ML2023 Memo #5: Running Fast, Running Past

On Snowy’s bedroom wall hung two individual golds. 

The first they’d earned during S1’s Short Circuit GP. There they’d learned that to stand alone on the top step of the podium was an incomparable experience. 

The second was from the 2022 Showdown’s Sand Rally, the final event, before which the Snowballs had been sixteenth and staring down relegation. Snowy had done the maths on the standings. At minimum, they needed to win a bronze. Realistically, they had to secure a gold medal. 

The steep sandy slope loomed, asking of them one question- you know what you have to do to fix this, but are you strong enough to do it? 

Snowy had answered in the affirmative. Last-second, they secured the requisite gold. But their victory gave them no joy; only relief. The medal hung above their bed only to remind them that their chance to qualify at all was hard-fought and barely won. 

When they returned home next, a Marble League gold would join them. Nothing between their progression out of the semi-final to crossing the line in first to approaching the top step of the podium had felt real, but their medal was a tangible confirmation of reality. The satisfaction and pleasure of victory ran so deep inside of them that they could almost submerge themselves in it.

And though it was their solo victory, they returned from their silent contemplation in the locker room to find themselves surrounded not just by the Snowballs but by the Gliding Glaciers, all cheering in unison. 

“Go, captain!” Snowstorm shouted, echoed by the rest of the Snowballs. “You were amazing out there. I might just cry.”

“I figured we should go and celebrate your performance somewhere. How about a joint picnic in the center of Buzznya?” Glide announced. Everyone resumed cheering.

“That sounds amazing,” Snowy said. They’d have time to sit in the dark and look at their medal later. Right now they wanted to share their happiness. “…Do we have food, though?” 

“We’re gonna order some!” Snowblast replied. “And we made sure to finish fighting about what to order before you got out of the changing room!” 

Snowy couldn’t bite back a laugh. “That means a lot.” 

The decision made, everyone started to head out. But Snowy still found themselves trailing behind, having had their days’ fill of going fast. When Iceberg stopped and pulled them aside they assumed it was to complain about their slowness. 

“You can’t tell anyone I said this, alright?” they said, not quite meeting their gaze. “But of anyone out there… I’m glad to have lost to you.” 

Snowy would have been happy to hear that from anyone. Knowing Iceberg’s competitive spirit, it was high praise indeed. 

“…Thanks. And you better get used to losing to us.” 

“Bring it on.” 

Coming into the Sprint, memories of Ruzzy’s last-second overtake in the Hurdles were fresh in Rapidly’s mind. This time they’d barely managed to avoid a repeat of it, fending off another last-second lunge from Razzy to stand on the podium again. 

It was an exhilarating feeling to be back on form, and receiving a rare shoutout from Greg on their individual career success only made it sweeter. But once the congratulations from their team had calmed down, Rapidly sought out not the rest of the podium but Yellow. They found the tenth-place marble quietly grabbing a can of herbal tea from a vending machine inside the stadium. They also found Razzy, already by their side. 

“Aw, are we doing a heats reunion here?” Yellow asked, drink clattering into the tray behind them. “Where’s Sterling?” Though their tone was upbeat, the aura of disappointment was unmistakable. 

“It’s a shame we couldn’t share the final again.” Rapidly began. Every sprint event had Yellow’s mastery hanging over it, and it had shocked Rapidly to watch them fail to make it out of the first heat. 

“C’mon, are both of you gonna give me the sappy treatment?” Yellow laughed. Rapidly glanced over to Razzy; clearly, they’d said something similar. “Sure, I didn’t win… or make it past the heats… and my team’s having kind of a rough time. But that’s life, right? You two made it and I didn’t.” 

“You don’t seem very happy with things,” Razzy replied. And though they wouldn’t put it as bluntly as Razzy, Rapidly had to agree. 

“I’m fine. I’ll get my groove back later.” 

“You’re still one of the greatest League athletes out there,” they concluded, prepared to leave them alone. To their surprise, Yellow smiled a little. 

“Thanks. Means a lot coming from you.” They turned away, gazing wistfully down the yawning length of the stadium’s maze of internal corridors. “Let’s hang out again when I’ve got something to be cheerful about, yeah?” 

“Of course,” Razzy replied. “You too, Rapidly?” 

“I wouldn’t miss it for Marblearth.”

It wasn’t gold, but it certainly felt like it. 

It was all a blur if Bumble was being honest. Finales were always emotional, and this one was no different. For now, they stood atop the podium with dizzying elation. A silver. Bumble’s silver. Snowy, Rapidly…Bumble. Snowy had blitzed past them with their signature terrifying speed, of course, but it didn’t change that they were standing next to them now. 

This day felt familiar to them in more ways than one. Just under four months before, Bumble had used the same strategy to try to wrestle the Casino Square GP gold in their favor. Nearly five years earlier, Bumble descended the Big Tower at the conclusion of the Hubelino Tournament and won gold, besting the Ruby Rollers’ Rollo to secure the championship. And over a decade ago, Bumble had found the highest glory they could have ever dreamed of.

“Our city didn’t have an official sports team, and I wanted to change that,” Bumble had explained in an interview. “I knew Bea, Swax, Honey, and Bomble from playing bugby in club sports.” 

Bumble had declined to mention that they had trouble making friends growing up on the outskirts of Buzzpig, working on their family farm. They joined the club after meeting Honey, who was browsing the honey sticks sold by Bumble’s family at a farmer’s market.

“My bugby buddies are going to love these!” Honey exclaimed during their purchase. “These must make a great gift for your friends, too.”

Wanting buddies of their own, Bumble attended their first bugby practice the following week. They’d remember that day forever.

Bumble blushed as they rolled into the locker room to total darkness. Their parents had hinted they would be in attendance for today’s event, and Swax had played it a little too cool when asked about their post-event plans. So when the lights flickered on, Bumble was far from surprised, but nonetheless grateful, to find a fresh batch of honey sticks in their locker.

“SURPRISE!” the team yelled anyway. All team personnel was present, including Bea and Bomble from the front office, and Bumble’s parents, who rolled in bringing a large crate of honey sticks for the whole team to enjoy.

“I…” Bumble started tearing up. “Thanks, everyone. This really has been a Marble League to remember, and getting to earn a silver on our team anniversary is…it’s special.”

“Getting to be your teammate is special,” gushed Honey. 

“And getting to be your friend,” added Bomble, “is the most special!” 

Bumble smiled. Raising their honey stick in the air, they motioned for everyone else in the room to do the same. “On one…two…three…”

“UP THE BEES!” everyone exclaimed.

Momo had no words that even came close to expressing their disappointment.

In a completely unexpected move, it would not be Momomo or Mimo to blaze their way to gold; it would be them. If the fans didn’t know why, Momo knew less about it. 

Theories ranging from plain bad management to Momomomomo buckling under the pressure to quell a sudden “Momo Fever” that had sprung up across fansites and media after the captain’s Marbula One championship were already being thrown around by fans to explain the odd choice; the fans’ guesses were as good as their own.

Whatever the cause, it had its effect. And its effect was a dead-last outing when they needed points badly, sinking Team Momo further in the standings after an already rough first quarter. Second to last.

Momo sighed as they looked through their things. The captain with arguably the most momentum heading into this year’s League putting on that sort of showing was unacceptable. The kneejerk calls for their resignation as captain were sure to flood in. Either that or the continual echoes of the barely started season being “momover” already would grow louder and louder.

They pulled out a medal at long last. The gold that still shined brightly at every angle and the engraved text that served as the reminder that they were a Marbula One individual champion against all odds was a mockery now. Why they even brought this was beyond them; maybe they had gotten a little too used to marbles begging and pleading to see it to forget.

Without thinking, they rolled up to the mirror in the room and slipped the golden ribbon around them, the medal glimmering as proudly as it had the first time they wore it. They smiled into the glass as if their reflection was the thousands of fans who had waited years for this moment, hoping to see the version of Momo who carried their achievements with pride and grace, the version of themselves who would lead Team Momo to greatness once again.

Their smile faded the longer their blurred gaze lingered on their reflection.

Momo didn’t recognize the marble in the mirror.

Credits

• Writers: Millim, Momoikkai, Stynth
• Additional Writing: Toffeeshop
• Copyeditors/Editors: Fouc, Stynth
• Graphic Designer: Flamigiri 
• Photographer: Jelle’s Marble Runs
• Reference: Marble League 2023 Event 5: 5m Sprint | Jelle’s Marble Runs
• Release: 01/11/2023