An Old Friend Met Again
The next day, everyone was training hard to get ready for the quarterfinals of the 'Battle of the Coliseum'. People came from far and wide to compete in these first of many games. They met many weird creatures as well, but weren't prepared for the visit they'd get from the next person they met. A woman in green armour with long hair and an Asian look to her approached Sora. It was Mulan. She gave him a light tap on his shoulder and observed as the young teen looked at Mulan and responded with a kind warm smile. "Hey Sora. It's been a while." He then nodded in agreement. "Yeah it has been a long time since we talked like this. I hope you're ready for this." Mulan agreed saying that the competition looked odd. They also met up with the Beast as well. He greeted Sora with a big warm hug. Behind him, was a smaller guy but he was scrawny and clearly a skeleton. It was Jack Skelington. They also saw a man in a loin cloth with long hair down to his neck. Tarzan had also come for the competition. Oddly enough Setzer also made an appearance at the stadium. The man in the brown overcoat also made his appearance and would face Setzer in the first round. He preferred to call himself Z-man. Setzer wanted to make a comeback in the tournaments and figured he would do here in Olympus Coliseum.
The whole group of competitors then saw two people who were like wet matches in a dark cave. One of them wore a striped shirt black over red stripes, his hand gloves had knives attached to each finger, he wore a black hat and his face was messed up and burnt looking. He could've easily been passed off as a leper. His pants didn't make him look any better either. They were black and torn up here and there. The other guy wore a hockey mask, had a torn up grey jacket, black shirt, as well as a dark pair of jeans and black shoes. He wore black gloves and the only thing that he had that was a light colour was a big rounded sword that he carried.
The Battle of the Coliseum was much different than any challenge that Sora and the others were ever in. First off they were split into two halves: The Marauders and the Majestics. Second, only one from each division could face off against the other in a long sudden death to determine the winner. Sora would be lucky if even half of his friends made it through. The competition was no pushover either. The match ups were as follows: On the Marauders, Sora vs. Goofy, Hercules vs. Riku, Mickey vs. Freddy, and Donald vs. Jason. On the Majestics, Tidus vs. Yuffie, Mulan vs. Beast, Jack vs. Tarzan, Setzer vs. Z-man. It wasn't long before matches soon got underway.
The first match was Sora vs. Goofy. Goofy shook Sora's hand and gave him a big hug. He then said, "Just to let you know there won't be any hard feelings in this matchup." Sora nodded. Sora said, "I know, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to fight either alright?" They shook hands again to seal the deal and soon the match begun. Goofy may have been a slow poke because he always carried a heavy shield, but he was as strong as they come. Sora got bruised up by his Turbo Tornado attack and then Goofy followed up with a Berserker attack. Sora landed on the ground and it looked like he wouldn't get up again. The announcer of the games said, "Oh no!! It looks like Sora's down for the count!! He has ten seconds to get up, or he's disqualified from the ring. 10…9…8…" Sora slowly gripped his fists and then made a swift recovery. "4…3…2…Woah, I didn't expect that at all. Ladies and Gentlemen Sora has just got up from an extreme beating!!" Sora called out his keyblade and swiped the air couple of times. 'Doesn't that guy know when to just shut up?', He thought.
Sora ran up and then attacked Goofy with his quick manoeuvring. He took a dash on his right, then his left and then finished Goofy with ease, once he got past his shield that is. Goofy landed on his back out cold. The announcer then said, "Goofy is unable to continue fighting. Sora will now advance to the semi-finals of his division!!" The crowd then cheered their hearts out. Even his own friends were throwing confetti in the air to show that he did a good job. Sora smiled and waved his hands in the air to show his appreciation. He then helped Goofy to his feet. Goofy was all torn up at his shorts and his vest and his hat was sliced in half down the middle as well. Sora said, "I'm sorry about the rough beating. I guess I don't know my own strength." Goofy brushed himself off and said, "Aw don't worry about it. It's not the first time that this has happened. You gotta start training though. I saw who you're up against. It's going to be between Hercules and Riku. You know how strong they are don't you?" He nodded and ran off to the training arena on the other side of the stadium.
He however spotted a familiar blue fire haired god in grey smoked clothing talking to the guy with the striped shirt and messed up face. Hades was apparently talking to him about his match up with Mickey and by the looks of his mad face he wasn't too happy. "Now then Freddy, listen up. I expect nothing less from you than victory. That is if you expect to ever leave my Underworld and see the light of day, you'll do what I want right?" He nodded. "When do I get to kill people? My blades are talking to me and they're calling out for the blood of those people in the crowds." Hades then shook his head. "Listen pal this is a tournament. You can't kill anyone here. It's against the rules not to mention in bad taste even for me. You'll get your chance when you win the tournament and squash Hercules or his little buddy with the keyblade. Kapesh? Besides you can't do anything unless you're on your own world." He nodded and then left for the arena.
A white hooded figure then appeared in front of Hades. Victor said, "So is everything going according to plan?" Hades said, "Oh yes. Don't worry about it. I got things completely under control. Freddy knows the consequences if he doesn't perform his task right." Victor pulled down his hood and smiled. "Excellent, with him and Jason on this world together they could really make things quite interesting if you catch my drift." Hades nodded. Victor then said, "Well I have to take off. My sources say that they just captured another planet. You'd best take care of things here. Otherwise, if Freddy and Jason don't do as they're told it's your butt that will be on the line." Victor disappeared in light and Hades disappeared in smoke, but oddly enough he dropped a piece of paper. It was a page to Anastasia's journal.
The match ups that day went by quickly. Hercules won against Riku, Freddy beat Mickey, and Jason beat Donald on the Marauder's side. On the Majestics, Yuffie beat Tidus, Beast beat Mulan, Tarzan beat Jack, and Z-Man beat Setzer. Sora got back in time to see Setzer get pulled on a stretcher. Sora asked Riku who saw the match, "What happened here?" Riku said, "That Z-Man is quite a character. First he doesn't move when the match starts up and lets Setzer waste his energy attacking him and the next thing you know he froze Setzer's legs and then attacked him from there in a simple knockout." Sora then felt something grab his shirt. It was Setzer's right hand tugging at him. "Sora…I'd never thought I'd see you here at all. That Z-Man is cheating. I know he is. If you do face him in the finals, thrash him. Okay?" Sora nodded and Setzer then got a slight grin on his face as he fainted and got carried away by the stretcher.
The next day, the match ups were as followed: On the Marauders, Sora vs. Hercules and Freddy vs. Jason. (Weird déjà vu, remembering that movie.) On the Majestics, Beast vs. Tarzan and Yuffie vs. Z-Man. Sora was hard at work training for his next match and Hercules had just stopped by. Hercules then tapped Sora's shoulder and said, "I'd be careful around Freddy and Jason from now on. Something's not right about them." Sora then got a mad look on his face. "That's because they're not fighting for the fun of it." Sora then told Hercules of what he had seen and Victor's plans. Hercules then said, "That's terrible. How could someone do such a thing to innocent people? Even if Freddy and Jason are from Hades' Underworld, that's still not fair to them." Sora nodded in agreement. "My only shot is if I can convince both of them that they don't have to do this to get out of the Underworld." Hercules then nodded and went back to his training.
Later around noon, Sora's match against Hercules soon began. Hercules pumped up his muscles while Sora ran circles around him to try and distract him. Hercules soon caught on and punched him into submission. Sora then got up and tried with all of his might to breach through that muscle and iron. Nothing worked. Even when he transformed into his master form it didn't do anything. Hercules just bounced every attack Sora had right back at him. Hercules then said, "Oh come on Sora. You can do better than that. I mean if you want to help out Freddy and Jason, you're going to have to have better reflexes." Sora then thought, 'Better reflexes he says. That's it.' He then got a big grin on his face. Hercules puzzled by this then asked, "What's so funny?" Sora then said, "You just gave me an idea." Sora then slashed Hercules at his legs and ducked when his fists aimed for his face. He kept slashing his legs until Hercules couldn't bear it anymore. As he collapsed he said, "Me and my big mouth!!" With that the big brute fell onto the ground with a big menacing earthquake like motion to match it. He nearly landed on top of Sora as he escaped by the skin of his teeth. The announcer said, "Hercules is unable to continue fighting. Sora's on his way to the finals!!" The whole crowd cheered with all of their might at this astonishing turn of events. They even threw candy to show their appreciation for Sora as did his friends do that as well. Sora yet again waved his hands into the air and smiled with glee.
He helped Hercules to his feet and apologized to him as he did with Goofy. Hercules then said, "It's alright Sora. The better man won this fight and the due fact you responded quickly to my comment is a good sign that you're coming close to matching my strength. Of course then again I did help you out with that last piece of advice." They both laughed at that comment like it was a joke at a bar. Hercules then said, "Anyway, I'll be rooting for you in the stands. Watch your back alright? Freddy and Jason are tough cookies and I guarantee that against either one of them you're going up against tough competition." Sora nodded and then left back for the training arena to prep himself for his next match up.
Meanwhile, in the stands Z-Man was sitting down and observing the next match ups closely. A white hooded figure appeared beside him. Victor then said, "You'd better get ready for your next match. You're up in an hour and a half." Z-Man nodded and left his seat for the exit. Victor then said, "Oh Z-Man!!" Z-Man turned around to see the white hooded boy among a huge crowd of cheering fans. Victor yelled, "Make sure that you don't take Sora for granted. He has more power than you can imagine. Also make sure that when you get a chance, report all of the research you do in the finals if he should make it that far. I don't want to overlook any minor details what-so-ever." Z-Man nodded and left for the exit. Victor snapped his fingers and disappeared in a white portal.
The match ups that day went by just as quickly as the others did before that. On the Marauders, Jason beat Freddy (with a little assistance from Z-Man). On the Majestics, the Beast beat Tarzan, and Z-Man beat Yuffie. Unfortunately, Sora yet again witnessed the same trauma as yesterday with Setzer. He ran up to Yuffie and asked her what happened. She said, "That guy froze my legs first off and then punched my gut twenty times until I spewed blood from my throat. Then to make matters worse he slammed me to the ground so hard I broke my right leg bone. It hurts pretty bad, but I can handle it." Sora then looked at Yuffie with discontent and concern. He then perked himself up and said, "No worries. I'll take care of this guy. You just worry about feeling better alright?" Yuffie nodded and smiled. She then grabbed his right hand. "You know its kind of funny. That's what Kairi said about you when I met her for the first time. She always said that you were such a sweet heart. You always put others first before yourself. I'm glad that there's still a person like you in this world." With that she fainted and was carried away. Sora blushed at the fact that Kairi said this. It reminded him of why he was out on this journey in the first place.
Donald, Goofy and the others then surprised him. Riku said, "Hey man. If you're not too careful, people like us could make fun of you and you're red face." Sora gasped and covered his red apple coloured cheeks. Everyone around him laughed with Riku as Sora stood there timid and confused as always. Meanwhile, a white hooded figure was overlooking the gang from the empty stands. Victor saw this and said, "What a good bunch of buds he has. It kind of reminds me of my friends back home. Especially Xehanort, when he wasn't so sinister. Good times are never hard to find though." With that he disappeared in light.
The next day, Sora was prepping himself for his next match against Jason. He knew that Jason wouldn't go easy on him in the next match. He also knew he had to improve his reflexes as best as he could.
A few hours later, his match up with Jason began. Sora ran right at Jason while he just stood there waiting for an attack to come right at him. Sora sliced up his jacket into a million pieces, still he stood there. That is until Sora hit his mask. After that Jason started attacking and hitting Sora's keyblade with his sword. Sora then stood his ground and said, "It doesn't have to be this way Jason. You can get out of the Underworld a different way. You don't need Hades. What you need is a friend." Jason dashed right at Sora only ripping his shirt up at his chest. "Listen kid. This has got nothing to do with you. If I had brains I would just start fighting if I were you." Sora then transformed into his Master Form to fight off Jason. "If you can't listen to what I'm telling you I guess I have no choice then. It's too bad though. You're too good of a fighter to be doing this." Sora and Jason soon went all out on each other. It was even neck and neck. Sora made a dash and an original slice and dice, Jason made a dash and launched some attacks at him as well. The match up went for two hours straight and they were still determined to keep going. Sora then said, "You're a good fighter you know that? I've seen someone who was that focussed." Jason nodded but kept his distance."
"Yeah well that's what you do when you're a serial killer. You have to be on your feet at all times. Cops can come from all over just to shoot lead into your body." Sora was a little surprised at this, but knew he met much weirder shady characters over his little journey. Sora said, "It doesn't matter though. I don't care if you were adopted by mole rats. What I do care about is helping you out. Because that's what people do for each other. They help each other out not expecting a reward or glory." Jason oddly enough agreed with Sora even though it wasn't his character.
Jason then fell to the ground with no regrets. The announcer then said after ten seconds, "That's it!! Jason is unable to continue which means our new and first ever Marauder champion is Sora!!!" The crowd cheered and some of the girls threw roses to Sora with their phone numbers attached as well as their names. Sora blushed a little bit, but perked up a smile and waved to the audience as he helped Jason to his feet. Jason then said, "Looks like you have a lot of fans. I'll have to consider doing something like this. Or at least if I get around to getting a different hobby." Sora smiled, but saw that Freddy jumped onto the ring. Freddy said, "Hey punk. You and I got a score to settle!!" With that a white portal appeared leading back to Freddy's/Jason's world. Sora stepped forward to fight him, but a hand touched his chest in a form of protection. "It's odd. You're the only person besides my mom, I have a want to listen to. So I'm repaying you the favour. I'll take him on. I know we'll figure out a way to get me out of Hades. If I do, I promise that I'll bring you back something from my world. It's my way of saying thanks." Sora nodded and watched as Jason tackled Freddy taking him into the portal as it closed behind them.
'Take care Jason. I know there's some good in you. You just have to look harder.', Sora thought. Afterwards, Sora saw that the Beast lost to Z-Man as well, but was still up and walking. Sora figured that the beast didn't take too much of a beating from Z-Man in the end. The Beast then said, "Sora. Be careful against him. He's nothing like any other person I've ever met. He's swift and he has the power of ice at his finger tips. Watch your back!!" Sora nodded and ran off to train for a few hours anyway. The finals would begin at about 7:00 p.m. and he had to be at his peak form.
Victor then appeared to Hades in his Underworld to discuss the matter of Jason and Freddy. Victor said, "Deal's a deal Hades. You didn't take the situation into consideration and now that killer is friends with Sora. Hope you like to swim. Cuz I'm putting you back in the Nealstrom whirlpool where you belong." Hades was sucked into the very trap Victor helped him escape from and with that he disappeared again.
7:00 soon arrived and Sora was pumped up. He was soon circled by friends old and new alike to give him some good advice before he went up against Z-Man. Sora then said, "Thanks guys. I appreciate it. I don't where I'd be if you guys weren't there cheering me on." Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Tidus, Riku, Beast, Jack, Tarzan, Mulan and Jiminy Cricket said good luck and went to their seats in the main stadium. Sora then went to the locker room to wash up. Meanwhile, Victor found Z-Man and gave him advice of his own. Victor then said, "You see now the strength that he possesses. I wouldn't underestimate him now if I were you. Victor is no pushover. I guarantee he won't be giving you any chance to attack if you're not too careful." Z-Man then said, "Understood my liege." With that Victor left Z-Man as he entered the ring for the final match.
Sora and Z-Man then began fighting each other for the Battle Coliseum Cup that was waiting in the stands for one of them. Their trophies for being the Majestics' and Marauders' Champions were in a private vault on either side of the trophy. Either way, Sora made the first move slashing at Z-Man's legs, then he went after his head. However, before he could do anything, Z-Man grabbed Sora by the neck and punched his gut ten times and then slammed him into the ground. Z-Man then tackled Sora with his hard muscular body and froze his arms, legs and neck to the ground. He laid there injured and beat up. The crowd gasped and Sora's friends were going crazy over this. Mickey then thought, 'This guy sure is powerful. He didn't even put any effort into taking Sora down at all. You better hang in there buddy.' Riku then took a close at Z-Man. Riku thought, 'Something's not right about him. Even when he froze Sora to the ground it didn't look natural. He has to be getting help somehow. That cheater!! Hang in there Sora!!' Z-Man then said, "How pathetic. Some one like you should know better than to make the first move while underestimating your opponent. It is a deadly weakness only fools and amateurs make. You're neither because of your stupidity." Sora then closed his eyes as he awaited the finishing blow.
Yet Sora heard a voice from somewhere. It was Jason. 'Come on, Sora. You have the power to beat this guy in your sleep. Don't give up.', Jason's voice said. Sora then said, 'How can I fight him? He's too strong and I'm out of ideas.' Jason then said, 'You know a lot of the guys I've met over the years always found some cheap way of winning in the end and the only it took was a little guts. Show me your guts Sora. Show me your guts!!' Sora then yelled and he transformed.
Z-Man then said, "What? How is this possible?" The whole crowd went speechless as they saw Sora transform and with it he wore golden armour as well as a golden crown. Victor was in the shadows and witnessed this as well. He thought, 'He's even more powerful than they all realize. It won't be long now Sora. It won't long now!!" He then disappeared. Sora approached Z-Man with confidence and even when he shot ice at him, he didn't stop. He then became two feet away from him and just stared at him. Sora then asked with a slight ripple in his voice, "So you think I'm pathetic now?" Z-Man shook his head. "Obviously you had help. Otherwise I would've finished you by now. You may have won this time Sora. However, this isn't over yet. We will meet again and when we do, I'll be the one who gets all the glory." With that he stepped out of the ring and left the stadium. The announcer then said, "Z-Man has left the ring which means he's disqualified. Sora has won the cup!! I repeat, Sora has won the first official Battle Coliseum Cup!!"
Fire works soon blew into the air and roses as well as confetti were flying everywhere as people cheered and as well as Sora's friends came down to congratulate him. Hercules then opened up Sora's hands and gave him a shard of sapphire and a page for Anastasia's journal. He then said, "It's my own way of saying thanks for everything. You've always come to this place with a good attitude and personally I don't know how to repay you, except with this." Sora then gave Hercules a hug. "It doesn't matter. You've always been a friend to me and that's just what I'm going to do." They both laughed as well as the entire group did too while hoisting the Battle Coliseum Cup and watching the fire works in the night sky. Tarzan, Mulan, Jack and The Beast soon said their good-byes and took the next space shuttle back to their worlds.
Sora and the others soon returned, after Yuffie healed of course, to find that everyone in Merlin's house was panicking. Riku asked, "What's going on here? You guys are more tense than my dad is when he goes off to work." Leon stopped to catch his breath. "Of course we are you guys. The entire place is crawling with heartless and some weird plastid things." Sora then asked, "Plastid Things?" Leon then said, "There's no time to explain. We must hurry to Ansem's computer room.
When they finally arrived the group saw Cid and Aerith monitoring Radiant Garden and the heartless and plastid creatures that were roaming about free. Leon asked, "How's the situation?" Cid then said, "It looks bad by the looks of things. Everyone's left town cuz those things are wrecking up the place." Sora then saw Anastasia and gave her the sapphire shard Hercules gave them. Anastasia then summoned up a cybernetic looking gate with a plastid frog looking creature as a symbol for the gate. Sora then gave Leon the page and went inside the gate along with everyone else. Cid said, "This looks real bad. Now those things are headed to the computer room judging by movements from the monitor." Aerith then said, "Then we'll have to buy Sora and the group some time if they're going to fix this." Leon, Merlin, Anastasia, and Cid nodded and took any weapon they could find as a group of heartless and plastid creatures soon made their way into the main room where they were sitting now.