Chasing Stars

Threats from outer space

"Unbelievable!" the commentator screeched, causing Jeanne to wince. She immediately turned the phone's volume down, trying to make herself as small as possible.

The subway car was crowded beyond belief, every available corner filled with a stray limb, and she found herself squished between the uniform mass of bodies and the door. The situation was far from uncommon in the big city, but she had really hoped she could beat the rush, if just for today.

They'd all been looking forward to watching the Football Frontier Finale together. It's been the only topic anyone would bother to talk about at Umbrella lately. And now she was running late.

Jeanne sighed. Just my luck.

"The game's barely started," the announcer stated. Jeanne couldn't remember any Football Frontier tournament that his ear-grating voice hadn't been present for - the man's square face and unfortunately shaped mustache were almost as emblematic of the event as the Federations' logo plastered all over the stadium. "but Zeus' captain has already scored, putting his team into the lead! What a terrifying shot - Can their opponents come back from this?"

While he tried to sound impartial, his voice wavered ever so slightly in worry. Considering the state Zeus had left their earlier opponents in, Jeanne couldn't really blame him.

While she, like many, had hoped that the Royal Academy team would be taken down a peg this year - their absolute dominance tournament after tournament had gotten somewhat dull - that didn't mean she had wanted them to spend the rest of the finals in the hospital. Even now, she could spot only half of them in the stands, and even those who made it had come wrapped in bandages.

"Aha! As you can see, Raimon isn't about to throw the match just yet! Dragonfly marches forward like a man possessed," went the commentary. Even over video, Kevin's mood was easily discernible - If Jeanne hadn't watched the way Zeus had carried themselves in their earlier match-ups, she would have thought they were trying to rile the striker up on purpose. He seemed like the hot-headed type. "Did Zeus' defense fall asleep?! They aren't reacting to the attack! The goal is wide open!"

In front of the goal, Kevin roared. He quickly gestured towards their star striker - then, he only had eyes for the opposing goalkeeper. Soon, blue flames engulfed the pitch, and a dragon joined into the striker's cry.

The stadium exploded, and Jeanne grinned, swept up in the excitement as she was. The move was as much a staple in Raimon's arsenal as Axel's Fire Tornado, and both combined never failed to draw a reaction from the crowd.

"It's Raimon's famous dragon tornado!" The commentator screeched - cue more tinkering with the volume dial - as the flames turned red, spiraling towards the net.

Not that Jeanne looked directly at it; Fire always made her queasy.

With an enviable confidence, Zeus' goalkeeper stared down the special shot aimed straight at his head. Slowly, he raised his hand and, almost as if the very sea itself had chosen to obey his command, a massive tidal wave suddenly overtook the area. Raimon's pair of strikers could do little more than watch as the water swallowed up their flames, leaving the ball securely in the keeper's hands.

"And he caught it!" the announcer yelled. "This power is why they call him 'Poseidon', ladies and gentlemen! Truly a formidable opponent - Wait, is he-"

Gently, the goalkeeper rolled the ball out on the field. It stopped at a perplexed Axel's feet. Jeanne could only read the action as the intended provocation that it was - none of Poseidon's own teammates were anywhere close to Raimon's number 10.

The star striker didn't rise to the bait, however. Compared to his friend, he was much more composed, and more than willing to make the most out of the presented opportunity.