(Design Credit: Yume)
Under the fluorescent lights of the Superhive’s changing rooms, Kinnowin’s gold medal shone like the sun. Their entire team had gathered to celebrate its acquisition before they’d even made it back to the athletes’ village.
“It’s a nice little reclaim, isn’t it?” hummed Tangerin, watching it bob as Kinnowin held it proudly aloft.
“Of what? We’ve never done this before,” Orangin replied.
“Amazing Maze Race. Back in 2018, remember?” added Clementin, swooping in to compare it to their own Hurdles bronze. “We came second. But I guess you weren’t on the main team back then.”
Mandarin interjected with a friendly nudge to Kinnowin, who responded in kind. “Who was and wasn’t doing things back then doesn’t matter,” they added, “it’s our captain who deserves our congratulations now, right?”
Agreeable murmurs spread throughout the room.
“Wish it coulda been a team event, but you all did mighty fine cheering me on from the sidelines. When we get back I’ll hang it up in the dining room, alright?”
Amidst the increasing cheer, Mandarin took Kinnowin briefly to the side. “A word, if that’s alright.”
“Of course.”
“It’s good we’re facing renewed prospects. So I owe you my thanks. But I’m worried about how we’ve been trending compared to… Well, I don’t have to tell you who.”
Kinnowin brushed away the concern with a smile. “There’s nothing to worry about. We’ve seen time and time again that there’s nothing the Speeders can do to make themselves unbeatable.”
“But can we beat them?” Mandarin replied sharply. But Kinnowin, wrapped in the lightness and joy of their newly-acquired gold, seemed to float above the gravity of Mandarin’s words.
“We’ve got five events to do it in. Well, if you ask me, I don’t mind those odds one bit.”
Post-event parties were more fun when it was a whole-team affair — when everyone was on the same page and nobody was uniquely exhausted. There probably really were athletes out there who could launch from a podium position to being the guest of honor without skipping a beat, but Astron suspected they weren’t amongst them. They also suspected it was something of a faux pas to leave a party held in your own honor much earlier than everyone else — but that it was probably even worse to pass out in the middle of it. So they’d tapped out.
The Astron of hours earlier had turned their lights off before they left. The Astron of now didn’t bother turning them back on as they slunk, tired to their core, into the comfort of their bed. All they did was hang the medal up where a raincoat or umbrella might otherwise go.
It had not been a kind League to them; not initially. An inglorious 13th had been made no better by Greg’s making an example of the few fragments of a second that divided them from both Iceberg and one more precious point, and they remained the only member of Team Galactic to have never won a Marble League medal.
It wasn’t something that upset them- mostly, at least. Individual medals weren’t everything. If Team Galactic could succeed, that was good enough. And it was perhaps easier to withstand being in the background as a member of Team Galactic. As had been the case for years, nothing short of a miracle season could challenge Starry’s reputation as their most beloved teammate. It was probably even worse to be Cosmo, whose captaincy was perpetually challenged in their favor by well-meaning fans.
So it was fine, really.
And yet… There it was, reflecting the last of the light left in the darkened room; a Marble League silver medal. Tired as they were, they couldn’t move their gaze from it.
They had the medals they’d earned as a part of a team. They had their overall bronze. They had seen Marblearth from the vast and infinite darkness of space. How silly it is, then, to care so much about one particular shiny circle, Astron thought.
But for once it was theirs, and theirs alone, and nobody could take that away from them.
—
“It’s not exactly challenging what people are saying, is it? ’Solid at the individual events, but melting in the team events’,” Snowy quoted from Buzzyna’s own marble sports coverage outlet.
Snowblast forced a stubborn smile. “Better than when people said we wouldn’t qualify. And better than when they said we’d do poorly at everything. You know —”
Snowy made a vague conciliatory gesture. “I think I get your point,” they mumbled.
In the post-event frenzy haze they had ended up in one of Buzzyna’s late-night cafes. Minus the Glaciers this time, who were far from in the mood to join them. In celebration of their own first Marble League medal Snowblast had ordered the most lavish drink on the menu; an indulgent double-cream vanilla milkshake decorated with a towering mount of whipped cream and white chocolate shavings, which cast a parodical shadow over Snowy’s austere black coffee.
Snowblast sipped defiantly from the signature curly straw provided. Their captain’s inexplicable poor mood wasn’t going to ruin their own. Even if they were considering upping and leaving for the pastry counter where everyone else had gathered until it improved.
Perhaps Snowy could somehow pick up on that, because their gaze was drawn wordlessly to the other group of three.
“You know, if Snow and Snowflake were still around, we’d have a League or Showdown medal each.”
Snowblast winced. “Snowfall and Snowdrift can probably hear you from here.”
Snowy slumped in their seat. “Just an observation.”
If it was an observation it was certainly a pointed one. It seemed more like something they’d dwelled on for a while.
“Have some of my milkshake,” Snowblast offered. What talking couldn’t fix sugar might help.
“Gross. You’ve already been drinking from it.”
“There’s two straws, actually.” Which probably indicated that it was not meant for one marble, but it was too late to dwell on that.
Snowy picked the more straightforward twin straw out from underneath the heaping of whipped cream and sipped, at first tentatively, then with enthusiasm.
“Not so bad, is it?” laughed Snowblast, punctuated with a sigh. “…I know you’re worried about our team performances. But this is my first medal. It’d mean the world to me if you were a little less gloomy.”
A little whipped cream sitting above their mouth—Snowblast didn’t dare point it out—Snowy returned the sigh. “Sorry. You did good. I mean it.”
“Thanks, cap.”
Saturday
“A lifetime ban seems pretty excessive to me,” Mary says.
“It’s regulation,” the security guard replies. “Zero tolerance for trespassing.”
“They’re just a kid! Surely you can make an exception…”
The security guard hesitates. “Fine. I’ll let them off with a warning. Once.”
Mary turns to the kid with a conspiratorial grin. “So, I heard you wanted an autograph?
Sunday
Yoga helped clear Yeller’s mind when they felt stuck in place, and eased the soreness that came with intense training. They figured they wouldn’t be recognized at a small, out-of-the-way studio, especially since they weren’t a very well-known member of the team.
They were pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.
Monday
ONE DAY ONLY!!!!
BEGINNER FRIENDLY SURFING LESSON
with guest student: Bay from the Oceanics!!!
Learn how to stay upright when riding the waves!
FREE ADMISSION – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!
SurfCrash Indoor Surf Facility – 24 Memorbee Lane
Tuesday
It was silent when I stepped out of the karaoke bar that night. I was quickly accosted by a fascinating young fellow. They explained they deduced I’d be here at this time by reading interviews and social media posts. It’s not easy tracking down the master detective; this kid was good…
Wednesday
LUSTER: Welcome back to the MarBeat Mania trivia segment! One of our loyal listeners can win some signed Swarm swag if they answer our question correctly!
…
LUSTER: So, you’re interested in sports medicine?
…
LUSTER: Well, doctor in training, here’s your question: What’s the clinical term for Momomomo’s injury in 2017?
Credits
- Writers: Millim, Yume
- Copyeditor/Editor: Stynth
- Graphic Designer: Yume
- Reference: Marble League 2023 Event 11: Maze Run | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 17/11/2024
Project Marblearth 