AOCAF Cup LV - Everything Thread

by **Valanora** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:27 pm

Hurry Across The Way

I came by the way
Through the shipping lanes
To see the tale of tales
The legend of men from sea to sea
That speak of the mighty
Elves would live among the trees.

Majesty and splendor are told
Their wares among the best to be sold
And of grace that man has nought
In our every grievous pettiness
As steel meets steel and battle fought.

Little did I expect to find
Something all together left behind
The elves of legend had fled
Or so I was told by those still remaining
Whose eyes still seemed resolute
Despite a future that had to be frightening.

A look upon their moments
I could see the wonder for what
They were and had been built
Though amazement left me buildered
As to what could cause a people to flee
Who were adorned in such regalia.

A few will remain
Who shall have to find a way
To live for one more day
Replacing pillars of community
With something worth of what was their former dignity.

A lifetime of war
Or a moment of peace
Seeking solitude of the heart
A solstice of the mind
While whispering by the bay
And I leave by the shipping channels once more
As Vanorians shape their forward way.

by **Chromatika** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:52 pm

Silian Parker had a reputation as a quiet, confident, eccentric manager, one that liked to stay behind the action, insert players to fit his strategy, and allow the Eastefielder Jane Williamson to handle the press and the players. The most animated he had ever been was after the victory over Valladares a few World Cups ago.

He was in the locker room this time, however, shouting at his players, and who could blame him? The Chromatiks had come out extremely slow in their rivalry match against Cosumar, with Ragnar Targaryen getting in front of Zlastica Ellen on a through-ball from Stig Söderquist opening up the scoring just five minutes into the match, and the wonderkid Bryger Tidesson making a fool out of his Azuris teammate Sandra Sybill on a one-on-one scuffle before calmly shooting from distance past a bewildered Ria.

Every time that the team tried to crack the back four of the Cosumarite line, Stig Söderquist came to reinforce, and Cormak Lethbridge was playing as a man possessed trying to prove that his marriage to Gabriella Antonio was not a distraction. Ki Niro and Keira Andisori hadn't been able to break through, with Kaytlyn Victoriane coming the closest on a low shot that bounced off the left crossbar.

His speech apparently worked as the Chromatiks exploited Tevreness Bale time and time again in the second half. Parker decided to replace Niro with Hellion ten minutes into the half, and the triangle of Sandra Sybill, Alyss Montague, and Rachel Hellion was able to contribute enough pressure to swing the matchup in the Chromatiks' favor. Ki Niro and then Keira Andisori scored in a span of twelve minutes between the fifty-fifth and sixty-seventh minutes before Bale was pulled for Chisenhall, which steadied the back line.

An excited murmur went through the Cosumarite crowd when Vega Zeale-Riddick made her appearance; however, it was Sandra Sybill that gift-wrapped the next scoring opportunity for the Vanquishers. In her defense, the Chromatiks were woefully out of position on the counterattack, but the lick that she put on Tiddeson sent a murmur through the stadium. She was carded, of course, and then she picked up her Azuris teammate from the ground before giving him a pat. Tough love, Sybill.

The ensuing free kick was taken, and converted, by VZR, and there was fifteen or so minutes left. Parker had already made the substitution of Hellion for Niro and the customary Ilya for Morningstar. He had one left. Ellen looked like she could handle herself, as did Luuk.

Keeping an eye on the clock, Parker didn't sub. Instead, he pushed his charges forward, and Sybill and Hellion started to press up with the attack.

The opportunity came in the eighty-second minute, a missed exchange between the impeccable Söderquist and Tidesson. Meagan Kelly darted in, stole the ball, and with one magnificent touch, got it to where Keira Andisori had one man to beat: Peter Svensson, the Captain of the Vanquishers. With a moment of practiced brilliance, Keira faked left, mimicked right before getting the ball past Svensson, to be face-to-face with Cormak Lethbridge.

With a deep breath, Keira hit the ball at the upper right corner of the net. Lethbridge boxed it away only to see the ball, slow-arcing, head toward the ground, where an abnormally-forward Sandra Sybill hit the rebound for the equalizing goal.

As expected - was it fate? - the game headed to extra time. Parker had proved his genius once again by saving a substitution. Aysu Damjana tagged Zlastica Ellen's hand for what could have been the last time, if the result ended badly. The Vermillion left back has a reputation of being a pacer, and she proved it this time, having the freshest legs on the pitch. She set up both Chromatik goals in the extra period, stripping past the tired Cosumarite legs for finishes by Jazmin Dragana and Kaytlyn Victoriane that put the game away and propelled the Chromatiks to their second AOCAF final.

The first one, as everyone remembers, ended badly at the hands of Krytenia. Back then, the team didn't know how to handle success or being so highly ranked. Now they've been in the upper echelon of teams of the world for multiple cycles. There are no more excuses, nowhere else to turn.

Their opponents?

The Eternal Empire, Valanora. Even with most of the elves gone, the class and mystique of the squad remains, and the perseverance they have shown has been remarkable despite all that's happened to their nation politically and culturally. Chromatika defeated Valanora for the first time ever two World Cups ago. Now, it was time to see if they could beat the Vanorians when it mattered the most.

If another halftime speech was all that it took? Parker would oblige, every time.

Chromatika 3-3 Cosumar (5-3 AET)
Chromatika: Niro '55, Andisori '67, Sybill '82, Dragana '94, Victoriane '102
AOCAF Semifinals
Lineup: Ria; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Sybill - Montague - Dragana; Victoriane - Andisori - Niro. Subs: Hellion -> Niro '55, Ilya -> Morningstar '78, Damjana -> Ellen '91

Last.fm · by **Cosumar** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:04 pm

"The Wedding of Cormak Lethbridge and Gabriella Antonio" (Part 3)
Ponyville, Equestrian States
3 Hours After the AOCAF Semifinal

Cormak Lethbridge hadn't said a word since they'd returned to their hotel room, exhausted. He hadn't said a word on the bus back from Elements Stadium either. Gabriella Antonio sat up on their bed and glanced nervously at her husband as he sat with his hands clasped under his chin at the desk, eyes drilling straight ahead into the opposite wall. She wasn't used to seeing him this way. In Coret, he was usually at his most vocal after a bad match, more than happy to rant with her about everything that went wrong. However, since surrendering two goals in the extra time period of the AOCAF semifinal, the biggest match of his international career, her Brigadier had been uncharacteristically stoic. No anger, no self-blame. Just silence.

Loathing the possibility that it might somehow be her fault for being a distraction or simply being Chromatik - persona non grata of the day - the silence ate away at Gabriella until, finally, something came out.

"Just fucking say something!"

Oops. That came out waaay too impatient. Not exactly the supportive spouse vibe she was going for.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"No, Gab, I'm the one who's sorry," Cormak said, shaking his head clear and slowly standing up from the chair. He made his way over to the bed and sat next to her. "I shut you out tonight, and that's not fair."

"I mean, I get it. To you, I'm a visual reminder of the enemy. Of the team that just, well, kinda ruined your day. I know how much this AOCAF meant to you and how long you've worked for it and heck, I won't be too mad if you need me to distance myself for a few-"

Cormak leaned forward placed a firm hand on Gabriella's shoulder, stopping her ramble.

"Distance yourself? That's absolutely the last thing I want. You're allowed to be happy for your team and I'd be selfish to deny you that.

"Um, then can you please tell me why we've been playing the Quiet Game all night?"

Cormak laughed and looked down at his knees. Gabriella always had a way of getting to the heart of the issue.

"Look... I know I can be hard to read sometimes. When I'm not shouting match orders or cursing out opponents."

"Enigmatic, even" Gabriella murmured.

"Perhaps even that, yes. But I'm not angry. I swear. I haven't been since about twenty minutes after the final whistle. I've just been... shall we say... lost in thought."

"We've been over this, Cor," Gabriella chimed sympathetically, shaking him lovingly. "When a tournament or season ends, it's over. It doesn't help anybody to torture yourself by looping every mistake back in your head."

"That's the thing. I just conceded five goals in the biggest match of my life and, for the first time, I'm not even thinking about a single one of them."

"Then wha-"

"I'm thinking about you. About us."

This time, Gabriella was the one who was silent.

"I told the media that you, that having our honeymoon here, wasn't a distraction. And you aren't. But there is a kernel of truth in what they were saying."

"Oh?"

"This AOCAF has brought me more joy than any other tournament I've competed in, simply because you've been here with me before, during and after each hurdle. And I know I would get just as much joy from supporting you if you were still playing."

"Wow. I see..." Gabriella managed to get out, her throat suddenly dry.

"Yet tonight's loss also brought me more sorrow than any match in my career. Not anger. Sadness. That's kind of a new one for me. When Victoriane polished us off before the halfway point of extra time, it dawned at me that this might be my last opportunity to represent my country. I'm 33. There are a whole bunch of younger guys coming up that Pearce will want to test in World Cup 80 Qualifying."

"There's always a chance! As long as you keep performing at a high level for Coret-"

"Don't you see? That's not the point. I've been so lost in my head since the match ended because these two emotions weren't lining up. The joy and the sorrow. How could I feel both at the same time?"

"Bittersweet?" Gabriella looked at Cormak quizically, unsure how to interpret his words.

"Exactly. A mixed emotion that often accompanies change. Transition in life. A few minutes ago, I finally worked it out. This AOCAF loss is bittersweet because it's a microcosm of me. Just like my international career, my old life - the old Cormak - is dying. Yet there's joy in the anticipation of what comes next. Us, together."

Cormak's words lended Gabriella the courage she'd been searching for throughout these last days in Equestrian States. The courage she couldn't even conjure up when they were walking peacefully in the Everfree Forest. The courage to tell him. She suddenly reached over and covered him in a warm embrace, whispering her next words in his ear.

"I'm soooo glad to hear you say that. Because even if your role as Mr. Vanquisher Brigadier is coming to an end - which I doubt, personally - you'll have a new role to throw that sexy determination of yours into."

She sensually moved his hand down to her stomach.

"Daddy."

For a few moments, the meaning of the word didn't quite register for Cormak. Then it came crashing down upon him like a tidal wave. ...This was indeed the beginning of a transition. He was right! He just didn't grasp the full extent of it. From Brigadier to Father! It was.... woah.

"That's right," Gabriella purred, laughing at his dumbfounded face. "Twins!"

Look out football world, the Lethbridge-Antonios are on their way.

by **Equestrian States** » Mon Feb 19, 2018 11:09 pm

AOCAF Cup LV
AOCAF Cup LV Final

Chromatika 1–0 Valanora
at Royal Equestria Stadium (cap. 98,625) in Canterlot

Third Place Playoff

Cosumar 2–1 Qasden
at Grand Regal Stadium (cap. 81,955) in Canterlot

Host Note: Congratulations to Chromatika on winning the title and commiserations to all those who came up short. Thank you to all who participated and made this a fun tournament.

by **Chromatika** » Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:48 pm

Royal Equestria Stadium
Canterlot, Equestrian States

It was time for the Final of the fifty-fifth Atlantian Oceania Championship of Association Football in a packed stadium in the Equestrian States. First, the Vanorians came, clad in their iconic blue and white, five stars proudly displayed on their chest. Smørdal, Runbrinonel, Vásquez, Sierra, va Drake, Hatsune, Hawk, Lithvathar, Soldarian, Fresco, and Lynch. With the ageless Hawk and va Drake leading them, along with some newfound talent, the Vanorians had defeated Farfadillis twice before defeating Qasden to reach the final. Facing them?

Mia Ria. With Jillian Nier sitting out, Ria had two shutouts in the playoffs before conceding three to Cosumar. This would be a major feather in the cap for her, something to raise the question of her even taking the place of Nier in the Chromatik National Team starting lineup.
Erika Morningstar. In her prime at Sabrefell Athletic and as one of the key pieces for the Chromatik team.
Luuk Aart. Been with the team since the beginning. Come a long ways in his personal journey.
Zlastica Ellen. Her last tournament as a starter, one last shot at being remembered in history as having been part of the team to win a tournament.
Meagan Kelly. Still proving doubters that having a baby isn't the end of the world for a player. Fast and speedy as always.
Alyss Montague. The one who proved everyone wrong, maybe for eternity with this victory?
Sandra Sybill. The late bloomer... Won everything with the Azuris, but never with the Chromatiks... Maybe this time?
Jazmin Dragana. Parker's wild card, being switched to left midfield. Has a bit of a moniker of being a personal ego first player with her move to Brinemouth, but can you blame her with her talent?
Kaytlyn Victoriane. The most flexible player in the Chromatik arsenal - right wing, striker, right mid... One more moment of brilliance in this tournament?
Keira Andisori. The prodigy child, now growing up before out eyes. Had hundred caps come during the tournament. Leading scorer for the national team. From prodigy to legend?
Ki Niro. The replacement for Gabriella Antonio, now retired and married. A lightning bolt that falls out of the sky.

All managed by one Silian Parker, who picked up the mess that was when Lisa Amos left the team and has maintained their status as one of the top sides of the Multiverse.

One game to erase the unpleasant memories of AOCAF LII where the Chromatiks had been destroyed by Krytenia.

The anthems are played, the lights shine onto the pitch, and with one blow on the whistle...

The game begins.

Thirty-two minutes in, the Chromatiks ran into their first real problem.

Zlastica Ellen hadn't meant to tackle Lynch from the back, but Lynch was on a breakaway, and was going to threaten Ria. So, down Lynch went, and the whistle blew, and the yellow card was shown.

Thankfully, it wasn't in the box, so it's not a penalty kick... But it's Laborious. Hawk. The ageless one, on a short-range free kick. Mia Ria's eyes go wide in a bit of excitement, a bit of fear, a bit of anticipation. Hawk takes two steps and kicks it, a beauty that goes over the wall and dips sharply to tuck into the upper right corner...

Right where Ria's right fist, with all of her frame and power behind her, punches it out. A loud murmur goes through the crowd. That. Was. Close.

But the scoreboard reads 0-0, and the game goes on, Chromatiks not being able to do much against the quality of the Vanorians' midfield.

Halftime.

Lately, Silian Parker had used halftime to fire up his troops. Will them to play harder.

This time, there was no dissension in the locker room, no arguments. Just some small conversations here and there as the team regrouped.

Instead, he just went to Rachel Hellion and Ki Niro.

"It's time," he said to the team, pointing at Hellion and Niro.

The two exchanged a glance and a nod.

"You know what you have to do," he told the squad right before they headed back out, "They won't make it easy. To be a champion... You have to earn it."

There were no surprises on the bench when Rachel Hellion came in for Ki Niro, switching the formation to a 3-5-2.

The moment came in the seventy-second.

A scuffle in the midfield led to a long cross from Sandra Sybill that Kaytlyn Victoriane had hit from a wicked angle, to be parried by Smørdal for a corner.

Sandra Sybill never thought she would've been here when she was twenty-three, the age of most of her teammates. She was middling away at Z'ai'ai without much fanfare.

And then, Real Azuris, of all clubs, took a gamble on her and took her in, and with her, the side won multiple Harlighet Ligen titles and became one of the famous clubs of the multiverse.

With practiced grace and precision, as she had done numerous times for Real Azuris, Sybill hit the ball up and over toward the net.

Lucjusz Stef, the man who plays for Mar Sara FC, the man who had come in for Luuk Aart just three minutes ago, was the one to hit the ball square on with his forehead. Smørdal was there, of course - he is perhaps the future in goal for the Vanorians after all - only for Keira Andisori to be there to tap it in with her left foot.

As her team mobbed her, Keira stole a glance at Laborious Hawk, her role model and idol. The elf's face was stoic as usual, and she knew that the game was far from over.

Silian Parker couldn't believe it.

There was fifteen minutes left in the final, and both sides had spent all their substitutions. The Vanorians were pressing with all they had, but the triple midfielders of Sybill, Montague, and Hellion was holding their own with the back three. Zlastica Ellen was playing like a woman possessed - but that didn't surprise him, knowing that this was her last game starting, at least.

He made a mental note to himself that Hellion, Sybill, and Montague were too good to not have all three of them on the field at once. Especially if they won this match.

The words of Lisa Amos from the night before came to him:

"I might have started the team on this path, but you're the one who has been along every step with them along the way. Own it. Live it. Never compromise for victory."

In every match, there is that "last gasp" moment where one side is trying one last time to make a desperate attempt at equalizing. Well, in tight matches, anyway. Like this one.

The referee had added three minutes in injury time at the end of the full ninety, and that had been two and a half minutes ago. Luuk Aart looked from the sideline as the Vanorians swung on the attack, again. One of the things that Laborious Hawk and his Elven compatriots seemed to have that seemed unnatural was stamina. Not many teams could keep up with the Chromatiks' combination of speed and finesse all game long, but the Vanorians weren't just any side.

Once again, the ball found the foot of Hawk, and the longtime Captain of the Eternal Empire looked like he would have one more attempt at sending this match into overtime. Ellen was out of position, Stef being occupied by Lynch, and Morningstar in transition. Naught but Mia Ria between him and the net. A midrange shot, one that Hawk has converted more times than probably any other player in the World Cup's history, immortal lives and all.

Luuk blinked once, and Hawk slowed his run up to the net.

He blinked twice, and the ball was off of Hawk's foot. He clasped his hands in a desperate prayer.

He blinked a third time, and saw Mia Ria on the ground, the ball covered up within her small frame, truly saved.

He raised his fist into the air as Ria cleared the ball out to Morningstar, and just fifteen seconds later, the whistle blew, ending the match. They were Champions.

The awards ceremony had been great. Lifting Chromatika's first international trophy was a moment that was truly special. The interviews with the AOCAF organizers and acknowledging the fans had been great moments, too. But for one Keira Andisori, the one who had broken tradition by going abroad under the age limit, the one who had sparked the team's involvement in the Rainbow Revolution, she who was both football player, politician, and civil rights activist, those were afterthoughts compared to one special moment.

Before the awards ceremonies, even before the press caught up to her, she had jogged over to one Laborious Hawk, now resting after a hard-fought match, consoling with his teammates. Espy va Drake caught up with her first, and after some post match pleasantries, she exchanged jerseys with him. Clad in the #21 Vanorian jersey, she caught up to her idol and role model.

Her words got caught up in her throat. There were no words needed in that moment, really. They were, at least in this snapshot of time, equals. Laborious Hawk, also wordless, reached out his right hand.

She shook it.

She would remember that moment forever.

Twenty minutes later, however, a moment came that even trumped that. Alyss Montague was taking her turn at the mike with the trophy, and Keira was looking at her girlfriend and fiance. The two had kept it a low-key ordeal, when they had applied for a Marriage License in Nephara. It just didn't make sense for them to have a big engagement ceremony or whatnot, with the Premiership season looming. Alyss was in the middle of her acknowledgements and thanks, when...

"I want to thank my Manager for his flawless coaching, my teammates for their selfless play, and then I have one more thing I have to do," Alyss said before making her way down to Keira.

In a second, Alyss Montague was on her left knee, with a ring in her hand.

"Keira Andisori, I love you. Will you be my wife?" asked Alyss, sending the crowd into a dull roar.

She looked down at the woman who had practically wooed her while they were on the same squad. Alyss was her rock, the stable ground that Keira needed in order to juggle all the faces that she wore. Alyss truly understood her,

"Yes!" shouted Keira, and the two embraced in a kiss, the stadium erupting into applause.

They lifted the trophy high together, making it a moment that they would remember in their lives individually and a couple forever, and making an impact in Chromatik history for all prosperity.

AOCAF Cup LV - Everything Thread

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