Love Tennis Saga: Star Cup Chapter 9: A New Hero, a Mario + Hot Shots Golf/Tennis Crossover fanfic

Chapter 9: A New Hero

That evening, at the grass court stadium, Hugo and Bowser stepped onto the court and on opposite sides. Nate also appeared on the court. He climbed up and sat on the umpire's chair. He said, "My name is Nate and I will be your umpire today. Let's have a good match."

"Bowser..." Hugo began, "Before we begin, I want to tell you that we shall have the best match of our lives! I wish you good luck!"

The crowd gasped. Was Hugo saying that he is wishing good luck to Bowser? The Koopa King retorted, saying, "Heh. Thanks, Little King of Pluckiness! But I'm afraid your time will be over as soon as I defeat you! Once I beat Mario, the Star Cup will be mine and I shall rule the tennis world! Bwah, hah, hah, hah!"

"Bring it on, then!" Hugo cried,

Nate took out a coin. "If it's heads, Hugo will serve to start the match. If it's tails, Bowser will serve to start the match." He tossed up the coin. Once it dropped, he cried, "Heads."

He tossed a pair of tennis balls to Hugo. "Hugo," Nate said, "Whenever you're ready."

Hugo thought, "Let's see how he can handle me from up close!"

He rushed to the middle of the court and hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser returned the ball with a hard stroke. Hugo rushed back to the baseline and hit the ball with a soft hit. The ball flew in the air. The crowd was gasping for a bit...

...But Bowser faked an overhead smash shot and hit it softly back to Hugo. Hugo then hit the ball hard back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball softly to make it go high in the air.

Hugo thought as he looked at the court, "Better go topspin! I don't want it to hit the net..." He hit the ball with the topspin stroke.

Bowser hit the ball softly again when it came to him, but... "Oh, net." Nate called as he saw the ball hit the net.

Bowser growled as he swung his racket. "15-Love, now." Nate called

Hugo tossed a tennis ball up and smashed it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Bowser easily returned it back to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball towards Bowser from the baseline. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back to Hugo.

Hugo thought, "Time to rush to the net!"

He did so and volleyed the ball. The ball sped past Bowser, who dashed for it. "Yes!" Hugo cried as he pumped his fist

"30-Love, now." Nate called as he gave two more tennis balls to Hugo

Hugo tossed a tennis ball up and smashed it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Bowser easily returned it back to Hugo. Hugo rushed to the net and hit the ball past Bowser. "See that?" Hugo cried,

"40-Love, now." Nate called

"It's mine!" Hugo cried as he rushed for the ball.

He jumped up... But he missed his swing as the ball sailed past him. Bowser growled happily as he pumped his fist. "40-15, now." Nate called as he gave Hugo two more tennis balls.

Hugo tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Bowser easily returned it back to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball towards Bowser from the baseline. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball with a backhand slice stroke, but... "No, that's Out." Nate called as the ball hit past the left sideline.

"No!" Hugo cried as he tore his head back

"40-30, now." Nate called

Hugo tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Bowser easily returned it back to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball towards Bowser from the baseline. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball and it sailed past Bowser, who dashed for it. "How's that?" Hugo cried as he pumped both fists

"Game... to Hugo." Nate called,

"All right, change sides." Nate called as Hugo and Bowser switched sides.

Bowser was given a pair of tennis balls. He tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone and down the middle. Hugo dove for it, but he missed. Bowser growled happily and pumped his fist. "15-Love, now." Nate called

"I'm not gonna miss that again!" Hugo thought,

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone and down the middle. Hugo managed to hit it back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back to Hugo.

Hugo thought, "Time to rush to the net!"

He did so and volleyed the ball. The ball sped past Bowser, who dashed for it. "Yes!" Hugo cried as he pumped his fist

"15-All." Nate called as he gave two more tennis balls to Bowser

Bowser tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone and down the middle. Hugo dove for it, but he missed. Bowser growled happily and pumped his fist. "30-15, now." Nate called

"What's wrong with me?" Hugo thought, "I usually am good with returning serves!"

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. This time, it was angled near the corner. Hugo missed the ball once again. Bowser roared happilt and pumped his fist. "40-15, now." Nate called and gave Bowser two more tennis balls

"Come on, Hugo!" Emily whispered, "Focus!"

Bowser eyed the stands without turning his head. "Heh... Go ahead." He thought, "Cheer for your boyfriend... It won't help him at all... Bwah, hah, hah, hah!"

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. This time, Hugo anticipated the ball going to the corner and hit it back to Bowser. Bowser hit it back to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball softly to Hugo. Hugo hit the ball with a backhand slice stroke. The ball went past Bowser. "All right!" Hugo cried

"40-30, now." Nate called

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Hugo returned the ball back to Bowser as it sailed in the air. Bowser hit the ball past a diving Hugo. "Game... to Bowser." Nate called

Hugo was given two tennis balls. He tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. The Koopa King swung his racket, but he missed the ball. "15-Love, now." Nate called

Hugo tossed a tennis ball up and smacked it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball with his backhanded slice shot. Bowser hit the ball. It sailed in the air and... "Ah, Net." Nate called as he saw the ball hit the net.

Bowser roared and swung his racket. "30-Love, now." Nate called as he gave Hugo two more tennis balls

Hugo looked at Bowser with great intent as he bounced a tennis ball on the court. "Don't worry, Emily." He thought, "I will avenge you as best as I can."

He then tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. The Koopa King swung his racket, but he missed the ball. "40-Love, now." Nate called

Hugo tossed a tennis ball and smacked it with his tennis racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo hit the ball with his hard forehand stroke. Bowser swung his racket, but he missed the ball. "Yes!" Hugo cried as he pumped his fist

"Game... to Hugo." Nate called

"All right, change sides." Nate called as Hugo and Bowser switched sides.

Bowser was given a pair of tennis balls. He tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone and down the middle. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser.

"Stop this, kid!" Bowser roared and performed an overhead smash on the ball

"I will!" Hugo retorted and returned the ball back to Bowser

They both engaged in a long rally. "Hugo is supremely focused!" Toshi said from the stands, "He is not letting up!"

"Hugo is performing quite well!" Colin cried, "He never lost his composure!"

Finally, Hugo hit the ball into the net. "Ah, Net." Nate called

"Awwww!" Hugo cried as he panted

"15-Love, now." Nate called

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone and down the middle. Hugo hit the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo returned the ball back to Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back again. Hugo rushed towards the net and hit the ball.

"Not this time, chum!" Bowser cried as he returned the ball back to Hugo.

They both engaged in another long rally. Finally, Hugo hit the ball in the net again. "Ah, Net." Nate called

"No!" Hugo cried

"Bwah, hah, hah, hah!" Bowser laughed, "Give it up, kid! You can't beat me!"

"No way!" Hugo yelled, "I intend to play this match until the very end!"

"30-Love, now." Nate called as he gave Bowser two more tennis balls

Bowser tossed one up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone and down the middle. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back to Hugo. Hugo smacked the ball out of Bowser's reach. "30-15, now." Nate called

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the right service zone. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back. Hugo returned the ball back towards Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back to Hugo. Hugo smacked the ball out of Bowser's reach once more. "30-All." Nate called as he gave Bowser two more tennis balls

Bowser tossed a tennis ball up and hit it with his racket. The ball bounced inside the left service zone. Hugo hit the ball back. Both competitors traded returns until Hugo hit the ball and it sailed out of Bowser's reach. "30-40, now." Nate called

"This will be the winner!" Hugo cried as he knows that with the next point, he wins the match

"No, it won't!" Bowser yelled back as he smashed the tennis ball with his racket. The ball sailed to the corner. Hugo anticipated the ball coming his way and hit it back towards Bowser. Bowser hit the ball back towards Hugo.

Hugo rushed to the net and volleyed the ball. It went to Bowser and the Koopa King hit it back to Hugo. Hugo volleyed it again and this time, the ball sailed past Bowser. "All right! How's that?" Hugo cried as he jumped up and pointed his racket at Bowser

"That is Game, Set & Match to Hugo." Nate called,

"I'm the winner! Yeah!" Hugo cried as he jumped up high

Bowser roared unhappily as he rocked side to side. Hugo walked closer to Bowser and then said, "I'm impressed, Bowser. You really handled me quite well. Thanks for the match." He held out his hand.

"Foolish Hugo..." Bowser muttered and then he cried, "My plan is too far along now! You really think you can stop me? Bwah, hah, hah, hah!" He jumped up and disappeared in black smoke.

"Huh?" Hugo thought, "What does he mean, 'his plan'?"