This story is something I've always thought about since playing Final Fantasy 13 and FF 13-2, I also watched Queens Blade for most of my inspiration, but wanted to add a twist with Final Fantasy characters. Anyhow hope you all enjoy.
Thousands of years ago, there were multiple countries who waged war constantly over power and dominance. The hell that the people wrought over the planet caused the gods they worshiped to send an emissary to the world. She was meant to quell the insanity but this emissary was polluted. She chose to forsake the gods and take power for herself.
She managed to use the gods' compassion against them and slayed all of the gods who would not bow to her. Soon she was but the lone god left. She gave herself the title of Jenova and instead of leaving the mortals to their own devices she wanted entertainment.
Jenova decreed that every five years there would be a tournament held, one in which would award the winner the prize of their choosing. But, Jenova would only allow women to be the champions. She would slay any male victors herself, that or enslave them for her own pleasures. For thousands of years Jenova has kept her tournament as a means of entertainment. As the people began to stop fighting, she sent plagues into the world that forced the people to fight in hopes of preserving their villages and kingdoms.
Jenova allowed men to tie their lives to a female warrior and if she became victor they would live, but if she were to ever perish their lives would vanish as well. To add to her enjoyment Jenova graced all who entered her tournament her will, what the people called 'Chaos'. This Chaos gave individuals extreme power but at a cost, at the end of the tournament, all who were left alive, were at the mercy of the victor... their souls could be absorbed giving the victor the power of a god to join Jenova, or these individuals would be servants to the new Queen of the world.
Claire Farron's POV
"She should have never tried to enter!" I snapped as Maqui cowered from me as I sat in our small wooden cabin after hearing the news. We lived on the outskirts of a small village, Bohdum, which was apart of the much larger kingdom of Eden.
"We're dying here! Serah did was she thought she could!" He defended as I scowled, but before I could speak he continued, "Snow, Gadot and Yuj became her Saints! They risked just as much!" Maqui argued as I scowled.
"It was Snow's idea wasn't it?" I demanded as Maqui shook his head violently. "It was! My sister cursed herself for what?!" I demanded as he said nothing, "The tournament started a month ago and you mean to tell me she made her way to the Queen Yunalesca? Why would she even entertain a challenger!?" I yelled as Maqui looked away.
"Snow told Serah he could get into the Cocoon Castle... they..."
"Crystals..." I hissed as Maqui spoke back.
"You can win... you can enter and save them..." My fist cut his words short. The young man fell to the ground holding his jaw and staring at me in fear.
"I'm doing this to save Serah... if I manage to win, you, Snow and the rest of your group will never be allowed near her! You are responsible for this." I hissed as I grabbed him and threw him from my cabin.
I had been charged with taking care of my sister... our parent's died twelve years ago and I was barely turning fourteen at the time, Serah was only eleven. I had stolen and lied to feed us until I managed enough to get a small plot of land from the death of a friend of my father. I had tried my best to protect her, and yet I had allowed Snow Villiers into her life... into our lives.
I allowed him to court my sister despite the foolish and radical thoughts of being some famous hero.
I shook my thoughts clear as I packed my meager belongings before heading towards the nearest fal'Cie... where I would formally enter this tournament... the Queen's Challenge.
It wasn't as though I was unaware of the Queen's Challenge... no, everyone knew of the fighting competition that would shower the victor with riches, power and dominance over the lands if they so chose. The goddess Jenova had began this tournament thousands of years ago, granting victors the ability to rule the world for five years until the next tournament was held.
Many took the right to rule as their reward, some would bring prosperity to the world, while most had simply imposed their power over the other kingdoms on the world and with Jenova in their corner victory was promised. Jenova swore that as long as one was Queen they'd be immortal, thus a Queen could defend her title until her defeat in battle... such as the case of Queen Yunalesca... she had won twenty years ago and has defended her right to rule two times already and this would be her third defense of her crown.
My thoughts on the situation had occupied my mind to fill the four hour trip from Bohdum to Yaschas Massif. Bohdum was nothing more than a village while Yaschas Massif felt more like a true city. The paved roads weren't by any means spectacular, nor was the shabby buildings and stores fronts that seemed to litter the northern entry.
I knew that if I wanted to enter, I needed to find strong fighters willing to die for me.
It was no secret that many women would give their bodies in hopes that men would join her... I would not do such a thing. I needed information and the best place would be the local tavern, ran by a friend of my parents... Sazh Katzroy.
"Claire... I heard about Serah..." He says the moment I sit at the tavern's bar.
"Has anyone not heard?" I demanded as he lifted his hand in surrender and sighed.
"Its not like many people from this side of the mountain tries to enter... I know this can't be easy for you." He sighs as I nod. Part of me wishes it was later in the evening so he would be too busy with customers to speak, but I needed this... I needed someone who knew loss to help me.
I had no choice but to enter the tournament to save Serah, but I had no chance of winning. I may be skilled in fighting to an extent, but I never trained to fight for sport and in some cases to the death. I had to find three individuals who wanted to share whatever fate I achieved... without knowing me... they would have to vow to live and die at my side.
"Claire, I know you love her, but your parents wouldn't want this... you can't do this. It's impossible!" Sazh hissed as I glared back at him.
"So give up on my sister?" I asked as he looked away. "Sazh is that what you're saying?" I asked coldly as he shook his head and dried the beer mug in his hands with a rag at his waist. "You're saying leave her to be a crystal forever, or have her soul absorbed so someone else can have power... oh, wait, she could just become enslaved to the next dictator!" I shouted as he and the few customers in the tavern all looked at me in shock. "never going to happen..."
"Claire, now don't go rushing off to get yourself killed!" He fought back as I rolled my eyes.
"Where is the fal'Cie that granted Serah the Chaos?" I asked ignoring his words.
"Claire this is madness, you can't expect to win!" He argued.
"Where is the fal'Cie?" I asked again as he frowned and looked down and off to the side. "You owe me this much Sazh." I added as he stared back at me with sad eyes and nodded.
"Rumor has it that its near Lake Bresha, about a day's walk from here. Claire listen the Queen's Challenge has been going on for a month now... the seasoned fighters are already making their way to Cocoon Castle. You'd have no chance of finding anyone willing to fight with you and if you did, who would you have to train against? You can't expect to just get this power and then head off to face those you have trained for years for this tournament." He reasoned as I nodded.
"I don't have a choice." I responded as I lifted myself from my seat as a few of the patrons who had listened in on our conversation spoke up as I approached the exit.
"We'll fight with you." A semi-muscular man with dirty blonde hair called out as I was about to pass their table. I looked to him and his friend who was equally in shape and raised a brow.
"You will?" I asked as he smirked and leaned forward with a smirk.
"Of course, you'd have to first wrap those pretty little legs around my waist and let me take a ride on that sassy little body." He grinned as I scowled and instantly punched him where he sat.
He fell backwards in his seat and he friends stood to attack but I had already drawn my blade and aimed it at his neck. "Move and I'll kill you." I hissed as Sazh came over with a few of what I assumed were regulars of the tavern and pulled the two men away from me.
I turned and left without thanking him and sprinted out of the town hoping to get more distance between myself and those pigs. The last thing I needed now was to be followed by two jerks with a vendetta.
Narrative POV
Claire traveled towards Lake Bresha in hopes of finding Anima, the fal'Cie who could grant her Chaos. She made a quick stop in a nearby village called Yevon, which was a five hour trek on foot from the town of Yaschas Massif.
The young woman entered an inn and used what little money she had to pay for a small room, where she left her few belongings and went back to the bar that the inn provided to its customers.
Though she had no money to waste on ale or spirits, she had returned to hear gossip and rumors. Claire knew that she needed to have whatever information on her possible future opponents and the only way to do so was to listen to the gossip in taverns from the near drunk men surrounding the bar.
"I heard that there was a few Saints still left... even after a month." One man shouted as Claire frowned to herself but listened intently as she sipped at her water.
"Yeah right, everyone knows that the Saints who competed in prior Queen's Challenges are the first to be sought out. Those bastards love fighting." He spat as Claire looked at the men in question speaking.
"I heard there was still a few Saints without a mistress." Another stated as Claire frowned and listened closely.
"You know they are either insane or too weak to bother with. The best warriors are already taken."
Claire frowned but said nothing as she retreated from her room for the night to think over the news she had just overheard... there were Saints that were experienced and still available. She knew she had to act on this information immediately.
Claire returned to her room and laid down to rest. She hadn't slept more than a few hours before she heard her door open slightly. Claire remained silent as the intruder inched closer and closer to her bed. She felt a pressure at the edge of her bed and the moment she sensed the person inch closer she attacked.
Claire swung her body swiftly and used the covers to blind the intruder and giving her time to deliver a swift kick to what she assumed was this persons head.
She quickly leapt from her bed and pounced over the person under the sheet.
"If you thought I'm going to be a simple mark you're wrong." Claire hissed as she pulled the sheet away to reveal the eyes and face of young man with blonde messy hair.