Olympic Bloodshed

~*Chapter I*~

Recap

My name is Ethan and I'm fourteen years old. A few months ago, I joined the sports of Skyworld as a Fighter. And though I wanted to participate in a specific sport, they tossed me into Free-for-All for being the newbie.

My life playing in battles where it was every man for himself was actually quite entertaining. I got good. They rewarded me with a lot of weapons and I met some new faces, as well as those of well-known Fighters who always kicked my ass. Still, it was a lot of fun, no matter how many times I died.

I really wish my life would go back to such simplicity. What's happening right now is too hectic, too stressing. A guy my age shouldn't have to deal with these kinds of problems. I've got people on both sides pressuring me to join them, a best friend who enjoys beating me up, and a huge crowd of roaring angels and gods to impress.

Yeah. Free-for-All Fighters have the easy part. I can't understand why I even ever thought about joining Light vs. Dark.

Let's recap. This all started two weeks ago.

Sweat trailed down my forehead as I jumped to my side and crashed against a wall, narrowly avoiding the mighty blow from my opponent's Ogre Club. The massive weapon dented the stone, and became stuck. As the green Fighter struggled to retrive her heavy weapon, I got back on my feet. Not having the time to focus on my target, I swung my Samurai Blade, and the green Fighter's arm fell onto the hot ground. I swung again andsimply dented her armor, but I managed to knock her back into the lava below. Light erupted from where she was supposed to land, and somewhere in the upper level of the stage, she respawned, body good as new.

With that being my seventh kill, I moved on to my next target. The closest to me was a yellow Fighter with a Predator Cannon, so I went after him. But just as I neared the pink jump pad, I received multiple slashes to my back in a flash. My armor was scratched but protected me from heavy damage, but I was knocked back and paralyzed. My body wouldn't do what I told it to, and it was so hard just to stand back up. But when I did, I saw my assailant was none other than my best friend, the fighter in armor as black as a shark's eyes.

Being the jerk he was, he didn't wait for me to recover, and struck with a backward dash charge shot. And it hit me right in the face. I really, really, despised his Viridi Claws. He loved them. He fired at me with charged shots until I recovered and lunged. Our melee attacks clashed, and we circled around each other without managing to get a single hit in. But then I messed up, made a wrong move, and I was defeated, blown back into the red pool of pain. Just as my body came in contact with it, I was englufed in a white light, and lifted elsewhere.

I respawned at the upper level and had perfect view of all the Fighters. I saw my friend evading shots from a sniper with a Laser Staff. This was my chance to get him! But before I could take a single step, my body froze, and the announcer boomed.

"Game!"

Everything stopped and all of the defeated Fighters respawned. As always, our weapons lost their power now that the match was over. We just waited fro the end results.

"And the winner is…Chary!"

The crowd surrounding the stage applauded as the top three scoring Fighters struck their victory pose. I was ranking third, of course, with my best friend having the most kills. He just gave a sheepish smile and waved once. The other three Fighters were slumped on the ground clapping for us like they were supposed to, actually wanting to see us dipped in the boiling red at the center of the stage.

A light surrounded us, and we were teleported away from the Lava Basin. It always felt really cool; being lifted into the air, blinking, and suddenly appearing elsewhere. Now I was back at the lobby, a big room with bright colored walls and benches everywhere. Each Fighter has a centurion assistant that helps them access their armory through a magic chest. My assistant's always really reliable, but unlike some more corrupt Fighters, I don't make him run errands for me.

Chary approached me as he took off his black helmet. He quickly scratched his head to get his short hair messy how he likes it. "So, Ethan," he started. "Good game out there!"

"You too," I replied. "So when's the next one starting? I can go another round!"

My centurion arrived then with the tiny treasure chest. He placed it on the ground and it magically regained its original size. "Here you go," he said before flying off.

I opened the blue and gold chest to find it nearly empty as always. I sheathed my dear Samurai Blade, which had a 100 in value, and carefully placed it inside. I unbuckled my power belt and put it away too before closing the treasure chest. I would wait untilmy centurion came back for it.

"Oh, there won't be another one. Remember? That was the last Free-for-All for now." Chary replied when I put away my palm. I looked at him and laughed.

"No, seriously, when is it?"

"I'm not kidding," then he looked at me funny. "Can't believe you forgot about LVD!"

I frowned. Yes. I'd completely forgotten what today was; the end of the Free-for-All season. Next week was the beginning of the Light vs Dark season, along with the annual tournament that everyone had been looking forward to but me. It was time for me to hang my ginger armor in the closet and just sit at home stuffing my face waiting for the games to end.

Chary, on the other hand, was excited about it, since he was one of few Fighters who fought in both games. "I don't like you anymore," I said and walked away from him.

"Hey!" He called after me. "You can't just abandon the conversation!"

"Yes I can," I shouted back. "Watch me." I stepped onto the teleportation pad that would take me home. Chary gave up on going after me and just waved.

"Eh, I'm tired. See ya." He dipped his head into his armory chest and began to rummage around it, and knowing him, he wouldn't emerge from it for a good twenty minutes.

So I pressed the button and everything, but the thing wasn't working. All the other fighters had already gone home but Chary and I, thanks to this stupid orange pad. "Come on, work," I begged it. Unresponsive. I just wanted to go home and eat some cereal!

I was just about to ask Chary for a ride home when the oak double-doors of the lobby swung open loudly. A pair of centurion strongarms suddenly appeared at either side of a shaggy guy in a tunic. My guess was that he was a Fighter in casual clothes.

"Are you Ethan?" The shaggy guy asked.

"Um...yup." I replied. He put his hand to his chin and scanned me up and down. Not like I was some kinda statute in exhibition…

"They've sent me to inform you Lady Palutena wants to see you."

I just stood there like a moron thinking about what I'd just been told. So, Lady Palutena wanted to see me? As in, the goddess of light and wisdom? The ruler of Skyworld? THAT Palutena? "You must have the wrong Ethan." I said, though I do admit I'm very charming.

"Hm…take your helmet off." The shaggy guy demanded.

"My helmet? No!" My hair was seriously unkempt. But the dude gave me a glare, and my ginger helmet went off. One of the centurion strongarms handed him a note.

"Yup. Brown eyes, brown hair; fits the description," the guy said. "You're our Ethan. Time to go see Lady Palutena." He received a small, pink puzzle piece from another centurion and abruptly grabbed my wrist.

"Hey!" I complained. "Not co..."

My surroundings had already changed. Instead of the bright lobby walls and the benches against them, I saw pure white marble and glass flooring. Multiple doors were to my left and right, and to my front there was a blinding light. Shaggy (the guy's new nickname) let me go.

"Here you go, Lady Palutena! The ginger Fighter, Ethan," Shaggy chirped as he waved at the blob of light. "I'll be going now," and with that, he was gone with the centurions.

The blob of white mixed with green. Then it took a tall shape, and then the blue angelic symbol of the goddess of light appeared behind it. Palutena stood there before me. She bent over, picked up her staff, and stood right up to smile at me.

Lady Palutena was a lot more beautiful in person. Her hair was like an emerald waterfall, going right down to her feet. Her skin: pale and flawless. Her eyes: like big jewels. Her attire was elegant as one might imagine, with a lot of expensive gold as her accessories. My eyes were wide.

Okay. So I'd never met Palutena face to face, but my parents had taught me that if I was ever in her presence, I had to be respectful and polite. So I bowed down to the goddess of light, noticing how nervous I was feeling. Was I in trouble or something? "Lady Palutena, I am honored to be in your presence."

She giggled. Maybe she saw I was shaking. "I like your manners," she said, and then she did a teasing bow herself, holding the sides of her dress as she did. I guessed it was time for me to regain my cool and stood up. "Ethan, the ginger," she muttered. "Why are you still in armor?"

"Um, I haven't had a chance to bathe yet, your holiness." I could feel my undershirt glued to my skin with stinky sweat.

"Oh, right. You just got out of the ring." She slapped her own forehead. "Anyway, down to business. ETHAN!"

I jumped. "Yes, your holiness?"

"As you know, the Free for All season has come to a close," she said, taking a seat on her glamorous throne. I suppressed a groan. "And to open the Light versus Dark season, I'll be hosting a tournament."

I had a bad feeling in my gut about this. And my gut was always right.

"You are a great warrior. Thus, I'd love for you to take part in the upcoming games."

There it was. Lady Palutena was personally asking me to become an overall Fighter. Was that smugness I was feeling now? Knowing that Palutena thought I was one of the best? Well, I always did try my hardest. Problem was: I'd never participated in LVD before. I hardly ever watched the matches. I didn't care much for those games. Until now, that is. And how could I say no to an almighty goddess with the power to kill me with the flick of a single finger? Or with a whack from that heavy-looking staff?

"You are free to decline my request," Palutena said with a sad tone, finding interest in the floor. I couldn't tell if it was genuine disappointment. She's been known to play mind games. Even so, my mind was already set.

"I am honored. I'll gladly fight in Light versus Dark, your holiness." I accepted, then bowed. My armor made a clank each time I moved, and the sound echoed around the immense temple. I hoped Palutena didn't mind.

"Wonderful!" Lady Palutena clapped and smiled. She stood up and looked me right in the eye. "Since you are new to the sport, you'll need a teacher. After you training, you may decide which team you want to join." She informed, writing something down on a notepad she took out of nowhere.

"Don't I get to pick one now? What about the armor?" I inquired.

"Your measurements will also be taken after your training," she replied. She turned around, and a pedestal of some sort rose from the ground to meet her hand, emanating light.

"My training?" Hadn't she said I was good enough? Why did I need to train? I knew all there was to fighting!

"Of course," she said. "Light versus Dark is nothing like Free for All. You will need to practice, and I think I know the perfect teacher." The pedestal was some kind of screen, and (my guess) she was scrolling through the profiles of potential teachers for me. She lighty punched the screen, and suddenly a door to my left swung open.

Accompanied by two centurion strongarms as bodyguards came a Fighter clad in blood red armor. He walked in casually, arms crossed. He got in front of me and looked me dead in the eye, and through the glass of his helmet, I could barely notice dark brown irises. This guy was a lot taller than me. And I didn't like that cocky smirk he took on after examining me.

"Ethan, I'd like you to meet your new instructor." Palutena chirped. She yanked on our arms and forced us to shake hands. I was stupefied. Who knew she could be aggressive? "Be friends."

"Uh...hey. I'm Ethan," but of course he already knew that. I was just that stupid. He literally squeezed my hand and shook roughly.

"I know! I'm Queen." She said...wait...SHE said? A girl? My instructor was a girl? A girl taller than me? "You and I are gonna have some fun."

I didn't like the sound of that.

Okay. Faithful readers of mine, I know what you're thinking: "ANOTHER STORY? REALLY?" But it's not my fault. Lately, I've been obssesed with Kid Icarus: Uprising, so I made a facebook group for online play. My friends there wanted me to write them a fic...so here it is. However, I promise this will not get in the way of my Hunger Games fic (which I haven't updated due to me losing my USB, where I had 5 chapters done) and my pokemon fic, OA. I AM HOWEVER HAVING FUN WITH THE PLANS FOR THIS ONE.

ABOUT THE ACTUAL FIC: I warn you of OCs. However, I am not accepting OCs from readers. I already received the ones I'll be using.

There wasn't much action here because, well, it's the introduction chapter, but the second WILL have some enjoyable slashing and slicing and hitting and hurting. I really hope you give my story a chance.

Read and review! If you don't, I won't care less! If you do, I'll be able to sleep at night!

-ALL HAIL DA QUEEN!