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Names and ideas floated across Scott’s vision, former teams for previous MCCs scattered about, the holographic lights shimmering in the colorful lights at his workspace. He reached out and swiped through the season 2 teams aimlessly, feeling the familiar anxiety of MCC team building press hot against his chest. Season 2 was his best work by far, every MCC team was better than the last, not like he’d fallen off of anything, just that he felt exceptionally proud of himself during that time. (Despite the…unfortunate drama from childish spectators back then)
His hand stilled, hovering over the ten teams of MCC 17, a thought beginning to take root in his mind.
It broke his own personal rule of not letting a former team reunite unless for an All Stars, but….
Scott let his finger touch the display, zooming in on the last team at the bottom of the list.
MCC 17: Pink Parrots
Vixella, Fruitberries, KryticZeuz, Illumina
The gears turning in his head spun faster.
There were so many moving parts, so many factors he had to make sure were in place. For one, he had planned on introducing two new players this MCC since next MCC was when Noxcrew planned on releasing the new game.
Also, the Simmers hadn’t played in months, casually letting Scott know that they were on a break from the tournament. Not to mention it was simply in the rules: no filling out the form, no participation in the event.
Scott leaned back in his chair, indecision warring in his mind.
“Illumina didn’t fill out the form actually,” Scott said, careful not to divulge too many details about the upcoming teams. “He’s usually one of the first, guess it’s just the speed runner in him,” he laughed. "But maybe he’s giving the people on the waitlist a chance.”
No one responded. Ren and Martyn winced quietly in unison. Lizzie and Joel glanced at each other. Jimmy stared at the floor. Grian looked away.
The room suddenly felt like it had dropped 10 degrees. The smile dropped off Scott's face, and he felt like he could hear it fall and shatter to the ground with how quickly silence descended over the group.
A cold fear crept up Scott's spine and settled at the base of his neck.
“W-what happened when I was gone?”
Surely if he called Zeuz and Sasha first thing tomorrow, they would be open to joining if it meant the return of their favorite team? Scott had seen them in the practice dodgebolt arena months ago with Fruit standing along the sidelines, grief bleeding out from his slouched figure.
This team would make Fruit so so happy, especially after the last Scott had seen him in MCC 24…
“H, do you think I made the right choice in letting him play?”
His friend shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know,” Hbomb replied quietly as they watched the massive timer in the Hub blink from SO:ON to the minute countdown. “May-maybe this is what he needed?” But even his most steadfast and reliable friend sounded unsure.
And by the end of the event, it was clear that this wasn’t what Fruit needed. The shadow of Illumina’s absence hung over the entire event, but clung so strongly to Fruit and his purple team jacket that everyone could see the loneliness and pain radiating from his entire being.
Fruit’s avatar may have stood proudly on the 1st place individual podium, but the real Fruit had collapsed against a wall in the Hall of Fame, distant and disconnected from the rest of his friends.
It wasn’t intentional, but Scott could have kicked himself for putting Fruit on Purple Pandas.
No doubt Illumina would be thrilled, he had always loved Pink 17, especially meeting Zeuz and Sasha and going on to become friends even after the event. And Fruit, his best friend...
Illumina’s icon, sandwiched between Zuez and Sasha's, stared back up at him. Well, not really. It was just a cropped image of the back of his head, but it still felt like Illumina’s eyes were gazing straight into his soul, every bit as black as the Void, but still as bright and lively as Illumina always was (and would be for as long as he lived, if his friends had anything to do about it).
“Scott!” Illumina called out, jogging over to him. Beneath the thick black mask that covered half of his face, Scott could see the outline of his awkward, yet hopeful grin. “Do you think Fruit and I could team for All Stars?”
Scott winced a bit, “Sorry Illumina, but the Blue Bats is one of the teams definitely coming back.”
Illumina shrugged off his apology. “S’all right,” he said easily, “Worth a try. There’s always the next All Stars!”
But Illumina wasn’t there for the second All Stars. No Illumina meant no Fruitninja reunion in All Stars and everyone remembered how Fruit especially refused to participate in that event.
With new determination, Scott turned back his draft of the current MCC teams, with the heading “MCC 35” printed out at the top and littered with half-created teams and Scotts loopy handwriting of half-formed ideas in a light, barely visible gray.
Scott touched the last team on the list and began to type in the names in a darker colored pen, subtly altering the name order:
MCC 35: Pink Parrots
Vixella, Fruitberries, Illumina, KryticZeuz
Slowly, a smile spread across his face.