"How did we not notice this?"
Cecil gaped in wonder at the massive stone pillar in front of him. Covered in jutting points, ledges, and uneven depressions, the pillar looked as if someone had taken a rectangular chunk right out of a mountain and placed it on the island. Its size was massive, tall enough to reach to the clouds. Glancing from side to side, Cecil could see that if both teams lined up, the pillar would be wide enough to accommodate three times as many people.
A silhouette appeared from the edge of a ledge on the wall. Looking up, the contestants could see the slim form of Laguna jumping down, excited grin locked into place as he landed.
"Welcome contestants!" Laguna shouted, dusting himself off. "Before we start, I'd like to bring to attention last night's proceedings. At the Tribal Council, Team Cosmos chose to vote off Bartz."
Team Chaos showed various emotions, some snickering while others chose not to care. Only Exdeath let out a low cackle.
"Now then, on to the challenge!" Laguna rubbed his gloved hands with joy. "Today, we have a special guest that will explain what to do."
"Special guest?" Cecil frowned.
"That's right! Please give it up for…"
A shadow appeared in the cloud above. A small dot at the start, the shadow instantly grew larger as it shot to the ground. With the boom of a thunderclap, a purple knight landed feet first to the dirt, cracking it under him and sending out a shockwave of power. Laguna, standing straight behind the spot a moment before, was sent hurdling backward into the air before hitting the rock wall behind him. Hard.
"Greetings." The knight in dragon armor spoke calmly, standing up. "My name is…"
"Kain?" Cecil gasped, staring wide-eyed at his former comrade. "Kain Highwind? Is that you?"
Kain looked up in surprise. "Cecil. It has been awhile."
"It has, hasn't it?" Cecil smiled, walking up to his friend. "You've ended up on this show as well?"
"Only as a guest host for now." Kain stated. "It seems my tact of climbing mountains is more well-known than I thought."
"Don't mind me." Laguna grunted, face scrunched up in pain as he tore himself from the rock wall. "Just stuck in a stone pillar that I somehow carried enough force to break with my body."
Effortlessly, Kain jumped up to a ledge next to Laguna and grabbed his shirt. With one pull, the dragoon yanked the TV host out of the wall and set him down. Staying on the ledge, Kain turned to the contestants.
"Today will be a simple exercise. Testing not only your physical well-being, you will brave the depths of your willpower and courage to climb to the top of this wall."
Kain pointed his spear upward to point out the top that was piercing a nearby cloud.
"The first contestant to make it to the top will win the challenge for their team while the opposition will go to the Tribal Council."
"There are only a few rules. First, all of you will choose your own spot to start off at the bottom and may only start climbing when I say go. Second, there shall be no magic used to reach the top—"
Many of the contestants groaned. Another challenge with powers?
"Except," Kain continued, "if you are the person chosen by your team to stop the others."
This caused many of the contestants to raise their eyebrows, their attention now obtained.
"Each team will choose one person to ignore climbing the mountain and instead focus on taking out members of the opposing team during their climbs. They may use any powers or abilities they may possess in order to impede the enemy's progress. However, even if they make it to the top, they cannot win for their team."
Kain crouched down. "Choose your representatives now and line up to begin."
Both teams huddled around each other to discuss who to pick. Team Chaos instantly were in a heated discussion.
"I wanna do it, I wanna do it!" Kefka jumped up and down, clapping. "I'm perfect for this!"
"Please, you'd kill us all with your explosives." Kuja closed his eyes snootily. "Only I have the class to take out our enemies precisely."
"Oh I get it! You'll read them one of your plays, have them fall asleep, and they'll fall off the mountain." Kefka laughed at his own joke. "Brilliant!"
Kuja looked like he was going to punch Kefka before the Cloud of Darkness interrupted. "I'll do it."
Everyone glanced at the goddess who was hovering in the air, two orbs of dark energy held in her palms.
"If I may," Golbez piped in, "I believe the Cloud of Darkness is our best bet of winning. She is the most destructive of our group, yet also, the most precise with her magic."
That settled it. With the Cloud of Darkness chosen, the rest went to pick their spots.
The conversation with Team Cosmos went a little faster.
"Most of us do not possess the ability of flight." The Warrior of Light stated. "Although many of us possess destructive powers, without flying, our representative would be hindered greatly."
"Well who can fly?" Firion asked.
The entire team slowly turned their heads to Terra, who glanced up with worry at the faces pointed at her.
"M-me? No!" Terra squeaked, shaking her hands in refusal. "I can't do it. It's too—"
"Terra, listen to me." Onion Knight interrupted. Grabbing her wrists, the boy looked Terra straight in the eyes. "We need you to do this. Now more than ever."
Terra stared at the determined look in the Onion Knight's face before letting out a defeated sigh. "Alright. I'll do it."
The members of Team Cosmos smiled before running to pick a spot on the wall, leaving Terra and the Cloud of Darkness to stand back.
"Contestants ready?" Kain shouted. While crouched down, he was now almost bursting with pent up energy. With a sudden cry, Kain let it all out and jumped straight into the clouds above.
"Begin!"
The challenge is underway! Review and tell me what you think!