PIRATES vs NINJAS Super Challenge Showdown

           "Bring it on, ya brittle whelk!"

           "Oh yeah? Say that again with a shuriken in your eye!"

          You turn away from Mystery Island's shoreline and dread slowly creeps into you at the sight. Pirates...and ninjas? What the Feepit? You're hesitant but curiosity gets the best of you, and you take your time strolling over to the commotion. You almost suffocate from the tension in the air. A loud voice booms from behind you.

           "Greetings, stranger! Are you here for the annual showdown?"

          You jump slightly from the sudden appearance of a well-groomed Kyrii. And not just any Kyrii. Your eyes are squinting at the strikingly white teeth that belong to the famous host of Better Than You. The guy has got more glitter to his teeth than his outfit.

           "That depends," you say with a look of suspicion. "What even is this showdown? Pirate and ninja-themed?"

           "You're absolutely correct!" the host announces. "This is our annual Pirates Vs. Ninja Super Challenge Showdown! Every year our beloved pirates and ninjas, veterans and rookies from all over Neopia tackle pirate and ninja-themed challenges to prove who is better! The winning team gets a grand prize of 100,000 Neopoints and the losing team gets booed by the audience until their throats hurt! If you want to participate, signups last for the next five minutes!"

          You walk up to the signup booth. As annoying as the Kyrii host is, the showdown itself could at least be fun, the only question is which team to pick.

          Ninjas are pretty cool and stealthy. You would know because you met a real ninja before. But pirates...get rich as heck. Two minutes pass by until you're sighing as you write your name down. A Coconut Jubjub directs you to one of two beige tent houses. You thank the little coconut. Every step gets lighter while you shrug off the guilt of joining the Pirates team. Hopefully, this whole thing won't eat up your day. You have a spoiled Kadoatie waiting for you at home.

          Your thoughts halt at the racking silence. You haven't entered the tent yet. Looking around, you notice everyone's attention on a large stage with flashing cameras and lights. The Kyrii host marches into the spotlight with a microphone.

           "Welcome one and all to the annual PIRATES VS. NINJAS Super Challenge Showdown!"

          The crowd cheers with excitement. You can't help but secretly cheer along with them. Unfortunately, that secret cheering stops a moment later when you feel a heavy sigh breathing down the back of your neck. Oh no. Not him. Anyone but him.

           "If you don't mind," a deep and raspy ear-grating voice says, "some of us actually know what team they want to pick so if you could just move for us that would be swell."

          You recognize the Pastel Bruce with that voice from anywhere. Harodshi, the geeky neighbour of yours who seems to survive on annoying you with his attitude and mere existence. Not wanting to deal with him, you simply step out of the way for Harodshi to enter and exit the tent in little time.

           "You still here?" Harodshi asks as he pushes up his glasses. "Fine. If you must know, I've been a Grade A ninja for five years running. My talents alone have won many of the challenges PvN has thrown." You simply roll your eyes at the Bruce. "So if you think you can best me in your first year like you're the so-called chosen one, then you might as well turn around and go home. Gosh!" And with that, Harodshi walks past you like he's some high-end celebrity. Dweeb. At least thanks to him, you definitely know which team you'll be picking now.

          It's not like you joined with the intent of duelling Harodshi. However, that sole reason may just become the fuel to your fire. No longer wanting to waste any more time thinking about a certain "Grade A ninja", you quickly step through the tent entrance and come face-to-face with two tall machines. They remind you of those old arcade machines that cheat every single Neopoint out of its victim. You have to blink a few times to adjust to the uncanny glare of the screens. What is with all the bright lights today?

          You approach the one blinking 'Pirates' and immediately press down the join button. A congratulations pops up on the screen, soon followed by whirring noises from below. You crouch down and retrieve a long sturdy wristband with an anchor pattern. You turn it over and bring it close to read aloud the note in tiny print:

           "This is your weather-proof participation band for identification purposes. It allows you to participate in the games and gives access to areas that are restricted to outsiders. There is an orange button you can press and hold to call for help in case of emergencies. DO NOT LOSE THIS WRISTBAND! Doing so will cost your team extra in the end tally."

          So this is your lifeline. You're sort of impressed. The ends of the band close tightly around your wrist by some magnetic force. It starts to emit a faint white glow. Thankfully, this kind of light is one you can tolerate. You try to take the glowing wristband off by prying the ends apart, and you try again and again only to be met with resistance.

          Great. You feel exasperated already. You give up on the wristband and shuffle out of the tent house with nervous excitement.

          In an attempt to ease yourself, you look around at the other contestants for the small chance you'll find someone else you know, making sure to avoid eye contact with Harodshi. You notice the ninja team wearing wristbands similar to yours, the only difference being they had a shuriken pattern rather than an anchor one. On the pirate side, you also notice something, or rather, someone.

          If the dazzling jade on her forehead didn't catch your eye before, then surely her unnatural green glow did. Oh, this is rich. What is the first mate of the infamous Orchid Pirates doing here? You wonder if her crazy captain even permits the crew to leave the flying ship. Sadness briefly overtakes you. It was years ago but you remember the loss of your childhood buddy like it was yesterday.

           "Clover!" You're already calling out.

          The glowing Poogle whips her head to your approaching figure. Her eyes widen in panic, and she's hurrying away in the other direction. Her reaction stings you. You don't allow it to get to you when you see driftwood sticking out from the ground before her. You shout to her, "Watch out!"

          Too bad she trips over herself, landing on her face. You rush to her side and ask if she's alright. You help her up, and she's glowing a darker green. Brushing off the sand stuck to her face, you softly say, "You haven't changed one bit." The embarrassed Poogle scoffs, but soon her pout is replaced by a small smile. "Right back at ya."

          A blaring siren interrupts the moment, causing you both to jump. Huge shadows are cast down on the beach. Clover gasps, "Look up!"

          You listen to her and mimic her gasp. A huge blimp surrounded by several hot-air balloons fills up the sky. Maybe this showdown is a bigger deal than you think. The widescreen on the blimp powers on to stream the Kyrii host in all his sparkling glory. "Contestants, please assemble into pairs on the same team and make your way to the pier! You'll find banana boats waiting there to take you to the first challenge!"

          Well, you're thankful that you don't suffer from seasickness. You look away to tell Clover without an ounce of hesitation, "Let's head over together." Your abrupt declaration catches both of you by surprise. You cough awkwardly, "If it's okay with you." The Poogle smirks, nodding, "Only if it's okay with you."

          It's difficult to stop yourself from snorting out loud. Cheeky as ever. Always has been. You check in at the pier with Clover as your partner. While waiting in line, the two of you catch up with each other. Once on the banana boat, the ride is smooth across much calmer waters. A large ship comes into view, and its top wooden deck is marked with white lines defining some sort of playing field. Two goalposts rest on either end of the deck.

           "Oy, I hope this really is what I think it is!" Clover exclaims.

          You mull over your own speculations, "And what is that?"

          She answers, "Deckball." Then she turns to you, grinning widely. "And I wreck in that game."

          Deckball, eh? And Clover's a natural? They might as well just give the point to your team. Climbing onto the ship deck, you do notice that Harodshi is glaring at you and Clover. The dweeby ninja probably doesn't like the fact that your team has two good Deckball players instead of just one so you just ignore him.

           "Round one, start!" A Mynci referee calls as he drops the first deckball onto the field. Immediately Harodshi does a weird Shenkuu pose before sprinting straight to the deckball as you and Clover do the same...well the second part anyway. The Poogle however has the upper hand thanks to her brute strength and is able to not only outrun the Bruce, but also trip him over, sending the deckball into the ninja team net with a single kick. Wow, Clover said she wrecked at Deckball but you never thought she'd wreck that good!

           "Told ya I was good, bud," Clover proudly says. "No pirates are better at Deckball than the Orchid Pirates."

           "Whatever, so you got a lucky shot and maybe some talent," Harodshi says. Seriously, does this Bruce have an off button? "But this means nothing for you pirates. Even the best ninjas have their fumbles but they just get better, faster and stronger when they get back up. Enjoy your little victory for now because it'll be your last."

          Thirty minutes and many deckball goals later, Pirates score 27 and Ninjas score a pathetic 5, an obvious win for the pirates. Maybe the dweeb and his ninjas were able to score a few times with their stealth and speed, but when it comes to Deckball, that can only go so far when playing a game made for pirates. Clover celebrated the team's little victory with the other pirates while you simply took pleasure in watching Harodshi whine in that annoying voice of his that he shamed his team as the other ninjas watched the pirates in disappointment.

          More games come and go, all of them themed around either pirates or ninjas. You notice that depending on the theme, one of the teams would have the advantage and usually win. But of course, with the combined talents of you, Clover and Harodshi, there have been exceptions. Before you know it, the final challenge is already underway. Uh-oh, River Rush, a ninja-themed game and the team scores are tied 7-7? You don't want to admit it but your team could actually be in trouble. Even worse, you see the Bruce smirking almost evilly from the corner of your eye. This must be his best game.

          Your rivalry doesn't go unnoticed by Clover. As much as you tried to hide it throughout the challenges, the Poogle is unfortunately just too observant.

           "Ok," Clover says. "Is there some problem ya have with that Bruce ninja? I mean, yeah. Obviously, we want to beat the team and win the grand prize, but from what I've seen, you two seem to have a more personal hatred for each other. Don't try to hide it either, you've been at each other's throats since the Deckball challenge."

          As much as you want to say it's just because he's an annoying dweeb with his glasses on too tight, you know she won't accept that as an answer. Unfortunately, before you're able to spill any beans, the Kyrii host on the wide screened blimp returns with his usual glory.

           "Contestants!" The host announces. "Each of you please grab a riverboard and prepare yourselves at the edge of Kumlaa River for the final tiebreaking challenge!"

          Your walk is brisk on the way to the river edge. Despite the hustle and bustle, silence accompanies you and the Poogle. You're sweaty, and you inwardly groan as you stretch out your worn-down muscles, too tired to complain about it. Clover glances your way but you keep your head straight and eyes forward. She sighs, exasperation laced into her voice, "Whatever issue ya got with that Bruce, don't let it get in the way of the game. We can do this. We just gotta win this last match and the prize will be ours."

          You only offer a low hum in agreement. Distracted by the increasing sounds of a waterfall, you walk ahead. You're unable to hear her quiet resignation, "Cap'n will destroy me if I don't win..."

          Colorful riverboards burst through the curtain of water, landing on the river and splashing cool water onto the crowd. A handful of contestants nearby are soaked including you and Harodshi. You suddenly feel refreshed and start laughing, especially at the frowning Bruce. Water vapour rolls off of him with the way he's steaming in his own anger. You laugh even harder. Clover catches up to you, confusion written across her face.

           "By Coltzan's beard, what happened?!"

          You point your chin in Harodshi's direction and soon Clover is shaking her head. But she can't hide her chuckling. The tension between you and Clover loosens until laughter fades into the soothing sounds of rushing water. You shake off some water droplets, and then you peruse the wide variety of riverboards available. Picking up a board to your liking, you reminisce about those surfing classes you took long ago with the bespectacled Bruce. You know Harodshi excels in surfing, but you're hoping your stamina and enthusiasm will be enough to be on par. Clover is still hunched over, having yet to decide which riverboard to use.

           "They all work the same way, Clover. Just pick one that you think looks nice," you explain.

          She looks up to you shyly. "Um, I've never surfed before."

          You're staring at her in disbelief, "You are a pirate living on a sailing ship. You probably visited a bunch of island shores. How can you not even experience it once in your life?"

           "I-it's not like my ship is on the water! We sail the skies!" she makes her defense.

           "What about the clouds? Ever hear of cloud surfing?" you quip.

          She shoots you a glare, "Hurry up and help me pick a board." You put your hands up in surrender and agree to help. Clover ends up choosing a riverboard made of dried kelp. Like super dry kelp. You aren't one to judge. Secretly looking over at the Ninja team, you see that Harodshi brought his own. It's a shiny high-tech board with an unnecessary amount of buttons for who knows what. Flashy and typical. But again, you aren't one to judge.

          You join the rest of the contestants wading along the river at the start line.

          Before you can ponder any longer, the Kyrii announcer called out the final countdown.

           "3, 2, 1, go!"

          To your lack of surprise, you and Harodshi take the lead in seconds. As much as you both want to insult each other the entire way down you know that there are more important things to worry about than petty quips, like your midair cannonball with 15 flips. That's gotta be worth a lot of points. Crud! But that jump he did where he did those...ninja figure skating moves? Whatever it was, it's bound to be worth a ton of points too.

          The race itself mostly played out like that, you and your longtime rival exchanging tricks for points all the way down Kumlaa River and before you know it, everyone crossed the finish line. As you anxiously wait for the final results, you and Harodshi give each other one last side glare before turning back to the scoreboards. And you continue waiting...and waiting, your anxiety fades and is slowly replaced with confusion. Shouldn't the results have been announced minutes ago? "Uh, excuse me?" An Electric Lenny on the ninja team speaks up. Guess you aren't the only one confused about this. "We're all here waiting for the final results. Are you gonna tell us which team won? Like, today?" "It may appear so," the Kyrii announcer answers. "But I'm afraid there's a member of the pirate team who is still missing. So until they cross the finish line, the race is technically ongoing_ " You suddenly feel a chill down your spine. No, it can't be. You frantically look around your team in hopes that it isn't what you're thinking, but unfortunately, it's true.

          Clover is missing.

          Without even thinking twice, you turn around in haste and start running back up the side of Kumlaa River with all the worst-case scenarios running through your head. This of course has not gone unnoticed by other members of both teams, particularly a certain Bruce that starts to follow you.

           "Wait! Gosh! Can't you slow down for five seconds so I can talk with you!?" That same raspy voice calls out and in a blink, Harodshi catches up to you, sweating like a Snorkle and wheezing like...you don't even know what.

           "What do you even want, Harodshi?" you ask, too worried for Clover to really snap at him like you wanted to. "Actually, I don't even want to waste my time with you." You continue on your rant as you trudge up the river. "I just know you're here to brag about your team winning by default because of Clover going missing or possibly worse! Then you'll rub it in my face that because of me in that surfing accident which cost you your Gikerot and our past friendship, that I deserve to lose Clover too!"

          You sniffle a bit but stop yourself from getting any sadder. There's no way you're going to cry in front of this nerd! "So just go. Go tell them I quit or something. Go ahead and win the challenge. As long as I never see you again, I don't care what happens anymore."

          Before you can keep going, you get yanked back by the same nerd with a similarly angry face. And also trying to hold back tears? That's an expression you haven't seen on him since said accident.

           "Gosh! Will you just listen to me!? For once!?" Harodshi snaps back at you. "I know we hate each other, and I'll never forgive you for causing my Gikerot to perish, but do you really think I'd be that evil to want to see your Clover friend or even you perish over something like this!? I'm not Dr. Sloth or anyone like that! Even if you don't believe it, I do have a heart!"

          As Harodshi gives you a small shove forward and starts to trudge up Kumlaa River himself. He turns back to you with a serious look on his face, determination replacing all his anger from a mere few seconds ago. "Now come on, are we gonna save your friend or am I gonna have to do this by myself?"

          As much as your stubbornness wants to ignore that speech, there is no denying that Harodshi was right. Deep down in that annoying know-it-all ninja body really is a heart. A heart that wouldn't leave you or Clover to perish just to prove that ninjas are better than pirates. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to patch things up with Harodshi and put your longtime rivalry to an end. But before that, you have a friend to save. So you give a quick but warm smile of approval to him and continue trekking Kumlaa River, together.

          Minutes and seconds tick by in step with you and Harodshi fearlessly hopping from rock to rock along the river. In the distance, a faint green light struggles to break through the dense foam erupting from the roaring waters. Soon you find the shivering Poogle stranded on a boulder in the middle of some rapids. Thank Fyora! She seems to have no injuries, but her riverboard is nowhere to be seen.

           "Clover!" You call to her. "Heavens to Magax, you're not hurt! We've been looking everywhere for you!"

          Clover can barely look at you without getting more water in her eyes, but you can tell she's got a look of both relief and confusion on her face upon seeing the nerdy Bruce. Yeah...you'll have to explain your team-up with Harodshi later.

          Harodshi has a farther reach than you do and makes an attempt to take Clover's hand. The neon green Poogle slips, and her grip snags against the participation band on the Bruce's wrist. Gravity combined with her weight pulls the wristband downwards until it breaks off from him. She yelps in shock as you quickly jump onto the boulder and catch her other arm. You look to Harodshi to ask if he's okay. His sights are fixed on the riverbed but he returns your concern with a stiff nod.

           "I am so so sorry! That was your participation band! Your team will be docked points if you lose it..." Clover repeatedly apologizes to Harodshi.

           "It's. Fine. This is fine." The Bruce's face turns to stone. The following seconds are almost unbearable.

           "If--if it makes ya feel any better, I lost my bracelet too..." Clover mumbles.

          Harodshi retorts, "Ugh, whatever. We ninjas have enough points to take on the damage done from losing one measly wristband."

           "Well that's that," you intervene rather urgently. "Now let's hurry up and get out of here!"

          After you and Harodshi carry Clover all the way back to safety, the final results are finally tallied. Thankfully for the pirate team, time is not a factor in the challenge or you would've lost for sure. But honestly, does it matter now? You and Harodshi give each other looks, which for the first time in years, are ones not of hatred but of sincerity and respect.

          As the Kyrii host announces the winning team, the three of you aren't listening anymore. Clover puts her arms around both of you, her shyness taken over by gratitude. And she happily accepts the fact that you're both officially rebuilding your friendship, even if it took her wiping out and accidentally risking her life for it to happen. The full circle comes to a close and you realize you're part of a three-way hug.

          You sigh in contentment and break into a smile when you hear Harodshi huff out half-heartedly, "Gosh let go of me, you pirates."

          Maybe you'll join the ninja team next year.

     The End.