CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I smiled up at the leaderboards, satisfied to see Terra's name carved into a placard and placed at the top of the board.

"What are you looking at?" a voice said as footsteps stopped next to me.

"Aqua, hi." I said. I pointed at the leaderboards. "Look."

Aqua's blue eyes widened. "Terra? You mean he was here?"

"Yeah, you should've seen him. He really showed how powerful he was. The darkness was no match for him." I snickered at my own terrible pun.

"Really?" Aqua smiled. "That's wonderful. I guess there's nothing to be worried about."

Suddenly, we heard warping behind us. We turned and saw Unversed appear.

"Except for that." I said, and we summoned our Keyblades.

"Hyaaaah!" Phil grunted as the satyr jumped in front of us and posed. "Stand back, sweetcheeks, I'll take care of this!"

Phil turned back to wink at Aqua, and the bluenette cringed in embarrassment. I giggled in my palm as the satyr stared up at the Buckle Bruiser. It glared at him and pounded its fists. He whimpered and took off.

"Herc, they're all yours!" he cried as the soon-to-be hero ran over and stood by us.

"Hey, Hallie." Hercules said. "More of these guys? Will they ever go away?"

"Um... you'll have to come back to me on that." I said, striking my battle stance.

Aqua raised Rainfell up and summoned a strong force of Magnega, sucking up all the Unversed. The three of us took turns jumping in the air and destroying the Unversed. We finished standing with our backs towards each other. I dispelled Ultima Weapon and turned to the other two.

"I think you're really improving, Herc." I said.

"Really? You think so?" Hercules said.

"Yeah. Last time, those Unversed almost beat the Hydra out of you, but this time, you sure showed them."

Hercules chuckled. "Thanks."

"Oy! Those wackos almost made gyros outta me!" Phil said as he walked over to us.

"Well, maybe if you weren't trying to show off..." Hercules said.

"Who asked you, kid? You'll understand more when you're older."

Hercules sighed. "And stronger... Strong enough to be a hero."

"You think being strong is the same as being a hero?" Aqua said.

"Sure- mostly. Look at how strong Terra is, and he's champion!"

"So, sugarcakes... You got any plans for later?" Phil said, licking his fingers and running them over his bushy eyebrows. "You know, I've trained a few heroes in my time. Maybe I could recite ya a little epic poetry."

"So, Terra was really here?" Aqua said, ignoring my uncomfortable giggles.

"Of course I do. He's the local hero everybody's going gaga for... Oh, now I get it. You're one of his fans. Everywhere I go it's Terra-this, Terra-that... More like Terra-bull."

"Oh no, you see, I just want to track him down."

"Yeah, tell me about it, sister. You and the rest of Greece! Kid shows up outta nowhere, goes and wins the first Games he ever enters, dazzling the whole town, and the nudnik up and vanishes!"

"Everybody says Terra's the real thing, a true hero." Hercules said. "I can't wait till I'm that tough."

"Pfft, right. He's so tough that he turned the last schlemiel who faced him into a raving yahoo." Phil said.

"Come on, Phil, you know Zack means well." I said, placing my hands on my hips.

"So... Terra's gone already, isn't he?" Aqua said.

"Whoa, not so fast. He may not be here right now, but ya never know. He could always decide he's gonna show up for the Games." Phil said.

"Yeah... To defend his title." Hercules said.

"And if you enter, there's always a chance you might run into him. I got an idea. I'll sign you up myself. And if you need a trainer, I'd be more than happy to put you through the ropes."

"But Phil... I had to practically beg you to agree to train me!"

"Shh! Pipe down, kid!" Phil hissed. "You and she ain't got the same attributes, if you know what I mean."

Aqua crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Is this guy always this creepy?" she whispered.

"Yes." I said. "Unfortunately, it's not gonna go away."

"Well, my name is Aqua. It's nice to meet you. If you would, I'd like to sign up for the games."

"Likewise. Now, let's start with a few basics-" Phil said.

"Thanks, I won't need a trainer."

"Bah! Women- they never change. I suppose ya still want me to go and get you signed up. Meet me in the vestibule when you're ready."

"Er... Sorry about Phil." Hercules said, biting his bottom lip. "Sometimes his confidence gets himself carried away."

"No kidding." I mumbled. Phil retreated inside the Coliseum.

"Wait a minute..." Aqua said, cupping her chin in her hand. "This is Olympus Coliseum, right? And that was Phil... or Philoctetes?"

"Yes, and that was Hercules."

Aqua gasped quietly and turned to me, her blue eyes lighting up. "That's right! I remember you told me before! You came and trained here!"

I gulped, forgetting I told the trio this when I first appeared in this time. I couldn't believe Aqua remembered this. "Yeah, I did."

"But... Phil didn't look like he recognized you."

"Uh, that's just Phil being Phil. You know, just because I trained under him doesn't mean he'll give me any special treatment." Yeah, that's it.

"Oh, okay..." Aqua said, and I sighed internally, grateful that she bought my pathetic lie.

For the third time, I sat in the Coliseum bleachers, this time watching Aqua fight in the Games against her Unversed opponents. After the semi-final match, I rejoined with her and we walked outside the Coliseum.

"All that's left is the final, and there's still no sign of Terra. The guy I'm supposed to fight is someone else named Zack." Aqua said.

She turned around to see Zack right behind her.

"Aqua, right?" he said as she jumped back. "Hey, I'm Zack, your opponent in the final! Man, finally! Once I beat you, I get to take on Terra!"

"But, Zack, you've already fought Terra in the Games before." I said.

"Yeah, but that was when I was all coo-coo from Hades, remember? This time, it'll be a fair and square battle!" Zack said.

"Wait a minute, are you saying there's another match after the final?" Aqua said.

"Uh-oh. Guess you didn't get the memo. Hey, Phil, would you tell her the rules?"

Phil cleared his throat and lead us over to the leaderboards. "The Games are divided into two brackets- you got your East, you got your West. The winners from each bracket face off in the championship match. Now, right now you are competing in the East and we got no idea about the other side. For all we know, your boy Terra could be cruisin' through over in the West."

"Then I shouldn't be fighting matches here! I should be looking over there for him!" Aqua said. She headed back toward the vestibule.

"No... you, uh... can't! It's not allowed!" Phil cried. "Athletes are expressly forbidden from watchin' matches in the other bracket."

"Did he just make that up?" Hercules said.

"I think so." I said.

"How should I know?" Zack said.

"All right, fine. Look, you gotta just stay and fight this match. The two athletes I entered defaulted before they made it to the top." Phil said. "Give a guy a break. I got a reputation!"

Zack, Hercules and I shared a look.

"Hey, do it for us, too." Zack called.

"All right, then. I'll finish what I started." Aqua sighed in defeat.

"You will? Oh, the gods are smilin' on me today!" Phil laughed. "I'll be waitin' for you in the vestibule. Let me know when you're ready."

"A match between Zack and Aqua? This I can't miss!" Hercules said.

"Ix-nay on the atchin'-way. You got trainin' to complete." Phil called over his shoulder.

Hercules groaned. "Oh, all right... Good luck, guys. I'll see you around."

"Well, I'll be in the bleachers cheering for the both of you." I said.

"Aqua, good luck out there." Zack said.

"You too." Aqua said.

"I am so fired up!"

Aqua paused for a moment to think. "Zack, Terra is a friend of mine. How exactly is it that you know him?"

"He saved my life. During the last Games, this dude Hades tried to make Terra his pawn of darkness... and he used me to do it! He had some kind of magic or something that made me crazy, gave me weird powers that I turned against Terra." Zack said during a session of squats. He stood up straight. "But you know what? Terra freed me, and he didn't need the darkness to do it. Hallie can vouch for it. She saw the whole thing."

"It's true. Terra's heart is stronger than you think." I said.

"I had no idea..." Aqua said.

"Well, that's enough with the drama. I guess I'll see you in the ring, huh?" Zack said. He patted my shoulder. "Make sure you cheer extra loud for me!"

I chuckled. "I'll do my best."

Aqua and Zack stood on opposite sides of the arena, while I sat in the bleachers and watched.

"I promised Terra I'd face him. Fair and square." Zack said as he unsheathed his sword.

"The friendship between boys... It almost makes me jealous." Aqua chuckled and summoned Rainfell. "Let's fight!"

Zack lunged first. Their weapons connected, and Aqua pushed him back. Zack swung his blade and a bolt of lightning zipped towards her. Aqua cast Barrier and the bolt reflected off the shield and flew into the bleachers, hitting the spot next to me.

"Hey!" I cried, spitting pebbles from my mouth. "Be careful!"

In the end, Aqua won the battle. Zack laid on the ground and pounded his fists against the ground like a toddler having a tantrum.

"Awww, I lost!" he groaned. He hoisted himself up with a kip-up. "I've got a long way to go if I'm gonna become a hero."

I jumped down from the bleachers and joined the two. "You both did really well. But next time, try and keep your attacks within the arena. That lightning bolt almost took out my head."

Zack chuckled and blushed. "Sorry."

A puff of fiery smoke appeared in front of us, and I scowled as Hades appeared. His eyes set on Aqua, and his eyebrows raised.

"Really- it's you? Here I thought I'd drop in to see which muscle-head was up next, and... Holy hydras! It's just a little girl, a little lassie, a little bluebird." Hades said, approaching Aqua and standing in front of her with his arms crossed, giving her a once-over.

"Hades!" Zack cried.

Hades rolled his eyes and turned around. "I'm sorry, is that a mosquito? Where did I put that bug spray?"

"Mosquito?!"

"No one likes a sore loser, Hades." I said, smirking and crossing my arms. "You're just upset because you didn't get your way."

"You just love to get on my bad side, don't you?" Hades growled. "Who are you anyway, and why do you insist on getting on every single one of my nerves?!"

"I'm an old friend, Hades." I said, placing a hand on my heart. My eyes feigned offense, but my voice oozed sarcasm. "And I'm just so hurt that you don't remember me."

"So you're Hades." Aqua said, recapturing the god's attention before he could burn my face off. "You used Zack, and tried to cast Terra into the darkness."

"So I take it you're acquainted with the spineless chickenheart." Hades said.

"Terra is my friend! And I hear he triumphed over the darkness. He's not spineless!"

"Funny, ya know, 'cause I heard different. Ya see, it was Chickenheart who asked me for a little, shall we say, instruction on how to use darkness in the first place."

"Never!"

"And he was so close to doing it, too, when the sap went and got cold feet. I blame Miss Sassy Pants over here for coaxing him out of it." Hades said, side-glaring at me. "Now if that ain't cowardly, I don't know what is. But you, my little bluebird... Why not flit over here and demonstrate some real courage for the winning team?"

"The darkness doesn't interest me!"

"Well, that was rude. A "No thank you, your godliness" might've sufficed. Fortunately, I still get to- ahem- destroy you. Rules say you face me next. And I have a whole lot of darkness... with your name on it!"

Hades disappeared with a cackle and a puff of fiery smoke.

"Get back here, Hades!" Zack cried, running into the smoke. "Man, if only I were up against him. Aqua, you gotta avenge me and Terra!"

Zack walked over to Aqua and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I will." Aqua said.

Aqua walked onto the arena with Rainfell in her hand, while Zack and I sat in the bleachers.

"Is it me, or is it f-f-freezing in here?" Zack said, hugging his arms and shivering like a Chihuahua.

"Now that you mention it, yeah." I said, rubbing my knees to bring back circulation. I looked up at the sky, which filled with purple clouds. "What happened to the sun?"

Aqua looked around the arena for Hades. The ground rumbled, and a pair of giant, icy hands clutched the side of the Coliseum. The Ice Titan emerged from behind the Coliseum and roared. He stomped into the arena, creating icy shockwaves with each step. Hades appeared in front of the titan in a puff of smoke.

"I never said one-on-one." Hades said.

"No fair, Hades!" Zack cried.

"I suppose that's in the rules." Aqua said, striking her battle stance.

"'Rule No. 2: Combatants may call for backup.'" Hades said. "Maybe you better call yours, bluebird."

"He's already here!" Zack cried, running onto the arena. Aqua held out Rainfell and stopped the boy.

"Don't, Zack." She said, and she walked past him towards Hades and the Ice Titan. "I can do this on my own!"

Zack stalked back over to the bleachers and plopped down next to me, crossing his arms and pouting.

"I don't think tantrum looks good on you." I said. "Aqua can handle this."

Aqua's first objective was to take out the Ice Titan, which wasn't that hard. She attacked its feet with her Keyblade and Firaga spells, defeating the titan fairly quickly. Afterwards, she focused on Hades. When he shot fireballs at her, she blocked with Barrier and sent the attacks back to him. The Ice Titan fell to the ground and vanished. Hades growled, and his skin turned red and his blue fire hair turned yellow.

"I knew that snow cone wouldn't cut it. I need a real Titan." Hade grumbled. He chuckled and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Stay tuned!"

The purple clouds dispersed, and the blue sky and sunshine returned.

"Aqua, you were awesome!" I cried, rushing over and throwing my arms around her.

"Thanks." the bluenette chuckled and hugged me back.

I said my goodbyes to Aqua and stayed behind in the Coliseum.

"Stupid Hades..." Zack mumbled as we walked out of the Coliseum. He kicked the ground in frustration. "The next time I see him, I'll put him in his place."

"You've got a lot of training to do if you want that to happen." I said.

"Yeah..." Zack walked a few paces ahead of me and turned around to face me. "I really want to thank you for all you've done. In my opinion, I think you're a true hero."

I smiled. "Thanks, Zack. I think you've got potential, too."

"Aha! I got it!" Zack said, slapping his fist against the palm of his hand for emphasis. "How about a date?"

"Huh?!"

"I've got to thank you properly! Come on, just one date!"

"Oh, Zack, that's so sweet of you... but I have a boyfriend." I said, feeling the blush creep into my cheeks.

"Really? Aw!" Zack said. "I guess I should've seen it sooner. You and Ventus do seem really happy together."

"What?!" My cheeks darkened into a whole new shade of red. "Ventus is not my boyfriend! You don't know him. He's... not from around here."

"Okay, okay, sorry. I just kind of assumed... Didn't mean to push the wrong buttons." Zack said, smiling away the awkwardness. "I'll see you around, okay?"

I returned the smile and nodded. "Yeah. See you later, Zack."

Zack gave me a thumbs-up and a wink before he turned around and headed towards the town. A sad pang burst in my chest as he disappeared, as if my heart told me this would be the last time I ever saw that boy. Hercules ran past him and to me.

"Ohh... I missed the match?! And I finished today's training in record time!" Hercules groaned, pausing to recover his breath. He stopped to study my face. "Is something wrong, Hallie? Your face is red."

My hands flew to my cheeks. "Oh, it's nothing! Just... the heat." I said. "Listen, Herc, you want to be a hero. Remember that becoming one isn't based solely on strength."

"I know, I know. Strength alone won't make me a true hero. I'm starting to figure that out. I've seen it countless times with you, Zack, Aqua, Terra, and Ventus, and I can tell there's something more."

"It's strength of heart. You've got it, too." I said, laying a hand over my heart. "If you keep trying, I promise one day you'll become a true hero. You've got to believe in yourself."

Hercules smiled. "Thanks, Hallie. Are you leaving?"

"Yeah. My friends are counting on me." I said.

"Will you be back?"

A small smile stretched across my lips and I nodded. As Hercules past by me, my smile slowly faded.

"Hercules?" I said.

The scrawny, soon-to-be hero turned to me, and I could picture in my mind what he would look like twelve years from now.

"If you ever come across a young girl that washes up at your doorstep..." I said. "Please take care of her."

Hercules watched me with confusion and curiosity. He slowly nodded.

"Okay. I will." he said.

I smiled. "Thank you."