Chapter 9: The Tournament of Female Warriors

"Are we there yet?" Yukari moaned as she continued walking, it's been 1 hour since Tatsuya gained his third gemstone and still, they were in the desert. "Not much farther now… If we keep up the pace, we'll be in Gasara before we know it." Tatsuya looked at the map from the carriage. "Well, we better get there! I can't stand the heat!" Mizore complained as she began to sweat. "I kinda hard to believe a snow girl like you is still standing…" Risa commented. "Well… Uh…" Mizore nervously smiled. Moka noticed something. "Hey… Is that a tent over there?" She pointed to a huge tent near a oasis. "Let's take a look, shall we?" Meladee suggested.

12 minutes later, they arrived to see a crowd gathering at the entrance to the tent. "Wow. What's going on here?" Yuno asked someone. The man answer her question. "This is the first annual Tournament of Female Warriors. The sponsor of this tournament Ghio Vager said it's a first tournament for female warriors. The one who beats all the 10 female combatants will be crowed the Queen of the Female Warriors!" He said excitedly. Meladee however was in deep thought. 'Ghio Vager… Now that he mentioned him, he is said to perform shady business and this has been one of the Highlanders' top cases for weeks.' Meladee got an idea. "Zoey, you should enter the tournament." "H-Huh!" Zoey blinked. "Yeah, that would be a great idea!" Kaname grinned as she patted Zoey on the back. "This may be a good way to sharpen your skills with the sword." Zel nodded. "Don't worry, we'll root for ya." Sogreth assured her. "Well… alright." Zoey nodded as she went into the tent to sign up. Kirie noticed something. "Hey, where's Lilica?" She asked. Fukuyama chuckled pervently. "You'll see." He grinned. "I don't like what Fukuyama's planning…" Yukinari gulped.

The party minus Zoey and Lilica were at the stands. "This is gonna be so cool!" Tenma cheered. "Yeah… But don't you think there's a scent of danger in the air?" Akira questioned. "You worry too much! I already made bets on Zoey so we can rack up the dough!" Lina rubbed her hands greedily. "Oh miss Lina…" Amelia sighed. "Shh, it's startin'." Sogreth said as a fat man in his mid forties and wore an gentlemen's clothes with hat included came up from high in the stands. He grinned. "Welcome all to the first annual Tournament of Female Warriors! I am your host, Ghio Vager!" The crowd roared with excitement. "There will be 10 matches between Vision's toughest female warriors! The one who beats the champion will earn this valuable prize!" Ghio pointed to a purple gemstone in the glass. "Hey… That's a…" Tatsuya gasped. "A gemstone!" Yuno gasped in shock. "So we got to cheer for Zoey to win this tournament." Sousuke stated. Kaname noticed Meladee gone. "Where's Meladee?" The party looked around. "Probarly went to the ladies' room." Tomoka shrugged, Ebi said something in agreement. "Alright! Let's start with round 1! First off, we have Zoey who is a swordswoman expert!" Ghio announced as Zoey came into view. "Go get them, Zoey!" Miharu cheered. "And next we have a tough gal who looks like a maid. Llica!" Lilica came into view. "Lilica? Don't tell me she entered the tournament too!" Kirie gawked. "Hah aha ha! Sure, Zoey may be a swordswoman, but Lilica has never been defeated. She was trained in many military arts and is quite the looker!" Fukuyama grinned. "Fukuyama… You!" Kirie growled. 'Oh man… Lilica looks kinda tough. I got to be tough and speedy.' Zoey thought to herself. "Okay! Round 1, fight!" The bell ringed.

Mini Boss Battle 3: Lilica

Lilica charged at Zoey at full speed, but Zoey thanks to her catlike reflexes dodged it. "Wh-Wha!" Fukuyama gawked. 'Lilica should have been able to knock her out with charged blow. Just… who the hell is this kid!' Zoey slashed Lilica in the back three times. Lilica kicked Zoey, but she dodged it and slashed her five times. 'N-No way! She dodged every attack I throw at her!' Lilica thought frantically for the first time as Zoey slashed six times at her before finishing her off with a Thousand Slashes. Lilica fell down and was knocked out.

"And the winner of Round 1 is Zoey!" The crowd roared with excitement as Fukuyama was white as snow. "My… My champion fighter… defeated…" "Way to go, Zoey!" Yukari and Tatsuya cheered.

To shorten things a bit. Zoey managed to make it to the 9th round where she defeated Saisa Stegehart, a strong female warrior. Ghio however, was not pleased by this. 'Hmm… If she wins the 10th round, I'll be ruined! My goldmine was based on girls never making it to the finals. But that bratty girl is making me lose my tems! I will unleash my champion upon her. That… Otherworlder.' Ghio went to who knows where.

In a dungeon like area, a girl with blond hair in two pigtails in the front by silver rings was meditating. She wore silver almost revealing armor and has a big chest, on her hip is a fine looking sword. Suddenly, the cell door opened and Ghio came in with a glare. "You're up. If you screw this up, your life is forfeit and you will never again see your home world again!" Ghio said dangerously. The girl glared at him then muttered "Very well…" She got up and walked towards the arena. Ghio grinned. "So, that's how you roll, kidnapping strong female warriors for your own personal gain and then dispose of them like used goods!" Ghio froze as he nervously turned and saw Meladee with her swords out. "C-Chief Meladee of the Vahadina Highlanders!" Ghio choked. "G-Guards!" "Don't bother, I already took care of them." Meladee said dangerously as she got closer to him. "N-No! Stay back! I'm a wealthy man!" Ghio panicked.

Back to the party, the crowd were wondering what's keeping the final round so long but then the girl from before came into the arena. She and Zoey stared into each other's eyes like a faceoff. "Oh wow!" Fukuyama's eyes are filled with hearts as he sees this mysterious girl's beautiful body. "I think I am in L-O-V-E!" Kirie stepped on his foot. Zoey and the girl continued staring. Then the girl did something that surprises Zoey. She… smiled. "My name is Reina… What's yours?" "Uh… Zoey Hanson… Nice to meet you, Reina." Zoey smiled nervously. "It seems they're getting along well." Lilica smiled, she has recovered and was watching this friendly gesture towards the opponents. "But still, her opponent looks tough." Tomoka commented. "Hey! Hurry up and start the fight!" A man shouted annoyed. Suddenly, a man was up the stands where Ghio is on. "Sorry about that. This final round of the Tournament of Female Warriors will be special! It will be filled with… poison darts!" The man named Zheo gawked as he looked at the note. 'This can't be right… Ghio must be up to something ever since I began working him when he offered me a way to pay my debts to help my family!' "Um anyway… Final round! Zoey VS Champion Reina! Fight!" The crowd roared with excitement while Tatsuya and his friends gawked at this special event. "Zoey will be poisoned?" Amelia gasped in shock. Reina got out her sword. "Don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're a kid." Reina stated as she got into a battle stance. "Same here." Zoey nodded as she unsheathed her Traveler's Katana and got into a battle stance.

Mini Boss Battle 4: Reina

The poison darts fired around the arena, Zoey and Reina swiftly dodged them, but who knows how many are left. Zoey and Reina clashed swords and were locked in a sword struggle for 1 minute till Zoey slashed her 2 times. Reina retaliated by slashing her with a upward slash. The two began clashing again till they jumped back. "Seyathata! (Rising Strike)" Reina yelled as she rushed at Zoey and slashed her upward. Zoey staggered back but regain her standing and shouted "Thunderspark!" Zoey launched her attack at Reina which hit her. Reina charged at Zoey and the two of them clashed swords again. But deep down somehow in the world of Vision, they are communicating through their thoughts. 'I don't wanna fight you…' Reina thought to her. 'Me too… Why are you kept here? Are you an Otherworlder?' Zoey asked in Reina's mind. 'Is that what I'm called in this world? Yes. But more importantly, how do we get out of this mess?' Reina asked in Zoey's mind. 'Follow my lead. I have an hunch I figured out what Meladee went to.' Zoey and Reina clashed swords just as two darts came towards them, they knocked them away with their weapons. Then suddenly, no more poison darts came shooting out. "Stop this match now!" Meladee shouted as she carried Ghio tied up and gagged on the stand where he hosted the whole thing. "It seems your sponsor Ghio plans to kidnapped the strongest female fighter in Vision to use her to make money by making sure a female contestant doesn't make it to the finals then dispose of them and seek out another if one wins the tournament which goes by different names." Meladee explained, the crowd except for the party gasped and booed at Ghio. "C-Chief Meladee! I-I didn't know! I have no part in this crime!" Zheo bowed in apology. "No need. I heard Ghio hired you to help your family. Tell me, are you good with swordsmanship?" Meladee warmly smiled at him. Zheo get what she is saying. "O-Of course! You inspired me about that. I-I think I'm gonna join the Highlanders at Vahdaina." Zheo bowed gratefully.

Zoey and Reina stared at each other. "Isn't this great, Reina? You're free!" Zoey closed her eyes and smiled. Reina gasped then smiled. "Yeah."

30 seconds later…

The party, Reina and Zheo were standing outside the tent, some of the crowd volunteered to bring Ghio to Vahadina so he can be put to justice. "I'm so sorry about this whole incident. I worked for Ghio so I can pay my bills to help my family. But after Meladee put an stop to this whole thing. I decided to join the Highlanders." Zheo smiled. "It's no problem. It's a shame that no winner is announced." Zoey said. "Oh yeah, since you helped out with this whole thing. You can have the gemstone." Zheo smiled as she gave Zoey the gemstone. Suddenly, the gemstone began to shine. "Traveler Zoey, you have did well, freeing this Otherworlder from the clutches of evil. I bear one portion of the Goddess's power. I open the way for whom the Goddess has summoned. So lift your katana aloft Traveler!" Zoey did just that and the gemstone went into the third slot and the blade ins now purple. "Only two more to go." Zoey smiled as she admired her blade's new look. "W-What was that?" Reina gasped. "Zoey and me are Travelers. So Reina…" Tatsuya did his best to look away from Reina's huge chest while Fukuyama drooled and Tenma and Eri looked at Reina with jealously at her beautiful figure. "What are you doing here in Vision?" Reina closed her eyes for 50 seconds then she opened them. "I was resting near a area where a tournament called Queen's Blade was being held. My friends were getting ready for it, after 2 hours of training, I decided to take a rest, but then after my nap, I woke up in a cell and that is where Ghio threatened me if I don't fight for him, he will kill me. I am very glad you have came, otherwise, I would end up as a slave forever." Reina closed her eyes and smiled. "Now all we have to do is find a star sigil." Lina smiled. Yuno's good luck charm started glowing and she saw the star sigil near the entrance of the tent. "There!" Yuno pointed. "Alright, be right back!" Zoey told them as she went to it and lifted her Traveler's Katana up in the air and vanished.

Back in Seiryna Hospital…

"Mmm… Zoey, watch out for that predicite's poison darts… Ooohh…" Bridget mumbled in her sleep. Zoey looked at her with a smile. "So, how is she?" A familiar voice asked. Zoey turned to see Mitsuru sitting on the window. "Mitsuru? Why are you here to see Bridget? Do you know her?" Zoey wondered. Mitsuru closed his eyes for 50 seconds then opened them. "Bridget and I… were childhood friends. When we were little, I used to protect Bridget from bullies and helped her out in sticky situations. But when we reached 6, my family has to moved to a different city of Tokyo. After getting my fourth gemstone, I went to the hospital we are in to see how she is doing." Zoey was silent. The bells began ringing. "Looks like my time is up. Zoey… Promised me you'll make Bridget better… I… want to see her again once she is well. Here, you need these." Mitsuru gave her two masks that doctors or some other people used to avoid breathing in bad air. "Something tells me you'll need these for some important battle. Farewell and make Bridget better…" Mitsuru smiled sadly as he fell down and disappeared. "I will…" Zoey nodded as she lifted her Traveler's Katana and went back to Vision.

Zoey told everyone about seeing Bridget.

"I see… If we don't find the two remaining gemstones, Bridget and Miki will forever be asleep." Reina opened her eyes with determination. "I made up my mind. I'm going with you on your journey." "Agreed. It'll be good to have another experienced fighter on our side." Mikoto smiled. "I don't mind having Reina on our team." Yukinari smiled. "If everyone say so, then I have no objections." Kaname smiled as well. Lina stared at Reina's big chest. 'I wish I have a big chest like her…' Lina sighed sadly. "Then it's settled! Welcome to the team, Reina!" Yuno smiled.

The swordswoman from another world, Reina has joined the team and Zoey has gained her third gemstone. But little did they know another pair of Otherworlders will cross paths with our heroes.

To be continued…

Next time: Foresta Morgana: The Half Dog Demon and Pretear

A/n: Okay, not my best one but is hopefully good. Anyway, next chapter will have Inuyasha and Pretear joining the crew and Naraku and his minions will make a brief appearance.. So see you next time!