//------------------------------//
// One Last Save 
// Story: The Final Game of the Season 
// by Admiral Biscuit 
//------------------------------//

The Final Game of the Season
Admiral Biscuit

Hunger? Guilt? The thrill of the game? Sunset didn’t know, everything was instinct and they were up—she thought they were up, the roar of the crowd was deafening. Somewhere after the first whistle blew she’d mentally passed beyond guilt and into anger, and she played with a vengeance.

Maybe if they did win this game, maybe if she played her very best, she would earn a tiny modicum of forgiveness from Kerfuffle, maybe that would be a step on the right path for her.

If she earned it. Could she? Did she deserve it?

The ball shot over the net, she jumped up and slammed it back, aiming towards an opening mid-field.

She could feel the energy of the crowd feeding into her as she got back in her spot, then they lost the ball and were on defense.


•••••


A few minutes later she dared look at the scoreboard. It was her turn to serve, they were not only winning; they had almost won.

Serving was never her strong suit; she belonged up at the net with Kerfuffle–she had belonged up at the net, now she didn’t deserve it.

Everything was too bright, too loud. She fixed the field in her mind, glanced over at Kerfuffle who gave her a nod, and she drilled the ball across the net, fast and low–this wouldn’t be the game-winning point but if she got it right her next serve might be.

Sugarcoat stopped it, popped it up, Indigo Zap got under it, and she watched in slow motion as Sour Sweet rose, as her hand slammed down on the ball, as Mystery Mint reacted, a half-step to the side and then the ball rocketed towards her outstretched hands: Crystal Prep’s side was in disarray, a fast return would clinch the point.

Mystery Mint tipped it, the ball started to arc out of bounds–way out of bounds.

She’d have never made it from her favored position in the front line, but she could from her position in the back.

Sunset dove, got the ball with one outstretched hand, and then crashed into their team bench, fetching up right beside Kerfuffle.

“Nice save.”

“Thanks.” Sunset went to push herself up and the whole world went white.