Chapter 15: Minor Leagues

"Well there, partner." Grubba said to Double D and his team, all of them and Jolene all meeting in the minor league locker room. "Nice! Y'all did a fine job on that arena. And you did just fine out there, appealing to the crowds. A, if I do say do. Good luck with the way up!"

"Yes, then." Jolene said. "I believe your pay is in order."

She handed Double D 4 coins.

"Oh and your ranking had increased to 19! Now if' you'll excuse me, I must be going. Good day." She said politely before leaving.

"That was awesome!" Nazz said happily.

"Rolf must confess, that was quite… how you say… sweet?" Rolf said.

"Yo there!" One of the other people in the locker room.

It was a Koopa with a gold-colored shell, and cool-looking sunglasses.

"Hi." Jimmy greeted.

"Hey! The name's King K! Wazzup, E-man?" He asked Double D.

"Well, the real name's Edward, but I guess I'm Eduardo around here." Double D said.

"Newbies." Another fighter scoffed.

"Cool it, Cleftor. Yeah, sure they're new. Give 'em a break, you were once too!" King K scolded before looking back at the team. "I saw you're moves out these, E-man. You and your team rock! So dude, let me show you the group!"

King K pointed to a bomb-omb.

"So, this here is Master Crash. He's like, a total nerd. Ah, but he's cool to all of the newbies and would, like, be a good mentor. We all dig him."

"Hey… what do you BOMB mean, Nerd?" Master Crash heard him.

"You were listening? Not cool, dude. Okay, this guy here is called Cleftor." He pointed to a guy who looked like a rock.

It had no arms, but a huge cleft chin.

"Hrmf. Cleftor no like. Newbies annoying."

"Cleftor acts all tough, but deep down we all know he's a softy." King K whispered to the group, who laughed.

"What King K say?"

"Nothing'. And this dude here is Bandy Andy." He pointed to a guy in a long green shirt and a hood, with a mask to conceal his identity.

"Hey…" Andy said shyly.

"Me and him, we're real tight. We entered this gig at the same time, and now we're best friends." King K said.

"Thanks." Andy said. "Now if' you'll excuse me, I must be going. Good day." Andy said, quoting Jolene before walking into the hallway.

"He's secretive, though. Bummer, because we don't see as much of each other as we did back in the day." King K said.

"Where's the rest of the minor league fighters?" Jimmy asked.

"In the other minor league locker room. There's, like no way we all would fit in the same one."

"Nice to meet you." Double D said politely. "These guys on the team are Nazz, Jimmy, and Rolf."

"Hey there dude! Like, cool to meet someone around these parts who's friendly like that." Nazz said.

"Nazz…" King K said, with hearts in his eyes.

He was non-responsive until Double D literally had to snap him out of it.

"Oh! I'm listening, who else?" King K asked.

"I am Rolf!" Rolf stood in a proud position showing King K the Puni necklace he was wearing. "Son of a Shepard, and almighty hero of the Punies!"

"Punies?"

"Long story." Double D said simply.

"Hi. I'm Jimmy. To tell you the truth, I'm not completely attracted to this whole violence thing."

"Aw, it's not like that! It's just sport, that's all." King K assured.

"Nice to meet you all." Double D said. "Now, let's get back out there."

He walked over to the monitor and pushed a button.

"So, back already Partner? Ambitious to rise to fame? Well that's the spirit! Okay, now you shall fight, ranked 18 in the stands… the KP Koopas! Okay, this time I want y-all to avoid attacking your opponent for three full turns. That last match of your was too short. So… King K!"

King K walked over to the monitor.

"You and your team is going against Team Eduardo! Okay, and I want you to end this battle in five turns! Got it?" Grubba asked. King K nodded. "Good. And Good luck to both teams. Your match will begin in ten minutes."

The monitor turned off.

"So, what-cha get for an additional rule?" King K asked Double D.

"Mine was to refrain from an attack for three turns."

"O Jeez, mine was to end the battle in 5 turns! Back luck, man!"

"What does he mean, turns?" Nazz asked.

"Oh, like, a turn is the cycle of everyone on both teams doing an action." King K said.

"Okay. Hey, you say you have a team?" Double D asked.

"Ya. They're at the Juice Bar, looking for chicks. I'm just going to go get them before the fight begins, 'k? See ya!" King K walked from the room and out the door. At the same time, Mario and his team walked in.

"Double D! That was awesome!" Goombella said as they walked in.

"Yeah! Those back flips where cool." Koops said to Nazz.

"Thanks." she said. "Just like I've said before, a babysitter has to know this stuff."

"Hm. Mario, when shall we fight?" Flurrie asked Mario.

"Ah! We-a-will arrange it now!" Mario walked up to the monitor.

"Ah! I was wondering when I would hear from you, Gonzales. Okay, since this here's your first battle, I am going to put against ranking 20 in the list… the Goomba Bros! Okay, for the fight, I want you to appeal to the crowd. You know, show off! Your match is reserved now. Y-all be ready in 20 minutes." Grubba's face vanished and the signal ended.

"20 minutes? Why the long wait?" Goombella asked.

"Sorry, but we reserved another match that will start in… oh, six minutes now." Double D said.

"Eh, fine with me." Goombella said.

"Hey, let's return to Glitzville center. Maybe we can get some lunch?" Koops asked.

"We'll have lunch after our match. Whoever does-a-get hit first buys lunch." Mario said.

"Ha! You're on!" Goombella said.

"So, folks! Already, Team Eduardo wants to fight again! Such determination!" Grubba shouted into his MIC.

"Let's see this!" King K said with his two team-mates, one was a Koopa similar to him, and the other was a Paratroopa, one with wings.

"So! Let's introduce TEAM EDUARDO!" Grubba screamed in the mike.

Team Eduardo arrived and stood on the ring.

"Do you care for us to teach you a lesson?" Double D asked on behalf of his team.

"Yo dude, I'll take ya down!" King K said, as the leader of his team.

"LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!" Grubba shouted.

"Okay, remember our strategy. Use your turns defending, or try to power up." Double D said as the fight began. They nodded.

King K threw his shell at Double D in a similar fashion of Koops. Double D waited until he was close enough, then put up his rod to defend himself. King K bounced off the rod and stood.

"Go, dude!" King K shouted.

The other Koopa flew at Double D in a faster way, knocking him off guard. The attack hit the wind out of Double D. The Koopa went and hit Nazz behind him, which was deflected by a block, thus ending her role in the turn as well. Jimmy went into a defensive position as his turn and was able to defend himself from the attack of the Paratroopa.

Rolf also defended for his role.

"That's one turn…" Double D said.

"Go!" King K shouted.

The other Koopa attacked first, hitting all but Rolf who remained in his defensive position.

"Everyone, defend!" Double D said. Nazz, Jimmy and Double D defended, all ending their turns.

King K threw himself at Double D, doing minimal damage. The Paratroopa hit Rolf hard in the stomach when it flew over.

"I shall use my turn to heal my body!" Rolf proclaimed, eating a mushroom he stored in his pocket and regaining some health.

"That's two…" Double D said. "Everyone defend!"

Everyone on the team defended themselves this time and took hits from all KP Koopas.

"Okay team!" Double D said. "That was three turns! Let's give it everything we got!"

"Got-cha!" Nazz said.

She back flipped across the arena and jumped at King Koops, knocking him down on his shell.

"Good, Rolf!" Double D pointed. Rolf nodded and ran to the King K and hit him with his bag.

King K fell down and didn't get up.

"Alright, he's out! Now for the winged one!" Double D said.

"I'll do it!" Jimmy jumped into the air and blew a hard swing with his staff. It's wings vanished and it landed on the floor, turning it into a normal Koopa.

"Now me." Double D thought. He jumped into the air and landed on one of the Koopas, knocking it down on the floor.

But the other one was still up. It flew across the rink with a shell toss. Double D stood ready to absorb the strike, but Nazz ran in front of the way to take the hit. Double D was about to object, but Nazz dodged the Koopa by jumping on it, and landed on the Koopa with a spin.

It was knocked to the floor.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, a rare moment indeed!" Grubba interrupted. "We have seen someone do a perfect super-guard!"

"Now, let's take them DOWN!" Double D said. Nazz ran over to one of the Koopas and knocked it out of the battle.

"Who wants the final blow?" Double D asked.

"I'll take it!" Jimmy said. He ran and threw his staff down on the Koopa.

"Checkmate." Double D said.

"WE HAVE A WINNER! TEAM EDUARDO WINS!" Grubba said, pointing at them. A loud cheer emerged from the crowds.

"Gee. I hope they're not too hurt." Double D said as he looked at them.

"…no, we're fine. Good match." King K said, dazed.

"So?" Nazz asked. "You want to join the others for lunch?"

"Yes. I believe we need a break!" Double D said.

The rest of the day resulted in a couple more fights for Team Eduardo. They by the end of the day rose to rank 15. They did all of the fights in good time, without any losses and followed every rule they had to. Team Gonzales also did well, receiving a ranking of 17.

"Sock head!" Eddy shouted loudly when he saw the team return to his stall by sunset. "Why didn't you tell me you were planning to be a fighter! Dude, that's so cool!"

"It turns out the Crystal Star is on the champ's belt!" Nazz answered. "If we want to get it, we have to become the champs!"

"That's seriously cool! I'll be rooting for you. Oh, check this out!" Eddy popped open his register to reveal many, many coins.

"Oh my word!" Double D said, observing the huge amounts.

"Bling Bling! Did I score big or what!" Eddy asked cockily.

"You have truly been a success in this dimension." Double D admitted.

"Yeah." Eddy said, starring at the money as if he were in love. "Now, I got to be headed for the store!"

"What for?"

"Jawbreakers, what else?"

"Eddy, I'm not sure they do sell those here."

"Yeah, we'll see sock head!" Eddy said as he walked away.

"This is the minor league bunk room." Jolene showed the teams a room filled with bunk beds, each one with a name on it. "This is the Men's bedroom, and the women's room in the next area here."

Jolene showed the girls a different way.

"Good night, guys." Nazz said, heading to the women's room.

"Sweet dreams." Koops said as Jolene led Nazz, Goombella and Flurrie out, leaving Mario, Koops, Double D, Rolf and Jimmy.

"So, we hit the sac now, right?" Koops asked.

"Sure. God night, guys." Mario said.

"Good night, Gonzales." the other minor league fighters said in their beds.

They all climbed into the beds with their names written on them. Double D took the blanket on his bed and replaced it with his own. He just preferred it better. He wondered about the future events to come, and allowed himself into a deep sleep...