Taking Centre Pitch (Part 2) A Faster Path

[Beavie]

PART 1 Here:

For optimal reading and prettiness, click PDF here.[url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lYsu78vBpo9D6HiwT_h6F69USfNUNKSk/view?usp=sharing][/url]

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Plain text for site:

“The bosses are ready to see you.”

A receptionist gives the scorbunny a warm grin as Allie is in the waiting area of the office area of Magyar’s big wigs. She’s finally changed out of her gear and has a black skirt and red top, a little bow on her head. She’s been somewhat nervous since being told that basically ALL her bosses are looking to talk to her. Usually if all are involved, it can either be something big like an early call-up, or a transfer.

Would she be ready for a call-up now? Is there even room for her? She knows Petter Lind, her fellow back-to-back draft pick is going up due to an opening at Central Defense and she’s comparable to him skill-wise, but they have the right side sorted.

Allie wouldn’t think she’d be informed of a trade or transfer, but hearing rumours that Club Atlético Buenos Aires did attempt to trade up in her draft to acquire her before Shanghai, she knows that she has garnered some interest around the league, and with the talented and speedy Tony Delvechio at right wing back in Shanghai, she may be in the minors longer than expected for a second overall pick. Could they fill multiple roles with a huge trade? And even if she’d like the chance to play with her PokePal Snor Lax again-

She’s growing used to Hungary and her teammates here, and she doesn’t want to be a rabbit to chase hardware. She wants to be able to stay with a team long-term unless it is in both party’s interest to move on. Giving a deep sigh, Allie hops up to turn the door knob and nudges the door open.

Sitting in an office outlooking the pitch is Vašek Tommy. He has a slight grin which would be reassuring for the Scorbunny, but behind him are the McFrogs. Kermit and Slippy.

“Allie, nice to see you still working hard even in the off-season. Take a seat.” The Rapid Magyar manager motions to the chair.

Giving a gulp, she hops up to seat, settling herself in. Kermit takes a look at Allie and mutters to Slippy.

“Say, isn’t the lass a little short to be a football player?”

Allie darts her eyes up and responds. “Mate, if this meeting is asking me to evolve, no deal. I am quite happy with me everstone.”

Tommy raises his hands.

“No, no, not at all. Only thing evolving is your play on the pitch. We’ve noticed your effort throughout the past two seasons and really think you have a bright future.”

The Scorbunny from Postwick nods her head. “Thanks.”

“-But as you know, the organization is still young and we have a lot of young players vying for spots in the major’s organization and things can be challenging."

“Buuun….” She mutters in her Scorbunny tongue something the narrator isn’t comfortable with translating. “Don’t tell me this is what I think it is-”

“What do you think?” Slippy asks Allie, and before Tommy can calm the Scorbunny down, she covers her eyes.

“Please don’t trade me! I don’t want to go to Cairo and burn my paws in the sand!”

“-In your defense there, you do refuse to wear shoes and have heating pads on your feet.”

“I don’t want to deal with the Hollywood press right now or have to deal with Boris Johnson!”

“He hasn’t been in power for years-” Slippy mutters.

Clearly Allie does not like the British Tories. . .

“Please, I don’t want to leave-”

“You’re not leaving!” Vašek raises his voice and gets up from his chair. He gives the Scorbunny a pat on the head, trying to calm her down. It is warm to the touch. “Slippy, I know I may regret this, but explain.”

Slippy grabs the tablet and uses his ‘hands’ to slide to a graphic of the Shanghai Dragon’s Organization. Both the major’s and minor’s clubs are seen in their usual formations, with the two teams overlapping on shared positions.

“Okay, we have been looking at a way to get you to Shanghai sooner. We look at the development between you and Tony and with Delvechio having a year up on you, may be a slight bit ahead, though it is not that much of a gap. The last thing we want is to have a position battle between two players we want to keep.”

He points to the attacking side. “We know you have been an offensive player before. With Vito being an older player, we’re fully expecting to eventually call someone up to take his spot when the time is right, but then we’d have another issue with Sam being the likely ‘first option’ as Magyar’s current player on that side.”

“Sam’s been really hitting it off with Evil.” Allie comments. “Those two can be a bloody solid team up front.”

“That’s the idea.” Tommy nods his head. Kermit who has been watching can’t help but comment.

“Say, how ‘Evil’ is Greg Evil truly? Is it just a last name or are we raising a super villain here?”

“He did dress up as Team Rocket for Halloween and tried to prank me by trying to kidnap me,” Allie snickers. “But he got me some Carrot Paprikash as a make good.”

Slippy clears the. . . frog in his throat and continues.

“So the way it is, we wouldn’t be able to call you up for several seasons.”

“I can be patient.” Allie nods her head. “I can do well here. Food’s spicy but that’s how I like it.”

“I would like to be able to have you on my team long term. . .” Vašek comments, before clarifying. “But we also have the current minor’s and major’s structure for a reason. The minors, in theory, you develop players SO they can be able to handle the majors when the time is right. Considering how much effort you’ve been putting in, it’ll be sooner rather than later.”

Allie thinks. They are really interested in getting her up to Shanghai faster. She’s made a lot of friends and they DID mention that they would move with her to China once the time would come, but what? Does she really just have one more season in the purple?

“So, what would be that plan then?” She asks. Tommy looks at the fire-type and explains.

“Well, we know you’ve got speed and can read the pitch well. You’ve also shown you can be effective in both ends of the pitch. So, uh, I know this may sound crazy after we asked you a couple seasons ago, but would you be interested in changing positions again?”

Allie’s eyes open wide as she scratches the back of her head. ANOTHER position swap? Slippy points at the tablet and shows the spot of Billy Bob.

“Late this season we were given word from doctors that Billy Bob has a long-term issue in his knee. He told us he will gut it out for a while, but there is a chance we’ll be on a timer with his career, and no, it won’t be something that can be just ‘healed’ at a PokeCenter.”

Nodding his head, Tommy clarifies.

“Grimbergen and Renzo Milano likely wouldn’t be ready by that time. We figured we could attempt a trade when that time would come, but we know you’re versatile. We also got some of our eyes on a couple extra players who can play in the back end this draft. So what we’re thinking, this season you play more as a Central Midfielder.”

“A Central midfielder?” She hums. Kemit McFrog also chimes in.

“And if we can get you up to Shanghai sooner, imagine the sponsorship money we can get?!”

Allie rolls her eyes. Typical owners.

“The idea we’re thinking,” The Magyar manager gets things back on track. “We get you developed in the middle of the pitch this season, maybe another if needed, and call you up when ready, or if Bob’s knees give out on him. Whatever comes first.”

There is an odd bit of silence from Allie. She’s open to playing wherever, but she’s already swapped during her career, and she’s been developing into a hot prospect for her position (typing aside). Tommy shows confidence in her.

“You got the skills. You know the pitch well, great vision and speed to open things up, able to shut people down just by being annoying to get the ball around. Really, the only thing you need is to get used to your position and how to read your spot based on those around you. That and maybe get back to practicing your shot.”

Her ears perk up at the thought of being able to score some more goals. Tommy smirks.

“We’ll give you some time to think it over. Just let us know before the draft in a little while.”

“O-Okay coach.”

He reaches out and shakes Allie’s paw. “I’ll miss you when you get called up, but I think we’ll be proud of you.”

Slippy approaches and gives Allie a slimy handshake as well.

“Nice to finally meet the mythical Scorbunny!”

“I’m a starter, not a mythical.”

Kermit shakes her hand as well.

“Good luck, little one, and I can vision it now. . . ‘The Year of Rabbit in Shanghai’ as you get called up.”

“Go, get some rest for once, we’ll be in touch.”

Allie walks out of the office, heads down, trying to think over her decision. Does she think she’ll be able to adapt well as a midfielder?

As she exits the room, Kemit bumps Slippy’s elbow.

“We should have also asked her if that Dragon fella wanted to be our back-up keeper?”

“Dad, we can’t just sign every big Pokemon and plomp them in the net-”

Heading down the elevator, in the main lobby are most of her Pokemon friends. Noodles the Dragonite, Zip the Electrike, Cookie the Fidough, and Muffin the Wooloo have stayed. The others have taken the chance to head out and meet up later.

Allie exhales, the news is far from the worst she’s ever heard. But safe to say: ANOTHER position change was not what she expected. She hears a ‘BAAAA’ from Muffin. The Galarian lass seems to understand it.

“Nah, Muffin, it’s far from the worst news in the world.”

Zip barks. “You not traded?”

The bunny shakes her head. “Far from it, mate. But the news is. . . quite a big decision.”

The Dragonite who towers over the rest of the Pokemon kneels down. Noodles always is gentle with small Pokemon.

“Well, what is it, Miss Allie?”

Clearing her small throat, Allie answers.

“They are hoping to get me in a spot to be called up sooner.” The Pokemon hold their breaths, excited for Allie, but she adds a caveat. “But, they want me to  change position to the midfield.”

“Aww, that doesn’t seem so bad.” Noodles wags his big tail, accidentally knocking a chair over. “Oh, oops, hehe.”

“I mean, I can play multiple positions. . . But uh, do I need to change positions AGAIN?”

Exhaling, Allie gives a tired sigh. “I really need to think about it this off-season. . . I was starting to get good at being Right Wing Back, you know?”

Cookie pokes her nose into Allie’s stomach. She barks and smiles.

“I think Cookie trusts you to solve it.”

Rubbing the back of her head, Allie smirks. “Hehe, thanks Cookie. You’re a good lass.”

“We can talk it over dinner. The rest of the crew is going to have some Goulash.”

A delicious spicy meal. Just what the fire type wanted.

“Oooh, extra carrots for me, please!”

If her tail was so small, she’d wag it right now. Noodles carefully exit through the door of the lobby and the Pokemon follow. For now, Allie is content to have some food, but knows deep down, a big decision is coming.

TO BE CONTINUED

[lemonoppy]

THE FRIENDS BEING BROKEN UP??? 5/5