Chapter 1: The Stakes
It was a day just like any other outside of Champions' Field. The sun was shining and birds chirped throughout the sky. In an apartment right next to the stadium, an alarm went off, waking up Car from Rocket League. Car from Rocket League, or Carfrl as his friends called him, rolled out of bed. "Another beautiful morning in Westerchestershireford," he thought. He scooted over to his table and poured himself a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. The rustle of those tasty morsels going out of the bag woke up his roommate, Ron Weasley. "Blimey," Ron exclaimed. "Wot's all this then?" Carfrl politely told him, "I'm just pouring my morning cereal, Ron. Nothing to be alarmed about." "Alright," Ron muttered, "but could you be a little quieter about it?" Carfrl, still unfazed, responded, "I'll try to next time, but it's a little late for this morning." "You gotta point there mate." Ron grumbled. "I suppose all this discussion has woken me up quite thoroughly indeed. Leave the Cheerios out for yer old pal Ron, would ya?" "Of course!" said Carfrl.
Carfrl, while he was a good and loyal pal to Ron, had his mind focused on something else entirely. One of his biggest games of the season was coming up that evening, and he was mulling over strategies in his mind. While he was deep in thought, a loud bang startled him. That first commotion was repeated, and Ron began to shuffle over to the door where someone was knocking. Greg Heffley, Carfrl and Ron's landlord, unlocked the door and burst through before Ron could let him in. He immediately yelled at them, "You ready for your big game tonight, Carfrl? The pot more than covers your rent for this month, and that payment's coming up soon. I already gave you one extension, and if I don't get my money I'm gonna do what I did to Rowley to you. You remember what I'm talking about, right boys?" Carfrl shuddered. Rowley couldn't pay Greg for rent just one month, and then he was never seen again. He had heard rumors that Rowley was in a sweatshop somewhere. "But I got faith in you, Carfrl. Maybe Ron here can work some of his magic and help you out." Greg nonchalantly stated, almost to himself, as he wandered about absentmindedly through the apartment. Carfrl was already looking for a better place to live. Greg was near sociopathic with how he treated his tenants, and Carfrl's status as a car soccer star led to Greg trying to squeeze even more money out of him. "He'll win tonight," Ron asserted, "and he'll do it in a bloody good fashion." "I sure hope so," Greg ominously said, "or else you fellas will be in some trouble." He stomped out of the apartment as quickly as he came in.
Carfrl was worried even more about the big match tonight than he was before. He let out a little shudder, and then he felt Ron's comforting hand on his chassis. "You got this, mate," Ron reassured him. "Thanks, Ron. If only we weren't stuck in this apartment with such an awful landlor-" "SHHHH! I think he bugs the paintings in here!" Ron whispered while intensely staring at the replica of Angel with Arquebus on the wall. "I'm going to my room to focus." Carfrl told Ron. "I'll see you later."
