Kingdom Hearts 0
Chapter II – Tournament
The day of the Summer Festival had arrived bright and clear, without a cloud in the sky. Zephyrus ran through the town gates fully dressed in the armour that he had received the day before.
By the time he got to the Fairgrounds, Phoenix was already waiting in her own set of armour, a single-edge blade half her width and nearly as tall as her slung over her shoulders. "I've been waiting!"
He stopped a moment to catch his breath, and wiped the sweat from his brow. "It's not my fault that I don't live within the walls!"
She sighed and shook her head. "Well, I've already signed up. Jovani tried, but they won't allow him."
It was easy for Zephyrus to understand that Jovani would not be allowed to participate in the tournament. Being two years younger than himself and Phoenix, who were barely of age themselves, he would be considered too young and, more than likely, too fragile to compete in such a sport as sword fighting. Zephyrus knew that was not the case, but unfortunately, rules were rules.
"Wait a second," Zephyrus raised an eyebrow. "Jovani beat me here? He lives farther out than I do."
Phoenix shrugged. "Apparently he's been here since sunrise."
Zephyrus let out a small, amused laugh. When the younger boy wanted something, he would do anything to get it.
"Hey!" Jovani called out, running up behind Zephyrus. "They're not letting me enter! Zephyr, you gotta win for me!"
Zephyrus turned around and looked at the boy with an amused grin on his face. "Try again in a few years, Jovani. But I'll definitely win this thing."
"Excuse me?" Phoenix's arms were crossed in front of her chest and her foot was tapping the ground rather hastily.
"Well, up until the finals, at least."
She rolled her eyes. "Right. Don't screw up, Zephyr!"
xXx
Phoenix was the first one to battle that day, facing off against a fellow villager from her section of the town. Murmurs of "Isn't that the baker's son?" and "Why is the blacksmith's daughter fighting?" rippled through the crowd.
The baker's son took the first move, rushing forward with his sword at the ready.
Phoenix, visibly unimpressed with the sloppy move, took a step to the side and remained unharmed as the villager missed and tripped up.
Her opponent, also unimpressed at how quickly he'd been shoved off, rapidly regained balance, turned around, and tried the same move again. When he was close enough, he swung down at her.
Phoenix must have predicted the villagers move, as she used both hands to support her sword to block the attack.
The sound of the two swords clashing echoed through the grounds, and the villager stumbled backwards from the rebound, tripping over his feet and onto his ass in the process. He looked up right into the tip of Phoenix's blade and conceded defeat.
xXx
Zephyrus was the last one to battle in the first round. He did not recognize the older boy he was facing, but according to Jovani, Zephyrus' opponent was the son of a lord. The apparel the man wore made it obvious that he belonged to the higher class, supporting Jovani's claims.
The two fighters dove right into the battle, matching each other blow for blow as their swords met.
The swordsman managed to shake off Zephyrus for a moment, seized the opportunity and dove right in for the win.
However, Zephyrus was not one to go down without a fight. He swiftly recovered and just managed to block the attack with his arm guard, the shock managing to knock the man's sword out of his hands. Zephyrus finished with a quick stab to the abdomen, knocking the opponent to his back and claiming victory.
xXx
The tournament continued on - both Phoenix and Zephyrus had almost made it to the semi-finals, and they were still fighting against different opponents. Phoenix was up in the ring first.
Her next opponent was an odd fellow, to say the least. He was tall and very thin, looking like he was all bone and no muscle, his hair was a shade of pale pink and fell past his shoulder in loose curls, and his uniform was thin and nearly skin-tight – not good at keeping him warm against the cool mountain breeze. His demeanor was very weird, almost womanly with his graceful stride and delicate movements. One could even say the man was the exact opposite of Phoenix's brash nature.
"Well, my word!" His voice was feminine, but deep enough to still be considered male. "What is a fine young lady like yourself doing in such a sport like this?"
Phoenix raised an eyebrow at the strange man. "Wait a second - am I still the only girl in the tournament?"
A few giggles rang out from the crowd, and Zephyrus was doing all he could to prevent his full-out laughter from escaping. He had wondered how long it would take for her to ask that question.
The man's face turned a furious shade of red and twisted into a scowl.
"What?" Phoenix's tone was playful. "I'm just wondering!"
The man let out a cross between a roar and a shriek as they dove right in for the kill with lightning speed.
Phoenix found herself caught off-guard and was forced to take the brunt of the man's tackle and was thrown to the ground. Her movements were pained as forced herself to her knees.
He was not finished with lashing out his rage, swinging down at her with ferocity.
She had just managed to get her sword up in time, using it as a shield as she fought her way back onto her feet.
He would have none of it, pushing back two-fold to knock her off balance and finished with a savage slash across her chest.
Phoenix fell hard, and didn't come back up.
The man paid no attention and did not give a second thought as Zephyrus and Jovani ran onstage to help their unconscious friend.
"Phoenix, wake up!" Jovani was leaning over her, yelling into her face. "Come on!"
Zephyrus knelt down beside her, concern filling him, but the person's demeanour and lack of remorse struck him as unusual. He found himself unable to look away as the man walked off.
What kind of person can steel themselves against such actions?
xXx
Zephyrus was pacing around the outside of a tent set up as a makeshift treatment center, waiting for some news – any news – of his friend's condition. Phoenix had gain consciousness for a second after the match, but was out again as quickly as she was in. He had carried her off-stage to the tent where the town's healer waited.
"Zephyrus," a woman's voice cut through his train of thought. "You're up again."
But how can I fight when Phoenix is hurt?
He sighed, knowing that his friend would want him to continue on. He also knew she would want him to win, to get revenge on the pink-haired man. But he was scared. He was scared that Phoenix was seriously injured, and she would be alone when she woke up. He didn't want to fight. He just wanted to be by her side.
"Zephyr, go!" Jovani called out from his place on the ground next to the tent. "I'll look after Phee. Go win for her!"
Right, she's not alone. Jovani will look after her while I fight.
Zephyrus nodded at Jovani, and the young boy nodded back. Phoenix would be taken care of while he fought.