AN: Sorry for not updating yesterday! Fanfiction wouldn't allow me to log in. I couldn't even access my account page. Well, now I finally can access it so here's chapter ten, like I promise! Yay! I'll update Friday like I said I would. I apollogize ahead of time if it's not up. I have a basketball tournament that weekend. It's close, so I'll be home on Friday, but it might not be until 11 or 12, but I'll try!! Enjoy chapter ten!

Thanks Ahvs for those drawings!!!!!!

ONCE UPON A TIME

BY SAPPHIRE ROSE E.

CHAPTER TEN: THE BATTLE

Birds chirped as they perched on the bare branches of trees. Miyu slowly opened her eyes. "Today's the day." She touched the ruby on her necklace in thought, with a smile.

Sun poured in through the window as the sun arose. Kanata stood next to the wind, letting the sun bath him as he stretched. He let his arms down to his hips and placed his hands on his hips. "Today's the day."

A cheer arose though the crowd as a yellow knight and a green knight clashed swords. The yellow knight drew back his sword and using his shield to defend himself from the green knight's next attack. The metal clashed and sparked. Then the yellow knight used his final attack and hit the green knight in the back with the dull part of his sword. The green knight dropped his sword and the chancellor proclaimed that the winner was the yellow knight.

Another cheer filled the air. The yellow knight walked up to the balcony where the King and his Queen sat, and he removed his helmet. He looked up at the King and the King began the knight's oath.

Kanata clenched his hands together. He was sitting on a wooden bench––being the only one in the room––with his elbows resting on his thighs and his head resting on his hands. His stomach ached with nervousness for if he was to lose this battle he just might be thrown out of the training camp, and he just might never see Miyu ever again.

He took a deep, yet shaky, breath. He could hear the cheering of the crowds. He did not know how many, or the number of men verses women. All he knew was that he was going to face the best warrior of all the land: Nozumo Hikarigoka.

Santa ran up to him. "Hey! Kanata!" He slapped him on the back.

Kanata glared over at him.

"You're next."

Kanata exhaled through his nose and stood up, placing his hand on his sword that was strapped to his side. He nodded, picking up his helmet––which was decked with a red feather––and walked passed Santa. "Just watch me, old man. I will be the best knight of all the land. I'll be so great, that you're name can't even be in comparison."

Kanata walked over to the small stable in the arena. He placed his helmet over his head and mounted his bay horse that had a red colored blanket over. He heard his name called out by the king's chancellor and the cheer that arose in the air. He dug his heels into the horse's side and with a loud, "Yah!" the horse broke out into a crisp gallop. The horse ran into the arena with tremendous speed. He made the horse circle around the arena.

He looked around at the crowd. Every seat must have been filled; every seat accept one. He saw the royal balcony where the King and his Queen sat, but he didn't see Miyu. The expression on his face fell, but no one could see that with his helmet on.

He turned his horse around to face the other entrance: the entrance of which his opponent would appear from.

"And please welcome the opposing warrior! The one we know and love, the great warrior: Duke Nozumo Hikarigoka!"

A knight and his horse, dressed in a flashy purple color. Roses and violets fell from the sky as a little blue colored bird flew across the sky. A loud squeal from the women in the crowd filled the air along with some cheering from the men. Nozumo flashed a pearly white smile up at the crowd as he rode around the circle. Once he had reached the entrance to which had had come from, he reached up and grabbed one of the roses floating the air and flashed another flamboyant smile.

Nozumo placed his helmet on his head and grabbed a purple lance out from the rack, and Kanata took a red one from his own.

"And now let the battle begin!" The chancellor proclaimed. Another cheer filled the air.

The two horses and knights face each other. Then, the two horses and knights rode straight toward the other, each knight pointing the lance at the other. Once the two lances met each other, they shattered, sending splinters of wood into the air.

Everyone gasped to see that neither the red knight nor the purple knight had fallen off his horse.

Nozumo and Kanata both took another lance and returned to their starting point. The charged toward the other; passed the long boundary pole forming a line down the center of the arena, with great speed. The two lances hit each other again, sending splinters of wood into the air. The knights chucked their lances away and two servants removed them from the battle area.

Miyu peeked out from the long maroon colored curtain behind her parents' seats. She watched with a confused expression. "What's gotten into you, Kanata?" She mumbled as she watched him grab another lance and take his position.

The two horses charged once again toward each other. The lances hit one another once again; only this time one knight fell off his horse from the strong impact of the jousting poles hitting each other. It was indeed Kanata.

Nozumo dismounted his horse and removed his sword as his and Kanata's horse returned to the stable. A few servants came and removed the pole in the center of the battleground and the broken lances.

Nozumo came up to Kanata, thrusting his sword down upon him. Kanata quickly put up his shield and blocked the attack, but still he lay on the dusty ground. Slowly Kanata got to his feet. He drew his sword and went attack Nozumo. But Nozumo read his attack and dodged it, swiping his sword across his arm, drawing blood.

Kanata flinched at the new wound, but he didn't give up. He swung his sword again and again and again, but time after time, Nozumo would dodge it or block it with his shield. He would attack Kanata, giving him a new wound: on his arms; his chest; his legs. Some wounds were only scratches, but others were pretty deep cuts. Nozumo didn't let Kanata cut even a single hair or piece of clothing.

Kanata struck Nozumo's shield, sounding a loud clang. Nozumo swung his sword at Kanata, making him retreat. The two men charged at one another once again. The metals clashed and they both leaned into each other's sword, fighting for dominance.

Nozumo swiftly drew back and attacked again, making Kanata fall down on his back. Kanata rolled backward and stood back up, ready to fight.

"Impressive," Nozumo remarked.

Kanata smiled. "You're not too bad yourself."

They charged at one another, their swords clashing. Nozumo drew back, fainting an attack (to which Kanata thought was real) and drawing blood once again upon Kanata. Kanata swung his sword toward Nozumo. Nozumo only threw up his shield again in protection.

Kanata was showing signs of exhaustion. He was panting and sweating. He was bleeding and sore. But he couldn't give up, now, could he?

Their swords clashed again, but this time Kanata's sword was thrown into the air. Kanata watched, shocked. He had let his guard down.

Nozumo kicked him across the head, making his helmet fall off of his head, revealing the sweat and bruises and blood that slipped down the side of his mouth. Kanata wiped the blood away from his mouth. He was tired and hurt. "I guess this means I lose." He muttered, as he looked at the end of the sword.

"Is it?" Nozumo asked, throwing the helmet off of his head to reveal a smirk.

NEXT TIME ON ONCE UPON A TIME: CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE KNIGHT'S OATH