They’re going to be the first Marble League champions to not win a single event.
It’s as if with every revolution around the bell that statement made its own loop back into their minds, a reminder of what they couldn’t reach four times over this season. At least those saying it admitted to their eventual win come December, but to win without winning? As much as it would have been a feat in some way, it would have been a shame at the same time.
Thankfully, the evergreen statement holds true even near the end: never count out the Savage Speeders.
“They’re not gonna win an event,” Rapidly said while looking at their gold medal with a smile. “I think everyone forgot who we were.”
“I’m not sure how you’d forget about the greatest team to ever breathe, but I’m not opposed to everyone forgetting so they let their guards down and then we remind them we exist in the best way possible,” Velocity replied.
Speedy rolled up to the conversation, clearly overjoyed about something. “The gap to the hosts is nineteen points! There’s absolutely no way we’re not leaving this place without our third trophy!” They got between their sibling and teammate. “Either of you want to help me start planning the victory festivities we’ll see when we get back home? I think we should designate another citywide holiday so everyone can celebrate…”
As the premature victory parade was being discussed, Whizzy elected to stare at their medal. There were no thoughts about parades or holidays in their mind, only the task that was ahead of them next week.
The extremely simple and mundane task to clinch the title before the final event. No big deal.
“Hey,” Swifty greeted. “Are you doing okay?”
Whizzy weakly nodded. “Nineteen points is a lot for them to make up… but what if I blow it? What if they come out of nowhere to win and I falter?”
“You won’t do that,” Swifty assured, “I know you better than anyone. And I know you have what it takes to give us that third trophy, or at the very least make it hard on the others going into the finale if you can’t seal the deal.”
“…are you sure?” They sighed while continuing to stare at their medal. “I wish it wasn’t all up to me. I think I’d be having more fun if it wasn’t.”
Speedy and the others rolled over to Swifty and Whizzy. “You’ve got this,” the captain reassured with a smirk. “After all, the fun’s just begun.”
It has been over four years since the Thunderbolts won an event.
Did that thought zip through Shock’s mind as they started spinning on their side, as all they could see was the G-Force arena spinning around them, save for a fleeting glance of Rapidly flying out of the other corner? It certainly rang in their head, over and over, as the whole team spun back up to hear the JMA’s call.
“This is going to be very close!” shouted Greg. “I think the Savage Speeders held on… they did!”
Was it shocking to be runners-up again? Did they feel anything one way or the other? From the outside the Thunderbolts were nothing but serene stepping up to the podium. Apart from a dedication to a pair of newlywed fans in the stands, the athletes left without saying a word.
Half an hour later, Shock and Bolt had packed up in their locker rooms when they heard arguing outside. Out on the field were the Team Plasma athletes, with Captain Fearo stared down by the team. “We thought you had a plan, Fearo! What were you thinking?” yelled one Plasma marble.
Now Shock remembered how their team advanced past Plasma in the quarterfinals: with four Plasma marbles spun out one after another, and Greg in disbelief. “What on Marblearth,” they had announced. “Did they put their trust in that leading marble, hoping they would find a wall and stay on it… and there’s nothing there!”
It was then just the two Thunderbolts athletes and Fearo next to each other, the rookie Plasma captain needing a second opinion. “I know we’ve never talked… at all, and it’s been over a month here,” said Fearo. “But you guys handled the event like a champ. You just got a bit unlucky at the end. How did you guys stay so calm during all that?”
“Well… some days we get lucky, some days we don’t,” said Bolt. “We’ve been in the League longer than you. You learn, as an athlete, that so much of any event is out of your control. You just stay focused on the best you can do.”
“Bolt’s better at it than me. I’m not good at that,” said Shock. “But our coach taught all of us this one tip, three years ago during Collision. Before you really start to spin at a certain speed, you close your eyes. The world boils down to only you in that one second, and you stand your ground as if no one’s watching you. If you flinch and panic, you lose that one chance to maintain control and not fall out.”
Shock closed their eyes after speaking their thoughts. There were thoughts flashing before them: fantasies of gold medals around their neck this Marble League, or three years ago at the Andromedome, or four years ago at Seven Seas Stadium.
But those thoughts don’t matter. Fantasies were all that they were good for.
“Just tell me the truth, Red Eye,” said Coach White Eye while looking straight at the Captain in front of them. “Do you really want to close both events this Marble League? I know other people put the pressure on you, but we have a Plan B–”
But before the Captain could turn White Eye down yet again, there was banging on the locker room door. “Hey, Coach! Red Eye!” shouted Green Eye outside. “You need to get over here right now. We’re up against the Bumblebees in three minutes!”
Of all the coaches, it was to White Eye for whom the second half of this Marble League felt most like a blur. With three events to go, the team is in another slump and down to eleventh in the standings. It’s been five events straight of the coach playing mediator between every one of their Cat’s Eyes, because every event had two or three of them arguing why they should be chosen and be the one to turn the season around.
In the first round of G-Force Endurance, all White Eye could notice were each athlete’s flaws. Blue Eye tried too hard to speed up at the start and spun off the stage. Red Eye got too aggressive going up against the Bumblebees and spun off after. They could see no rhyme nor rhythm in what Cyan Eye’s doing.
When White Eye would try to give their athletes notes between rounds, they could tell each athlete was only half listening. Yet, despite all this, the team pushed deeper and deeper into the bracket. By the end it was Blue Eye, the marble with whom White Eye found so many flaws, who outlasted all of Team Momo to pip the Bronze.
After the podium ceremony, the Momo athletes were good sports and took the Cat’s Eyes out for afternoon tea. White Eye nibbled on a Buzznyan honey biscuit while banter swirled around the table.
“That event had such bad mojo for Momo, but we know we did our best!” said Momomomo. “The same could be said for you all too! You seemed so coordinated.”
“It may seem like that from the outside,” said Green Eye, “but we were plenty scared as well! But we couldn’t have done it without our Coach, who’s right there. You know, I don’t think they’ve had a full night’s sleep for two weeks as they researched this League’s events.”
“Oh, no, you’re too much,” blurted White Eye, like they snapped out of a daze. “I don’t work nearly half as hard as any of you.”
“NUH-UH!” shouted not just the Cat’s Eyes all together, but all of Team Momo as well. Something clicked inside White Eye. Maybe the issue isn’t with any of them. Maybe it’s with yourself.
Then the Cat’s Eyes coach said something they did not expect: “You know, I think all of us deserve a day off after that event. How about all of you can hang out as much you want? I think I’m in the mood for a nap.”
Rain pours down from the cloudy sky as Em trudges silently homeward, hours after sunset.
They had watched the fourteenth event at a hole-in-the-wall ramen shop; Saffy and Ruu had set up a farewell party, but their usual energy wasn’t there.
Em turns a corner, splashing dejectedly through the deep, murky puddles.
It was impressive that Em had gotten signatures from thirty of the teams in such a short period of time. Thirty was not thirty-two.
A car goes by, driving slowly, spraying Em with a mist of cold rainwater.
Ruu said it was technically thirty-one, since they had gotten signatures from the Hornets. It wasn’t much consolation.
Em coughs as smog pours from the car’s exhaust pipe.
If they hadn’t gotten so excited watching the Relay, they’d have remembered to get an autograph from the winners.
A brilliant thunderclap lights up the foggy night, illuminating the silhouettes of the figures inside the car. Em gasps.
They were so close, but they stumbled, right at the end. No one had expected them to succeed anyways.
Em rubs their eyes, their mind hazy with fatigue as midnight passes, but they’re certain they recognize who’s in that car.
Maybe they would fall short. Just like they always did.
Maybe, if they’re fast enough, they can catch up.
Maybe they would never be good enough.
Maybe, even if it’s a longshot, they still have a chance.
Maybe there was never a chance at all.
Maybe, at the eleventh hour, lightning could strike twice.
Credits
- Writers: Fouc, Momoikkai, Yume
- Copyeditor/Editor: Stynth
- Graphic Designer: Yume
- Reference: Marble League 2023 Event 14: G-Force Endurance | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 20/11/2024
Project Marblearth 