For the Love of the Game

      New year.

      New season.

      “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Rinok groaned.

      “Again?” Minae sighed.

      “We’re really starting the season off against Roo Island?” I asked in dismay.

      “We started last year’s Cup against the previous year’s winners too!”

      “Yeah and look how well that turned out,” Rinok muttered.

     “That doesn’t mean anything,” Osielle said.

     “Winning makes you cocky,” Prytariel said. “Let’s take them by surprise, yeah?”

      “Let’s get this over with,” Rinok muttered.

     I was surprised that our team made the first score of the game. Osielle made a bold move with the help of a glove power-up from the center of the field. I wasn’t the only one surprised. Even from across the field, I could see the shock on Billaban, the rival goalkeeper’s face.

     Unfortunately, the rest of the match went downhill from there. Roo Island smoked us. If it weren’t for some strategically used power-ups, we would have only managed a measly two goals. My heart sank down to my toes. This did not bode well for the rest of the season.

     I was right.

     We gave our all but it wasn’t enough. We lost more than we won. Each loss weighed heavily on me. My poor performance certainly didn’t help but nothing I tried made it any better. I knew my days were numbered.

     One game that stuck out to me was one we had mid-season against Tyrannia. Like Meridell, they used a 3+1 formation, focusing on offence rather than defence. Like us, they hadn’t fared too well in the Cup and we were closely ranked. Though, this was the first time we would be facing each other. For the first time in a while, I had high hopes for the match.

      “We have a chance to win this one,” I said.

      Minae shrugged. “Or we could draw.”

      “Don’t say that!” Rinok groaned.

      “Elbin’s got the right idea,” Prytariel said with a nod. “Until the time runs out, there’s always a chance to win it.”

      “Then let’s make the Forsaken Five change their name to the Failed Five,” Osielle said.

      “The Fallen Five.”

      “The Forgotten Five.”

      “The Fearful Five.”

      “The F-f-” Rinok screwed up his face as he tried to think before giving up. “I dunno-the some word that starts with F- Five.”

      “The Feeble Five,” I suggested, helping my fellow defender out.

      Rinok chuckled. “Yeah that!”

      We fell silent as we made it out to the field. The time for jokes was over. The Forsaken Five were no lightweight opponents. They had the same fiery determination we did. Winning this game wouldn’t be easy.

      The game started off hot with a fire Yooyu. There was a scuffle between Osielle and Guilako-Tyrannia’s right forward-for it. Suddenly, the Yooyu flew off in a random direction. I frowned as no one went after it. Then ice poured over me, horrified as I saw the reason why.

      Osielle was collapsed in the middle of the field. Medics were already there, the game paused as they checked him out. The rest of us rushed over. I was all too familiar with this scene. I’d had my fair share of injuries over the years.

      I came up on a heated argument between Osielle, Prytariel and a medic.

      “I still want to play!” Osielle snapped.

      “Your wing got singed. You shouldn’t be putting it under any strain,” the medic advised.

      “One game isn’t gonna hurt it. I’ll push through.”

      “That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do.”

      “My team needs me!”

      “Your team needs you to be healthy and well,” Prytariel said firmly. She sighed. “We’ll forfeit the game.”

      “No!”

      “Then what do you suggest we do?”

      “Switch places with me!” I offered.

      Prytariel and Osielle both looked at me but didn’t immediately reject the idea so I continued.

      “Defence doesn’t get as much action as offence does. Os can rest his wing but still stay in the game. I used to play offence before I joined the team. I’m familiar with our strategies. It’s just one game. What do you say?” I held my breath, not daring to hope as my captain deliberated.

      Prytariel looked thoughtful. “It could work.”

      Osielle sighed. “What other choice do we have?”

      “Alright, let’s do it!”

      I released my huff of breath in relief, but hid my enthusiasm, not wanting to rub it in Osielle’s face that I was taking his position-however temporary. I almost couldn’t believe I had been given this chance. I was finally going to be able to show my team what I could really do. It was only one game but that would have to be enough. I was back on offence!

      I took Osielle’s position as right forward. Things looked different from here. I had missed being at the heart of the action. I hadn’t expected this opportunity but I was thrilled. I wasn’t going to waste it.

      Naturally, it did not go smoothly.

      The game continued with a mutant Yooyu. I met Guilako and even though he was heavier than I was, we were otherwise equally matched. He had the Yooyu in his racket and I tackled him, determined not to let him get away with it. It was like shoving a boulder for all the good it did. He merely grunted and shoved me back, sending me tumbling.

      I got back on my feet and confronted him again. Every attempt he made to move forward, I was there to block him. He glowered at me with his heavy lidded eyes and I glared back. He charged me and I held my ground, dodging at the last second. He was thrown off balance by his own momentum and I took the opportunity to steal the Yooyu.

      I booked it towards Tyrannia’s goal but had to dodge the two other forwards on their side. Prytariel was behind me and I knew I couldn’t depend on her help at the moment. Just then a goal power-up appeared and I made a grab for it. I was gonna make it!

      Then, a weight hit my legs from behind and I fell hard, the wind getting knocked right out of me. I knew without looking that Guilako had tackled me. Now I understood why his nickname was “tiny giant”. Helpless in his grip, I could only watch as the mutant Yooyu rolled out of my racket and right into the goal. Yes!

      Next on the field was a clockwork Yooyu. This would be my first time handling one. I pushed down my unease and snagged it first. Unfortunately, Guilako was right there to meet me. We struggled for the Yooyu for agonizing seconds as it began to blink a warning red.

      I locked eyes with Guilako. If he wasn’t gonna let go then neither was I! In the next second, the clockwork exploded. The force of the blast knocked me back, smoke obscuring my vision and the stench of hot metal in my nose. I coughed, blinking to clear my eyes and felt the reassuring hands of my captain as she helped me to rise.

      “Elbin, are you alright?” Prytariel asked.

      I waved off her concern. “I’m alright, Cap. Just a little blown away.”

      Prytariel shook her head but couldn’t hold back a laugh. “This is why I usually let the other team have the clockwork. It’s not worth risking an injury, especially when you’re not guaranteed a goal.”

      “Are you kidding? I had a blast!” I joked, managing a grin.

      “Elbin!”

      I held my hands up in a sign of surrender and we took our respective places on the field.

      I almost couldn’t believe it when I saw a second clockwork Yooyu on the field. This time, I let Guilako take it, unwilling to go against my captain’s judgment. I watched him race down the field but Rinok was able to block his shot. I grinned in satisfaction as Osielle nicked the Yooyu and shot it to an open area of the field. It exploded harmlessly and the game continued.

      We made a couple more goals before a third clockwork came into play. This time, a speed power-up appeared practically at my feet. I took the opportunity it provided and dashed straight for the Yooyu. I had never used a power-up before but I didn’t let that stop me. I zoomed across the field, easily dodging our opponents to score a goal before the clockwork even started flashing.

      I celebrated this in my standard way, my fist pumping the air.

      My celebration was short lived however as a Darigan Yooyu appeared. I groaned and exchanged a look with Prytariel. She gave a minor shake of her head and I understood. Best to give it space as there wasn’t much to be done about it. Defence just needed to make sure it stayed out of our net.

      Following Captain’s orders, I watched as Team Tyrannia tried to deal with the Darigan Yooyu. True to form, it shot all over the field, narrowly missing the goal. It bounced off walls and seemed to take every opportunity to thwart our rivals. I laughed aloud as Benne-Tyrannia’s left forward-shot the Yooyu and it landed squarely in their goal. There’s never a dull moment in Yooyuball.

      There was a brief break in the game where I jumped back in to score with a faerie Yooyu before a second Darigan Yooyu showed up. Once more, Team Tyrannia chased after the Yooyu to no avail. It eluded their attempts to direct it. Unfortunately, this time, it scored a goal for their team. The one good thing about it was that Team Tyrannia had also succeeded in wearing themselves out.

      The last minute passed quickly and despite us making more goals, we still lost. As the game wore on, Osielle’s gameplay had deteriorated and Team Tyrannia had taken full advantage of our defensive weakness. Prytariel and I hadn’t stood a chance against their three offensive players. Yet, I knew I had done my best and was satisfied with the game despite the loss. I just hoped my teammates could say the same.

     Despite an extra year of training with the team, I had continued to underperform. Team Terror Mountain ranked an entire place below what we had last year. There was only so much of that that could be reasonably tolerated. I knew my run as a professional Yooyuball player was coming to an end.

     I was not surprised when Prytariel showed up at the end of the Cup. I was expecting a repeat of our conversation from the end of the previous season but with a much less happy ending.

     “I’m sorry to have to tell you this but you’re just not the right fit for us, Elbin,” Prytariel said regretfully.

     I nodded my head. “I know. I haven’t been the player you needed me to be. Thank you for giving me a chance to play professional Yooyuball but I guess I’m just not cut out for it.”

     “Hold on, Elbin. We’re not just letting you go. We’re trading you to another team.”

     I almost couldn’t believe my ears. “Which one?”

     “Tyrannia.”

     “You mean they’re breaking up the Forsaken Five?!” I was genuinely shocked by this.

     “Yup,” Prytariel confirmed with a nod. “They’re giving us Evrem Guilako in exchange for you.”

     I felt a rush of hope. I was replacing their right offensive player. My mind raced with the possibilities.

     “I wish you the best, Elbin. It was a pleasure having you on my team.”

     “I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

     Prytariel gave me a last smile before slipping out of my hotel room and leaving me to my thoughts.

     I didn’t stay for long though. I always did my best thinking on the move and I left the hotel to stretch my wings. I enjoyed the sun and salty breeze with new vigour. This morning I truly believed I had completely blown my career. Now I had been given a second chance.

     Terror Mountain had never been home.

     I had been used in a position that did not come naturally to me. I had to force myself to meet the team’s needs and it showed. I was slow to pick up defensive postures and strategies and my bold personality didn’t lend itself to taking a back seat on the field. I knew I would never improve if I stayed on the same team. I hated that feeling.

     Even after two years with Terror Mountain, I had never developed a connection to the region or the team. The cold still bothered me and I missed the sun terribly. I couldn’t fly in those conditions, cooped up inside to avoid the terrible weather. I had felt trapped, unable to adapt. I had simply endured.

     As for the team, I had continually felt like an outsider. I respected Prytariel as captain and she led the team well but I felt that she was perhaps not as strong as she could be. She was lax in many areas and let behaviours and attitudes slide that were completely unacceptable on other teams. She had given me a chance to play professionally and I wouldn’t forget that. I was just thankful that I no longer had to struggle under her often scatterbrained leadership.

     Minae was great as a friend. She had some incredible skills but her work ethic was severely lacking. I truly believed that she could be a great player if she actually applied herself. Unfortunately, she had the horrible habit of laziness and lack of focus to succeed. I had been frustrated more than once by her slacking off.

     Rinok was supposed to be my fellow defender. He was a great player and we had a lot in common personality-wise. Perhaps too much as we often butted heads-literally and figuratively. He tended to over-guard, making up for my lack of defensive experience but that made things worse. We never developed a rapport to overcome these issues.

     Osielle was bossy and often supported Rinok when the two of us had an issue. He acted like he knew everything and behaved as if he were better than me. I hated his condescension and lack of understanding. Outnumbered, there was no way for me to fight back but even if I did, it would only make things worse. So, I suffered in silence.

     Now I would have a new team.

     A new opportunity.

     To be continued…