Episode 20: Sandorius: VS Sandorius Eleven Part 1

A small yellow fairy-like creature flew about the cafeteria. It made tiny squeaks and cries as it performed flips and turns in the air. It landed infront of Komori, who just woke up.

She hugged the stuffed dragon she always carried, "W-w-who are you…?"

The creature laughed and went on about to greet the other members of Earth Eleven as they arrived for breakfast.

"It's adorable!" Aoi squealed holding the fairy on her palms.

Minaho closely examined the creature, "Interesting… never would have imagined an animal like this to exist."

Ibuki frowned, "Where did it come in from?"

The majority of the members turned towards Tenma, the culprit. The creature apparently followed the captain from his room.

Tenma scratched his cheek nervously, "Um… I'm not sure… a dream?"

"Huh?"

"So, you're saying you saw this… thing, in your dream and woke up to find it… in real life?" Manabe confirmed, "Impossible…"

After a long debate, it was decided that the creature name was Pixie. Since it seemed it liked Tenma, he because responsible for taking care of the little guy. Everyone then got their trays for breakfast.

"Hey, Narukami! Watch what you're doing!?" Sakura screamed. Some juice had spilt on her jersey, staining it.

Narukami seemed confused, "Uh… um, you're the one who bumped into me."

"Argh, it's all dirty!" Sakura sighed angrily, "I bet you did it on purpose! After all, you aren't from Earth, you're probably here only to make us lose!"

"Hah? Who told you that?" Narukami growled, "Stop making random accusations! And you're the one who bumped into me!""

Sakura gasped, "Are you blaming the girl!?"

"What's gender got to do with anything?" Narukami yelled, "It was a complete accident!"

"Hmf, then apologize,"Sakura sneered, crossing her arms.

Narukami clenched his teeth letting out an intimidating growl.

"Nao, just apologize for now…" Alsius whispered and Narukami obediently did as he was told to.

"Tch, he actually apologized, no fun." Sakura frowned walking out of the cafeteria to change her jersey.

"Argh, I don't feel like eating anymore!" Narukami huffed leaving his tray and walking out.

"What's that idiot thinking?" Han sighed, "the game's today so he should eat to keep his strength."

"It's kinda your fault, you know." Alsius sighed slowly chewing a piece of bread.

Han shrugged slightly.

Liberta silently ate his breakfast during the entire ruckus.

In another table, Tenma, Tsurugi and Shindou sat eating their breakfast.

"What do you think about them, Tenma? The Melfen guys." Shindou finally asked, placing his fork next to his plate.

Swallowing his food, Tenma frowned, "I trust them. I believe they'll play to win this match…"

"Y-yeah…" Shindou muttered.

"Shindou-san, are you still thinking about what Han said?" the ace striker asked. When his senpai didn't respond, Tsurugi continued, "I wouldn't worry about it too much. There is some right in what he says…"

Shindou kept looking at floor silently.

"Hmm…" Tenma sighed. Pixie flew around happily oblivious to the sour mood.

"A-a-ano…"

Tenma turned to see Komori behind him, hugging her plusie like usual. The three Raimon players were surprised to see shy Melfen player actually call out to them. "Yeah?" the captain smiled.

"Pi…Pi-pi-pi…." Komori stuttered, "Pixie! C-can I pet her?"

"Huh? Sure!" Tenma let the yellow fairy onto his hand and passed it to Komori.

Komori gently pet it, "Kawaii…" she smiled sweetly, "Sharufeiru, Capatain."

"Huh?"

Komori gasped, "I- um, I mean, thank-you…" She bowed, placing Pixie down and ran back to her table.

"There you go, " Liberta muttered after finishing changing Ibuki's bandages.

The keeper starred at his arm, "Thanks…"

Liberta leaned closer to get a at Ibuki's face. "You really look like Naoto… are you sure you're not long last twins…?"

Ibuki pushed the tanned boy aside, "Of course not! We're from different planets!"

"I guess you're right…"

"Were you also forced to play with us?" Ibuki finally asked.

"Hmph, of course." The Melfen boy snorted, "but it's better than back home."

Ibuki massaged his injured arm as if remembering his experience outside the wall. "I guess…"

"Anyways, we'd better start heading to the stadium." Liberta wrapped up the conversation and walked out.

"This day has finally come. With their planets on the line, the match between Sandorius Eleven and Earth Eleven is about to begin." An octopus-like commentary boomed, riling up the crowd, which were all Sandorians.

In the private team room, Kuroiwa Coach announced the starting eleven. The injured Ibuki, Konoha and Kusaka were obviously benched. Narukami, who was unable to stand the heat was also not playing. Tetsukado was also benched for his leg only healed recently.

"Th-three top?" Shindou gasped at the Coach's order. The change of their usual formation.

"Tsurugi, Matatagi and Komori will be up as forwards, mid-fielders will be Matsukaze, Nozaki and Shindou, the defenders will be Kurogane, Liberta, Minaho and Manabe and finally, the keeper will be Han." Mizukawa said not looking up from her ipod.

Being on Sandorius, the stadium was filled with sand. As the teams walked alongside each other, Tenma realized one person on the other team was not a Sandorian.

"Hmf, what're you looking at?" the large alien sneered. He was much larger and bulkier than the rest of his team. The two large horns on his head and even style of uniform isolated him from the rest of the Sandorius Eleven.

"S-sorry!?" Tenma apologized looking away.

"How could a small weak planet like Earth be worthy enough to even participate I this tournament?" the alien continued to provoke. "I'm Barga Zacks, one of the Faram Obious Shitenou! You guys have no chance against me!"

"Kheh, we never asked you're name…" Han sneered to himself.

"Barga, quit it!" the captain of the Sandorius Eleven snapped, "This our team, don't act on your own."

Barga just snorted cynically as he made his way back to the bench.

"I apologize for my teammate's rudeness." The captain bowed, "I'm Kazeruma Warg."

Shaking his outstretched hand, Tenma introduced himself.

"I hope we have a fair game." Kazeruma nodded and went back to the bench himself.

"Shintenou, huh?" Liberta smiled to himself, "Didn't think they'd come this quickly."

Both teams took their places on the field. "Kick Off!"

Matatagi kicked the ball behind him like usual, however, since the formation was different from usual and the decreased gravity, the ball was kicked all the way to the defenders.

"Sheesh…" Liberta sighed as he trapped the ball.

"Liberta, pass over here!" Tenma yelled as he ran up the sideline.

The libero passed it without a second thought. But as the ball went to the captain's possession, Barga tackled Tenma down, just enough not to get a foul, and stole the ball.

"Weak puny human." Barga laughed and passed the ball to his teammate. The crowd's cheer grew louder as the ball was now in the home team's possession.

"That's cheap!" Tetsukado yelled from the bench.

"This is what it means to put your planet on the line…" Mizukawa stated coldly.

"B-but…"

The ball was quickly brought to the net. Kicking the sand on the ground up into the air, the Sandorian forward blinded Han before shooting the ball. Even with his vision clouded, Han successfully caught the ball in one hand.

"Argh, it burns…" Han cursed as he tried to wipe the dirt from his eyes. "Using puny tricks like that…"

"Heh, we'll do whatever we can to win…" the forward sneered.

"Tch," Han kicked the ball up to Alsius.

As Alsius brought the ball up, the defenders kicked some sand up creating a small sandstorm, "I guess, these guys can see in this… uh…" some sand went into her mouth causing her to gag and the ball was swiped from her possession.

"Leave it to me," Minaho copied the defender's movements, finding an opening and stealing the ball from him, "Trace Press!"

"Nice defense, Minaho!" Tenma encouraged as he received the ball from him.

The Sandorian Captain, Gazenuma, went up to steal the ball from Tenma. He didn't kick the sand up like his teammates, trying to steal the ball fairly.

"Z-Slash!" Zig-zaging, Tenma zoomed past Gazenuma leaving a burnt marking on the field in the shape of the alphabet 'Z'.

Passing the ball to Tsrugi, the ace striker released his hissatsu, "Bicycle Sword!"

"Sand Knock!" As the Sandorian keeper did an uppercut motion, sand in the shape of a fist rose up stopping Tsurugi's tremendous shoot.

"What!?"

The keeper passed the ball to Gazenuma, but it was easily intercepted. By Liberta.

Jumping up into the air along with the ball, Liberta looked like he was soaring through the air. As he landed, a Sandorian defender attempted to blind the player with their sand trick. Liberta dribbled past unaffected.

"What, how?" the shocked defender gasped.

Leaping up once more, Liberta performed a backflip kicking the ball with its momentum, "Oozora Blade!"

"Sand kno-"

"G-goal! The first point was made by Earth Eleven!" The commentary announced after a slight pause. It seemed like he didn't expect this.

"L-Liberta, how did you dribble in that sandstorm?" Tenma asked after congratulating his teammate.

Liberta grinned while turning to show the captain his face. The goggles which were usually hanging from his neck were over his eyes. "If I'm wearing these, the sand won't bother my eyes a bit."

"Such a simple solution…" Shindou sighed.

"Hey, Liberta…" Han groaned, still trying to wipe the sand out of his eyes, "Give those to me. I'm the keeper, I need them the most!"

"Huh? No way!" Liberta replied.

"Just this once… Please!" Han asked once more and Liberta reluctantly agreed.

"Barga, stop making my teammates do those rough plays. It's a disgrace to our planet!" Gazenuma yelled at the large alien.

Barga snorted, "Gazenuma-san, this isn't just any match. Sandorius' destiny depends on it. Throw away that puny pride and play like you mean it!"

"Even without those cheap tricks, I know our team can win!" Gazenuma growled.

"Oh, but in reality we're still losing, I still have some tricks up my sleeve you know…"

"No! No more!" The Sandorian captain yelled, "This is my team, Sandorius' team, I expect an outsider like you, to just listen and do as we say!"

The bulky alien sighed, "Fine… but if don't make any points, or if they almost score by half-time, I'll expect you to do as I say."

"What!?"

Barga leaned over and whispered into his ear, "I already got some followers in your team… Gazenuma-san. I'd be careful if I were you…"

Before Gazenuma could ask any more questions, Barga trotted back to his postion.

Episode 21 preview

The battle between Earth Eleven and Sandorius Eleven continues and the Sandorian's plays start to get even rougher. The distrust between members become more evident and a new Soul is revealed. Which Planet will prevail and get one step closer in saving their planet? Episode 21: Sandorius: VS Sandorius Part 2.