It was during the years of the reign of Hiroyuki Suzuki, when I found myself challenged by a Speeder, forged in the deep depths of Yoyojam.
I thought I could take it. For sure, my skills with the Spin Master 3 had progressed greatly over the months, and my handling techniques were those of a throw master of 10 years if not greater. For sure, I thought, that the Speeder would not be a challenge to be expertise.
I would have never expected what was to happen.
It was the night of the completion of World’s 2006. The battle was over, and Hiroyuki once again reigned supreme. I, being a young soul filled with inspiration and a valiant spirit, found myself wanting ever so much to take on the challenge of the Speeder, as Hiroyuki had done so as well.
I decided to accept this challenge and defend my honor as a thrower of the north, and placed myself into battle mode as I found myself face to face with my challenger.
It was a special edition Yoyojam Speeder. Simple design, orange, shiny golden rims, and sidecaps that were produced specifically for the Asian Pacific Yoyo Championships. It was a sight to see, and to some, yes, it may have seemed intimidating, but I felt it was within my skills to take on the challenger before me.
I gave that speeder all I had. Through everything I could throw at it, the speeder fought back with great rage, but I stayed in control, throwing the best Hiroyuki Suzuki tricks I had. Speed, whips, even his signature over shoulder tricks, I laid it all down for my honor as a thrower.
I thought I had it won, victory was in sight and I would be forever honored as one of the greatest yoyo wielders in history. But little did I know, that the end was nigh.
I threw the Speeder in a horizontal throw as a finishing attack, intending to take it into a pseudo laceration whip to end with Hiroyuki’s signature horizontal spin trick of the time. But the Speeder had other ideas and knew very well my weakness.
It snagged itself, and shot itself toward the side of my head. In my years of experience with the Spin Master 3, I had learned well to dodge incoming snag returns. It was second nature, however, the Speeder was not a Spin Master 3. It was much lighter, faster, and agile. With a sudden snag, the Speeder swung around at high velocity, and struct me on the side of the head with great precision.
Instantly, I felt a buzz as my world blurred and I felt my strength leave my body. I found myself collapsing down on the floor as my vision grew progressively dark.
I thought about those I would leave behind, those who would never know the greatness of the thrower of the north. It brought a tear to my eye as I breathed my last breaths as my vision left me. The last sight I saw, was the Speeder, still attached to my finger, sitting there next to me on the floor, seemingly taunting me.
It would be my last memory of that life, as my breath faded away, and I passed on, on…into the next life.
I found myself suddenly sprawled out in the middle of a forest. Lights dancing around me. What was this? Where was I? I had no idea, the lights were so bright, I could not open my eyes to try to orient myself on my surroundings.
I crouched down and tried to stay still as air rushed about my being. Finally, the lights and wind faded, and I opened my eyes to see the new world for the first time.
“Where am I, what is this place? And why am I…”
It was then that I noticed myself. I was no longer my human self. Soft, smooth, grey fur coated my body with hints of white in different areas. I grabbed the side of my head trying to grasp what was going on, and I immediately noticed that my ears were no longer where they used to be.
“Wh-what the…” Reaching up, I found two large ears toward the top of my head."
“But how…”
It was then that I noticed that my mouth and nose had changed quite significantly. A long grey muzzle now pointed outward with a soft black nose at the end.
“This can’t be…” I said softly reaching up to feel and grasp this new and strange form. It was then that I noticed my hands. While still having a human form of sorts, fur and fluff were surrounding small black leathery pads. These were not hands, no, they were not paws, they were a mix of the two.
Looking about, I spotted a lake in the distance. I needed to see what I had become in full, and the lake would provide the look that I needed.
I ran to the lake, noticing that I could run quite a bit faster and stronger than I ever had before. Approaching the lake, I found myself shaking, shaking from the nervousness of what I might see. Standing at the waters edge, I slowly peered over into the water.
There I was. I was no human, I was a wolf. And from that day on, I learned to survive in my new form, live in the new world, and essentially, learn to throw again, from the start.
Given, I found myself back in this world, how did that come about? Well, we’ll leave that story for another time.
Awroof
Haru.
