The following morning, the sun had barely made it to the sky and the members of the team were already up and running. They were finally having a match! It was between them, not some other team, but it was still good and all. One team was made up of Micro-Ice, Tia and Mei and the other of Mira, D'Jok and Thran, while Ahito was at the goal, blocking both teams. After that match, they all trained for hours to come, only having a small lunch break, before going back to training. At the end of the day, Mei returned to her room, while everyone else decided to go by the cafe and relax a bit. Mira hugged her mother, who she had yet to actually see since the start of training and they talked, along with Micro-Ice, while everyone else was watching a match on holo-tv.
"I can't believe they can still watch football after all this training, if I see one more ball, I'll pop it!"The boy complained to his mother, when she asked where the boys were. Mira chuckled at this and Micro-Ice gave her a look, wondering what was funny.
"I'm sorry to say my boy, but you'll be seeing a-lot more balls from now on"Mana-Ice told him and he turned his questioned gaze from his sister to her, but before she could say anything, the whole cafe went nuts and begun yelling. Turning around, the twins saw that Thran and D'Jok were jumping up and down, while Ahito simply sat back and smiled
"What's up with them?"Micro-Ice asked and Mira shook her head lightly, wondering how could her brother be this naive
"We've been made an official team, you idiot!"She explained to her brother, who looked at her with wide eyes, not believing what he had just heard.
That night, every member of the team went to sleep with a smile on their faces, maybe they could really make this happen.
The next morning, Aarch comes into the training room with no-one other than Rocket.
"Rocket,here?"Tia wondered to herself
"Everyone, this is Rocket, he will be playing with you and I want you to make sure he adapts quickly, we don't have much time until our up-coming match"He stated
"A match?"D'Jok asked and the coach nodded his head
"We'll be playing a friendly match against the Wambas in a few days"The coach answered. He gave everyone a few minutes to introduce and them the training begun. They trainied for a few hours and then called training off for the day, much to everyone's surprise.
"Won't we be training after lunch?"Micro-Ice asked
"No, you're given the time to get to know each other a little better and as you've noticed, you're now 8, so I want you to plan out who will be sitting out in the next match"Aarch explained
"What?!"The short boy yelled"That's insane, we can't make that choice! "He added
"I have to agree coach, shouldn't you make that call?"D'Joke wondered
"It's good for you to know when it is best for someone to sit out and when not. If we qualify, then you'll have to do that in every single match from now on, since I don't plan on letting any one of you go any time soon"Aarch told them and then left, leaving the team alone.
They went to eat and talked, said a few things about themselves, but not much. Rocket seemed to adapt rather easily to the rest and soon felt at home. Tia was the closest to him, of course, but he went along greatly with the 'Ice' twins. Time passed by rather fast and it finally came to the important talk of the day, who should stay out of the match for the match.
"I know that everyone wants to be there, but like Aarch said, we have to rule someone out for this match"Rocket spoke and everyone agreed with him.
"We aren't talking out our goalkeeper, we're not that good yet"Micro-Ice joked, making everyone laugh for a few seconds, thankfully lighting up the atmosphere a bit
"Rocket is the passer, he has to be in"Thran points out and everyone agrees with him
"Mei and Thran are the best team in defence right now, there isn't time to change them"Tia added and the rest nodded in agreement, knowing that what she said was true
"And we can't take out Tia or Mira, they have the breath"Ahito remarked and everyone but Mira, agreed with him. While she was glad the lazy boy thought that way, she knew it would mean that Micro-Ice or D'Jok would be out and the team wouldn't let the red-head out, to keep Micro in.
"I think that we could manage with only one user of the breath, it's just a friendly match after all"She replied
"No"Micro-Ice cut it, gaining everyone's eyes on him"It may be a friendly match, but it's still important, it's the first time we'll face anyone, the first race as an official team"He added
"Yeah, but the rest don't have to know that they can both use the breath"Mei pointed out, supporting the girl
"They most likely know, they both used it the day of the try-outs"D'Jok responded
"Okay, let's vote then. Who says we can manage with only one user of the breath?"Rocket asked them and only Mei and Mira raised their hands
"Then we have them both play"He ended that disagreement
"Then we only have D'Jok and Mirco-Ice left"Tia said and all eyes turned to the two boys
"I'll stay out"Micro-Ice spoke up, surprising everyone, but his twin sister, who knew he would do that if it came down to it
"What? No, Micro-Ice, we should leave the others to decide"D'Jok tried to stop his best friend
"It's okay D'Jok, I don't mind, I can always play at the second half, as your replacement"The short boy said and D'Jok nodded his head, thanking his best friend for doing this for him
"You won't last more than half time anyway"Micro-Ice joked, smirking at his best friend. The rest of the day passed by in a flash, since the serious matters were now over and soon night had come. The teens all went to their rooms, having spent a good afternoon together, with the exception of Rocket, who was talking with the two girls, discussing different strategies about their up-coming match.
"The Wambas don't have anything unusual, but their flux gives them great flexibility, so we will have to be careful of that"Rocket pointed out, as he re-played part of their latest match on the holo-TV and the two girls agreed with him.
"While I agree, we don't need to be this serious, it's only a friendly match"Mira replied to the dark skinned boy, who gave her a look, but nodded non than less, knowing that what she was saying was true
"We should be getting some rest, we have a long day ahead of us"Tia said to the other two
"Yeah, one more day of Mini-Ice's complaining about being tired after practice"Mira fake-cheered, making the other two laugh. After they said their good nights, Rocket left the room and the two girls were now on the proses of changing, after having taken a bath.
"Today was a good day"Mira said, laying on her bed
"I'm really glad Rocket is here"Tia said back, making Mira chuckle lowly
"Well, he's a good player and a passer, just what we needed!"The older of the twins pointed out
"Yeah..."Tia trailed off "Goodnight Mira"She said to her best friend
"Goodnight Tia"The girl said back and soon after, both girls were fast asleep.
The next few days were very hard and full of training for the up-coming match. When the day was finally here the group could happily say that they had made some great progress. They were all flying to the moon of Ibo, anxiously waiting for their match.
"Can you believe it? We're finally going to play an official match!"Thran exclaimed, as he and the other boys, minus his brother and Rocket, played with GF cards.
"It's only a friendly match dude, relax"Micro-Ice told him, keeping calm
"Yes, but imagine! One day we'll have our own cards!"The older of the twins kept saying
"Thran, 200 point, defender of the...the..."He trailed off and it was only then that he realised something"Wait a second, we don't even have a name, we need to find one"He said to the others
"Thran is right, every official team has a name"D'Jok agreed with him. Sadly though, no one could figure out a good name for the team.
"Relax, we'll think of something"Mira calmed the boys, as she turned to them, before returning to her conversation with Rocket.
They were thinking of some plans and Tia was watching something on her camera, saying she had had enough planing for the day. As the two spoke lowly, a laugh escaped Mira's lips, making Rocket chuckle as well. They had thought of the same thing and had said it at the same time. Great minds think alike. That went unnoticed by everyone, but the lazy goalkeeper, who opened his eyes and looked at the direction of the two for a few seconds with a frown on his face, before closing them again when the laugh had died down. Not much else happened and it wasn't that later that the ship landed on the moon of Ibo.
The two teams and their coaches had lunch together, while laughing and joking around. It was a peaceful evening, perfect to help everyone with their anxiousness before the match. Afterwards, the teens were allowed to walk around and enjoy themselves for a while longer, but were told to be back in 2 hours to get ready for the race. Tia and Mira walked together and talked, while Tia was taking a video of the exotic life of the planet.
"Mira, come here, you're got a call!"Her brother called out to her and the purple haired girl left, leaving Tia alone. Said girl sat on a big rock at kept working on her video, when Rocket came over
"Hey"He greeted her
"Hey"She replied, keeping her attention to her camera
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"The boy asked her and Tia nodded and closed her camera, waiting for the other to speak
"You didn't tell them, did you?"He asked her and Tia looked at him with question, not realizing what the passer was talking about
"You didn't tell them that I was Aarch's nephew"He explained
"No"Tia answered, realization flashing in her eyes "But I think you should tell them, they will find out sooner or later and it would be better it if they found out from you"She added
"Well, it seems we both have a secret on one knows about"Rocket ramarked with a playful smile on his lips. Tia glanced at him and was about to answer him, but another voice beat her to it
"Well, you're mostly right"Came the cocky reply of Mira, who they were both looking at surprised.
"How long have you been there?"Tia asked her best friend
"And what do you mean by 'mostly right'?"Rocket asked her as well
"A minute or two"Mira said, looking at the white haired girl "And-"
"Excuse me"A middle aged man from Wamba interrupted the girl, who, along with the other two turned to look at him
"Yeah?"Mira spoke first
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you young ladies seem familiar and I was wondering if perhaps we've met before?"He inquired, looking between the two girls, a small smile on his lips
"Hm..."Mira thought for a few seconds"Oh, I remember you! You were at the last meeting I attended with my father a few months ago, when the ambassadors were meeting at the Obia Moon!"She exclaimed, suddenly remembering the man.
"Now I remember, you're Mister Michelle's daughter"He said, recalling the day Mira had mentioned "And you, miss?"He asked, looking at Tia
"She was there as well"The purple haired girl said before Tia could answer, much to her horror "She's the daughter of the Obia moon ambassadors"She added
"Ah, yes, yes, I remember now"The man said and nodded his head "It was good to see you again, but now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go"He added and left after giving a small bow.
"What were you thinking Mira?!"Tia yelled at her best friend, with anger in her eyes"Now everyone will find out and so will my parents!"She added. Mira stayed impassive and just smiled at her best friend
"Well, let them"She said, as if it was the most simple thing in the world
"What do you mean 'let them'?! Mira, they won't ever allow me to play football!"She kept yelling
"Oh, stop yelling for a minute and listen to me you dump girl"Mira said and smirked, as she placed both her hands on the other girl's shoulders "You don't have to worry"She begun explaining
"How can you say that?"Tia asked her, much calmer now
"Trust your best friend, when ever was I wrong?"Mira pointed out and Tia slowly nodded her head, waiting to listen what her best friend had to say
"Remember how I left cause I got a phone call?"She asked and Tia nodded her head again
"Well, that was my father"She kept saying and Tia motioned for her to continue "And he called me to tell me... that he talkedwithyourparentsandtheyareallowingyoutoplay!"She said in one breath, excitement getting the better of her. Tia blinked once, then twice and a gigantic smile appeared on her lips, before she begun jumping up and down, along with her friend, laughing. A mere minute later, Tia realized that Rocket was still there and stopped, only to look at Rocket, who was chuckling lowly.
"Well, that's good news, congratulations Tia"Rocket told her and she smiled and thanked him, then turned and hugged Mira tightly, thanking her over and over again. Rocket was about to open his mouth to say something, but stopped when Micro-Ice came running over
"Hey you three, come on, we don't have much time left!"He called out to them
"Coming!"Mira responded and and got off the rock, followed by the other two, as Micro-Ice took them to the locker rooms. Tia was smiling brightly all the way long, she was going to do her best today, that was a promise!