CHAPTER 1

The crowd jumped and hollered with excitement. Nothing made the towns people more amped then a good fight. The Coliseum held thousands of people within the 360-degree arena easily. Flags and posters littered the crowd the fans supporting their favorite heroes eagerly.

Every year Olympus Coliseum held a series of tournaments inviting the strongest competitors from all the worlds to compete. Starting off with one on one battles eventually leaving 2 contestants left. the winner would then be presented with a mystery challenge for the chance to be crowned Koliseum King.

Kairi and Lea sat somewhere along the middle section east of the entrance. Giving them a perfect view of the battle grounds.

"This is going to be wicked!" The pyro cheered excitedly.

"Lea, we only have 2 weeks left with Master Merlin, how could you want to relax right now." Kairi crossed her arms worriedly while Lea's obnoxious whistles pierced her eardrums. Besides today was a special day, but it didn't matter anyways. Anyone who knew what today meant wasn't around to remember.

"Come on Kairi don't be such a party pooper…" He cheered in her direction as if the surrounding arena.

"…Besides, what would we have done with Gramps at that restoration committee meeting? Don't you remember last time he had to go somewhere he made us clean all the bathrooms." Lea shivered dramatically at the memory.

"WELCOME TO THE HEROS TOURNMENT, TODAY'S THE DAY WHERE WE FIND OUT WHO'S GOING TO BE THIS YEARS KOLISEUM KING! WHO'S READY TO RUMBLEEEEE?" screamed the overly excited announcer.

Drum rolls bounced from every corner vibrating the arena, Kairi could feel it pulse through her.

The crowd jumped out of their seats cheering even louder.

"We've got some pretty powerful competitors ready to give there allllllllll!" the announcer shouted.

"Let's bring 'em out!" With that a group no more of 15 or so marched out of a large archway entering the battle grounds.

One by one each was introduced,

"Next is the powerful swordsman, ZACHHHHH!"

A built young man marched in front of the crowd with his hands raised pumping the crowd up."

"I know that guy!" Lea replied still cheering loudly along with everyone else. Kairi sat there watching on clapping for each warrior.

"Okay Folks, I know we're anxious so without further a due. First fight today is going to be…Oh wait a second folks! This just in …. We have one more contestant, a personal and crowd favorite.

The crowd jumped up excitedly as a person ran from the arch way joining the group.

"SORAAAAA!" his name blared through the speakers around her.

Kairi's breath was caught in her lungs, they felt on fire. Jumping out of her seat quickly trying to see the face that matched the name.

There he was, standing taller than she remembered. she scanned his handsome face while the butterflies in her stomach raged within. He was wearing a new outfit that fit him well, His hair changed per usual.

Kairi clenched her fists lowering her head. What was he doing to her, did he even know.

"…Still wish you didn't come?" lea snickered as the girls face flushed.

Her hot face met with her tiny fists. She hated feeling embarrassed and lately it seemed to be the only emotion she felt. She peeked through her thin fingers to peep Sora flexing his muscles at the crowd.

"Why me" She whined seeking shelter in her hands once more.

"AlRIGHHHTYYYYYYYYY THENNNN, the next battle will be Zach Vs. Seifer!" the voice boomed from the speakers.

The battle was sadly short, Zach taking Seifer down immediately. Kairi almost felt bad for the poor wash out. He just wanted to feel a smidge of fame again.

The battles raged on one by one, and then she saw the chocolate spikes peeking from the entrance talking animatedly with Donald and Goofy.

Soon it was his turn to battle his foe, Sora was just too quick and skilled. Sora disarmed the other contestant within minutes, and he made it look easy.

Within several hours there were only two contestants left.

"..Who's going to get the chance to become this year's Koliseum King? The deadly swordsman or the key blade warrior? LET'S FIND OUT!" The crowd erupting as the two contestants entered from opposite sides of the arena.

Sora flipped his key blade casually while approaching the onyx haired contender. He reached his hand out to his opponent showing good sportsmanship.

The Bell Rang loudly. Kairi felt sick, just looking at him made her stomach do flips.

Zach charged at Sora with his Blade clutched tightly within his hands. Sora maneuvered easily, stepping closer towards his rival.

Sora sported a grin not breaking a sweat in the least. The weapons met with equal force. Beads of sweat pooled on both men's foreheads.

"You've gotten a lot stronger Zach." Sora retorted as their blades danced in an unnatural speed.

Zach parried Sora's strike, "I've been waiting for the moment to beat you ." He spoke through clenched teeth.

Both competitors jumped back a few feet apart.

"Since this is a tournament let's spice things up. Want make a friendly wager?" The swordsman asked meeting Sora's key blade once more.

"what did you have in mind" Sora asked curiously. He couldn't help but feel his blood pump, Sora never turned down a challenge.

He must have gotten cocky; the swordsman was able to land a hit. The blade ad grazed his side cutting through his clothes to graze his skin.

"That sweet red head." He scoffed while pointing his sword.

Sora's demeanor immediately fell, this battle just started to heat up.

"What about her?" Sora asked listening carefully.

"I wanna take her out…" Zach grinned placing a hand on his hip.

Both contestants stared at each other without blinking.

Sora thought for a moment choosing his words wisely "Kairi isn't a trophy or someone's possession, she's a person. I have no right to agree, but it doesn't matter…"

He swung his Oathekeeper forward while the Oblivion appeared moments later in his other hand behind him.

"Because you won't beat me." Both keyblades swung within his experienced hands.

Zach chuckled lightly "touchy subject eh?"

Sora's agility doubled while his attacks cut closer and harder. His feet dancing familiarly while his weapons made contact with the intruders.

The duo moved so quickly it was hard for the crowd to even tell who was winning.

Within minutes Zach fell to his side clutching his arm on the ground unable to move anymore.

"Jeez man, you're something else." He muttered through the pain.

Sora stabbed both key blades into the ground. "yeah, so are you."

And with that he offered a hand to his defeated opponent.

The crowd went crazy.

The announcer's booming voice drowned within the sea of shouts and cheers

Kairi jumped up and down cheering for her victorious friend. She felt sorry for Zach, Sora wasn't one to take lightly in battle.

Within minutes the ground shook violently. The cheers turned into mutters and gasps as a gigantic creature was pulled into the ring. At least 30 soldiers held tightly to chains that wrapped around the it's colossal limbs.

"HOLY COW!" screeched the announcer.

Large twisted horns grew from its head as its teeth poked dangerously through its snout. The guards weren't given it much leeway agitating the monster thoroughly. It had a blood red heartless symbol bared on its chest. Sora almost felt bad for the creature wanting to grant it a swift end, if it didn't get him first.

"Looks like a heartless straight from the underworld, Can Sora actually defeat this beast? How can a single man do this?! That thing doesn't look friendly!" the nervous rambling flooded the stadium.

The monster stood on its hind legs roaring to the sky dragging several men along the way.

"REATREAT!" screamed one of the men. The others immediately followed orders ditching their posts to safer ground.

The Beast roared angrily focusing all his attention on the challenger ahead of him.

Sora readied his blades catching his breath. He ran towards his target as he dodged its deadly fist scaling its arm. A loud cry filled the arena as the key blades connected with the foe.

"GET EM SORA, KICK HIS ASS STRAIGHT BACK TO HADES GATES!" Called out a man from the audience into his hands.

If only these people knew what Sora had faced in the past. this was child's play to the young hero. Even so, that didn't stop her from worrying.

Kairi watched those around her as they cheered for her best friend. Her ears perked up at three voices behind her.

"Mmmm he's so dreamy, what I wouldn't give to be in the same room as him!" Voice 1 shrieked.

"I totally saw him training a few months back with Hercules. They were training shirtless and their bodies were glistening like gods, ugh he's a freaking hottie. What I wouldn't give to have those chiseled arms around me" The second voice shrilled.

Kairi's eye twitched as she gripped the flesh on her upper thighs.

"Please, like either of you girls would know what to do with a bod like that, I'd have him begging…"

Jealousy and rage radiated through the petite redheads body. That's it, no one would talk about her man like that. Courage rushed through her as she stood up abruptly turning around to give these hussies a good talking to.

All three sets of eyes fell onto Kairi as she opened her mouth to verbally assault them. This was it, she was gonna let them have it.

The crowd burst into cheers, applause, and whistles.

"OHHHHHHHHH AND ITS DOWN FOR THE COUNT! THIS YEARS KOLISEUM KING IS SORAAAAAA!"

Kairi turned around to look at her best friend bowing dramatically. The creature doubled over lying still not far from Sora.

"WOW! WHAT A SHOW! I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" the announcer's voice was barely audible over the raging crowd.

The princess of heart suddenly flooded with embarrassment thinking about her previous actions. She sunk lower into the seat wanting to disappear. She didn't understand why she was acting like this. Kairi was not one to easily succumb to nonsense, her blood was boiling not even a minute ago. She didn't like not feeling in control, maybe all this training was starting to get to her.

Shoving her head into her hands, she was seriously losing her cool.

Sora hid beneath his hood in the shadows outside the arena. He rested against the marble pillar with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He knew she was there, he knew whenever she was around. He could just simply and unexplainably feel it.

Most of the crowd had come and gone leaving the grounds almost empty. He was attempting to stay hidden from the public eye. Winning was great and all, but he didn't like being flooded by hundreds. Being grabbed and pulled by girls wasn't appealing to him, unless it was one girl in particular.

He rested the back of his skull against the surface behind him. He hadn't seen her in a year and the ache of missing her started to hurt. Realizing months ago that he needed to take more initiative when it came to his personal life.

He looked to the side quickly recognizing the voice he heard.

"Well that was awesome! You can't tell me you didn't enjoy that, and you even got to see you know who." It was Axel, he knew that voice anywhere.

"Hey you don't look so good, you okay?" The pyro asked looking towards the smaller red head.

Then he saw her, it had to be her.

Her black backless halter tucked into her cargo shorts that sat perfectly on her shapely hips. She had detached long black sleeves covering her crossed arms ending at brown fingerless gloves. Black knee highs covered her long legs followed by boots that ended at her calves. His eyes scanned her from head to toe causing his mouth to get instantly dry. Her long auburn hair was what gave her away. He had yet to meet a single soul to possess that same exact color as her.

"…Yeah." She grinned at her training partner.
The front of her shirt covered her chest completely while hugging her neck tightly. She had a quiver filled with arrows hanging from her hip along with a few pouches. He couldn't help but blush fiercely thinking about his best friend's body. She was by far the most beautiful person he ever laid eyes on.

Sora was ripped from his day dream when he saw Zach approach the duo.

"Hey! Long time no see. Good game man too bad Sora snuffed you out." Lea giving Zach a fist bump.

"Yeah, He's ridiculously strong. I guess I'm going to have to train even harder." Zach laughed while smiling at Kairi.

"Zach" he offered his hand in her direction. She smiled back offering hers,

"I'm Kairi."

"So, did you guys enjoy the show?" his words dripping with nonexistent suave.

Before either could answer Sora's sculpted arm rested along Kairi's shoulders.

"Yeah, did yah?" flashing his trademark smile inches from her face.

"Sora!" Kairi exclaimed allowing herself to be pulled into his warm embrace.

She hugged him tightly as Sora looked into Zach's eyes amusingly.

"I missed you!" Kairi chirped into his shirt. He looked down at the girl snuggled into his chest, as he enclosed his arms around her.

"Hey Fellars! Over here!" Called Goofy and Donald from the worlds exit by the docking station.

Sora kept an arm around her shoulders not ready to let go of her just yet. Their feet clanked loudly against the metal platform as they made their way over.

Lea looked between the couple and the swordsman.

"oh yeah, they got that heart connection thing going on so I wouldn't even try if I were you." Lea stated waving while he caught up to his comrades.

Zach just stared in confusion wondering if that really just happened.

"You guys need a lift? We're making our way to Radiant Garden to see Leon and the gang. I was supposed to attend this meeting, but I heard tournament and I just couldn't help myself " Sora laughed nervously thinking about the scolding he would receive from Leon.

"Why thank you kind sir, we'd love one" Kairi playfully curtsied. Sora smiled following the beauty up the ramp.

"Wait Sora! You forgot this."

Sora turned around curiously to see Phil toss something shiny and gold at him. Sora caught what appeared to be a crown. He looked at it smiled and waved at the small goat man.

AN: Whelp!? Let me know what you guys think, I'm looking to have this whole story posted by June 1. I originally wanted to make it a 5 part series, but FanFiction and their damn word limit…GRRRR. Please review to let me know what your thoughts are.