Throughout the next few weeks, Larry and the Chucks were winning basically all their games. It hadn't been this good with any of their past quarterbacks since Charlie. Larry was the best next to him. Today's game was against the Sumo Bros. They were known for playing rough, being tough, and sending others to the hospital. The Chucks were a bit nervous but Larry was unfazed. Mostly because he was naive and unaware of how dangerous this team could be.
It was a few minutes before the game started and everyone was getting seated. The Koopalings sat in the stands, Iggy and Morton both cheering loudly for their baby bro. Ludwig was silent for the most part and trying to keep Lemmy seated. Roy was waiting for the match to start and lastly Wendy was tweaking her makeup. Larry didn't care much about what they were doing, he was just glad they were all there. It was time for the game to begin.
He and the Sumo Bros leader stood front and center for the coin toss. The Sumo Bro was staring Larry down. He stared right back. The coin was flipped and the Sumos were doing the kickoff. Larry and his team readied themselves. They kicked it and the ball went flying. The game had begun.
They were mid-game now and both of the teams were bruised and a little bloody. The two teams were tied right now. Larry was coming up with a strategy with his team in a huddle. They were finally ready and moved into their positions, but the Sumos were still in a huddle.
"If we take down the shrimp, the whole team will fall. Aim for the shrimp, got it?" The leader said. They all nodded. They then got into their positions and the game continued. Little by little Larry's team members were getting taken down by the Sumos' tackles. He was the last one left and he had the ball; time to run.
He began running. One Sumo came at him and he swerved to the left. Another one came and he veered to the right. He was almost at the goal post when a Sumo came at him again. He couldn't turn left or right to avoid him, nor slide through his legs. He was coming at it him quickly so he braced for impact. The Sumo rammed him and his body was almost immediately knocked down. Larry's helmet crashed hard into the floor and his head was rattling inside. The Sumo's body landed on top of his with a loud thud. Larry's vision was blurry until everything blacked out. The last things he heard were the referee's whistle and his siblings yelling.
Larry was finally coming to. He groggily sat up and groaned. His head, wrist, and chest hurt the most right now. He wasn't aware that he was in the hospital and not at the game, so he was looking around in a lost manner. The nurse in the room left to call his siblings. They all swarmed in and circled around the bed.
"My helmet...? Where's my helmet...?" Larry asked. His words were a bit slurred.
"Here, Larry." Ludwig said passing it to Larry. "You're in the hospital now, ok?" Larry stared blankly.
"The game...? Did we win it...?" Ludwig shook his head.
"Your team were worried, so they forfeited this match." Larry stared blankly and blinked slowly.
"It's all my fault that we lost... I wasn't good enough..." He covered his face.
"Now don't say that!" Roy exclaimed. "Your teammates need you and you're a great player!" Larry uncovers his face and stares blankly again.
"Where's my helmet?"
"You're holding it." Ludwig replied.
"Oh..." Larry inspects the helmet. "Aw man... There's a dent in it... Kamek'll be mad..." Ludwig sighs and turns to his other siblings.
"He's really out of it... I hope he's ok." Finally the doctor arrives. "Finally, what's wrong with our brother?" The doctor looks down at his clipboard. He shakes his head.
"I'm afraid he won't make it...-" The doctor pauses and the Koopalings tense up. "-without the proper rest!" They all glare. "It appears that he has suffered a concussion. Stars know what could've happened if he wasn't wearing that helmet." They all stare at the helmet and its huge dent. "Surprisingly, he didn't get any ribs or any innards broken from that Sumo Bro being on top of him. Don't worry though. He should be better by tomorrow or so. I'll just get him ready to go home." The doctor left. Larry groaned.
"I really don't feel-" he hung over the side of the bed and puked before he could finish his sentence. Iggy gagged upon seeing that.
"Yep, I'm out." And with that he walked out the room. He puked and gagged a bit more before finally flopping onto his back. He groaned again. The doctor returned. He didn't comment on the puke on the floor.
"You guys are free to take him home. Make sure he gets a lot of rest. No sports for a week or so." Ludwig nodded and the doctor left. He turns to Larry and tugs on his arm. He doesn't budge. Ludwig sighs and pulls him out of the bed and onto the floor. Larry is wobbly and almost falls over, but Ludwig catches him. Ludwig sighs louder and Roy ends up just carrying him. They eventually head home.
When they arrive home and Ludwig takes Larry. He takes him to bed and tucks him in. He puts a bucket beside his bed just in case he vomits again. He checked to make sure Larry was ok. Good, he was. Larry was fast asleep. He left Larry's room and closed the door gently. He then turned to Roy who was standing outside of the room. Ludwig did not look happy in the slightest. Roy fixed his shades nervously.
"You do realize I'm blaming this on you, right." Roy rubs his arm. "He could've got seriously hurt! And playing with kids six years older than him or even more?! Of course he'd get hurt!"
"Hey it's not like I wanted him to get hurt! The kid's tough, so he'll be fine! And since when did you care about his safety? You're being such a mom!" Roy spat.
"I'm not being a 'mom', Roy. It's a little thing called responsibility. You should try it sometime."
"Oh wow! Lud's sooo responsible! You want a reward?!"
"Grrrrr! I could just ring your neck and pop your head clean off your body, but wouldn't want my hands to get dirty with your foul blood!"
"Oh yeah?! I'd like to see you try, Luddy!" They were getting progressively louder and closer to actually duking it out. Lemmy came to intervene, since he heard them yelling. He stepped in between them and put his hands up implying them to stop.
"Larry's getting better, so you gotta be quiet." He put one finger over his lips. Roy huffed and crossed his arms, while Ludwig sighed and placed his hands on his hips.
"I suppose Lemmy IS right... But I don't think Larry should continue with this brutish sport." Ludwig said.
"Hmph! Good luck breaking it to the kid." And with that the two Koopas went their own separate ways. Lemmy sighed and went off on his own way as well.
Later during the evening, Larry woke up. He slowly and groggily made his way down the stairs. Ludwig was first to notice him so he went over.
"Larry, how are you feeling?"
"My head's totally killing me... My body aches a little, and I'm kinda hungry. What happened and how long was I out for?" Larry rubbed the back of his head.
"You got knocked down pretty hard and you passed out. You got a concussion, but you'll be ok. Don't you remember getting knocked down?" Larry shook his head.
"All I remember is that Sumo Bro coming at me, then things went black..."
"Well... It doesn't matter all that much, so let's get you something to eat." Larry nodded and the two headed to the kitchen. Larry only ate a little, and complained about being tired, so he ended up going to bed. Hopefully tomorrow he'd be a bit better.