Match 4: Netherlands V England

Keukenhof Botanical Gardens, Lisse, Netherlands

Local Time: 11:00

The camera crew selected their optimal recording location. Cameras were rolled to capture an artistic view of the surrounding fields to narrow in on the competition zone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final round of the preliminary matches! We are here in the Netherlands for their match against Team England. With a princess, royal consort, and staff member on each team, whose royalty will prevail?" Soar commentated. He stepped back to allow the cameras a wide shot of the flower garden. "And welcome to paradise!"

His expression grew grim as the cameras focused. "The paradise is short lived, however. It's time for battle. Princess Sally. Princess Blaze."

The two princesses bowed to each other respectfully. Sally was the first to speak. "You're in my territory now." She teased.

"Defeat us and America, and we'll get you a final match in Buckingham Palace." Blaze wagered.

"A very generous offer… We accept." She added with a smile.

Blaze sighed and shook her head. "Your confidence amuses me."

"US overconfident? You're the pyromancer with a taking over the world problem."

"You shall remain as a jester." Blaze concluded, small flames emerging from her hands. She removed her purple coat, remaining in her one piece outfit.

Sally likewise took her stance, waiting to be sent off. Soar took the center. "Round one. Ready? GO!"

Sally performed a side flip that left Blaze impressed. She followed it into a drop kick that the other princess leaned away from. Sally stood back up quickly, meeting a hammer punch to the neck. Blaze then directed a left cross to her shoulder. Sally backed away to narrowly avoid an axe kick.

She sent out a turning side kick of her own, hitting Blaze up the jaw. She took a rough landing, but recovered with impressive speed. Blaze lined up a top down punch at Sally, but she blocked and swept Blaze's legs. She whistled to call Rouge in.

The sizable bat strode comfortably into combat. Sally attempted a dropkick, but Rouge snatched her legs mid air. She raised Sally up and dropped her headfirst. She rolled backwards and surprised an undefended bat with a leaping punch to the gut. Rouge retreated quickly.

Blaze approached Sally only to receive the same treatment. She then grabbed Blaze and drove her knee into the cat's stomach. Sally finished with a backfist to Blaze's jaw, resulting in her calling Rouge again. Unimpressed, she called Nicole in.

The two strikers traded blocked blows. Nicole took a step back and struck Rouge's hip unguarded with the sai. Blaze stood to face the lynx. Nicole reached out and poked her right shoulder. She then leaped with a spin and struck Blaze on the left shoulder, metal bruising the cat's body. Blaze managed to punch Nicole's face, sending her back to the sideline.

She led with a front kick to Sally's midsection that hunched the chipmunk over. Blaze then grabbed her opposition's throat and squeezed, fire emanating from her hands. Sally resisted, brutally beating the cat, but to no use. She could not even scream. After watching for ten seconds, the medical team decided to rush in. They took Sally to the sideline, explaining the ordeal.

They took out a saline bag, water, ice, and alginate, attending to Sally's badly burned neck immediately. Soar took center stage. "That wraps it up! By our medical staff's consideration, Sally should no longer compete. She is too badly burned to safely continue, but will recover." His expression grew excited once more. "That means round one goes to Team England!"

Silver ran to Blaze, congratulating her. Shadow and Rouge welcomed her back on the sideline. Khan, Marine, and Nicole supported Sally as the medics got to work. Khan stared down Blaze furiously.

Soar concluded the episode. "We will be back in a few minutes for round two. Don't go anywhere!"