Jigglypuff Basketball

The winds were strangely cold on this March day. They bit into her skin, made her narrow her eyes against the drying chill. The cold itself was the least of her troubles— with her balloon-like body, a strong enough gust of wind could send her flying to the next town over.

It was hard being Jigglypuff. Sure, she was a pop star with great vocals, range, and lyrics. Who could forget such fire lines as: “Jiggaly puff, jiggaly, jiggly?” However, what good would talent do without a sponsor or an agent?

It was a hard knock pokélife, and without connections, independent artists like her were forced to perform exclusively at small event and gatherings. While Jigglypuff was be happy singing in front of a small crowd, she knew in her heart she wouldn’t be truly satisfied unless she performed at the biggest venues.

Jigglypuff always thought if she worked hard enough, one day she’d overcome the hurdles in her way and perform on the big stage the way she knew she was meant to her whole life. However, as time pressed on, life seemed to be pushing harder and harder against her and her goals. Like the wind that assaulted her body, she had to fight not to be pushed back, much less move forward.

Jigglypuff went to take another step, exerting all her might to go just an inch farther without losing her footing. Her effort was all for naught. A flier smacked her in the face, bowling her over. The instant her feet lost connection with the ground, she was swept up by the wind.

The wind tossed and turned her every which way. Jigglypuff tried to steer herself out of the wind’s pull, but with the flier still stubbornly stuck to her face, orienting herself was easier said than done. She had lost all sense of direction, not knowing which way was up or down. She was at the wind’s mercy.

“Go, Staraptor!” an unknown voice called out.

Quicker than Jigglypuff could even process what had been said, she found her body wrapped up in the talons of the Staraptor, who proceeded to dive down back to its trainer.

“Good work, Staraptor!” the trainer said, voice warm with praise. They turned their attention to Jigglypuff, concerned. “Are you alright, Jigglypuff?”

Gently, the Staraptor released Jigglypuff from its talons. Back on solid ground, Jigglypuff stood. Or, attempted to at least, her shaking, tiny legs buckling under her. Dizziness made the earth under her wobble and sway.

“Do you need any help?” The trainer crouched down and offered their hand for Jigglypuff to grab onto.

Jigglypuff shook her head at the trainer, then beat her face with one tiny arm, face set in a proud scowl. The trainer’s help was obviously unneeded. She could get up on her own, just like she could have escaped that turbulence on her own. Eventually.

“Okay, I understand.” The trainer smiled. “You’re really tough, aren’t you, Jigglypuff?”

Jigglypuff’s expression softened at this. Finally, someone who understood how great she was. Maybe they’d also appreciate her singing.

The trainer stood up from their crouch, bending back in a stretch. “Well, I gotta go now. There’s a gym I need to face nearby. Be sure to keep to the side of the buildings to avoid those sudden gusts of wind, okay?”

With that, the trainer was off without a second thought. Jigglypuff hadn’t even gotten the chance to pull out her trusty microphone. Of all the luck! Finally, she had met someone who understood her, someone who could be a true fan. Only for that opportunity to escape her tiny hands as swiftly as it had arrived.

Jigglypuff stared down at the ground, unsure what to do next, and noticed the flier still stuck to her arm. She’d managed to swipe it off her face once she had landed on the ground, and had forgotten she was even holding it until now.

As she glanced over the flier, an idea sprang to mind, one that she’d make sure to keep tight within her grasp, unlike her lost fan. Jigglypuff pulled out her colored markers, knowing she’d have to put her artistic abilities to the test to execute her plan.

***

“We’ve trained for this day. No one took us seriously for so many years, but this year is different. We’ve proven we’re a serious team, one they’ll remember.” The captain glanced around the locker room, making eye contact with each player in turn. “The other team may have more experience, but they don’t have what we have: heart! We’re going to go out there, and win!”

The players all stacked their hands in the center of the huddle.

The captain added their hand. “One, two, three…”

“Go team!” they chorused, raising their hands into confident fists as they broke the huddle.

The locker room cleared, everyone dashing out to the court as the announcer called their team name.

“The Blazing Charizards!”

The crowd cheered wildly at their entrance, excited to see them playing in the finals at long last. It had been twenty years since the Blazing Charizards last made it to the finals. Yet, this year’s team had finally set them back on track, better than ever. The curse was nearly broken.

They’d be playing against the Braviaries this time. Earlier in the season, they had lost to them badly in one of the preliminary matches, but this was their chance to settle the score, show them what they were truly made of.

The players began to take their positions, the ref holding the ball in the center of the court. The two team’s point guards took their places, staring each other down over the center line.

The Braviaries’ point guard, Jacob, smirked. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Tate. I hope your little band doesn’t go down too easy,” Jacob said with a laugh. “The fans are here to watch a finals game, not a slaughter.”

“If you think you’re facing the same team you did last time,” Tate said, determined not to let Jacob psych him out this time, “then you’re sorely mistaken.”

The ref blew the whistle and threw up the basketball. Tate and Jacob both jumped with all their might, outstretching their fingertips as far as possible. But Tate had the edge by a fraction of an inch, and slapped the ball back to his shooting guard.

*Jiggly*

Jacob was shocked at the height of Tate’s jump, and at loosing the ball so fast. The sudden sound he heard caused him to hesitate for a second as he fell back to the ground.

Tate rushed past Jacob as his teammate passed the ball back to him. It had been Jacob’s role to cover Tate in their man-to-man strategy, and with his hesitation, Tate had a clear line to the basket.

As he rushed towards the basket, the Braviaries’ center came from the side. Tate didn’t stop to deal with this for a second, knowing his teammate would set a screen to cover his side. He was a bit more concerned about how the basketball seemed a bit more ‘floaty’ than usual. However, he couldn’t call the ref now and interrupt the amazing momentum his team had gotten from the start. The first play would set the tone for the rest of the game.

Tate pushed off the floor with all his strength, all but soaring into the air, slamming the ball through the hoop.

As he landed, Tate pumped his fist. He’d showed off a little, sure, but the boost to his team’s morale would keep their early lead going strong. He looked up at the scoreboard, only to see that it still read 0-0.

Confusion and worry spread across his face, as he looked back. The basketball remained floating above the hoop. It then began its descent, as small pieces of tape fell off it’s surface. Held back by the discarded tape were four tiny nubs that extended out, disrupting its spherical shape.

Then the “ball’s” eyes opened, and it began to rub itself with a handkerchief using one of its nubby arms.

The sight was so bizarre it commanded the attention of everyone on the court and in the stands alike. And as the brown and black colors began to fade from the small figure, replaced by pink, people started to understand what they were seeing.

***

Jigglypuff’s plan had been genius. Disguising herself as a basketball had given her the perfect opportunity to gate-crash this event. If she couldn’t get an agent to set her up at big events, then she’d just have to set up her own stage, her own concert. Her body was sore and aching from all the contact with the hardwood floor, but that was more than worth it to be here in front of all these people.

Finally, she could sing to her heart’s content in front of the audience she desired! And sing she did, her sweet voice ringing throughout the stadium.

Of course, Jigglypuff was so enamored by her own singing she failed to notice the audience falling asleep as they listened to her song, players and spectators all sinking down into snoring heaps where they stood.

As Jigglypuff finished her opening number, she opened her eyes expectantly to see her fan’s faces. All she saw were targets she’d have to scribble on for vengeance.

After the event, people couldn’t help but question how everyone at the event had let a Jigglypuff on the court. Despite common knowledge that a Jigglypuff viewed from above looks like a Voltorb, which itself looks like a basketball.