Year of the Rabbit: Part 2 (Long overdue)

[Beavie]

Hihifo Airport, early morning.

Just after the WSFC. Yes, been a while, I know.

The WSFC has wrapped up with the Pyrenees being crowned World Champions, but Allie was in bed at the hotel by the second half as her flight got changed. The Scorbunny gets out of her cab wearing a red polka dot dress. She carries her bag behind her as the fire-type rubs her eyes with her paws. The sun’s just getting up. At least with the change in destination, things won’t be as insane for travel. She looks at the small airport. . . It looks more like a cozy hut than a massive airport like she’d travel through to most her matches. But the atmosphere during the Football Classic has been nice. A feel of a Football vacation for most the players.

Allie gets ready to enter as a familiar voice greets her.

“Hey Bunson!”

Allie’s ears rise up and she turns her head to see her coach from Magyar. Vašek Tommy. He’s got a pair of track pants and a t-shirt on as he greets the soon to be called up Bunson. The Scorbunny runs and gives her coach a hug.

“Coach Tommy! Great to see you!”

He pats the rabbit on her head and kneels down slightly. “Luckily I was down to watch the tournament, but I figured it’d be good to see my call-up off.”

“You’re not upset I’m up early?” She asks and he shakes his head.

“If anything, I recommended it. I figured you're ready. They’re expecting one more name to move up with you and we’re thinking,  Albinson but we have a few weeks before the deadline.”

“I’d be great to see him with me.” Allie gives a small grin. She rubs the back of her head and admits. “You know, I’m a tad nervous about all this. I think I did good in my sample size here. . . no matter how small, but I’ll be going from Minors Division Two up to Top division in the Majors in one sweep. It’s going to be a big jump.”

“It’s going to be a challenge, but you have a good team around you. I’ve been watching the Shanghai crew for a while, a lot of them came up around the same time and grew together. You’ll be entering a welcoming locker room. Just remember.”

He smirks at the Scorbunny. “You got to keep working hard. We called you up for a reason, you just got to show it. You have my number if you need anything. We’ll be rooting for you from Hungary.”

Putting out his fist, Allie gives it a big bump and she greets him with a hug. She’s going to miss Hungary.

But it is time for her to join the majors.

“I will, mate. Thanks for everything.” She lets go of the hug and grabs her bag. Part of her doesn’t want to go, but there’s an excitement to the upcoming challenges for her on the horizons.

. . .

After making her way through security, waiting for her time to make it to her flight, she exits the terminal and ends up on a more private part of the air strip, usually reserved for smaller planes. It isn’t a hard time for her to put two-and-two together to find what plane is for her. She has a coffee in her paw (half-caf, we don’t want to see this rabbit on full caffeine) and walks towards a medium sized private jet. It’s white paint is broken up with a long black stripe, having a faux marble design and a gold trim. The logo of her new club is on it, the Shanghai Dragons. A pilot greets her and leads her up the steps onto the plane.

Entering the cabin, there is a darkwood trim along the lower halves of the wall with comfy leather chairs, small tables, and even a snack bar. The pilot helps the small rabbit lift her bag up into the compartment, taking out Allie’s blue rabbit plush first so she can get some ‘company’ on the flight. Though, she’s not alone. Exiting the bathroom is a man… or rather, a frog, with a designer suit jacket with the Dragons emblem sewn on it. Shanghai’s owner and General manager, Kermit McFrog. Shame for him-

He’s got his boxers on. It is adorned with the logo of Club Deportivo Tenochtitlan on it. He looks, seeing Allie in the cabin and quickly hides behind a chair!

“Ah! I told you to tell me when she was coming!”

Allie’s jaw drops as she looks at the pilot then back at McFrog.

“Uh… I’ll let you put on some trousers then, lad.” She covers her mouth and snickers.  “Nice boxers, by the way.”

“I lost a bet with Tenochtitlan’s owner! The first team to win a title ships a pair of merchandise to the other and they’re too comfy!”

Kermit is handed his pair of pants by the pilot and he quickly slides them on. He tries to compose himself and finally greets Allie.

“Allie Bunson, it’s been a while. I think you met my son when we drafted you, Slippy. I’m McFrog, Kermit McFrog. I’m the Founder, CEO, General Manager, Treasurer, Bake Sale Coordinator, and head of Dragon Taming for the Shanghai Dragons FC.”

He extends his hand and Allie shakes it. “Hehe, I’m Allie. Your new midfielder. Uh, have you tamed any dragons?”

Kermit nods his head. “I caught this Dragon Pokemon friend, ‘Goomy.’ He’s squishy, but one day I am sure he will sprout wings and I can use him instead of this plane.”

“Good luck with that, hehe.” Allie scratches the back of her head with her paw. She doesn't have the heart to tell him not all Dragons fly.

“So, uh, you are calling me up?”

Kermit nods his head and motions for the rabbit to sit down. He grabs her a fruit snack from his table and explains.

“Your coach in Magyar has been singing his praises of you for a while and Slippy’s been excited for you to get to Shanghai. They noticed you’ve been working hard it’s deserved. It works out since Billy Bob has been thinking of winding his career down, so he’s happy to go to Magyar and be a bit of an ‘off-field leader’ to the crew.”

The multi-billionaire can’t help but have it slip.

“And I think you’ll be a huge hit for merchandising here- I mean.”

Allie snickers. “Listen, we Pokemon are marketable. I got a few sponsorships, so I can get it. But… I have been really trying to get better.” She opens the fruit snack up and pops a gummy in her mouth. “Seeing a lot of our new players get frustrated this season, I wanted to ‘lead’ by example down there. I think by the end of the season we started to turn a corner a bit. Shame about us ending up in division two though. But I think they’ll get back in the top division sooner rather than later.”

“I think everyone will love you in Shanghai. We even made sure you had some living arrangements here.”

Allie’s ears raise up.

“What about my stuff in Hungary? . . Or my mates back there?”

Kermit grabs himself a cola from the table and brushes off Allie’s concern, showing a slight smirk.

“Don’t worry, kiddo. They’re informed and we’re getting that all arranged. The plan is that we’ll fly up to Shanghai and give you a couple days to get settled. This Friday we’ll have a press conference for your call-up. You’re a former second overall pick, I think it calls for a little celebration. But until then, we can chat, and once we’re in Shanghai, I’ll drive you to your new place.”

“A new place?” Allie hums. “Didn’t think I, wait…” She thinks. A billionaire is driving her over.

“You’re gonna drive me there in a fancy car! What is it? A mustang? A charger? A ferrari?”

Kermit has a big smile.

“Even better, a one of a kind beauty. . .”

. . .

“This is one of a kind alright-”

Allie says with her paws folded, as she sits in the passenger seat. . .

Of a golf cart. Kermit McFrog hums as he drives through Shanghai traffic in his prize golf cart sporting a Shanghai Dragons FC flag. . .

Despite the car ride being, well, not a car-ride, nor a plane right, it was quite a fun ride for the Scorbunny. Kermit is quite a character with his many ramblings. Even with his eccentric nature, Allie can tell the mad Frog does have ambitions, much like the city of Shanghai itself with its mix of the future while building on the past. The Scorbunny is used to Tokyo as her off-season home, and both cities feel like time machines. With Shanghai’s promotion to the first division of the Majors, there is a growing hype in the city for their club. Shanghai Dragons merchandise is becoming more prevalent from the locals, and even some fans upon seeing Bunson in the cart act excited. The rumours of her call-up are building.

Finally, the golf cart rolls into an area with multiple apartment buildings stacked up on each other, many with similar looks and sizes, with a small park in the middle. Allie looks around, confused which one she’s living at and Kermit stops in front of one of the smaller buildings, it stands out slightly with what appears to be a different top floor. The sign in front reads in both Mandarin and English “Elite Hall.”

“Here you are. Your condo is on the top floor.”

Kermit parks the cart and reaches into his pants pockets to give Bunson a set of keys. The number reads “1501.” Allie blinks.

“I own it? Really?”

McFrog chuckles and pats her head. “We got it sorted. We know you’ll like it. Go up. I’ll give you a call tonight to see how you’re holding up. Welcome to Shanghai, kiddo.”

Allie takes her bag out of the back of the cart and rolls into the building. The lobby is ornate. A modern look of black, grey, and white, with some dark wood and a faux gold trim. Wow, the team hooked her up well.

Good thing she’s got some good sponsorship money.

Bunson goes into the elevator and there is an attendant there. She shows her the number on her key and the elevator takes her up to the top floor.

There is a slight sense of unease for Allie. A new city. New club. New challenges. The elevator hums as the doors open on the top floor. There’s a handful of condos here, likely more spacious than the apartments below. Why did they get her a big one? She’s a SMALL RABBIT! Uhg. The first door is her’s, and the building was kind enough to add a small step ladder next to it so she can have an easier time opening the door. Exhaling, Bunson climbs up and places the key in the doorknob, clicking the door open.

Heading inside the lights are off but from the light from outside, she can tell there’s some solid space here. She glances around, not quite being able to see the whole apartment, but. . . 

She sees a bow. A pink and white bow. Could it be?

There is a letter for her written in both mandarin and english. It welcomes her to the building and tells her, to turn on the light. Clap your hands three times and say ‘Lights on.’

Clap

Clap

Clap

“Lights on?”

The condo’s lights are on and she can see a spactious place (by China’s standards at least) with a comfy living room area, a full kitchen (with some steps) and a Sylveon-

A SYLVEON!?

And there’s more. Allie looks as all her friends pop out.

Candie the Sylveon jumps out from behind the couch with Oshawott. Ruby had used her illusion ability to disguise as a potted plant, but she reveals herself with her partner, Darkshade the Umbreon, right behind her. Zip the Electrike barks happily with Cookie the Fidough right behind her. Noodles the Dragonite comes in from the outside patio, thankfully the door and ceilings behind high enough where the Dragonite can walk inside comfortably, and finally, running up to her friend, the young Vicky the Eevee.

On the living room coffee table is a carrot cake with “Welcome to Shanghai, Allie” written on it.

“SUPRISE!”

Allie drops her suitcase and rushes in where the entire team of her friends circle her for a hug.

“You made it!”

“You know we’dwant to be here with you in Shanghai, Allie!” The big Dragon roars. Oshawott slaps his tail on the ground in excitement.

“Your boss told us shortly after the season wrapped up before you left for the Football Classic. So we all decided to surprise you. . .” The Oshawott adds. “Oh, uh, don’t worry, we pitched in for this place. Even if you make more money than us… We still figured a bit can help.”

“And we GOT to show you around!” The Sylveon wags her tail, she’s extra hyper. “There’s a bedroom for you. Then we got little beds around for us smaller mons, the living room is big enough where Noodles can comfortably sleep too, OH! And the kitchen can make SO MANY COOKIES!”

“Easy sis.” Darkshade chuckles. “I’m sure Allie will get the tour soon.”

“Let’s let her relax a little.” Ruby smiles. “Glad to see you, Allie.”

Finally, the small Eevee looks up at Allie. She wags her tail and sits.

“Awwie.” She has big eyes. “Next week can we see the big wall together?”

Allie pats Vicky on her head and gives her a small hug.

“Sure thing Vicky, sure thing.”

Within a few hours in Shanghai, Allie’s made herself comfortable. With her friends here now, it’s already feeling like home.

. . .

After Allie’s had a chance to get acclimated to her new living arrangements, even go shopping for some extra pieces of furniture and see her new city, finally, they’re ready to make her call-up official. Outside of The Den, we have a fairly sizable crowd awaiting as they set up a press conference with banners featuring the team’s logo on a black background. There’s a small stage with a press table and podium. Allie waits on the side of the stage with Sam Albinson who is fortunate enough to make the jump with her. He moved up a day or two after Bunson and has a place not far from Allie. The two graduates smile in anticipation.

Kermit McFrog steps up to the podium, clearing any… ahem… Frog in his throat, before addressing the crowd.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, over the past four seasons, the Shanghai Dragons Football Club have been fortunate to grow a great organization with many faces you have grown to love here, a passionate fanbase, and even a Minors organization in Rapid Magyar who has been working hard developing great players so that we may keep growing. With us set to be in the First Division this season, we are taking this chance to welcome two great players into our family.”

There is clapping from the crowd as a translator repeats what was said in Mandarin to any primarily Chinese speakers. Allie and Sam exchange a fist/paw bump as Kermit continues.

“First,  I’d like to start with a prospect who has been anticipated for some time to come up to Shanghai. A former second overall pick, she was a rabbit we knew we wanted the moment we saw her play in Victoria Falls. Her fiery passion for the game is only matched by her love of a good snack as she has proved to be versatile, playing multiple positions for us until recently settling in the mid-field. We may be the Dragons, but it is finally the YEAR of the Rabbit in Shanghai!”

There is some muttering from the crowd as someone shouts.

“Isn’t it the year of the Dog?”

“I thought it was the year of the Goat?”

“Goat? I thought it was the Pig?!”

Kermit exhales.

“It’s an EXPRESSION. Come on. Branding! We got t-shirts of it, dangit… Ahem.”

He adjusts his tie and proclaims.

“Please welcome, one of the newest Shanghai Dragons, Allie Bunson!”

The crowd claps as Allie walks out on stage, giving a friendly wave. She shakes the hand of her boss before she’s given her kit for the Dragons. The intimidating black with a golden dragon on the front. She smirks before turning it around, showing her number 3 and her last name.

After working the past three seasons in Rapid Magyar SC, Allie has made it to the top of Football.

She poses for pictures, then proudly puts on her new kit.