The euphoria Momo felt from crossing the line in P1 hadn’t simmered down, despite several hours passing since the climax of the Tumult Turnpike Grand Prix. In the weekly team debrief after each race, Coach Momomomomo and the Marbula pair were typically laser-focused on the next steps; always looking for how to maximise the following result.
However, quite contrarily, the marbles had all loosened up this time around — clearly revelling in the thrill of their first victory of the season. Momo was admiring the team’s Marbula poster plastered on the wall of their garage at the race — while Mimo’s admiration was more directed at their fellow racer themself.
“Finally, my nickname holds true,” said Momo, smiling at the thought. “I’m now truly a winning dumpling.”
“You always were,” replied the Coach. “This is your first victory, but your mindset was always one to win. It’s just that now we get to enjoy this shiny new trophy along with it,” they continued, holding Momo’s race-winning trophy out of pride.
The marbles rolled out of the garage, looking to take pictures with their friends, Team Primary. Both teams were delighted by each other’s success this weekend, with the Tumult Turnpike GP becoming the first ever Momary finish on the top two steps of the podium.
Momo thought about all the criticism regarding their inclusion in S4 after their disappointing previous season. Almost on cue, Mimo spoke:
“You’re here to stay now, Momo. We’re so proud.”
Royal rolled away from the podium quickly after pictures were taken. They were hoping to catch up to Blue Eye after their fourth place finish. Royal themselves had taken their third consecutive podium finish, holding onto third after a late charge from the Cat’s Eye. After searching for a minute, they finally caught up with Blue Eye in the pits.
“Hey Blue! Great race today!” Called Royal. Blue Eye turned around quickly, and smiled when they saw who it was.
“Thanks, Royal. You too!” They replied, “I was so close to taking third,” Blue Eye finished with a chuckle. They rolled over to join Royal.
“Anytime. Feel free to join me, there’s always room for more blue on the podium. Just make sure you stay behind me,” Royal said with a smile.
“We’ll see about the last part,” Blue Eye retorted, as the two laughed.
“Well, I should probably get back to my team, they’re probably wondering where I rolled off to,” Royal said as they began to roll away, “I’ll see you around.”
“Sounds good. Congrats on the medal!” Blue Eye responded as the two parted ways.
As Royal came to the stadium exit, they thought about their career to this point. With just 9 races under their belt, some people were beginning to say that they were the best on the circuit. Royal finally had the chance to make a mark on the world, but the best part was the fact that, since their win at the O’raceway, those expectations had become fuel. And that fuel made the ride all the more fun.
The streets of Hunluen, usually bustling, were quiet now.
The rain beat down upon the roof of the café as Aryp sipped a cup of tea and gazed out the window. They had chosen a small, quiet place deliberately. It was a little shop they’d never been to before and had found from Clutter’s recommendation.
The excitement of the race was fresh in their mind, and midway through the season, they’d decided they needed to take this chance to step back a little. Aryp turned back to their teammate who took a glance at them up from their cup of coffee.
“So,” Rima cast a glance over to a flickering lightbulb “What drags you all the way out here instead of going with the other racers?”
“Didn’t feel like it.” Aryp replied simply while watching the rain trace down the window.
“There’s gotta be something else on your mind. C’mon, I know you, you love winning.” Rima chuckled.
“That’s exactly it.” Aryp paused to take a sip of tea, “I love winning.”
Rima gave a quizzical glance. “We all do, isn’t that the whole point of competing…?”
“I guess, but my point is it’s far too easy to get caught up on points and medals and forget that there’s life outside all that. You forget that you have worth outside victory. And I don’t want you, or anyone, to fall into that.”
Aryp rolled over to the window to watch the lights reflect off of raindrops and then continued, “I’ve been successful, and sometimes I worry about whether I’d be worth anything if I wasn’t… So I started coming to places like this to remind myself that there’s life outside medals.”
There was a pause as Rima took a sip of their coffee. “…Huh. Yeah, I guess I see what you mean. We could all do to be a little kinder to ourselves sometimes.”
“Agreed. And speaking of, don’t worry about paying. It’s my treat.”
With that, the two returned to silence as the rain finally began to let up.
Momo, Aryp and Royal atop the podium at Tumult Turnpike. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Draklin was full of memories. Not necessarily all bad ones, but they still rung fresh.
The silver lining, aside from their newly acquired bronze, was that they’d managed to duck away from the post-race press conference. Cloudy, now alone, let the race settle in their mind, flicking the corners of their notes. The pages were covered in cramped, meticulous writing that wasn’t theirs: knowledge gifted to them to complete a dream.
They’d obtained them a few months ago, after a friendly race underneath the lights of Halifern. They still remembered opening the door, freezing in shock at who they saw, then rushing into them with a tight hug. The words came out tumbling over each other: how are you, what are you doing here, I’ve missed you, we’ve missed you.
“To see you,” Hazy had replied.
It had been nice, catching up, but Cloudy couldn’t stay.
“I get why,” Cloudy had muttered, “but this whole facade is more trouble than it’s worth sometimes.”
“I know,” Hazy had said. “You did really well out there today, you know? You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”
It had been that last line that broke them, bringing forth the tears they had been holding back through the entire conversation. Hazy had held them without judgment, looking a little confused but sympathetic.
“I mean it,” they had continued quietly. “I’m not involved in the decision making process, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Smokey chose you for Marbula 1 after today.”
“And how do you know I’m ready?”
“I trust you. All of you.” But not myself. Their gaze had turned distant. “Doubt’s something that will seep into everything you do until it swallows you whole and you lose your way. I tried to hide so much for so long, I…thought you were all better off without me.”
“We all regret things,” Cloudy had said. The wind outside sent a snow flurry past the window.
“But I let it consume me.” They shook their head. “Pass my message to Misty, would you? In the end, it all comes back to what we do now, in the present. We can’t see into the future, but there’s always hope. Show the world what we can do. We can climb.”
“Hope,” Cloudy echoed, taking the notes that Hazy passed to them.
“‘The past isn’t important.’ That’s what we’ve always operated on. This isn’t any different.”
To carry a dream. Back in the present, Cloudy steeled themselves with new resolve.
“I’ll see you again, then, at the top of the podium.”
“I would wish for nothing less.”
“Knock knock!” Rima announced their presence at the Coach’s door.
“Who’s there?” Spoke a voice from the other side.
“Rima.”
“Rima who?” Secondary chuckling at their lame joke.
“Rima, your second place racer! Now let me in, I wanna talk.”
The door opened and Rima rolled in. Secondary was studying race footage, no doubt to look at the strategies and analyze every move.
Rima flopped down next to them while fidgeting with their new medal with a grin plastered across their face.
“Y’know Coach,” they started, “I just have to say thank you. Thank you for… Well, everything!”
“Really?” Secondary sounded surprised. “Why’s that? You’re the one who just nearly won a race, don’t give ME the credit-“
“Secondary, shush for a second and let me finish. There’s something different about me than all the other racers. Have you ever realized that?”
“Well, obviously.” Their gaze shifted back to the race footage scribbling down a note while watching marbles shoot through the accelerator. “Everyone has their unique skill sets. If they didn’t, then this series would be really boring, wouldn’t it?”
“Well… yes, but no. Look at everyone else’s roster, and then look at me. I’m the only one who’s gotten taken out and then given a second chance.” Rima’s gaze shifted to the ceiling as they let out a breath. Secondary stopped writing.
“You believed in me. You could’ve tried to race Prim again, they’re tried and true despite the bad season. Or you could’ve brought Imar in, fresh new talent. But you picked me. You thought I deserved another chance at this, and you believed in my abilities. And now?”
Their gazes met. “Me and Aryp are going to make this our best season yet as long as you keep believing in us. I’ve seen it in me and I’ve seen it in them, it really does go a long way.” They got up again and looked towards the door. “I’ll leave you to it now. We’re gonna crush it out there from now on.”
As they rolled away, a ceramic clink was heard on the table and Secondary glanced down. Placed before them was a gift shop mug of a duck with a caption reading “Quacktastic!” And a note attached saying “To Marblearth’s best coach.”
It was a good race.
Without a doubt, their first race win had catapulted the team up in the standings, yet Swifty couldn’t help but feel disappointment that that was all they got from their captain before they slinked out of the podium ceremony.
“Swifts you good?” a voice called out.
Swifty blinked. Right, hotel, video call, Whizzy.
“Yeah,” Swifty nodded.
Whizzy frowned over the screen, “You weren’t actually paying attention were you?”
“No…” Swifty murmured.
“You seem… off,” Whizzy squinted at the screen.“You’re not even smiling! Come on, it’s your first win, you can’t be sulking!”
The trophy had been discarded onto the floor after beelining it back to the hotel room. They thought that sharing it with Whizzy would have made them feel better, but through the shaky wifi and warbling static, all it did was compound the feeling of emptiness.
“I wish you were here…” Swifty’s voice started to crack. If it were anyone else they’d have been embarrassed to be seen like this, but not when it was Whizzy.
“Aw Swifts, please don’t cry-”
But it was too late as four weeks of frustration started to come hurdling out.
“It feels so lonely without you…race after race, everything comes so fast, it feels like there’s never enough time.” They took a breath. “I went to this great concert but I haven’t talked with Cerulean or Royal since! It’s all stats! Boom! Race data! Bang! Press conferences!” They wanted to scream into a pillow. “And don’t get me started on Speedy.”
Whizzy laughs, “Same old Speedy?”
“Worse! It’s like they can’t even look at me! I’m doing everything right and it feels like it’s still not enough for that kid!”
Whizzy knew that feeling personally. “Hey, remember, whatever their deal is, it’s not your fault. You’re doing so well right now and I’m so proud of you.” They wink. “Takes my breath away watching you race, ya know?”
“You’re so corny,” Swifty sniffled, earning a laugh from Whizzy.
“You’ll have to just ask them directly,” Whizzy hummed.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Swifty sighed, “We’re flying out Sunday so I’ll try to have a chat with them on the plane ride over to Hunluen. They can’t avoid me there…theoretically.” They sunk deeper into the bed, suddenly exhausted. “I think I’m gonna pass out now. That track was like a roller coaster combined with a funhouse.”
“Yeah rest up, you’ll need it,” Whizzy smiled then paused, “Oh, One last thing, do you mind passing a message to Speedster from Rapidly?”
“Uh I guess?”
“It’s not that urgent; just remind Speedy to call home.”
Swifty, Rima and Cloudy celebrating on the podium at Greenstone. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Home” was a secret they would keep to themselves for the rest of eternity, something reporters never quite understood even after all these years. They were all smiles today, a sharp turnaround from last week. They’d already shown their true colors anyway, Misty mused. The right thing to do would be to let go, but it was easier said than done.
Back then, the flowers had barely started budding.
“Explain this,” they had demanded.
Smoggy had replied in a perfect monotone. “I refuse to participate.”
“Two entrants without experience? You know how risky this is.”
There had been a long pause before they found their words. “Last year,” they began quietly, “From the beginning, I could tell something was off. But I didn’t –”
Smoggy’s voice wavered, then cracked.
“I just watched.” They smiled bitterly. “If only I could go back in time.”
Misty had stood there speechless, numbly taking the notebook Smoggy handed to them.
“Here. I won’t be using it. It’s not as detailed, it’s not organized, and you’ll have to retape the pages back together, but maybe it’ll help.”
“Y-you can’t trust me.” The doubt had crept in on them again, ever-present and persistent. “Look at what I’ve already done.”
Smoggy had met their eyes solemnly. “Do you honestly think Hazy would have nominated you as captain if they didn’t know you had it in you? They chose correctly. Don’t forget that.”
But even now, clutching their new bronze, Misty wasn’t sure if it had been the right choice. Everything looked smaller from atop the podium: the journalists in the media pen, the rows of judging eyes in the grandstands, and a familiar smile of gentle pride.
Wait, you’re–
And then Speedy leapt off their podium, and Misty instinctively shied away, and when they looked again the marble had vanished.
Oh. It was just their imagination, they told themselves, watching the breeze kick up another flurry of petals into the open air. Stop looking back. There was still so much work to do. They had to keep moving forward.
Royal, Speedy and Misty on the podium at Sakura Garden (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Sometimes Swifty just couldn’t understand Speedy at all. It had been a great race, a second podium, and they were sitting second in the championship. They should have been over the moon; instead, all they got was a dry “it was a good race” followed by a slammed door.
“They said the exact same thing last week!” Swifty huffed wandering aimlessly down the halls, hoping to find someone in a better mood to hang out with. There was an odd air of animosity between nearly everybody that they weren’t expecting – what Rapidly had described in their first season as a fun little time filler had seemed to evolve into its own beast in just a few years.
“This is hopeless,” they thought, making their way through the spiraling halls, until something caught their attention.
“Royal. Listen to me, this secret is coming with us to our graves.”
“Hey, guys! What are you two up to?!” Swifty called, peeking into the Kobalts drivers room, both blue marbles yelping in surprise.
“Royal,” Cerulean warned, gaze darting back and forth frantically between their teammate and a witness to what they’d just said.
“Oh well if it’s important you don’t -”
“CERULEAN AND I ARE GOING TO THE HANASUNE BIIKU CONCERT BUT THEY MESSED UP AND NOW WE HAVE THREE TICKETS INSTEAD OF TWO,” They paused to let out a sob, “NOW SOME POOR FAN OF BIIKU WILL NEVER GET TO EXPERIENCE THEIR GLORY AND IT’S ALL OUR FAULT!! ”
“Wait, like the fictional character?” Swifty asked innocently.
“FICTIONAL CHARACTER?!” Royal scoffed. “Biiku is so much more than that!”
“They have lore,” Cerulean interjects.
“They have lore! One hundred and eighteen comic issues worth of lore!” Royal lowered their voice, teary eyed, “An android cursed with the emotions of a marble. Unable to connect to the world around them yet burdened with all the feeling it brings them! Oh how lonely a fate!”
“How ever did they overcome it?” Cerulean responded, somewhat sarcastically.
“By simply doing what they were good at all along! Sing! Through music they ended their loneliness, connecting to the hearts of fans and other androids just like them! The power of love, friendship, and music makes Biiku learn to love the world!” Royal finished dramatically, then blushed. “Sorry, I get really passionate when I talk about this stuff.”
Swifty was definitely confused but entertained. “Wow, I didn’t know there was so much to it! Is there more?”
“Canonically, no, but–” Royal started, their talking pace almost as lightning quick as their racing.
“Oh, you’ve really got them going now.” Cerulean quipped, rolling back a few lengths and nodding along to Royal’s story.
“I’m guessing you’ve heard this before?” Swifty asked.
“Oh yeah, about a million times. The first was back when Royal was the Phantom of the Dorm Rooms, blasting Biiku music from their room constantly. I made the mistake of saying it’s just a voice bank, and they gave me a seminar in return!”
“And then the brave knight-” Royal stops to catch their breath before jumping right back into it.
“So the concert’s a reward for doing so well, right? Double golds, what a feat!” Swifty whistled.
“Nah, we’ve had this thing planned for months now. Win or lose, Royal would be singing their heart out tonight. Only downside is that it finishes 2 hours before the morning flight out of Rosaka.”
“Won’t you be tired? It could affect your performance at Greenstone,” Swifty pointed out. Oh, no. They sounded like Speedy.
Cerulean thought for a second, as Royal worked their way through the third act.
“Maybe. But I think sometimes it’s better not being perfect in everything we do. Ordering pizza when a game of Marbles and Monoliths runs a few hours too long, taking a day off to binge watch a new show that we’d been chatting about, staying up to see a singing hologram,” Cerulean laughs, “Sometimes it really does just feel like our lives are solely for other marbles’ entertainment, but in those moments it feels like we’re people too.”
“Don’t get it wrong! We obviously take competing really seriously, so much so that Royal’s starting to revert back to a nervous wreck, but what good would it be if all we did was worry?”
“Probably not for the best.” Swifty mumbled.
“I’d hate to be the poor athlete who lives thinking even the smallest acts of enjoying themselves is going to throw them off their game,” Cerulean smiles, giving Swifty a nudge “Okay, now act like we were paying attention.”
“-and that is the briefest explanation I can possibly give,” Royal exclaimed with a flourish.
“I like the part where it’s revealed the knight was actually Biikus’ childhood friend Aroyl.” Swifty responded, much to Cerulean’s surprise.
“Thank you! That’s my favorite part too!” Royal exclaimed, then frowned. “It’s a shame I can’t tell you about the sequel, I don’t think I can cover that before we need to catch the bus to the Ampinktheatre.”
“You know what, Swifty? We’ve got a spare ticket, why don’t you come with us to the show?” Cerulean asked. Royal gasped, before grinning excitedly.
“Me?”
“Well? What do you say?” Cerulean and Royal both looked so excited that Swifty only had to think it over for a second.
Royal and Swifty at the Hanasune Biiku concert, illustrated by Thinkdoodler.
The world’s best left the O’raceway after a hard-fought day on the pavement and sand. The podium finishers rolled off with their teams after bidding their farewells to the masses of fans longing for autographs and pictures. Royal and Red Eye had slowly built a history of electric battles in Marbula One, but Red Eye’s poor qualifying performance allowed Royal to finish the race relatively unthreatened. Sandwiched between the two rivals was the newcomer, Ecto. The Plasma marble made their mark on the circuit by charging to a silver medal. The three went to their respective post-race press conferences, where reporters waited patiently for the day’s star performers.
Red Eye settled themselves at the stand, setting their bronze trophy and Most Valuable Marble plaque on the table. Despite being the greatest attraction in Marbula One, Red Eye never had been terribly fond of interviews.
“So, what do you want to know?”
One reporter piped up immediately, “Red Eye! You were incredible today. Seventeen positions gained in one race is crazy! How did you do it?”
“It’s simple,” the two-time champ replied, “I refocused myself after the setback and stuck to my training. I know I’m the best, that was the time to prove it.”
“Prove it you did,” another analyst piped in, “what’s next for you Red Eye?”
“What’s next?” Red Eye repeated before pointing at the bronze trophy they had received, “I’m going to make that thing gold.”
Ecto found themselves in a huge gaggle on their way to the conference room. One race into their career and they already gained a silver medal!
“Come on Ecto, we’ve got a schedule here,” urged Cell, “I’d really rather you not be late to your first podium press conference.”
“Just one more autograph?” asked Ecto jovially.
“Fine, but I’m not taking the blame when marbles are wondering where the silver medalist is.”
“Oh pipe down Cell, I’m just messing with you. Come on, let’s get going,” Ecto replied. It took the whole roll to the conference for Ecto to truly process what was happening, the fans wanted to see them, the O’raceway silver medalist, as much as they wanted to see anyone else… “Ecto, the silver medalist,” they thought, looking at the shining trophy they’d earned, “I could get used to that.”
Royal had gotten used to the spotlight. After adjusting to being a star in the world of Marbula One, they had begun to expect good results, as is the mindset of an athlete. Who could blame them? In their last two races, Royal had taken two gold medals, one of which came by a clutch pass on the individual champion, Red Eye. They had beaten the very best multiple times now, confidence was to be expected.
“Hey, Marblearth to Royal? You still there, champ?” Coach Sapphire whispered to Royal. They had zoned out on the roll to the conference room.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking,” replied Royal. They were thinking hard too. Having become such an exciting prospect in such a short time, Royal hadn’t really thought of the pressure of fighting for a title until just now. The fans didn’t just want them to win, they expected it, and Royal couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing those fans.
“Hey, don’t worry about them,” Sapphire said, as if reading Royal’s mind, “your job is to compete. Whether you get first or last, we’re all behind you. You could never let us down, Royal. Don’t even let yourself think that you might.”
“Thanks,” Royal said quietly, “I needed that. Now let’s go talk to them.”
Royal, Ecto and Red Eye celebrate on the O’raceway podium. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
As the closing ceremony concluded, the adrenaline and smell of champagne beginning to wane, the three podium sitters shared one curt glance between them and nodded before wordlessly parting paths. They had said all they needed out on the track.
Momo was the first to take their leave, nervousness clouding their mind as their bronze trophy lagged behind them. Making their way through the crowds was like returning to your old house, standing on that doorstep hoping to fix things you’d left behind.
This trophy: an apology for the wasted hope, and the selfishness, letting passion override your good judgment. They’d seen the comments, the calls for their exit from the roster, all this noise they couldn’t avoid, as if in one bad season everything they’d worked for was being put into question.
But as they reared closer to the grandstand, all they could hear was one loud uniform chant.
“MOMO! MOMO! MOMO!”
Camera flashes and waving signs, cheering and screaming intensifying as they looked up into the audience.
Welcome home.
They were wrong about everything. These marbles weren’t here to pass judgment, didn’t beg them to play it safe, stick to tradition, or chase a dream passed down from person to person, these were the people that had gotten them out of all of that.
This wasn’t an apology. This was a gift they’d brought to them, one that they’d all get to share.
Momo tried to find something else to say, mumbling something, sputtering out nothing. At the sight of their distress, the crowd began to lower their volume.
“Are you okay?” They seemed to ask, hundreds of marbles anxiously waiting for a reply.
Momo let out a shaky laugh, then lifted the trophy as high as they could, the sun making it gleam like gold.
“Thank you, guys,” they said, tears spilling freely but grinning nonetheless. “Thank you for everything.” The roar of the crowd drowned out all of that background noise.
The fans were cheering, but Speedy barely registered it, hearing only a dim echo of its true volume. Instead, playing over it was lap 13’s commentary, right in front of the grandstands, bits of the race replaying like a video reel. Pause, unpause, scroll a bit, and freeze that frame. Again. Once more.
Perhaps as exciting as running the race was picking it apart afterwards. A race was an elaborate puzzle that had to be made sense of, broken apart and reassembled over and over again, but today, it felt like a piece was missing. How exciting.
Cloudy overtakes Speedy for the lead on lap 13. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Speedy,” Quickly nudged, snapping them back to reality. Speedy blinked.
“Pay attention and don’t say anything… unpalatable,” they muttered. Speedy grimaced. That was clearly code for “You don’t want to retake PR training for the third time, do you?“
“Right. Right,” They waved up to the sea of red, “So what do I say to them?”
“You didn’t think about that before we came over here?” Quickly strained a smile waving beside them.
“Normally it’s not me who does this.”
“Well, you better get used to it. Rapidly can’t bail you out anymore.”
They looked at the trophy hoping to find something to say, but all it did was add a new set of eyes looking back at them. Speedy suddenly felt singled out in a way that they haven’t felt in nearly a decade.
“You see this?” They lifted up their prize. “This is only the first one! Everybody take a good hard look at it because this is the one that’s starting us off!” Impulsively, they tossed the prize into the crowd, earning them a glare from Quickly.
Still, it satisfied the audience. Reinvigorated by the promise for more, they passed the trophy among them, from old fans to new. Speedy watched carefully as it made its rounds. Some from their second championship, others from their first, and most memorable were those from before any of the Marble League stuff, fans who hadn’t known them by their name but a variety of monikers – Wunderkind, Rising Star, the Prodigy of Accellaise.
As the trophy made its way back to them, the grandstand was alight, yet the whole thing felt empty even with the increase in noise. The silver now standing next to them hogging up space, a missing piece.
Maybe if it were golden, Speedy thought, searching the crowds hoping to catch the one who’d run off with it.
The screams were deafening, but exhilarating. Cloudy raised up their new trophy, letting the sounds of elation replace the last dredges of adrenaline in them.
They should be happy. They were happy; there was a sea of gray in the grandstands celebrating the Hazers’ first win in a year. Still shaking with triumph, they gazed over their fans, even spotting a few familiar faces. But for a moment, Cloudy remembered the fans as they were a few months ago, their expressions twisted in disgust and disappointment under the overcast skies of Draklin.
One misstep, and they’ll turn on you.
Cloudy blinked, trying to clear the thought from their mind. The trophy they held suddenly felt heavier. They’re here to support you, Cloudy had to remind themselves as they approached the stands. They wouldn’t suddenly stop, they believed in them! It wasn’t naïve to think like that, it couldn’t be, so why was it so unsettling?
They navigated through the crowd anyway, trying to ignore their unease. Hoping their smile didn’t look forced, Cloudy managed to sign a few autographs before preoccupying themselves with the team tradition of dodging reporters. Repetitive was an understatement: despite their best efforts, they received seventeen “cloud nine” puns before they finally evaded the last of the press.
Solitude. No crowd, no noise. No fans in front of them to disappoint, no journalists there to twist their words, just themselves. Alone, Cloudy withdrew two worn notebooks – their teammates’ last gift to them – and recalled an echo of some months-old conversation.
“‘The past isn’t important.’ That’s what we’ve always operated on. This isn’t any different.”
Ironic, then, that it was their guidance aiding Cloudy’s victory today.
“Me? I’m breaking my promise.”
“Smoggy –”
“Hey, listen. No matter what happens, we’ll be proud of you.”
All their dreams. Everything Hazy and Smoggy entrusted to them. They were going to make it happen.
Cloudy, Speedy and Momo atop the podium for the Razzway GP. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
At the halfway point of the final race, Ghost Plasma and Slimer were locked in a battle for 7th position; a battle with such great championship implications, for these two contenders were tied on points going into the final. Ghost Plasma saw Slimer go slightly wide at one of the wider left-handers and seized the opportunity; diving on the inside to get ahead. Ghost Plasma was now provisionally a two-time Marble Rally champion.
Right behind them in 8th, Slimer knew they had to make up that spot no matter what. Lunging around the outside, they closed right up on their title rival, but Plasma’s blocking game was famously second-to-none. Slimer grew anxious as it seemed like the championship was slipping away and not for the first time.
Only in the next few turns, the championship was turned completely on its head again. As Crazy Cat’s Eye veered off the course, Ghost Plasma simultaneously lost control, overshooting their turn a moment later. Millions of voices around Marblearth gasped as the marble that was looking so dominant for most of the season had lost it all in a matter of seconds.
Ghost Plasma beaches midway through the final race. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Slimer, similarly shocked by Plasma’s DNF, honed in their cat-like reflexes to barely avoid ploughing through the sand as well and to keep themselves rolling. Suddenly, the championship was wide open for their taking; the top two were out and Ducktape, the closest marble in points, was nowhere to be seen.
As they rolled down the course, Slimer could feel the championship within reach, getting closer and closer with every second. They continued to gain whatever ground they could — Amethyst still had an outside shot ahead of them and Ducktape, they noticed, was creeping up as Ducktape typically does.
With one straight to go, Silver Bolt had gotten by for 3rd place. As they saw Lollipop’s charge on Grasshopper for the win, Slimer sprinted forward, willing themselves back on the podium for one final time. Vindication for 2017 had been achieved — six years later, Slimer was a Marble Rally champion at long last.
Slimer’s charge ahead of Silver Bolt reverses their fortune from Race 3, when it was Silver Bolt who won in a photo-finish. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Grasshopper at the bottom was still in awe at the sheer speed Lollipop displayed to overtake them at the line; despite losing out on what would’ve been their first win, Grasshopper was graceful nonetheless. Lollipop knew they had to do whatever it took to finally emerge into the top half of the standings — fuelled by that desire, they were able to hit the speed boost perfectly to capture their first and only win of the season.
As the rest of the field reached the bottom of the course, the marbles lifted Slimer in the air in celebration of their championship. Everyone knew that this redemptive win meant the world to them, but perhaps the marble that knew it most of all, Ducktape, was beaming the widest.
“I told you,” said Ducktape, as Slimer was brought down to the sand. “I told you that you didn’t need to worry today. You truly were the best racer out there.”
The overall podium of Marble Rally Season 6, with Slimer and Ducktape in the top two above Superball in third. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Slimer thought back to their hike with Ducktape in Tapai earlier that week, realising that their friend was indeed right. The pair of them had climbed to the peak of the mountain that day, and today they had completed their climb to the peak of the Marble Rally. “Look at us, top two in the standings!” Slimer exclaimed.
As they stood on the final race podium to receive their medals, Lollipop and Grasshopper were jubilant, but Slimer was looking around in search of two marbles in particular. They knew just how dejected Superball and Ghost Plasma must have been feeling — losing the title with a DNF reminded Slimer in every way of what happened in 2017.
Unfortunately, neither Superball nor Ghost Plasma were anywhere to be seen. Slimer’s smile waned in the slightest bit, but as their bronze medal was handed to them, thoughts of their spectacular season came back and their spirit lifted once more.
Lollipop, Grasshopper, and Slimer atop the podium for Race 10. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Six racers. One champion. Who will come out on top?
The Underdogs
The fancy avenues of Felynia were all the more jubilant on one Saturday morning, as the sun dawned on a fantastic performance by their pride of the Marble Rally the previous day. However, the marble victorious was hardly sighted in the city — though this was not atypical during Marble Rally season. Crazy Cat’s Eye was a competitor that would celebrate hard after a successful race but would take no time to put their game face back on for the following week’s challenges.
Crazy Cat’s Eyes’ key overtake in the penultimate race that led to their victory. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Rather, Crazy Cat’s Eye was in the environment that suited them best for their training: the Cat’s Dunes, due east of Felynia. The veteran rally marble always preferred to be alone while training, with nothing but the sound of the sand under them as they darted from one dune to another.
For hours on end, Crazy Cat’s Eye was in isolation at the Dunes, only calling it a day once they caught a glimpse of the golden-colored sky as the sun set on Felynia. However, with the help of their sharp hearing, they quickly realized they weren’t alone. Glancing behind, they saw a red cat’s eye marble that couldn’t be mistaken for any other: Red Eye, the two-time Marbula One racer’s champion.
Red Eye, pictured here as they earned their trophy for being Marbula One Season 3’s Racer Champion. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“I figured you’d be here,” they said with a rather serious expression. Crazy Cat’s Eye peered at them for a moment out of bewilderment; despite being two of the most renowned athletes in the city, the two of them hadn’t been the closest in recent times. Red Eye was a racer who relished in the fame, while the Marble Rally athlete found it bothersome many a time. Still, they rolled towards the Crimson Cat, curious as to what brought them to the city’s outskirts.
“I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now with the final race,” Red Eye continued. “I thought I’d come out here and give you some advice. After all, you’ve been a great help to me and the rest of the team in tackling some of the struggles we’ve had in sand events before.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m okay. I know my fight isn’t with the marbles at the top — even with a win, I can’t guarantee I’ll even finish top 3,” Crazy Cat’s Eye replied.
“How can you say that?!” Red Eye retorted incredulously. “If a championship is even a tiny bit possible, surely you have to be aiming for nothing less! Felynia deserves a title in the Marble Rally.”
Crazy Cat’s Eye sighed, looking towards their fellow athlete. “Look, I’ve been racing for almost double the time you have, but I’m still the underdog; I haven’t had the luxury of being in a title-winning position every season. I’ve medalled the last two races by focusing on myself to maximize my result every week. Race 10 is just another race — so my plan isn’t changing.”
“Sometimes, it’s good to forget about the wider picture, forget about all the drama with the marbles ahead. It can get to your head pretty easily,” they commented. “Besides, I’m racing for myself first, and Felynia and everyone else can be happy with whatever result comes from it.”
Memories of the dramatic final stand on home ground flashed before Red Eye, who realised the maturity of the rally marble’s words.
The Crazy Cat’s Eyes’ repeat championship hopes in Marbula One Season 3 end after a clutch overtake by Royal on the final lap of the Mirage Meowtain GP. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“You’re right. Championship or not, we’re all going to be very proud of what you’ve done this season. Get us a top-five finish — but don’t discount that rookie Amethyst either.”
“You’d know a lot about rookies turning up and shocking the world, wouldn’t you?” Crazy Cat’s Eye replied, both chuckling as they rolled towards the city center together.
Several miles away on the other side of Marblearth, Amethyst peered out towards a vast lake, with nothing but the moonlight illuminating the scene. Despite nightfall, the lilac-colored marble was restless. They were in deep thought about their debut season and the final race.
Amethyst began to roll around the edges of the lake, reflecting on how much they had changed across the season. They weren’t optimistic going into the Marble Rally, and were in disbelief about how far they’d come. Everything happened so fast: qualifying convincingly, that first race win, and now an outside shot at the title with one race to go.
Amethyst stands atop the Marble Rally podium for the first time – and first race – of their JMR career. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Rolling towards the very edge, Amethyst gazed across the sparkling water surface. Its inviting gleam was captivating, almost beckoning the marble to plunge into its frigid depths. As Amethyst looked towards their reflection, it was like it was staring back, questioning them. What did Amethyst see?
Amethyst thought about how great of a leap it was; to put themselves in the highest tier of marble rallying competition and face some of the greatest sand racers on Marblearth. That was the marble they saw in the lake. With that thought, they realized there was still a leap to be taken: to finish this season as strong as they started in the final race.
The marble’s reflection continued to gaze back as if it could read their mind, urging them to take that leap. Knowing what they had to do, Amethyst sprung into the icy lake, swimming to the opposite side. At last, they felt at peace with themselves for who they were: a contender for the Marble Rally title.
The Prospects
On a bright, sunny afternoon, two of the most talented Marble Rally athletes had come together to set out for the most challenging hiking trail in Tapai. It had been three days since Ducktape and Slimer had shared the podium for the second time in three races, and through their friendly rivalry that grew as the season progressed, the former had invited the latter to train together at the tallest peak of their hometown.
Both podiums shared by Ducktape and Slimer in the first 9 races of Marble Rally Season 6. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Tapai isn’t the most enormous city in Marblearth,” remarked Ducktape, “…but it sure has some great spots to go racing. This trail sure is one of them… if you don’t already lose your breath once you’re at the top.”
“Hey, back home at Lemono, there’s no shortage of hills that loom over you either. These tricky conditions are my jam — that’s actually how I got recruited for my rallying academy in the first place!” Slimer replied, though tiring a little after one particularly steep section.
There was an aura of competitiveness amongst the two throughout their journey — both were friendly to one another, but both knew that they were each other’s fiercest competition for the final podium step and neither would let it up so easily.
Ducktape stayed an inch ahead as they climbed, glancing at their dark-green rival on their side. They knew that Slimer was the best marble without a title, and thus perhaps the hungriest for it going into the final race.
Slimer gazes ahead as Ducktape approaches the finish line in Race 9. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Slimer caught glimpse of Ducktape eyeing them up but looked forward in introspection. They were certain to not let anything disturb their mental fortitude — their secret to success in the back halves of every Marble Rally season. By now though, Slimer knew that every time they were caught off guard for even a moment in a race, Ducktape would be right there to snatch any victory away if they could.
As they scaled the peak, the marbles’ bodies grew wearier, but their willpower grew stronger. They might not have had the optimal starting positions to be considered title favorites, but this Marble Rally season had shown that anything was possible from the greatest athletes. These two prospective marbles would give it everything.
“Almost there!” Ducktape exclaimed, as they huffed and puffed towards the summit. The entire town was visible from the height they had reached — Slimer gasped as they took everything into view. Marblearth may be full of competitive athletes, but it had some ravishing sights as well.
Taking their final few rolls before they reached the top, Ducktape looked out towards the surroundings of Tapai. “I’ve met just about every marble in town; it’s small enough. They’re all elated whenever I even just get third place — I haven’t even won a race yet!”
Ducktape holds a brief lead over Ghost Plasma in Race 3. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Just imagine what they’d be like if you won the championship,” remarked Slimer.
“Yeah…” sighed Ducktape, dreaming of that glorious outcome. “It’d be awesome.”
“Anyway, we’ve reached the summit and it’s time for the best part! We get to race down to the bottom. Whoever wins gets good luck for the finale!” Ducktape said excitedly, snapping back to reality.
The marbles dashed down, both eager to get to the starting point of the trail before the other despite how much effort it took to climb up. Ducktape loved the idea of one-upping their rival here for a confidence boost, but the more experienced of the two got out ahead at first.
Slimer wasn’t going to let Ducktape ahead for even a moment — they firmly wanted to prove they were the better racer. If they could emerge victorious on what was Ducktape’s home soil, surely Slimer would have the measure of them at Dopersduin Bregtdorp. They rolled on, using their agility and experience to avoid any natural obstacle that could be thrown at them.
Ducktape was catching up, but did they have enough time? Slimer saw the hint of purple nearing ever closer but was on their way to capture the victory as the bottom of the hill was in sight. With just a few meters left, it looked like they were unassailable, until—
“Argh!” Slimer let out a groan as they were stopped in their tracks by a round obstacle that evaded their vision. Ducktape shot by, cheering as they reached the bottom of the hill. The green marble had been denied once again by a tumbleweed, and memories of the 2017 Marble Rally finale came flooding back.
Slimer loses the lead—and the championship—in the final stretch of the 2017 Final Race. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Dejected, Slimer rolled down to Ducktape, whose smile quickly vanished as they realized what had happened. “Hey, it’ll be okay. Good thing this happened here and not in the actual race. You’re a much better racer than who you were six years ago, and if it’s just a tumbleweed between you and a championship, that’s not going to stop you on Friday.”
Slimer looked at Ducktape with appreciation, realizing that they were speaking to them not as a rival, but as a friend. Ducktape may not have been there on that day in 2017, but Slimer knew that they understood how it must’ve felt.
“Thank you, Ducktape. May the best racer win,” replied Slimer.
The Champions
After a hectic couple of months, Ghost Plasma could finally say they were doing something to unwind since the start of the Marble Rally season. They had been invited by Cell, the coach of Team Plasma, for dinner at a high-end restaurant at the heart of Fantum with the whole team. Following nine races of fantastic highs and soul-crushing lows, Ghost Plasma was not hesitant to accept the invitation and catch up with their namesake team — they hadn’t a chance to meet since well before Race 1 or the Marble League 2022 Showdown.
(Having won 3 consecutive races in this season, we can imagine Big Plasma was as busy as they seemed.) (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Ghost Plasma was running slightly late, so they were hasty as they rolled towards the restaurant on the Tuesday evening of the week of the finale. They heard that Cell had booked a large round table for the seven of them, so the Marble Rally champion didn’t want to leave them waiting for too long.
As they arrived, Ghost Plasma was met by loud cheers and a round of applause. The team was not irked by their lack of punctuality, rather, they were delighted to see them. It was as if Ghost Plasma had already been crowned Marble Rally champion of Season 6.
“You’ve been a treat to watch this year,” remarked Fearo, the captain of Team Plasma. “Those races in the middle of the season, you were unstoppable.”
“I’m not kidding, whenever we’re together watching you go from 16th to 1st in a matter of seconds, we go as ballistic as our fans are!” Ecto exclaimed. “Sometimes we even play a game to guess how fast it takes for you to lead,” they continued, met with laughs from the rest of the team.
Following their dominant victory in the 2022 Marble League Showdown, Team Plasma entertains a visit from one of their superfans. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Ghost Plasma chuckled feebly along with the others, but couldn’t help feeling down about their last two races. Not finishing two races in a row had been a huge dent in their morale and they struggled to think of anything besides the letters “DNF”.
“Thanks, everyone, but I’ll admit, you set a tough standard with your dominance in the 2022 Showdown. I think seeing you do that helped me earlier on, but it’s getting harder and harder towards the end. I really don’t want to lose this championship like I lost the last one.”
“I know you mustn’t be too thrilled with how the races have been going lately,” Cell replied. “But that’s actually why we decided to invite you here.”
“To… give me a pep talk?”
“More or less,” Phanto confirmed. “Look, we want 2023 to be the year of the Plasma, and while the Plasma group may be in the past, it’d still be magnificent if the year of the Plasma was kicked off with a Ghost Plasma championship in the Marble Rally.”
“We’d like to do anything we can to help you for the final race,” added Gloomo.
Ghost Plasma felt a wave of gratitude towards the team. Few other athletes in the Marble Rally had such a connection to a Marble League team — a group of athletes who all knew what it was like competing at the upper echelon of marble sports.
“Thank you, all of you. I don’t want to let this championship go. I made history with those three wins in a row — I deserve to win this thing. But even the most experience in the world might not be enough to beat Superball, Slimer and Ducktape.”
With Superball leading the final race of Marble Rally Season 5, Ghost Plasma fell victim to a pair of Sector 3 helices. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“You’ve undoubtedly performed the best out of anyone. I’m sure you have what it takes—”
Ghost was interrupted by a swarm of reporters who had made their way inside; after all, it didn’t take long for the city of Fantum to realize their Marble Rally champion and Marble League Showdown champions were together at this restaurant. It seemed as if the owner was just as excited to meet the athletes to care about how bustling and crowded it had gotten.
“Ghost Plasma, it’s my pleasure,” declared Cyto, an eager reporter, as they shoved a microphone towards them. “Can we expect a Marble Rally championship this weekend?”
“How do you plan to avoid any stoppages this time?”
“Who’s your greatest competitor for the title, Plasma?”
The former champion was surrounded by a slew of questions, unable to answer anything — it was all so overwhelming. Luckily, Fearo noticed and took the mic. They looked towards the cameras facing them, smirking.
“Look everyone, Ghost Plasma is the greatest in the Marble Rally. They have one of the best spots to start from, and without a doubt, Ghost Plasma WILL become a two-time champion this weekend. You heard it here first,” remarked the captain of Team Plasma, met with cheers all around.
Hoping to make a move in the aftermath of a tall slope, Superball can’t claim the lead in Race 8 against “Pollota’s Pride” Pollo Loco. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Across Marblearth in a dimly lit bar in Supozi, Superball and their personal trainer had taken some time out together after a long training session. A marble on the television screen caught their eye though: Fearo of Team Plasma.
“…Ghost Plasma WILL become a two-time champion this weekend.” Fearo declared from the television.
“Let’s go,” Superball said curtly. “This isn’t worth our time.”
The pair of them swiftly left the bar. Superball was evidently not happy with what they had heard.
“I thought you were friendly with the other marbles?” Superball’s trainer asked. “It’s not like you to be like this.”
“It’s all fun and games until a championship is on the line. Ghost Plasma has finished in the bottom 2 overall twice, but they win three races and it’s all Plasma this, Plasma that,” responded Superball.
“Maybe, if they were truly the greatest, they wouldn’t DNF twice in a row. I’ve got more overall podiums than DNFs and I’m the only one to do it. I’m going to win the final race and prove that I am the greatest of all time.”
Superball stands atop the podium at the end of Season 5, celebrating their first Marble Rally championship. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The defending Marble Rally champion rolled off into the shadows of Supozi city.
Six racers. One champion. Who will come out on top?
The best racer of Marble Rally Season 6 stands among these six. Choose your marble…
Reflektor dusted themself off after a hard-fought race. Despite a brilliant start, they had fallen to fifth by the end of the race. Given the circumstances, a disappointing finish, but a competitor always welcomes a top-five.
“I almost had it!” Reflektor remarked to Slimer as they rolled to the podium. “I really could have taken another medal. That was a great race though Slimer, I didn’t even know you were there until you took my spot halfway through!”
“It was a fun one, wasn’t it? I wasn’t sure I would be able to beat you right to the very end!” Slimer replied. They had managed to snatch the third step of the podium away from Reflektor and Blizzard Blaster. However, Crazy Cat’s Eye was untouchable at the front, leading for nearly the whole race. Journalist Sandy was able to catch up with them in their podium interviews.
“That was an exhilarating race,” Crazy Cat’s Eye said as they rolled up to the podium, “I honestly didn’t know I was as far ahead as I was until I reached the finish and looked back to see my nearly two-second lead.”
Ducktape approaches the finish as Crazy Cat’s Eye glances behind them. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Two podiums in a row! You must be rolling on cloud nine!” said Sandy.
“Indeed I am,” replied Crazy Cat’s Eye, “and I’m feeling better than ever on the track. I’m starting to learn how important confidence is to success!”
“How was that early battle with Reflektor?” Sandy questioned. “It looked like you two were dueling pretty quickly!”
“Reflektor is a great competitor. If I’m honest, they’re unlucky not to have way more points than they do. It’s always a joy racing them, and they always put up a good fight.” Just then, the highlight of Crazy Cat’s Eye’s brilliant pass on Reflektor for the lead popped onto the screen. They smiled briefly and said chuckling, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is,” replied Sandy, moving on to silver medalist Ducktape.
“Hey Ducktape, fancy meeting you here again!”
“I know right? It’s becoming a sort of tradition,” laughed Ducktape. For being the second time in three races they had landed on the silver step of the podium, Ducktape was getting used to the interview process.
“You’re rolling on some very good form here lately. With one more race left, do you think you have what it takes to be the champion?”
“I see no reason why I can’t be,” Ducktape responded as they were handed the silver medal. “I’m racing great this season, one more good race and I’ll have a podium and a personal best season all in one!”
“I love the confidence, good luck in the final race,” Sandy said, rolling away to allow the podium finishers to celebrate. At about that time, the standings were revealed on the big screen. All three of the podium marbles could still win the league, and, for the first time since Race 4, Ghost Plasma had been dethroned as the points leader. Instead, just one point clear of the pack was Superball. The remaining six contenders met behind the podium.
“This’ll be fun,” remarked Superball.
“Indeed,” said Ghost Plasma, “May the best marble win.”
Crazy Cat’s Eye, Ducktape, and Slimer atop the podium for Race 9. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The first victor of a Marble Rally main tournament race, Pollo Loco looked like no stranger to the podium when they approached its top step at the end of this race. With eight medals over five seasons, “Pollota’s Pride” had become known as a fan favorite athlete, even if they, to date, have never placed above seventh overall at a season’s end.
“Fans’ enthusiasm over these past seven years has been my greatest motivation,” remarked Pollo Loco. “I’ve learned that the Marble Rally can be as unpredictable as it is skill-based. But the fact that we get to race at all is a gift.”
Despite living within proximity of the Surculo Elite League from a really young age, Pollo Loco and their family never had the resources to invest in an athletic career. Mass transportation did not service their town on the city’s outskirts until mid-2018, over a year after Pollo Loco had won a Marble Rally race. Pollo Loco got their big break in an event advocating for more accessible, reliable, and sustainable transportation: in a viral video, Pollo Loco and Tour de Vellis star El Capitan outran a trolley car in a relay race.
“I had always been training on the side, waiting in the wings…I owe El Capitan every performance I’ve given in the Marble Rally. I wish they had qualified this season.”
Pollo Loco and El Capitan split the podium aside H2Blue after Race 3 of the 2018 Showdown. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“You don’t give yourself enough credit – El Capitan would say the same thing if they were here,” said Slimer. “Or maybe it’s because you went vegan?”
Pollo Loco laughed. “Sure. That’s the payoff for four years of not eating chicken.”
We thanked Pollo Loco, applauding them as they took the top step of the podium for the first time since 2017. To our right, Sandy thanked Amethyst as they, too, approached the podium for their silver.
“Amethyst wasn’t ready to share an origin story just yet,” explained Sandy. “But they were as gracious as ever in their interview.”
Sharing their notes with us, we learned that Amethyst was just as nervous approaching this race as they were at the start of the season. But as they passed Cool Moody, Amethyst felt a sense of confidence for the first time, one that helped them reclaim a spot in the top three after a collision between Grasshopper and Lollipop propelled them from a slope. The affair nearly caused Grasshopper to spin out of the course, one race after earning their first career medal.
“That would have bugged me,” Grasshopper said. “But I’m glad I could get racing again. And I’m happy for Amethyst, too! They’re having quite the rookie season.”
Amethyst vaults back into a provisional P3during the race. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
With Crazy Cat’s Eye already on the bronze step, we thought we’d wait until after the race to interview them. In the meantime, we sat with Superball and Wisp of Darkness, fourth and fifth-place finishers respectively.
“How does it feel to be eight points away from a repeat title?” asked Wisp, who until the final few turns of the race was close to capturing a second bronze. “I can’t imagine that feeling myself.”
“I’m lucky that I can even imagine it. But I’m not in a position to take it for granted. I appreciate that I can pursue something I’m passionate about.”
“Me too.”
Pollo Loco, Amethyst, and Crazy Cat’s Eye on the podium for Race 8. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Sandy, a Marble Rally journalist, rolled towards the podium finishers for their post-race interviews after the medal ceremony. Slimer, as the race winner, went first.
“First win in six years… but you’ve certainly had success in between. How did it feel to finally return to the top step?” Sandy inquired.
“It was euphoric, of course, but I also feel a sense of vindication and relief,” Slimer replied. “After so many near-misses, I knew that victories were what I needed to be able to challenge for a championship. Finishing 3rd and 4th is awesome, no doubt, but after achieving that, my goals have always been on top.”
“Many regard you as the marble that pulls off the best second-half comebacks,” remarked Sandy, met with a chuckle from Slimer. “Did you think this was coming and should you be one to look out for in the final three rounds?”
“Haha, I know I have a reputation for that, yeah. I think it comes down to your mindset: the Marble Rally is as much of a mental sport as a physical one and the pressure ramps up towards the end of a season. I didn’t want to expect anything, because no one’s owed success, but I do think that I should be one to look out for. I’d say that at any part of the season, really.”
Thanks for your time, Slimer, and congratulations on your well-deserved victory,” said Sandy. “On to you, Ducktape!”
“P2, and another podium in the bag. You’re positioned very well in 4th for your best career result, how have you managed it this season?”
“Thank you, and yeah, it’s been great so far. I feel much more experienced this season, and after the previous, I know what I’m capable of. That added bit of confidence helped me in getting this,” replied Ducktape, motioning to their gleaming silver medal.
“What’s on your mind heading into the final three rounds?”
“Wins, and an overall podium. This is my best shot at it and I won a race late in the game last time too. The championship looks out of reach, but never say never.”
“Thank you, Ducktape, and well done on your hard-fought P2. Finally, Lollipop!” exclaimed Sandy.
“Amazing race, finishing on the podium starting from P15! How did you do it?”
“Thanks so much! Staying off the wall at the start was very important, it helped me get in the mix. This race had so many DNFs, I knew I had to take my time to keep it clean at some points, and struck late to snag P3.”
“After a difficult start to the season, how does it feel to return to your Season 5 form?”
“Yeah, the earlier races were not what I wanted for sure, but it’s about how you respond to failure. That’s what I lived by and what kept me going, and to reap the rewards of it has been lovely,” said Lollipop with a smile.
“Thanks for your time, and congrats once again.”
The marbles beaming on the podium after a tumultuous Race 7. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
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