Chapter 24: The Final Basketball Game

Aaron and Smolder were packing up their bags for the trip out of town. Once again, the Summer Valley High Varsity Dragons had made it to the State Finals. And once again, their opponents were the Miami Stingarees at their school. And yes, the rest of the Young 6 will be joining the trip to the game.

"Alright, Smolder," Aaron said. "Same thing as last year."

"We go there in your truck, and we all ride with our friends back home the next morning," Smolder said. "And we're having lunch on the way there, right?"

"Paul, Kyle and Megan will be coming along for the ride," Aaron said.

"Megan and Kyle have been dating since the Spring of Sophomore year," Smolder said. "It would be a shame for her to miss out on this game. Oh, and did you hear? About the scout?"

"Yeah," Aaron said. "The College Scout is coming to this game and will give us the results of us getting into college in person after the game. Hopefully, we can win this game."

"If not, at least lose with style," Smolder said. "Like in our game against the Harlem Globetrotters." Just then, Marissa came into Aaron's room.

"Hurry up, you two," Marissa said. "You're gonna be late for school."

"Right," Aaron said. Smolder then tossed the keys she had to Marissa, who caught them.

"Tell Liam not to scratch it," Smolder said.

"Like he would ever," Marissa said. "See you both at the game." Aaron and Smolder then headed out to Aaron's truck, taking their school bags and their luggage. Aaron and Smolder went outside and put their luggage into the bed of Aaron's truck. Then Megan came in from across the street with her school bag and luggage.

"Howdy," Megan said.

"Hey, Megan," Aaron said. "How did you talk your dad into letting you go to Miami with us?"

"Mah Pa and Danny are goin' out for some father-son bonding this weekend," Megan said. "He didn't want me ta be home all by mahself yet. So, yer aunt and mah Pa talked about it on Tuesday. Ah could go as long as Ah could pay fer mah own meals on the way there and after the games."

"Well, let's get going," Aaron said, putting the luggage into the bed of the truck. After the luggage was put into the trunk, Aaron got into the driver's seat of the truck while Smolder and Megan were waiting for him. Aaron then started up the truck and they all drove off to school.

On the trip to Miami, Aaron, Smolder, Paul, Kyle and Megan were all in Aaron's truck. Smolder, Paul, Kyle and Megan were all doing their homework on the drive there. But then Aaron saw something on the dash.

"Aw, crap," Aaron said. "We're almost outta gas."

"Well, we should pull into a gas station," Smolder said. "And probably get something to eat. We missed lunch."

"Alright, I better call Coach Malcolm," Paul said, pulling out his phone. He then called the coach. "Hey, Coach. Listen, Aaron's truck is almost outta gas. We're gonna be delayed for a bit. We're also gonna stop by somewhere to eat since we missed lunch." Paul waited a few seconds. "Okay. See you there." He then hung up. "He says not to eat anything too unhealthy."

"Then we better eat fresh," Aaron said. "After we fill up the tank, we'll get some Subway Sandwiches... to go."

"Sounds good," Smolder said. Then Aaron drove the truck to an exit on the Interstate to get some gas for the truck.

Aaron had pulled the truck into the guest parking lot of Miami High. The Bus from Summer Valley High was parked in front of the school as the rest of the basketball team and the cheerleaders were getting off of the bus. Coach Malcolm saw them coming up to them.

"Well, looks like you all made it," Coach Malcolm said. He then noticed the bag from Subway with the garbage in it. "Oh. Subway. Good call."

"Thanks, Coach," Aaron said. He then looked around. "Is the college Scout here?"

"Yeah, a lot of 'em are," Coach Malcolm said, pointing towards a group of people from various colleges across the country. "There are a lot of college scouts from across the country. Surely, the college scout you're looking for is among them."

"Well, we better get in there," Paul said. "The Junior Varsity Game will start soon." Then the entire basketball teams and the cheerleaders headed inside for the basketball games.

The Junior Varsity Basketball Players had just finished their game. The Dragons won that game with a final score of 68-67. The Junior Varsity got lucky in that game. Now it was up for the Varsity to win it for the championships.

"Alright, team," Coach Malcolm said. "Let's start warming up. Layups." Then the Dragons started doing layups.

Smolder then looked at the college scouts. One of them was coming towards the cheerleaders, wearing a polo shirt from UCLA. The scout came up towards her.

"Excuse me, dragon," the college scout said. "I am here looking for Samantha Drake. Do you know where she is."

Smolder deadpanned at that and said, "You didn't get the memo, did you?"

"Huh?" the college scout asked. He then checked his clipboard and saw Samantha Drake's profile and saw a note that stated that Samantha Drake is really Smolder from the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. He got surprised at that and said, "I am so sorry. I should've paid close attention to your profile, Miss Drake."

"Meh, it happens," Smolder said.

"So, you're dating a human?" the college scout asked.

"We met in Equestria," Smolder said. "He made a wish, got turned into a dragon, the green one from that news footage five years ago, and we've been together ever since. Although, I had to pull him through the portal back here to Earth. And now, both of us have the ability to shapeshift from human to dragon whenever we want."

"Okay then," the scout said. "So, which one is Aaron Blazer?"

Smolder pointed towards Aaron and said, "Number 5."

The scout looked towards Aaron and he saw Aaron making a layup shot. The scout then said, "Thanks for letting me know. Let's see what you two got." Smolder nodded and then she got back with the cheerleaders.

It was the final quarter of the game. The score was 68-57 with the Stingarees in the lead. The Dragons were all exhausted from that last quarter.

"Alright, team," Coach Malcolm said. "Just eight more minutes in the game. We can still do this. We're down by eleven. So give it your all. Believe in yourselves. This is our big moment. Hands in!" Coach Malcolm then extended his arm out. And the Basketball Team put their hands in. "Dragons on 3. One, two, three..."

"Dragons!" the team shouted.

"Alright," Coach Malcolm said. "Aaron, Paul, Kyle, Oscar and Silas, get on out there." Then the five players went out onto the court. Paul went to one of the referees to inbound the ball to Aaron. The referee handed Paul the ball. He then smacked the ball and passed it to Aaron. Then both of them ran down the court while Aaron was dribbling the ball.

Aaron dribbled the ball and then he passed it to Kyle. The other team was trying to get the ball away from him. But Kyle passed it to Paul, who passed the ball to Silas, who had the number 23 on his jersey. Silas then shot the ball into the basket, getting two points.

"Alright!" Coach Malcolm said. "That's it! Teamwork!"

Then the Stingarees went back into the offensive position. They tried to go in for the basket. The dragons then tried preventing them from making the basket.

There were less than thirty seconds left on the clock. And the score was now 85-82. The Stingarees just made the basket. Aaron then received the ball from Paul and they headed for the other side of the court. Aaron passed the ball to Kyle, who passed it around to Oscar, his number being 36. And then Aaron ran towards the basket. Oscar passed the ball to Aaron and did a layup, getting another two points to the team. Silas was really tired.

"Time!" Coach Malcolm called out. Then the referee blew his whistle and then both teams went back to their coaches. "Alright. Ten seconds left. Now that's pressuring." He then looked at Silas. "Silas, think you can handle it?"

"No," Silas said. "I'm pooped."

"Alright," Coach Malcolm said. "Your call, Aaron."

Aaron looked at his teammates. Then he saw the player with the number 24 on his jersey. He then said, "Let's bring in Drake."

"Alright then," Coach Malcolm said. "Check in, Drake." Then Drake got up and went to check in. "Alright, half court press. Let's do this! Dragons on three. One, two, three..."

"Dragons!" the team shouted. Then Aaron, Paul, Kyle, Oscar and Drake went onto the court. The referee gave the ball to one of the Stingarees. He then passed it to his team's point guard. He then tried running down the court while passing the ball. But as soon as he passed the half court line, Paul ran in and pushed the ball out and towards the other side of the court. But he used a little too much power and it was heading out of bounds behind the basket.

"Oh, no!" Paul shouted. But then Aaron boosted towards the other side of the court. He then jumped up and grabbed the ball in mid-air, and threw the ball towards Drake while heading out of bounds in the air. The cheerleaders behind him ran out of the way to avoid Aaron. He collided with the cushioned wall.

"Gah!" Aaron shouted. Luckily, Drake caught the ball. Aaron opened his eyes and saw Drake holding the ball. "Shoot it!"

Drake nodded and then he threw the ball up and into the basket, getting the final points. Then the buzzer rang. The final score was the Stingarees: 85, Dragons: 86. Everyone cheered. The college scouts nodded at the impressive final move.

Drake then helped Aaron up to his feet and said, "Nice move, Aaron."

"Thanks, Drake," Aaron said. Smolder then ran up to him and gave him a hug.

"You okay, Aaron?" Smolder asked.

"Yeah," Aaron said. "That was a close game."

"Indeed it was," came the voice of the college scout from UCLA. Aaron and Smolder saw him coming up to both of them. "I have to say, that was an impressive save. Quick reflexes."

"So?" Smolder asked. "Are we in?"

The scout looked at his clipboard and said, "After analyzing your performance in your game... you two will be accepted into UCLA." Then Aaron and Smolder smiled that both of them got accepted. "I hope to see you this September." Aaron and Smolder nodded. Then both of them ran over to the rest of the Young 6, Marissa, Liam, Tony and Jessica.

"Well?" Marissa asked. "How'd it go?"

"We're in," Aaron said. Then they all got into a group hug.

"Congrats, Aaron," Liam said. "It's time to prepare for Spring Break to check out the school."

"Good luck out there, man," Gallus said. "Both of you."

"Thanks, Gallus," Aaron said, fist bumping him. "Now, let's get on to the hotel." Then they all headed out of the court.

"Not until after we eat," Marissa said. "We're all going to a buffet for winning back to back championships." Aaron, the Young 6 and Liam all celebrated.

"Hey, guys!" Megan said. "Wait fer me! Yer mah ride!" She then followed them out of the gym.

In the secret base, Ragnarok was coming to. He then tried moving, but something was preventing him.

"Huh?" Ragnarok asked. "What is the meaning of..." He then looked down at his body and saw that most of his body was made of metal. "What is this?!"

"Finally, you're online!" came the voice of General Crest. Ragnarok looked towards the voice and saw General Crest. His cybernetic eye scanned General Crest, giving Ragnarok information.

Name: General Crest.

Master. Must obey.

"What is this?!" Ragnarok asked, angrily. "What have you done to me?!"

"Relax," General Crest said. "You have been brought back to life to help me with one simple purpose. The destruction of those awful creatures that had disgraced me!"

"And why should I do anything for you?!" Ragnarok asked.

"Because..." General Crest then pulled something out of his pocket. "I have full control over you. And if you don't, I will push this button and you will feel nothing but pain. And I won't let up on the pain until you do what I say."

"You disgusting humans are such a pain!" Ragnarok said.

"I know," General Crest said. "But I don't have to push this button until you hear my proposal. One of those creatures that disgraced me... was the one who killed you."

"WHAT?!" Ragnarok shouted. He then remembered his last moments before waking up in that place.

Flashback...

Aaron and Ragnarok were fighting at the same size because of Aaron's Greed-Induced Bigness. Aaron carried Ragnarok towards the missile that was fired.

"NO ONE HURTS MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!" Aaron roared, carrying Ragnarok into the sky, following the missile. The missile reached outside the atmosphere and then it started to descend. Aaron noticed it descending. Then he started spinning around, doing a hammer throw with Ragnarok. He then threw Ragnarok towards the missile and then he got smaller, shouting, "See ya, Ragnarok!"

Ragnarok recovered in mid air, but then he saw the missile heading right towards him. And with final breath, he shouted, "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" The missile then collided with him, blowing him up to smithereens.

End of flashback...

Ragnarok was wide eyed at that memory. He then got angry.

"The Jade Dragon," Ragnarok said. He then looked at General Crest. "I could not be more in."

"That's a good dragon," General Crest said. "You will now follow my command, and we shall show the government not to mess with me. You obey me now." He then walked away. "Now, to find a worthy location to send the message to the President."

Ragnarok smirked at that and quietly said, "Oh, you think you're in charge of me. You do not control the true Dragon Lord." Then his cybernetic eye started glowing red.

Author's Note

Good news; Aaron and Smolder are going to UCLA. Bad news; Ragnarok and General Crest are gonna make their move. But the real question is where? Which is why... IT'S VOTING TIME!!

It's gonna be the final voting count in this story. Aaron and Smolder are gonna have to fight Ragnarok again. But the real question is where? You all get to choose where Aaron and Smolder have to fight their most dangerous foe. Which of these locations should their battle take?

Option 1:

Orlando

Option 2:

New York City

Option 3:

Washington, DC

Remember. Only the option with the most votes will be where Aaron and Smolder fight Ragnarok. And only one vote per commenter. See you all next time.