New Potential

Heey~ee~ey~ya! This is mah first Galactik Football fic! 'Tis all about Aarch thinking over his team. No real timeline other than Season 1 and after Sinedd left. Any other specifications will develop as I write as I do the A/N first then watch the chapter unfold before me. It's gonna be a team-mate per chapter, starting with Rocket since he is the most significant member in relation to Aarch, though not him exclusively as others will be considered in conjunction with him. If that makes sense. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Galactik Football or any of its characters. They belong (as far as I am aware, feel free to correct me) Alphanium.

"So I want you all back here by two o' clock, sharp!"

"Yes, coach!"

Aarch watched thoughtfully as his team headed off to relax and have fun until training started. As usual, his focus kept pulling back to Rocket.

His nephew.

That link between them bespoke so much. They were family, which gave them the right to try to reach beyond a coach-player bond and made it increasingly difficult not to, despite what he said to the young man. Yes, as a team member he should refer to Aarch as the others do and the former player stuck by that, but that didn't mean it was any easier for him than it was for Rocket.

Then, there was Rocket's father. His brother. Norata…

He and Aarch had once been as close as Thran and Ahito, and the only times they had ever truly come to blows was when a storm had been coming and they'd wanted Father to 'let' them protect the greenhouses. It had been intended as a punishment, but their first experience with all that cardboard- he couldn't even remember what they'd done now- had been too fun so they had literally fought for it. Eventually Father had caught on and actually let them do it, after scolding them for such foolish behaviour.

Then they had dived into the world of Galactik Football, despite Father's protests. It had all been magical, just like they had always dreamed it… but at a crucial point in the final match, The Great Catastrophe had hit and Norata had lost his leg. That pained Aarch as much, if not more so, than it did him, but he never listened long enough to understand that.

The strained relationship between them was doing nothing for Rocket's already confused emotions. He loved football, as much as his father once had, but he hadn't wanted to go against Norata's wishes. Then Aarch had given him the decision, had placed the choice in his own hands. Norata had pushed and pushed for Rocket to just drop it, to forget about it, but in the end that's what spurred him on. Aarch just hoped he hadn't ruined the teen's relationship with his father, and silently a part of him prayed that he hadn't obliterated any chances of mending his bond with his brother.

Rocket had started off as quiet, but had recently shown good leadership skills and had spent some time analysing opponents' strengths and weaknesses. The older man had joked about Rocket trying to take his job, which had been hastily denied, but in all honesty Aarch was glad his nephew was taking the initiative. Two heads are better than one, after all.

Relationships between Rocket and the others were a little strained, mainly D'jok and his ever-faithful best friend Micro-Ice. Aarch found it a little hard to understand, until Clamp had commented that sometimes groups of teenagers acted like wolf packs. It had been little more than a joke at the time, but looking at them with that in mind it made a little sense.

D'jok, Micro-Ice, Thran and Ahito had grown up together. They were, hypothetically, a ready-formed, bonded team or 'pack'. Rocket was an outsider, possibly seen as a rival. Tia, also an outsider, had taken a shine to him, whereas the boys had taken a shine to Mei. The team was sort of split in two, although Mei, Thran and Ahito mostly stayed out of it all.

Aarch sighed and stepped into the hallway, just letting his feet carry him. Tia seemed to be okay with the others really, though she kept to herself, and he hoped Rocket would be allowed to integrate as well. If they were to have any chance of winning the Cup, they would have to play as a team.

He doubted he would be able to handle watching this promising group of youngsters, who had so quickly captured his heart and his mind, fall apart.

Review would be appreciated no matter what you say to me :) Next chap; iiiiiiiit's D'jok!