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CHAPTER 4

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ANTOINE'S POV

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The assessment day was the following night. Bunnie and I were waiting for our individual assessments along with Zones 8 on up, trying to kill time by guessing the other Tributes' abilities.

"Have you any idea what Sally-girl's got in store for us?" Bunnie asked.

"No idea." I shrugged. "I haven't seen much of her around…maybe she is keeping it a mystére."

"Maybe she'll get a high score."

Before long, I found myself standing in front of the judges, facing a row of weapons. I gave a shaky salute. "I am Antoine D'Coolette from ze Zone 7."

The judges gave a small nod and marked something down on what I assumed to be a computer. I faced the weapons again and found what I was looking for. A saber.

Weapon in hand, I faced the rows of dummies on the other side of the room, some of which were already battle damaged. One of them had three knives in its heart. I executed a flawless parry-and-strike, stabbing the dummy in the center of the head. I slashed without warning or indication, slashing multiple gashes in the cloth. I finished it off with a clean slice at its throat, beheading it. I gave a short bow, deposited my sword back on the weapons rack, and left. I was too worried to look back.

"I think I did well." I muttered to myself.

Only one way to find out.

XxXxXxXx

The 24 Tributes were all gathered in a banquet hall, a wide spread of food set out for each of us. Two large television screens were set into the far corner, taking up two walls. Any second now, and it would reveal the scores we earned in the assessment.

I was picking at my food. Only seconds ago I had been starving, but nervousness had driven the hunger out of me. I stared anxiously at the screens, waiting.

"You gotta eat something' Sugar," Bunnie poked me in the ribs. "There won't be much food in th' Arena."

"I am fine," I muttered. "I'm just nerveux. Nervous."

A loud burst of trumpet fanfare made me jump. My gaze darted back to the screens, where animated ribbons were trailing down a blue background. Caesar appeared, his blinding grin seeming to be forced.

"Hello, and welcome!" He said. "The scores are in!"

The Tributes all sat at attention, not one of them saying a word. Caesar skipped right to the point and began displaying names, pictures and scores. Starting at Zone 1.

'Zone 1:

Sonic—10

Amy—7

Zone 2:

Tails—3

Sally—9

Zone 3:

Espio—10

Nicole—9

Zone 4:

Jet—9

Wave—9

Zone 5:

Blaze—11

Silver—11

Zone 6:

Vector—8

Shahra—9

Zone 7:

Antoine—11

Bunnie—11

Zone 8:

Fiona—9

Scourge—12

Zone 9:

Shadow—12

Maria—8

Zone 10:

Elise—4

Mephiles—12

Zone 11:

Storm—9

Rouge—10

Zone 12:

Knuckles—10

Julie-Su—10'

I heaved a sigh of relief. I had an 11. I was pretty well off. Caesar went on to say something about the scores being very high this year, but I couldn't hear much of what he said due to all the cheering. Despite having a very low score, Tails was practically dancing in his seat. I grinned to myself, suddenly feeling extremely giddy. I had a chance. Maybe I could win this.

The only person I saw who seemed disappointed by their score was Elise. She had gone completely pale, as though her score had been a death sentence. Perhaps it was.

"Did you see that, Antoine? We've got some of the highest scores!" Bunnie bear-hugged me.

"Ah…! I cannot breathe!" I gasped.

She released me shortly after. "I'm sorry, Sugar! I'm just so excited!"

I couldn't help but think I didn't deserve my score.

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SONIC'S POV

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My alarm went off the next morning, alerting me from a sleep I never got. I sat up, more tired than I had been the previous night, and headed out of my room for the last time. The Games began today.

Sonia, my stylist, gave me a pitying look. "Let's…get you ready for today." She said softly. She didn't speak a word after that.

The Tributes this year were given a jumpsuit that glimmered different colours in different lighting. I caught traces of purple, green, blue, and red. I assumed it would help us blend in more with the surroundings, but I figured it would help me anyway. It's kind of hard to miss bright blue among the dull green.

I was ready. Amy stood next to me as Sonia gave the final ok. We were lead to a helicopter, where we would be transported to the Arena. I ignored the other Tributes and focused on what I would do once I was in the Arena. Probably run up to the cornucopia, steal what I can, and get out of there as fast as I could.

They injected a tracker into my arm, but the pain barely registered. I was too tense to let it distract me.

We touched down inside this large, metal complex. We were herded out and separated by Zones to the platforms that would lead us up to the Arena. I gave Amy a glance, surprised to find her as serious as I was.

"Good luck." Sonia said, coming up behind us. "You're going to need it."

I nodded. "Thanks. For everything."

Two Peacekeepers walked up on either side of her, their hands behind their backs. She sighed, a tear forming in her eye, and turned her back. "Don't hurt them…"

The Peacekeepers lunged at Amy and me. I tried to dodge, but they were fast…faster than anyone I had ever encountered before. Something cold and metal was fastened around my neck, and the Peacekeeper backed off. I tugged at the cold, metal device, panic settling over me.

"Once, there was a Tribute from Zone 13, back before it was destroyed, anyway. He was a strong fighter, and his main contribution to his winning was the fact that he was really fast. He was so fast, that the Games labeled his ability as an advantage. So they strapped an inhibiter ring around his neck to lessen his power greatly before they threw him into the Arena. During the bloodbath, he was killed."

Tails' story…had he somehow known?!

I didn't get a chance to say anything before the Peacekeepers pushed us back into the glass elevator to lead us to the surface. Sonia didn't glance back.

Bright, burning sunlight washed over me and I had to stop tugging at the inhibitor around my neck to shield my eyes. As I glanced around, many of the other Tributes also sported similar collars, the vast majority of them rather displeased with this sudden twist to the Games. The only one who seemed fine with this new addition was Mephiles, a hedgehog that looked a lot like Shadow, from Zone 10. He was simply staring straight ahead toward the Cornucopia, fixated on it.

"Ah ha ha!" A voice rang from the Cornucopia itself. I knew that voice…it was President Robotnik. "As you have observed, there is a new rule to this year's Games. Many of you are powerful…almost too powerful for a good, long Game."

I grit my teeth. That bastard…

"Your inhibitor collars are indestructible. There is only one way to be rid of them without dying, of course. There is a key in the Cornucopia, waaay in the back. It can only be used four times before it breaks."

A lot of the Tributes were listening intensely now. I caught Tails' gaze and he shook his head slowly. I noticed he didn't have an inhibitor….What was that message Amy was asked to deliver to me…? Don't worry about the key…? But how could I not? My speed was the only thing I could truly count on in the Arena!

"Let the Games begin!" Robotnik announced merrily. A countdown began at the top of the Cornucopia, slowly ticking down from 60.

I tried to see what was hidden inside the metal fixture, but the glare from the sun prevented me from seeing the vast array of weapons. The only thing I could see was a raised pedestal…I assumed the key was there…

30. I glanced around at the other Tributes, many of whom looked ready to join in the bloodshed. Scourge especially.

20. I stretched my leg muscles and hoped for the best. Maybe without my incredible speed, I could still get some serious distance.

10. I really hoped no one stepped off early…the mines would blow anyone who did to smithereens.

5

4

3

2

1

The cannon rang out as a starting bell. I darted from the platform, feeling incredibly slow. But I was still ahead of the others…if only by a little.

I grabbed a bright orange pack and a small dagger, ducking as Scourge raced up behind me with a spear. I slashed the dagger through the spear's wooden hilt, slicing it in half. I grabbed another knife and made to run for the pedestal, but it was already claimed by Rouge, the bat from Zone 11.

A loud scream echoed around the clearing and an incredibly loud cannon shot rang out. One Tribute down. I didn't want to know who.

I began to run for the woods, but someone grabbed my ankle, pulling me to the ground. I kicked out wildly, hitting Fiona in the face and sending a stream of blood down her uniform. She pulled a dagger from her belt and wound up to dig it into my ankle.

A blur of yellow slammed down on her arm, making her let me go with a scream. Tails jumped back into the air, twin tails rotating at helicopter speeds, and grabbed my arm, transporting me over the bloodbath and into the trees. Another cannon rang out...

"Thanks…" I muttered. "I didn't know you could fly…"

"That was my plan." Tails said. He suddenly sounded older…as though the happy, cheery kid attitude had all been a ploy. "I knew about the inhibitor rings as well. I decided to play dumb…not show them my true abilities…and sure enough, I wasn't tagged with one."

We flew for a few seconds longer before he deposited me on a riverbank. "I think this water is fresh…we should stock up."

I pulled the pack from my shoulders and ruffled through it, securing one knife to the front zipper as I did so. I found a thin sleeping bag, an empty canteen, and a small package of dried beef. I tasted the water in the river for salt or any strange chemicals before filling the canteen.

"I'm glad you got something at the Cornucopia. I don't think I have enough resources to share." Tails pointed to a hollow tree a few feet away. "I stashed some meat and a pocket knife in there, but we can probably put it in your pack."

"Tails…" I sighed. "You shouldn't follow me around."

"Why not? I think you, me and Sally would make a great team!" The little kit protested. "We'd have more of a chance!"

"Sally too?" I sighed. "You're better off with just her. Don't hang around me if you want to live. Here…" I unfastened the knife from my pack and handed it to him. "Use this if you have to. I doubt a pocket knife will keep you safe for very long."

"But why? I just saved your life! You owe me something! So stay with us!"

"I'll put you in danger!" I yelled. "You two are the last people I want to hurt!"

Tails' big blue eyes widened slightly. "Why?" he squeaked. "I just want to know why?!"

"Robotnik will throw everything he's got at me." I said as I slung the pack back over my shoulder. "I was a member of the Freedom Fighters, back before we were all caught. He'll take special care to dispose of me as soon and as painfully as possible."

"He can't kill what he can't catch!" Tails blurted. "I can get rid of the inhibitor ring without a key!"

"Tempting offer, kid, but I'll have to decline." I picked a random direction and began walking. "Stick with Sally and keep her safe."

I felt terrible for doing what I did, but I had no choice. I couldn't let the youngest Tribute get murdered for helping me. I hoped that knife I gave him would never be used…

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ROUGE'S POV

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This was going as planned! Not only had Shadow and I been freed from the stupid inhibitor rings, but we had gained a brilliant advantage! The Cornucopia was ours!

"What do we do now?" Maria asked as we searched through the goods, taking anything of value and throwing the rest into the river.

"We wait." I said. "Until we're the final ones."

All three of us had a pack stuffed with the most useful stuff. Shadow had the key to the rings that could only be used two more times along with a variety of helpful knickknacks. I had all the food, and Maria had the only long range weapon in the entire Cornucopia, a bow and a quiver of arrows.

The Cornucopia was great. Shelter on all sides except one, meaning only one way in and out. The material it was made of reflected heat, making the inside comfortably cool. The river was within eyesight. We were basically living the equivalent to the good life in the Arena.

"Bread, anyone?" I asked, opening the pack. "We should celebrate taking the most important structure in the whole Game."

"Don't waste the food." Shadow snapped. "We don't know how long the Games will last, and even if we'll still own the Cornucopia for the whole Game."

"Spoilsport." I muttered, slumping down on a sleeping bag. "What kind of camping gear is this? It's as thin as paper."

"It's made to reflect heat." Maria said. "It's not for comfort."

"Ugh, petition to gather leaves and anything soft, anyone?" I asked.

"Fine. Just don't get killed. And leave the pack here." Shadow said.

I dropped the pack off at his feet and gave a mock bow, snatching up a rapier as I went. "As you wish, your highness." I got a running start and flew off toward the trees.

I hovered over the tops, slicing off leafy branches I could pick clean of leaves later. We could burn the sticks for warmth as well. Maybe I should go hunting later as well…pick up some fresh meat we can eat without guilt.

A muffled voice caught my attention. I hovered silently, trying to pinpoint the sound. I eventually spotted a patch of white and bright green among the trees, inches from my face. It blinked.

I was almost too late. I jerked backward at the last second as a blade slashed inches from my left wing. Nicole, the lynx from Zone 3, pushed herself out of the tree branches and swiped at me again with a long, curved cutlass. A shout down below made me look down at a patch of bright yellow. The fox kit, Tails…

I gave a short wave and darted downward, snatching up the kit by his two tails. He gave a piercing shriek and tried to kick me, but I ignored the sting his shoes left in my wrists. Nicole was shouting, and another voice joined hers down below…

"Special delivery," I grinned, dropping the kit at Shadow's feet. "I've decided I'd let you do the honors."

Tails curled into a fluffy, yellow ball, shaking and crying. Shadow gave me a pointed glare before kneeling next to the fox and saying, "You have one chance to prove yourself useful before I make you the third Tribute lost to these Games."

"No! No! Don't kill me!" he wailed.

"He's no good to us, Shadow. We might as well put him out of his misery." I said.

Tails began a half-hearted effort to the Cornucopia's entrance, which I quickly stopped by driving the heel of my shoe into his back.

"Stop it…" Maria said softly. "Either kill him or don't. Don't make him suffer…"

"All right, fine." I raised my weapon and held it above the kit's head. "See you on the other side, buddy."

I plunged my blade down. Tails jerked his entire body to the side, the blade missing his head by inches and instead snagging some fur. He rolled out from under my foot and sprang up, his twin tails spinning in a swishing sound. He rose into the air and dodged the blade I threw at him before darting back outside the Cornucopia.

"Oh, no you don't!" I snatched up my weapon and darted after him, ignoring Maria's shouts to just leave him.

I was faster, catching up to him in no time. He turned around and aimed a kick at my head, missing as I swooped under him and stabbed at his back. He rolled, the blade missing anything vital but ripping a bloody gash across his shoulders.

"Agh!" The kit screamed, dipping downward toward the forest. I darted after, rapier in hand, ready to end this once and for all.

Sally and Nicole were waiting for me, their own weapons, a sword and cutlass, at the ready.

I parried Sally's uncoordinated lunge and batted away Nicole's blade, all the while making sure I wouldn't back up into anything deadly. The trees were too dense to take flight in…I would have to fight my way into the open.

"Leave Tails alone!" Sally growled, ducking under my blade and delivering a surprisingly powerful kick to my knee. I stumbled forward, head grazing Nicole's weapon. I felt and saw blood trickle into my left eye. Time to end this.

With two convincing feigns, I managed to buy enough time to turn and run. I burst out of the forest and took flight, darting back toward the Cornucopia.

"What did you do?" Shadow demanded once he saw me.

"I got into a fight." I shrugged. "Nothing major."

"And yet, not one cannonshot."

"I'm still new to the whole, 'kill or be killed' scenario." I wiped blood away from my face. "I'm getting there, though."

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ANTOINE'S POV

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It was beginning to get dark. Surprisingly, only two Tributes died today. We would find out who as soon as the sky darkened completely.

Bunnie and I were taking shelter under a strangely shaped rock that was perfect for two. I had managed to obtain a saber from the Cornucopia at the cost of a gash across my arm. Bunnie had torn my sleeve off and used it to bind the wound. It still stung, but it would keep me from dying.

"We did pretty well for the first day." Bunnie said, handing me a bit of bread from the bag we managed to get as well.

"Except we couldn't get the key," I sighed.

I hadn't been given an inhibitor ring at the beginning of the Game. Bunnie, on the other hand, had to somehow work around it. It prevented her from using her robotic limbs to their full potential, limiting her to running and jumping. Combat was all but nonexistent for her right now.

"I'm sure another opportunity will present itself." She sighed. "Do ya want first watch, or should I take it?"

"I'll do it." I clutched the saber's hilt as I stared out over the Arena stained reddish orange from the sunset.

Eventually, the sky darkened enough for the announcements. The sky was lit much like a television…music blared throughout the entire Arena. Two pictures were displayed in the clouds.

Amy, the girl from Zone 1, and Elise, from Zone 10.

"Elise, that poor dear…" Bunnie gasped. "She helped us so much…"

I sighed and shivered slightly, feeling faint. Already someone we had grown close to was dead. I could have very easily been killed as well.

Ignoring the pain in my slashed limb, I took a silent watch over the darkened Arena.

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"Antoine! Antoine, get up!"

I was shaken awake by Bunnie. My eyes shot open and panic gripped me. "Sacre bleu! What is it?"

"Someone's headed this way!"

I gripped my sword and held completely still, listening to the faint crunching of sticks and undergrowth. It was steadily growing nearer…

"Damn Tributes…could'a at least taken out a few others during the bloodbath…" a male voice muttered.

"At least the two useless ones were picked off by us, babe." A feminine one answered.

Bunnie sighed softly and muttered angrily to herself. "Oh, these two again…I'd like ta teach 'em a lesson…"

I instantly recognized them as well. The two Tributes from Zone 8… the ones who had started all the fights and personally insulted moi. I felt anger boiling up inside me, but it was quickly replaced by fear. They were the ones responsible for Amy's and Elise's deaths.

"We need a plan." Scourge growled. His voice was coming directly above us. He was standing on top of our shelter. "Part of the plan has to be getting these fuckin' collars off."

"The key is guarded by those three at the Cornucopia." Fiona said. "We'd need help if we are to sabotage them."

"Trust the other Tributes? Are you out of your mind? I'd rather slice their throats!"

I suppose I must have paled. Bunnie put a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. The opposite happened. I let out a squeak of surprise.

"…What was that?" Scourge's voice lowered. I heard what I assumed to be the sound of a blade being drawn from a sheathe.

"Sounded like a mouse," Fiona said, "but you can never be too sure."

"Not in the Games," Scourge agreed.

A moment of silence passed. Both Bunnie and I held our breath. I was fairly certain we hadn't made a sound.

Both of them jumped down in front of our shelter's entrance, weapons at the ready. Scourge was holding a broken spear in one hand, a bejeweled dagger in the other. The dagger was thrust under my chin, the blade cutting my neck and drawing a thin line of blood. Fiona held a trident about half her height, aimed at Bunnie's throat as well.

"Well, hello. Fancy meeting you here." Scourge grinned madly. "You know, I had money on you not making it past the bloodbath."

I couldn't reply. I was too scared.

"Out of the shelter." Fiona commanded. "Now."

We slowly exited the makeshift camp we had set up, our backs to a tree. Fiona kept watch over us while Scourge rummaged through our pack, finally deciding he liked what we had and threw it over his shoulder. He claimed my sword for his own as well and sheathed it at his side, where he had somehow gotten his hands on a weapons belt. I noticed he had another two swords as well.

"All right." Scourge's grin grew even wider. "Let's waste 'em."

Bunnie acted at that moment, swinging her leg up and over to knock Fiona's trident away from us. She pinned it to the ground, preventing the fox from retrieving it, and swung her other leg around to deliver a strong side kick to her head. Fiona was sent stumbling, clutching at her forehead and swearing loudly.

I retrieved the trident and stood, my gaze meeting the end of my own weapon. Scourge forced me back into the tree, a blade in each hand. I watched as Fiona and Bunnie began fighting.

"That was a stupid move on your girlfriend's part." Scourge hissed. "Because she just guaranteed your deaths."

He clumsily stabbed at me. I parried with the trident, trying to get used to its feel. I was used to single handed weapons. A trident was heavy and meant for two handed grips. I had to make it work or risk injury or death.

Scourge wildly slashed at me again, his uncoordinated movements leaving his torso wide open for attack. I couldn't move fast enough with the heavy trident to land a strong hit. I expertly blocked his attacks and landed a blow on his blade strong enough to knock him back. I saw fury and anger blaze up in his eyes.

He ran at me, sword aimed at my chest. I locked his blade between two of the trident's tines and twisted sharply, driving his sword out of his grasp and into a nearby tree. I circled him, weapon aimed at his neck, and retrieved the lighter, more professional blade as he drew his other sword.

"Now it gets intéressant." I said. Despite the fact I was scared to death, I felt confident. I was in my area of expertise. I could win this. I dropped the trident and dropped into a proper fencing stance.

Scourge gave a war cry, rage filling his face, and slashed violently at my head. I parried, the impact on my blade nearly knocking it from my grasp. I ducked as he executed a wild, uncoordinated, horizontal sweep, missing my ears by inches. I backed up and began a series of feints, which he immediately fell for. I lunged with a slashing motion, slicing through his uniform's chest and reopening an old scar.

"You fuckin' moron! I'll make you pay for that!" Scourge roared. He slashed again, wildly, without thinking. I parried everything except one, which left a small graze under my left eye. My eye watered, but I could still see well enough to strike again, ripping another gash across his chest.

Scourge stumbled back, the front of his uniform darkening with blood. He was furious, but smart enough to not provoke another attack. I pointed with my sword into the trees. "Go, aller. I will not kill you. I am not like you."

Scourge grabbed the fallen trident and shouted, "Fiona! Let's get the hell out of here!" He turned to me, growling, "We'll be back. And when we are, you'll regret this."

Fiona escaped the brawl she was engaged in with Bunnie and ran to his side, supporting him enough so they could disappear into the woods.

"That went rather well, didn't it?" Bunnie grinned. Despite having a large bruise forming on her arm and a few cuts around her face, she looked as though she didn't sustain much damage.

"Oui, yes. Very well." I wiped blood away from under my eye. "That'll teach them."

"From what I saw, he didn't stand a chance." Bunnie gathered up the dropped supplies. "Come on…we should keep moving."

We retrieved what they had dropped and began walking in the opposite direction that they had run. My arm was beginning to alert me to its pain once again as the adrenaline began to wear off.

"Let's see if we can find some water." Bunnie suggested. "I'm dyin' for a drink."

"Oui, yes." Now that she had mentioned it, I was too. We quickened our pace, hoping we were headed in the right direction toward the perfectly straight river.

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Hey, did I spell Antoine's last name right? I thought I did, but if it isn't right, please tell me.

Anyway, remember to review!

Hasta la Vista, Readers!

Lordoftheghostking28