League War 3, Division 4, Round 1
Red Guard vs ‡ ⱾUเCเD€ ⱾQU₳Đ ‡
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Allyson (Crossroads) looked across the stadium field at the team arrayed against her and her league, Red Guard - ‡ ⱾUเCเD€ ⱾQU₳Đ ‡. Sure, it sounds so cool, the name of a comic book team of misfit anti-heroes. But this is not a comic book or a movie. This was reality and the reality was that ‡ ⱾUเCเD€ ⱾQU₳Đ ‡ was far from a team of misfits. They were tough, determined, extremely experienced, and intimidating.
She has faced many of these heroes before in the BADGE dueling grounds. Some of them were even her instructors when she was a trainee. At that moment, Allyson could not remember actually beating any of them in all those fights. And why would she? She was a rookie, a n00b, a wet-behind-the-ears wanna-be hero.
But that was then and this was now. Allyson wasn't a rookie anymore. She was a seasoned hero with a impressive record f wins against many opponents and villains. Red Guard was also a tough and experienced league. They wouldn't just roll over and play, no matter what the odds. They would fight and ‡ ⱾUเCเD€ ⱾQU₳Đ ‡ would know they were in a fight.
Allyson just wished her heart would stop beating so fast and that she wouldn't throw up in front of all these spectators....
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Crossroads sat in a chair outside the Recovery Room, head leaned back against the wall and eyes closed.
"I won't cry. Heroes don't cry because they lose. They pick themselves up and try again. Never give up!" Allyson kept repeating to herself, reassuring herself. It didn't work.
"Sure they don't cry when they lose...but we got our arses stomped! It wasn't even close!".
"It doesn't mean anything, Allyson. You'll get them next time!" One of the countless alternate Crossroads in her head told her, many others echoing the same sentiment.
Other voices in her head just snorted in disgust.
"Allyson, you lost and lost bad. No mistake about it," Crossroads from another reality told her, "but you can either wallow in self-pity and play the 'Woe is me!' card, or you can figure out what you need to do to get better, get stronger. Because sure as shootin', you'll be in this position again one day. There are always people stronger than you. And sometimes, they team up against you and kick the crap out of you. That's life!"
Allyson sighed, "You're right, Allie. I know you are. But I was so sure that we could at least get one win out of it!"
Allyson opened her eyes and stood up. She stretched, feeling joints popping and muscles stretching. She wasn't hurt too badly in her matches, and she was able to hit her opponents a couple of times. Well, a couple of them at least. ‡ ĐI₳]v[oNĐ₳cꬲⱾƮuĐĐ ‡ and ‡ ]v[ɽ B๏wʈIΣ ‡ seemed to completely ignore all of her attacks while simply crushing her with a few well-placed attacks.
Even ‡ ⱾUเCเD€ NUR$€ ‡ took her two attacks like it was only a little bit of jostling on the city bus. And then she proceeded to show Allyson what someone with proper medical training could to do, and kept Allyson stunned for 4 straight attacks, preventing Allyson from attacking again that match.
"Well, that's enough of the pity party. We have the second round in a few days and I have teammates that need to be consoled at the Stadium Bar and Grill. I'm sure I'm not the only one who could do with some of those Stadium Coneys and draft beer!"
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