Love Tennis Saga: Star Cup Chapter 7: Hero & Villainess, a Mario + Hot Shots Golf/Tennis Crossover fanfic

Chapter 7: Hero & Villainess

Zeta and Mario stepped onto the court and on opposite sides. Robo T. climbed up to the umpire's seat. "My name is Robo T. I'll be your umpire today." He said,

"I'm looking forward for this." Zeta said, "It is, after all, an honour to be playing against you, the one they call Mario. Now, show me what you got... Don't hold back. Because no effort will be spared."

Mario nodded but had a stern gaze in his eyes. He could tell that something is out of place upon looking at Zeta. But he is focused and ready for the match. He then grunted to show he is ready.

Robo T. took out a coin. "Outcome: Heads, Result: Zeta commences serve." He said in a robotic tone, "Outcome: Tails, Result: Mario commences serve." He tossed up the coin. Once it dropped, he cried, "Tails."

He tossed a pair of tennis balls to Mario. "Mario," Robo T. said, "Please engage service."

Mario tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Zeta stroked the ball back to the legendary plumber. Mario hit the ball back to Zeta. Zeta returned it back with a soft volley. Mario rushed to the net and volleyed the ball to Zeta. Zeta volleyed it to Mario. Mario hit the ball with a flat stroke that nearly went through Zeta, but she dove for the ball and lobbed it in the air. Mario attempted an overhead smash, but he missed as the ball went past him.

"Just as I planned..." Zeta said as she stood and looked up with a gleeful expression on her face

"Love-15." Robo T. called

Mario tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Zeta hit the ball back to Mario with a simple forehand stroke. Mario hit the ball back to Zeta and then he rushed to the net. Zeta returned it back to Mario. Mario hit a simple volley to get the ball past Zeta. "Whoo-hoo!" Mario cried happily as he raised his racket in the air.

"15-All." Robo T. called and then gave Mario two more tennis balls

Mario tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Zeta stroked the ball back to Mario. Mario struck it back to Zeta as he rushed towards the net. Zeta hit the ball back towards Mario. Mario countered by hitting the ball with a hard volley. The ball eluded Zeta easily. "30-15." Robo T. called,

"Not this time!" Zeta cried and hit the ball back towards Mario.

Unfortunately for her, the ball had enough height for Mario to do an overhead smash on it. The ball zoomed past Zeta. "40-15." Robo T. called and gave Mario two more tennis balls

Zeta sighed as she walked back to her baseline. She thought, "Fooled by my own ploy. But I have to admit... He's more impressive than I thought..."

Mario tossed a tennis ball up and smashed it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Zeta hit the ball, but it sailed high. Mario decided to let the ball bounce and then he stroked it hard, past a diving Zeta. "Oh, yeah!" Mario cried happily,

"Game... Mario." Robo T. called,

"Change… sides." Robo T., in his robotic voice, called. He then gave Zeta two tennis balls.

Zeta tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with her racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Mario volleyed it back to Zeta and rushed close to the net. Zeta stroked the ball back, but it had enough height for Mario to leap up and counter with an overhead smash.

"Too predictable!" Zeta cried as she countered the smash with a volley. But, once again, the ball was at just the right height for Mario to hit it with another overhead smash. The ball zoomed past a diving Zeta. "Love-15." Robo T. called,

"I've got to try to find holes in his net play of his..." Zeta thought,

She then tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with her racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Mario volleyed it back to Zeta as he rushed to the net. Zeta volleyed the ball back to Mario. Mario hit the ball with a hard volley. Zeta volleyed the ball to get it over Mario's head, but he saw it and did another overhead smash on the ball. It zoomed past Zeta. "Love-30." Robo T. called and gave Zeta two more tennis balls

Zeta tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with her racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Mario dove for the ball and sent it high in the air. Zeta rushed to it and bashed it with an overhead smash. "Gotcha now, hero..." Zeta thought,

Mario saw the ball and quickly countered it with a volley. Zeta hit the ball, but it hit the... "Net." Robo T. called,

"Not yet..." Zeta said, as she crossed her arms

"Love-40." Robo T. called,

"Go for it, Mario!" A sign from the crowd read. It is clear that Mario can clinch the match with this next point.

Zeta tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with her racket. The ball hit the top of the net and landed on the right service zone. "Let." Robo T. called and tossed two more tennis balls to Zeta

She tossed one up and smacked it with her racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Mario easily volleyed it back to Zeta. Zeta stroked the ball with a hard slice shot, but the ball had enough height for Mario to hit it with an overhead smash. The ball zoomed past a diving Zeta. The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Game, Set and Match… Mario." Robo T. called,

"Oh yeah!" Mario cried as he leaped into the air. He spun around and cried, "Oh boy! I'm-a gonna win!"

"Oh no! It's back to the drawing board!" Zeta cried as she dropped to the floor, stomach-side down

She thought, "How could I lose? I never anticipated that he would be this good against me! Now, I feel all... Good, and kind inside... Just like the time that Hugo and Emily defeated me in a tennis match... Just to show that tennis is fun..."

Mario walked over to where Zeta is and offered his hand. Zeta got up and smiled again. She then took Mario's hand and shook it. They both waved to the crowd.

"I will support our competitors until the very end." Zeta thought, "I know both Hugo and Rolf will make us proud..."