Pollo Loco looked on excitedly as the officials checked over the finish line camera to determine the second race winner of the Marble Rally season. They’d been right alongside Silver Bolt, chasing down Slimer in the final leg after the leader had used the trapdoor to stall their pursuers. The pair had caught up to Slimer in the final straight, and while Pollo Loco had been unable to close up enough to make a late challenge, Silver Bolt had hit the speed boost perfectly. But was it enough to steal the win?
Pollo Loco hadn’t the best view from behind, but they were fairly confident about Slimer’s chances. Their friend was one of the most experienced rally marbles, now being one of only two racers never to miss an official race, and had taken home the hardware to prove it with four race wins and two finishes on the final podium in their career.
But on the other hand, Silver Bolt was back after a series of on-and-off years and looked hungry for success. After snatching the overall victory by the sheen of their glass in the 2022 Practice Round, Silver Bolt came out strong in the first race. They’d never won a race yet, despite claiming two medals, but Pollo Loco reckoned that would only leave them even more determined to claim the gold now.
As the officials gathered around the competitors, a hush fell over the crowd. “By an exceptional margin of only one-hundredth of a second, the winner is… Silver Bolt!”
“YES! Never again am I underestimating that speed boost!” Silver Bolt exclaimed. They roared with triumph as the slow-mo footage of their last-millisecond overtake was displayed. Slimer’s dismay was understandable; the chance of their first victory in six years was whisked away in a flash, but they looked in awe at how incredible their rival’s overtake was.
“What a move! Great job on your first win — I remember my first back in 2016, it certainly made me go loco,” chuckled Pollo Loco, who met the other medallists at the podium. Pollo Loco was thrilled with how their race went too; after many podium near-misses in the previous season, they were glad to capitalise as soon as possible. Slimer, despite the race ending, was stoked to achieve an early medal — a rarity for them in previous years.
As the three medallists stood on the podium, Silver Bolt caught a glimpse of the stadium jumbotron. “Look! We’re not only the top three for this race, but also in the standings,” they pointed out. Slimer and Pollo Loco, caught by surprise, beamed out of pride.
Credits
- Writer: GhostDM, Ramen Powder
- Photographer: Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Reference: Marble Rally S6 – Race 2 | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 20/02/2023
Project Marblearth 