the favor, we told him there should be a pipe south of him that goes there, and off he went," Striker mentioned as well.
"Huh, interesting…" Mosaic responded.
"Wonder what that guy's deal was…?" Hoops wondered.
"So you just-a ran into a minor inconvenience? That explains the-a delay," Mario said.
"Yeah, it does..." Rosy stated.
The rest of Team S.M.B.X, Berry, Glow, and Beryl and the rest of the crowd then each followed with their opinions as well, saying similar things.
Striker then took notice of Team S.M.B.X and started a bit of discussion with them.
"Hey there Mario, how's it's been?" he started.
As they talked, Mosaic considered now to be a good time to hide the donuts, telling the others to do the same, but panicking, hastily hid them in his hat.
"Well, we've been doing the-a usual, you know, adventuring, fighting, making sure the-a princess isn't captured for the gazillionth time…" Mario responded.
"Hey!" Peach remarked in distaste to Mario's comment.
"We still need to be-a onlook for-a that," Mario rebutted. "For all we-a know, you could get kidnapped again in a day or-a two," Mario then explained.
"I suppose so, but still…" Peach replied.
"Speaking of, how about your other friends, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and...what's his name?" Striker asked.
"If you mean-a Link, he and the others are doing-a well too," Mario answered.
"Good to hear," Striker replied. "And you Yoshi?" Striker then asked.
Yoshi gave a response, which Striker presumed signified that he's good.
"And now we have Mosaic and his crew, what have you guys been doing?" Striker then stated, making his way over to them.
Mosaic get anxious due to what he's hiding, but begins to make conversation.
"Well...we've been doing similar things to Team S.M.B.X," Mosaic began. "We just went exploring inside this dusty, old pyramid the other day,"
"Glad to hear you and your crew have atleast been active and haven't been just cooped up indoors playing video games and eating junk food, which you haven't been doing either of the two correct?"
"Of course not…"
"That's the spirit!" Striker replied, giving Mosaic a hard slap on his head approvingly. as a result however, knocked his hat off, revealing the donut bag he was hiding, Striker noticed it and picked it up.
"Huh? What's this?" Striker asked.
"Nothing…"
"Well, it isn't nothing, it at the very least appears to be a paper bag,"
"True…"
"Huh, what's in it…" Striker stated as he began to open it.
"Wait, don't!" Mosaic said, however being too late, as he already saw the donuts inside the bag.
Seeing this, Striker didn't seem mad at Mosaic, but simply said, "You don't need these," then hurling them to a nearby trash can like a basketball.
"No, No, don- aw," Mosaic stuttered, before cutting himself off mid sentence realizing it was too late.
"Hey, it's not something to be upset over, donuts aren't good for you anyway, no nutritional value, alot of sugar…"
"Yeah...I know…" Mosaic cut him off.
"Hey Striker, you gonna open the door or what? We've been waiting," Hoops pointed out.
"Sure thing ladybug buddy, I nearly forgot," Striker replied as he dug into his pocket and pulled out a key.
"I'm not a ladybug…" Hoops stated unamused.
Either ignoring him or not hearing him, Striker then put the key into the slot and opened up the door, letting most of the people in the crowd, including Team S.M.B.X, The Mosaic Group, Glow, Beryl and Yoshi in before he and Elemental went inside the stadium themselves, so that they could finally prepare for the game.
III: Good, Clean Fun
Later...
Striker, having prepared for the game before coming to the stadium, as he practically always had a sports outfit on, sat on a bench outside of the locker room, waiting on the rest of his team to prepare and chatted with Glow, Mosaic, Berry, Beryl, Hoops and Rosy.
"When it comes to specifics, what have you guys been doing?" Striker asked.
"Well, the other day, we found thisssss old pyramid over in sssssubcon and found thissss sssstrange artifact inssssside, asssssss Mosaic may have already mentioned," Glow explained.
"Nice stuff," Striker responded. "Do you have it right now?" Striker asked.
"Last I remembered, The Mosaic Group had it?" Beryl added.
"Actually, we gave it to this scientist or something named Prof. E. Gadd who told us he'd study it for us and get back to us on it," Mosaic explained.
"Oh...Okay…" Beryl reacted.
"Also, the day before that, we stopped another invasion from that fool Bowser," Hoops told Striker.
"Boy that guy doesn't give up does he?" Striker replied.
"Yeah...will he ever learn?" Rosy wondered.
"Maybe someday," Striker said. "But hey, even if his actions aren't exactly good-willed, you gotta respect his persistence," Striker also mentioned.
"Huh…" Mosaic responded.
"Oh, and I also forgot, just yesterday, we, or more specifically, Hoops almost got himself, me and Berry into trouble because of one of his extreme ideas," Rosy then informed.
"He did? What happened?" Striker asked.
"He tried to have us steal food to give to the Mushroom Orphanage…" Rosy replied.
"Yeah…" Hoops admittingly assured.
"The Mushroom Orphanage? You mean those guys that we're running this game for to boost the funds of?" Striker asked.
"Wait, that's why you're running the game? To boost the funds for the orphanage? And on such short notice too?" Mosaic asked.
"Yep…" Striker replied.
"Wow...if that's isn't a world record...I don't know what is…" said Mosaic in disbelief. "On another note, what's your team's name again?" Mosaic asked, changing the subject.
"Well, we call ourselves the 'Striking Dragons'" Striker answered.
"Is that because...your name is…-"
"Yesssss...I'd sssssay that'sssss obvious."
"Hey, Striker wanted to ask while on the subject," Rosy began. "Who is your team facing?" she asked.
"Well, we're facing the-"
"Attention all contestants, the opening ceremony will commence in five minutes, please make your final preparations and make your way to the field, " the loudspeaker announced.
"On second thought, you'll see whom we're facing out there," Striker instead said.
"Huh, in that case, we should catch up with the others and go where they're sitting," Mosaic stated, in which he and the others made their way to the outside of the interior and to the many rows of seats that surrounded the playing field.
IV: Face Off
The Mosaic Group, Glow, and Beryl by then had found the rest of the group and took their seats alongside them, waiting for the game to begin.
As they waited, Mario decided to strike up some conversation.
"Alright you-a guys, place your-a bets now, who do you think the-a Striking Dragons are-a facing?"
"Well, it could be a team lead by Daisy," Peach answered.
"True, it-a could," Mario replied.
"Daisy? I've heard of her before, but have never met her in person as of yet," Rosy added.
"Oh, she's the-a princess of Sarasaland, a place you and the rest of the-a Mosaic Group may or may not have heard of," Mario explained. "Maybe you and the-a others should visit there some-aday," Mario added.
"Hmm...that's not a bad idea, maybe we should sometime," Mosaic responded.
"Well, I think the challengers are a team literally known as...'The Challengers'!" Beryl added.
"...If someone actually named their team that, that'd have to be one of the most uncreative names I've heard…" Link added.
"I know right…" Beryl replied.
"Y'all have zero patience, we'll hear the team name soon enough," Hoops added in sarcastically.
"Guessssssssss you're right…"
Right at that moment, a voice came in on the loudspeakers.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting! But we are now able to start the game!" A yoshi said on the loudspeaker, in which the crowd cheered in response.
"What'd I tell you?" Hoops told the group.
"I hear that you're all eager to hear who's competing in today's game, so how about we get straight to the point and introduce the competitors?" The yoshi continued, then clearing his throat.
"Here they come…" Toad stated.
"In the left corner, a team with a clear sense of dedication, passion, and most importantly, teamwork, and a team record of thirty wins, seven losses, and a single draw," The announcer continued. "give it up for...The Striking Dragons!"
As the crowd cheered, the team, consisting of Striker, Elemental, who had now dressed in blue soccer clothing, two yoshis, and behind them, a Chargin Chuck, a large, burly kind of koopa troopa whom wore white helmets with a blue and orange stripe, blue shoulder pads, red spiked cleats, and black shells, and had chubby, baby-like faces and small, squinting black eyes. All walked onto the field, waving at the crowd as they did so.
"Okay...and their opponents?" Mosaic commented.
"And now...the visitor team, carrying less experience, and not as impressive of a record, and having a rather...cocky leader and a team record of seven wins, eleven losses, and no draws...please welcome...The Gnarly Garlics!" The announcer finished.
"The Gnarly...Garlics? Wait a minute...I think I know who this is…" Mosaic began.
"Are you-a thinking who i'm-a thinking?" Mario interrupted. "Because based on that-a name…-"
"Based on that name they must call themselves the GG Gang for short?" Hoops interrupted.
Ignoring his comment, Mario continued. "Based on the-a name, I think I know it's-a got to be because I remember my-a team playing against them in the semi-finals of the-a Striker Cup,"
"The Sssssssstriker Cup? Does Sssssstriker by any chanccccce have anything to do with that name?" Glow asked.
"It-a didn't, however, I actually remember him participating in-a the cup as well," Mario responded.
"I recall that hissssssss team didn't win, but finished in the ssssssemi-finalsssssss," Glow added.
"Not only-a that...but the circumstances were-a rather peculiar as well," Mario replied.
"They were? What were they?" Mosaic asked, hearing this.
"You could-a ask Striker about it later, for now I'll save you the-a explanation of whom I recall the Gnarly Garlics are, let you-a see for your-aselves, and watch the-a Striking Dragons woop their behinds," Mario responded.
the members of the Gnarly Garlics made their way onto the field. Like Striker's team, the Gnarly Garlics had a Chargin Chuck assisting them, wearing the same gear other than the helmet having black and red stripes as opposed to blue and orange. Along with this, there was also two birdos that assisted the team as well, each of them also wearing jerseys.
And finally, there was the team leaders themselves…being just who Mario had speculated they would be...Wario and Waluigi. However, both were not dressed in their usual attire, which in a number of ways was alot like his and Luigi's of wearing overalls and an undershirt. Both were wearing a more sporty version of their regular outfits, being yellow and purple and several shades of purple respectively.
"Yep, just as I-a predicted...Wario and Waluigi…" Mario commented.
Acknowledging the crowd, Wario and Waluigi both did different actions. Waluigi waved his hands at them frantically. However, Wario acted alot more arrogantly, doing various prideful acting such as flexing and sticking two fingers up at the audience.
In general, the crowd booed the Gnarly Garlics.
"Wario...they-a...seem to hate us…" Waluigi told him.
"Who cares what the-a spectators think? Im-ma gonna win this thing and clobber these dinosaurs anyway!" Wario arrogantly responded.
"Er...We..." Waluigi reminded him.
"Am I a joke to you?" Elemental said under her breath, hearing them.
"I see no clear fan favorite today," The announcer said. "Now, may both teams get into position for the opening kickoff?"
Within several minutes, both sides had fulfilled the announcer's order. Striker and Wario went to kickoff positions as their respective teams' captains, Elemental and Waluigi further back behind the positions of Striker and Wario respectively, the Yoshis and Birdos, while still around a meter, a bit closer by on either side of their captains, and the two charging chucks guarding either goalpost, and ontop of that, the referee had made their way to field as well, being a red rex in a dark blue jersey with a whistle.
Striker and Wario, as the team captains, stepped foward, with the former already holding a soccer ball and putting it in the middle of the field before going back so the two were equal distance.
"Alright teams, on your marks," the referee began.
"Five..."
"Four…"
As the ref counted, both teams, as well as the crowd braced themselves.
"Three…"
"Two…-"
But then, at that moment, Wario ran forward and kicked the ball mid count, quickly being stopped by the ref, whom blow their whistle and chewed him out for a bit. Like the ref, the crowd also, was not amused by this.
Sighing, Mario then said, "Classic-a Wario...wants to play-a dirty before we've even began the-a game."
After both teams got back into positions, the ref started from five once again.
"Ready…"
"Five…"
"Four…"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
Afterwards, the ref blew the whistle, and as such, the game commenced with Striker making the opening kick.
"And Striker grabs the ball!" the announcer commentated.
The chase was on, Striker dribbled the ball around, dodging the members of the Gnarly Garlic's attempts to steal the ball, thanks to the passing it back and forth between himself and Elemental. though a Birdo briefly stole the ball after hitting Elemental with a red shell, a Yoshi on the Striking Dragons quickly took it back after slipping him up with a banana, then proceed to run it back to the Gnarly Garlics' goal and kicking it past the goalie despite their attempt to block it, scoring the Striking Dragons a point.
Both teams got into kickoff position once again, and Striker got the ball first again. This time however, Waluigi managed to steal it from him and began to run to the Striking Dragons' goal, however, one of the Yoshis stole it and quickly passed to Striker, whom passed to Elemental, whom managed to avoid both Wario and Birdo, but was sniped by a red shell from Waluigi by then, giving the chance to one of Birdos to snatch the ball and kick it to Wario, whom passed it to Waluigi.
However, before the ball could reach him, one of the Yoshis stole it and passed it to back to Elemental. Looking for a way to pick up her speed, Elemental looked for an item to use, and found a mushroom, which she quickly grabbed, giving her a brief speed boost and the capability to quickly zip past all attempts made to take the ball from her and kick it into the Gnarly Garlic's goal, once again getting it past the chuck, that earning them another point.
The first half of the game in general continued heavily in favor of the Striking Dragons, with the announcer continuing to commentant it. At one point during the match, Striker was about to make a kick over the Gnarly Garlics straight into the goal to earn his team another point, however Waluigi stopped the ball.
The only problem however was how he went about doing it...he stopped the ball by catching it in his hands...
The ref upon noticing this blew the whistle and shouted "Foul play!" to Waluigi, mentioning to him that he and the rest of the team knows the consequence of this, and for their team to get into their positions.
Wario, Waluigi, the two birdos on the team and the Chargin Chuck guarding the goal as such all stood in front of the goal side by side in a line.
Berry asked a question in his language.
"What was that Berry?" Mosaic asked.
"He asked why they're standing like that," Rosy answered.
"Oh, Berry, it'sssssss becausssssse ssssssince Waluigi touched the ball with hissssss handsssss, the oppossssing team, in thisssss casssse being the Ssssssstriking Dragonsssssss get a free kick, and their allowed to try to block the goal by standing in front of it" Glow told Berry.
Berry understood Glow, and continued watching.
The Striking Dragons by then had decided on having Elemental kick the goal, and she easily kicked the ball over the Gnarly Garlics, earning the team their third point.
The rest of the first half of the game then continued in a similar fashion, in which the Striking Dragons continued to curbstomp the Gnarly Garlics, scoring two more points in the process.
As a Yoshi on Striker's team was about to score a sixth point, the buzzer sounded, and the ref blew the whistle, signifying for both teams to cease their actions.
"It is now halftime!" The announcer said. "The score is now five to zero, things aren't looking too good for the Gnarly Garlics, can they make a comeback in our second half? Find out after the break and some messages from our sponsor!"
V: Sponsored By...
Glow, Beryl, Hoops and Mosaic, it being halftime, took the chance to head to the snack bar and continued to discuss the game.
"Striker and his team are really getting their...points, across and showing the Gnarly Garlics what they're all about I'd say!" Beryl stated.
"Indeed they are, the Gnarly Garlicsssss better sssstep up their game if they want a chanccccce at beating them or thissss isssss going to be a defeat for them by a landsssslide!" Glow responded.
"You mean it already isn't?" Hoops added.
"Hmm...well…-"
"Hey guys, instead of talking, let's hurry up and get our snacks, I wanna see what the Mushroom Orphanage has to say," Mosaic interrupted.
As such of Mosaic's statement, the group quickly decided on buying two large popcorn and about eight drinks and made their way back to their seats where they waited.
"For our next sponsor, we have the Mushroom Orphanage," a voice said on the speakers, in which the crowd responded in awe. "It's been having a food shortage as of late. when their drive they had sadly didn't turn up many donations, they quickly looked for someone to sponsor them. Not just to further spread the word, but to raise funds so that they may support those in need and that have no place else to go," the announcer continued. "So if you paid to show up to today's game, thank you…and if you're hearing this and haven't contributed, please consider donating and making a difference today..."
"Wow...that was...quite touching from the announcer," Rosy thought to herself. "Sometimes you really do forget the big picture of things and that sometimes our backgrounds aren't so different after all..." Rosy continued. "Growing up in that kind of environment, without anyone to closely look after and care for you must be hard…I'm glad that Mosaic was able to get him out of being in that position, I can only imagine how he would have been growing up if he hadn't..."
"Huh, you seem awfully quiet Rosy…" Hoops commented.
"Oh...I was just thinking to myself," Rosy replied.
"About what? Your looks?" Hoops asked. "Wouldn't surprise me to be honest."
"Nah, something else, not that you'd care I'd imagine," Rosy responded.
"And to that you're probably right," said Hoops.
VI: Playing Dirty
Meanwhile, in the Gnarly Garlics locker room, the Gnarly Garlics contemplated what their strategy should be.
"Er, Wario, what are we going to-a do? We're going to-a lose if we don't do a something," Waluigi asked.
"Eh heh heh heh," Wario laughed.
"I...don't-a like how you're-a laughing…" Waluigi responded.
"I thought something like this might have-a happened, so I came-a prepared," Wario responded.
"...What do you-a mean, and why do I-a feel like I don't want to-a know?" Waluigi thought aloud.
"These," Wario answered, showing him two sets of rollerblades, both of which looked identical to their normal shoes, other than the fact that there were wheels hidden underneath.
"Er, emm, are we-a supposed to wear those? That'd be-a cheating!" Waluigi asked.
"So what if it's-a cheating? We're in this to win this! So join-a me, unless you want to-a lose?" Wario responded.
"Eh...o-akay…" Waluigi said hesitantly, taking the pair he gave him and replacing his currently worn pair with them.
By the time this all went on, both teams had made their preparations and halftime had ended, and both were on their way back to the field.
"And that ends the messages from our sponsors!" The speaker announced. "It is now time for the second half of the match of the Striking Dragons versus the Gnarly Garlics! The score at the moment is five to zero, Striking Dragons five, Gnarly Garlics zero, clearly the Striking Dragons have started off with a tremendous lead, however, can the Gnarly Garlics turn it around? Find out now in the kickoff in, three...two...one…play ball!" The announcer finished, with the ref blowing the whistle.
Wario, thanks in part due to the rollerblades hidden under his shoes get off an early lead, getting the ball at the kickoff and passing it to a Birdo. Like they had done in the first half, the Striking Dragons were already acting to retrieve the ball, with a Yoshi on the Birdo's tail, however, Waluigi signaled the Birdo to give him the ball, which the Birdo managed to kick to him accordingly.
After obtaining it, he hurried for the goal, Elemental nearly stole the ball, but Waluigi quickly zipped around her because of his rollerblades, to her shock, then continuing over to the goal, which the Chargin Chuck was guarding, however, with a swift and carefully maneuvered kick, Waluigi got the ball past him, giving his team the point.
"And that's the first goal made by the Gnarly Garlics!" the announced declared, with the announcer however not giving much of a reaction, and for the most part, booing this fact.
After reassembling for the next kickoff, once again the Gnarly Garlics got the ball, and it seemed that once again, they seemed to be doing really well. A birdo got the ball, and then passed it to Wario, whom passed it to Waluigi, whom passed it to the other Birdo, though a Yoshi tried to stop Waluigi's pass to the Birdo, he fell on a banana peel placed on the ground by a Birdo earlier allowing the Birdo to receive the ball and dribble it about, only for them to get the ball stolen by the other Yoshi, whom saw Striker giving him a signal that he's open, and gave a pass, however, as the ball was on the way to him, Wario slid in front of him, snatching the ball from under his nose, to Striker shock of him grabbing it so quickly.
Wario then ran the ball to the goal again, and gave it a hard kick.
Somehow...someway, he didn't hit the goal, but hit the Chargin Chuck acting as the goalie right in the forehead, dazing him.
In part due to this, he moved away from the goal for a bit, which Wario used as a chance to score the Gnarly Garlics their second goal.
"Oh my stars! I can't believe this! The Gnarly Garlics are starting to make a comeback and have made the score five to two! Will they keep it up? Or will the Striking Dragons defend their position?" the Yoshi announced stated.
"Wait, what in...how was Wario not signaled out by the ref?" Rosy asked.
"Well...unfortunately, that thing that Wario just-a did...it is-a completely legal…" Mario explained.
"...It's allowed?" Rosy continued to question.
"Yeah, while we don't-a see it often, there isn't technically any-a rules against doing that in a match, seen it a couple-a of other times in the games I've participated-a in..." Mario explained.
"...I seriously don't think that should be okay," Rosy opinionated.
After next kickoff, in which Striker managed to get the ball this time around, he passed it around between himself and a Yoshi on the team, for once managing to dodge the Gnarly Garlics' attempts to take the ball, but though they try to make a kick into the goal, they miss the mark and the goalie blocks the ball, then giving it a nearby Birdo, who began to dribble it, passing it to another Birdo, whom passed it to Waluigi, Waluigi however noticed a green shell coming his way and quickly gave it Wario, whom, noticing a mushroom on the ground, got a sneaky idea, like he typically did. He dribbled the ball about, and carefully using the rollerblades, slid towards the mushroom and grabbed it, boosting his speed, allowing him to quickly make his way towards the goal, in which he seemed to have something prepared.
"Why'd he stop?" Link asked.
"You'll sssssssee, he'ssssss up to ssssssomething," Glow answered.
Glow was right, Wario had begun dribbling the soccer a bunch really frantically between his feet until seemingly...electricity? Seemed to surround the soccer ball, in which he then jumped into the air and gave it a hard kick, sending the ball flying towards the goal practically like a meteor, making a yellow trail behind it.
The goalie was unable to block it, and it zipped right past them and into the goal, scoring the Gnarly Garlics not one, but TWO points as a result.
"This...this is insane!" The announcer began to say. "This is blasphemy! this is madness! this...is...incredible!" the announced then continued. "The Gnarly Garlics are making a comeback big time! If they keep this up, i'm afraid to say that the Striking Dragons may have to admit defeat here!"
"Hmm...something about the Gnarly Onions seems suspicious to me…" Hoops stated.
"Er, aren't they called the Gnarly Garlicssssssss?" Glow asked.
"Yes, they are."
Glow, hearing his answer, just didn't question it.
"Clearly, with seven mintues still left on the clock, it is still anyone's game here! So let's all see how the remainder of this game pans out!" the announcer said.
Before everyone knew it, it was back to the action, the Striking Dragons had an early lead having grabbed the ball at the kickoff, however, Waluigi managed to get his hands on a starman, thanks to his period of invincibility, he easily stole the ball from Striker and ran it to the Striking Dragons' goal and kicked it toward the goal, however, the ball being caught by the goalie and thrown to a Yoshi.
This was however was short-lived as not too long after, a Birdo managed to steal the ball from the Yoshi after throwing a red shell his way, picking up the ball underfoot, and quickly passing it to the other Birdo, who made another shot for the goal, getting it that time around.
"And with that the score is tied! It truly seems that with this, the Gnarly Garlics could make a comeback after all!" the announcer declared.
"Who's side is the announcer on anyway? They're not really making it easy to tell..." Toad stated.
Kickoff commenced, the ball was gotten by Wario, whom passed it to a Birdo, however, before said Birdo could get far, the ball was taken from them by a Yoshi who dribbled it for a bit and was able to maneuver around the Gnarly Garlics, but before he could make the goal, he was hit by a green shell from Waluigi, which gave the Birdo the chance to grab it and pass it to Wario. Wario, seeing the goal not too far from him, kicked it into the air, Elemental was the only one on her team near the goal at that given moment, and in panic about the Gnarly Garlics gaining the lead, without thinking, she caught the ball...with her wings.
"No…she didn't..." Striker said as he facepalmed.
"Elemental...you know what happens now…into position with the rest of your team," The ref told them.
"Oh-a no! Oh-a no! OH-A NO! Why-a now? Why-a now? Why so-a close to the game-sa' end when they're's-a only..."-Luigi began as he then checked how much time remained of the game-"less than a-a minute of the-a game remaining!?"
Glow sighed, then said, "That'ssssssss her for you...she doessssss have a tendenccccccccy to be the carelessssssssssss kind…"
"hopefully this doesn't cost Striker and his team the game…" Peach said.
Like the Gnarly Garlics did earlier, the five members of Striker's team all stood side by side to guard the goal.
Wario stepped forward to give the ball a kick, hitting it hard, right past the Striking Dragons, scoring themselves their sixth goal.
"And with that, in an unexpected turn of events, The Gnarly Garlics have gained the lead!" the announced declared. "With only forty-seven seconds left on the clock, will the Striking Dragons have to chance to turn this around? Or will the Gnarly Garlics take home the gold despite the Striking Dragons' initial lead? Find out here and now!"
"Announcer...while I think you're on our side, you're not doing a good job showing that…" Toad commented.
Both teams got into positions for presumably the last time, before Striker made a statement.
"Timeout!" Striker told the ref.
"Huh, okay…" the ref responded, seemingly very accepting of him doing so.
"Eh? Lizard wants a-a break?" Wario questioned. "Agh, make it-a quick…"
"Okay guys, we need to discuss things for a second," Striker told the others getting them into a circle along with their goalie.
"Umm...Striker, is this...about my mistake?" Elemental asked, not really willing to hear the answer.
"Well...somewhat," Striker replied. "Elemental...I hate to say it, but your mistake, maybe, kinda, sorta, may cost the game."
"Oh...if it does...sorry…" Elemental replied.
"It's alright if it does, even though it's kinda a bummer if we lose," Striker responded. "So basically, considering how little time is left on the clock, i'm realizing if we want to beat the Gnarly Radishes-"
"The Gnarly Garlics?" a Yoshi on the team asked.
"Oh, yeah, forgot their name," Striker answered. "The Gnarly Garlics, there's something we're going to have to do that's a tad bit crazy."
"Which is bud?" the Chargin Chuck asked.
"If we're going to win and not just draw with them, I'm going to have to make...a superstar kick into the goal...and not miss it," Striker explained.
"In under a minute...because we'll totally make that in that amount of time…" Elemental, said, not so amusingly.
"Well...do you have any other ideas?" Striker asked Elemental.
"Well...no…not really..." Elemental responded.
The other members of the team shook their heads as well.
"Then that's the plan we're taking, ready?" Striker asked them.
Each member of the team gave their response, each signifying that they were.
"Are you all-a done holding hands around the campfire and ready to lose?" Wario impatiently asked.
"Right back atcha, and yes...I'd say we are…" Elemental responded.
"Then get-a over here…" Wario demanded.
The Striking Dragons did just that, and prepared for real for the final kickoff. The ref blew the whistle, and Striker managed to get the ball and began dribbling it, then seeing a mushroom on the ground, allowing him to quickly out run the Gnarly Garlics. He then passed it back and forth between himself and a Yoshi to throw them off and so that they couldn't get the ball.
"This match is already-a over," Wario stated, starting to skate over to the two of them in an attempt to snatch the ball away.
"Oh no you don't…" Elemental stated, quickly looking around the field for a question mark printed cube containing a red or green shell, being lucky enough to find a red one on just the first cube. As such she hurled it Wario's way, causing him to fall down.
"Thirty seconds remain! It looks like the Striking Dragons could turn this around, but now the question is, 'Will they succeed'?" The announced narrated.
"What are you-a doing you nitwits? Stop them!" Wario shouted at his team members.
Before he even finished, they were already on their way to them to stop them from making the goal.
Despite that however, Striker and the Yoshi had made it in range of the goal. The Yoshi was about to pass to Striker so that they could go through with their plan, but before he could, a green shell came flying his way, causing him to drop the ball and knocking him down.
"Twenty-three seconds…" Mosaic thought to himself as he looked at the clock.
Striker rushed to grab the ball which had begun to roll to the corner of the field, however, under circumstances unbeknownst to him, Waluigi had managed to swipe it before him and had made a u-turn back to the opposing side of the field.
"Fifteen seconds remaining…" Rosy thought.
"We only have fifteen seconds left to play and Waluigi has the ball...face it Elemental, we've lost…" one of the Yoshis on the team said.
"Not if I can help it!" Elemental responded, opening another cube and finding banana peels inside.
She then threw them in the pathway of Waluigi, who, not seeing them, tripped over them and dropped the ball.
"Ten seconds remaining!" the announcer said. "Say it with me!"
"Ten!" the audience began to follow through.
"Nine!"
Elemental by then had gotten the ball and quickly passed it Striker.
"Eight!"
"Striker! Quickly! Wario and his team are gaining!" Elemental told him.
"Seven!"
"Six!"
Striker quickly ran in front of the goal and began, like Wario earlier, quickly dribbling the ball into the air, until sparks began emitting from it and a green aura surrounded it.
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
Realizing it was now or never, Striker made a jump for the ball and gave it his best shot. He gave the ball one last kick, and hoped for the best.
Missing by only an inch...the ball...slipped right past the goalie, and into the goal.
"One!"
And with that one action, despite it all, the Striking Dragons had ended the game with a score of them seven, Gnarly Garlics six.
"I can't believe it! I don't know how they keep pulling it off, but the Striking Dragons have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat!" the announcer declared, in which in response, the audience cheered.
Unhappy with this, Wario and Waluigi begin to have a temper tantrum of sorts.
"Oh come-a on!" Waluigi stated.
"...they don't seem too happy about losing…" Link commented.
"Well...that's-a classic Wario Bros for-a you...don't-a know how to have good sportsmanship and accept an-a lose…" Mario replied.
"Either way, glad to see the Striking Dragons were able to clutch the win despite the odds being against them," Mosaic said, giving his thoughts.
"Yeah, agreed," Rosy added.
"Eh, that's what these fools get, mess with the Bully, you get the horns, or in this case, mess with the Rex," Hoops said.
VII: Despite It All
With the game over, the teams assembled in position for the closing ceremony, in which a distributor, the announcer, and a cameratoad had showed up to the center of the field.
After a speech from a yoshi dressed in a formal matter thanking both teams for giving the audience a great game and the like, he announced it being time to hand out the awards, he afterwards came down from the steps he stood on to give the Striking Dragons their ribbons, each of them having a golden shade and bold W imprinted on them.
"And here are some ribbons for you," The Yoshi said, speaking to the Gnarly Garlics, handing each of them one.
"Eh?" Wario responded, shocked.
"Looks like we-a aren't leaving empty handed after-" Waluigi stated, then stopping when he realized the ribbons had a P imprinted, were smaller in size, and blue in color. "Oh...participation awards…"
"Now, this is only a formality at this point, but Striker, Wario, please step forward and face one another," the Yoshi then stated.
Striker accepted it just fine, but Wario was more resilient to doing so.
"What are they doing now?" Link asked Glow.
"Oh, it'sssss a formality that we have after each game here, we have both of the team leaderssssss, or in thissssss casssssse, captainssssss shake handsssss to show that they have no hard feelingsssss about the outcome and had a good time," Glow explained to him.
"Ah, makes sense…" Link replied.
Begrudgingly, Wario complied with the wishes of the distributor and announcer and began to make his way over to Striker, but not thinking, forgot about the rollerblades on his shoes and slipped, exposing the bottom of his shoes in front of the camera, therefore broadcasting it to the audience, in which they gasped in response to what they saw.
"Yep! I called that something was up!" Hoops shouted aloud.
"Hey, you okay?" Striker asked Wario, about to help him up.
"Wait a minute...Striker, something is off about his shoes, let me take a look," Elemental commented.
"Oh, sure thing."
"So Wario, what are those things on your shoes?" Elemental asked.
Wario only stuttered in response.
"They seem to be small wheels. Oh wait, they are."
"Wario..." The Yoshi that had been making announcements stated. "rollerblades are a big no-no here, you know better than to bring something like that along for how much your team has played here. Since you didn't win however, that'll save you the embarrassment of being confiscated of a victory award like another time. However, I'll be confiscating your participation awards instead."
"Meh, whatever," Wario responded.
"And furthermore, as soon as i'm done with announcements, go to the locker room and gather your things, you're suspended from playing any games on Dino Stadium for the next three months to think about what you did and maybe think twice before doing it again."
"What!?" Wario replied, not amused.
"I apologize for the interruption," the Yoshi then began. "but to continue, overall, despite it turning out one of our teams weren't playing in an exactly honorable way, this game turned out to be quite the exciting experience, don't you all agree?"
The audience shouted in agreement.
"Well, with all of that said and done, that ends tonight's game, the exit is to your right, stay safe, and have a good night!" the Yoshi then finished, in which afterwards the crowd began to empty from the stands.
VIII: Separate Ways
By the time the game had ended and everyone was on their way out of the stadium, it had been six o'clock at night. Team S.M.B.X, The Mosaic Group, Yoshi, Glow, Beryl, Striker and Elemental had gathered outside of the stadium to discuss what their plans were for tonight, as well as tomorrow.
"So, you, Elemental, Glow and Beryl are planning to stay here for some aftergame practice?" Mosaic asked Striker.
"That's the idea," Striker answered.
"Well, stay safe, and don't stay out for too long," Rosy advised them. "And also, Beryl."
"Yeah Rosy?" Beryl asked.
"You so missed a chance at a pun after what the announcer said at the end of the game," she explained.
"Oh, really?" Beryl responded, starting to turn a purplish tone. "What could I have said?"
"Well...I'll let you think about that one," Rosy answered.
"Huh...okay…" Beryl replied.
"Well, what plansssssss do you and the ressssst have Mario?" Glow asked.
"Well, me and-a Luigi are probably going to an-a italian restaurant for dinner," Mario answered.
"Hey, how about that new buffet that opened up instead? They have italian food there too," Mosaic suggested.
"Hmm, not a-a bad idea," Mario responded.
"I think Striker, Elemental, Beryl and Glow could come along too since they still need to eat, how about it?" Peach asked.
"Sure thing, we'd be cool with that, and then we can get to our practice right after," Striker responded.
"How about your guys' plans afterwards?" Elemental asked.
"Me and Luigi are probably gonna head-a home," Mario answered.
"Thank-a you…" Luigi commented.
"Me and Toad are going to head back to the castle so that we can figure out what we should do next for the orphanage," Peach inputted.
"Umm...I wasn't planning on doing that…" Toad retorted.
"Sorry Toad, but that's what's going to happen," Peach responded.
"I'm thinking that after dinner, me and the group could go out for a movie night to see that movie that just came out based off that comic book character 'Iron-Shroom'," Mosaic informed.
"Sounds like a plan," Hoops said.
"Indeed that does," Rosy agreed.
Speaking his language, Berry too agreed.
"I personally...am probably going to go for a nightly scroll, kinda see if I can clear what's on my mind a bit," Link informed.
"Oh? What would that be?" Mosaic asked.
"Maybe I could tell you later," Link answered, "but yeah, that's what i'm probably going to do."
"So it's-a settled, after we eat at the-a local buffet, we can all go our seperate ways, let's-a go! To the buffet!" Mario said, then leading the way.
As they made their way over, Mosaic made a small comment.
"I wonder if I'll ever catch a break…"
"Eventually I presume Mosaic...eventually," Hoops answered.
"As the eccentric bunch had intended, after filling themselves at the buffet, each went their separate ways for the night, Mario and Luigi back home, Peach and Toad to the castle, Beryl, Striker, Glow and Elemental to practice, the Mosaic Group on their movie night, and Link on his stroll.
…
…
…
The Mosaic group hadn't known it then, but Link's stroll wasn't going to be the uneventful endeavor he expected it to be, and not only would they get an idea of what he had on his mind, but they would meet quite an...interesting acquaintance of his. to say the least..."
.Next Time...Chapter 7: Psyched
