Good evening Death Tour fans this is Jake and Flutter on a special Royal Death Tour report tonight. The anchor reporter raccoon announced enthusiastically as the white vixen Flutter took over.
Reporters say that although the tournament is coming to a close as we depart from the third round and step onto the field in the fourth division. That the fourth round may not go as traditionally planned.
Correct Flutter, due to the amount of time eaten up through special matches this year the Game Masters are discussing whether or not to turn the final round, which is normally Triple Threat Battles and four way brawls. Into strictly Omega Dome fights and Elimination Chamber battles.
What do you think Jake? Should we skip the bull crap of those matches and jump straight into the big fights or do you think we should stick to traditions?
To meet the six month deadline it seems necessary to get into the fray with the large scale wars then to have fun in smaller competitions.
A tired yet disappointed yawn filled the empty air of the bar with nearly no patrients now. Back the in the beginning of the Death Tour were they packed full nearly every night, now they were lucky to get maybe a dozen patrients to stop by all day. Though for this bar this residence was the most visited with this sort of company.
"I hate the news." A pair of thick army boots clashed up against the table surface as the black furred lupine leaned back into his chair and yawned again.
"Yea? Well you should pay attention 'cause it may be the reason you live or die here." Caim leaned up against the table as well joining Tyronos as the two exchanged cocky yet laid back expressions.
"Whatever I've locked my position into the final one hundred, how about you?"
"Final match was today and I walked away without a scratch."
"Bravo." Tyronos said sarcastically clapping his paws with a mere golf clap, "Go kill the crazy vixen and I'll give you a medal."
"Oh I won't have too, McCloud has that covered."
"What are you talking about?" He sat up straight and looked to the crow's mellow expression as he showed a simple shrug.
"Just watch." The two Royalists turned their attention back toward the screen as Flutter had just received news from the Game Masters. She briefly went over the papers contents before looking back to the camera.
This just in from Game Master Nemesis, instead of the Game Masters deciding what goes on in the fourth round, the choice is up to the Royalists! When the curtain drops on the final one hundred will each Royalists be able to vote on which ever they would prefer to take part in. Smaller individual battles or large scale fights, the majority for whichever vote decides the fate of the Royalists!
Well that seems a bit farfetched, if I was a Royalists in the final one hundred close to freedom. I would want to fight in the smaller battles so I have more odds and less to worry about.
But these are the final one hundred Jake remember that, the best of the best. Who knows maybe their cocky attitudes will get to 'em and they would wish to participate in larger fights to get this over with.
That's true, but I still say that minimized battles wins.
We will see. Flutter paused for a slight moment as she got her papers together and put on an extravagant smile for the viewers.
"I'm voting for huge brawls."
"Same here, I want to get this over with."
"So cocky that you think you'll walk away alive Caim?" Tyronos sat up as he looked to the crow still lying back with a taunting smirk.
"Oh I have my ways, don't worry about me."
"I'm glad you said that, because I wasn't anyway." Tyronos admitted with a bit of gleam in his eyes.
In other news, Flutter's voice caught Caim's and Tyronos' attention once again. After we break from round three is there another treat this year for Death Tour fans everywhere. As fallen savior Fox McCloud, former leader of the Star Fox squadron and countless hero of the Lylat System; takes on this years most popular, beautiful, and deadly Royalist, 666 – 'The Angel of Hate' Hayte. In a single one-on-one cage match in the Royalist Battle Chamber.
What the hell does McCloud think he's doing? Putting his muzzle where it doesn't belong, you get into a lot of trouble when you do stupid crap like that.
You would know wouldn't you Jake?
Oh don't go there Flutter.
Try me.
Want me to show those 'pictures' I took during the last Royalist gathering?
What!? I thought you said you got rid of them all you backstabber!
Jake merely shrugged with a flashy smile, I lied.
You little! - That's when the signal of the news station was cut from live. Tyronos had heard of office drama and games before but what Jake and Flutter did constantly was ridiculous. The snapping of fingers stole the vulpine's attention back to the real world, his eyes going wide as he was suddenly all alone with Caim nowhere in sight.
"The hell?" Tyronos spoke to himself as he searched all around the room for Caim. The note on the table caught his attention as he picked up the small piece of parchment and read it to himself.
"Got bored with the news, at the gym case you wanna spar. Oh by the way got your toys." Tyronos' eyes went wide as he looked down to his sides, to see both of his twin daggers missing; sheaths and all.
"That little stealthy bastard!" He shouted at the top of his lunges as he raced for the door, those daggers were priceless to Tyronos in such a way no one could imagine.
He roared through his angered tone as he rushed toward the gym, "If Dark doesn't kill that crow then I will!"
X
The Fallen Angel sat alone in his hospital bed as he felt empty on the inside now; and truly should as his gut had been punctured and sliced. He looked to his paws as he didn't know where he pulled out the life saving strength to spare his life this time against Hayte. He wrapped up his paws into fists and his expression changed to one of serious determination. He couldn't believe that the match didn't go as planned. Here he thought he could end Hayte if not as easily as the rest of his opponents, she proved him wrong and it almost costed him his life.
Although still recovering was Dark still prepping up for their next encounter. With only one hundred Royalists left was that confrontation going to arise all but to soon. He has to hold on a bit longer. The only thing Dark wondered was how someone who was dead on the inside could possibly be so lively with strength and energy? His knife was yet to be thrusted into the demon. Last time he gave it his all, next time black blood will flow.
"Well played Hayte. Well played Kursed."
X
Fox sat on his bedside in his new excluded room from Hayte's, as it was a bit uncomfortable being neighbor to a Royalist who absolutely hated your guts. He held his head within his paws and breathed troubled.
"Why am I doing this?" Fox stated out loud as he couldn't help but wonder what was going through his head when he challenged Hayte, and therefore could have signed his own death warrant. He thought about what Hayte had said to him that reveled around that same idea spiraling through his mind.
'Kursed could never be a substitute for Krystal!' Her hate-filled voice circled through Fox's mind like a race track as his spine shivered and his paws moistened at the shear thought.
'Krystal is not coming back!' Was he really so desperate for Krystal? Did Fox really desire her love and compassion back so much that he actually thought he could receive the same from Kursed? Is that why he was doing this? Putting on his life for what seemed like a lost cause?
'You'll never see Kursed or Krystal again!' At that single thought did Fox's stomach begin to burn as that burning sensation spiraled its way upwards to his mind. This was to much for one person to ever bare, he wondered how Hayte could take it all; maybe that's why she reverted from Kursed in the first place. He just wanted to go back to the start, back where everything was born, when he was actually happy. It's been so long since he's had that same feeling within his heart. He was wrong from the start.
"This is your fault."
Fox nearly jumped as he turned in surprised shock of the infamous blue vixen standing behind him, her violet eyes peering down his soul with arms crossed.
"Aeon?"
"Open your eyes Fox, you brought this on yourself. Hayte sees that, why don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You captured Kursed; you're the one who was sent to bring her here. You Fox McCloud are the one who denied her love and compassion. You don't like how this has all turned out?" Aeon ridiculed Fox as he was too dense to figure it out himself; her eyes grew cold as she spite at him.
"Well this is your fault."
Fox wanted to retaliate but couldn't find any words to surface to his mouth. While the denial started to phase out of his body and mind, he knew she was right. He brought this on himself. He lived in denial of the guilt he had caused to Krystal, and ruined it all as he tried to substitute her for Kursed. Now even she was lost to him.
"I-"
"Don't try to defend yourself, you know this to be true. This is as much your fault if not more then it is Kursed herself."
Fox didn't know why, but he began to cry. Tears of pain and guilt as they spiraled around in his heart. How could he be so clueless? No wonder Kursed became what she is today. Aeon began to depart feeling as though the message was fully clear now. The hate in his heart began to boil up as he felt hopeless, truly dead on the inside.
"Aeon." She stopped in place hearing the words of the broken vulpine, she turned to suddenly being grasped and clanged by the desperate animal. "What should I do? I'm so lost now…"
This isn't how Aeon pictured it should have gone, why couldn't he just mature and take charge like a man? She slowly cradled her arms around the hopeless vulpine as he sobbed gently onto her chest.
"Do what you must, do what your heart commands you to bid." Her words were suddenly sincere and kind, not holding any of the spite she had just used beforehand.
"What is that exactly? How can I re-right this wrong?"
She tried to guide the lost vulpine through his darkest hour, her sincere tone barely above a whisper.
"That's something that only you can answer…Fox."
X
Practice dummies stood still for a moment. Then within the blink of an eye did the top halve of the several training dummies start to slide as they had been cut diagonally across. The tops of the dummies landed on the ground with loud thumps as a single being stood in place. Spyke sheathed his two blades crossed over his back as he stared at his handy work, although rather impressive and flashy; it wasn't enough. The final one hundred was sure to be remorseless, and definitely not merciful. He had to train harder, huge competition was waiting in the brink for him, and the hybrid Royalist wasn't about to leave this place in a body bag.
He turned to the sound of loud yelling to see Tyronos swinging his beam sword with much might, and to see Caim ducking those blows with a slug smirk on his face. In his hands were what seemed to be two twin daggers in their sheaths.
"You bastard!"
"Come on you can do better then that."
"I'll swing your head off like a homerun!" Caim had flipped backward up into the ring placed in the center of the gym as Tyronos practically jumped in himself. With his right hand did Caim sway around strangely in Tyronos' eyes as he paused for a mere moment. The rogue Royalist quickly threw up his hand and all was explained. Five razor wires were launched into the air as each one was latched and locked onto a finger as Tyronos watched the black lines ascend into the air, and quickly came down upon him. In a heartbeat was the grey vulpine wrapped and coiled into submission as each one of the wires wrapped around his wrists and ankles, the last around his neck.
He looked up with a face perfectly blended with anger, annoyance and utter surprise. Caim stood up straight as he wrapped his fist around the five wires and yanked them tight.
"Yee-haw! Reel 'em in!" He yelled loudly with a southern accent as he quickly jerked at the wires and quickly came Tyronos. The vulpine yelled out loudly as he could see Caim had disposed of the daggers and he quickly came toward a rotating bladed star on a rotating disk. He instantly stopped straight in front of the rotating blade as it spun around numerous times.
"That's how it's done." He quickly let loose the grip on Tyronos as he fell face first to the ground, straight in front of the daggers he had been meaning to reclaim. He quickly grabbed them out of protection and looked up for his annoying yet clever Royalist he had been meaning to kill. Only to see him completely vanish in thin air. It was weird at best, but definitely held a lectures meaning.
"Time to get serious." He talked to himself. Caim would be a force to recognize. But surely any of the final one hundred would be.
X
Hayte felt strange at best, ever since her conflict with Fox the other day was she a restless wreck. She felt no anger or despising hate that empowered her, yet felt no happiness or calming peace. She was completely hollow of emotions on the inside and the out. The bringing up of the long lost Krystal completely shattered her base of destruction. It would take time to rebuild that footstep which would ensure her victory and seize it through Fox's demise. She was sick with herself, yet had no one else that kept her from sleeping. It felt like a dream, a strange delusional dream.
"Your being is just as filthy as McCloud's." Hayte turned to the mocking query to see Aeon staring her down harshly. But still her face held no emotion.
"What do you want with me?"
"Nothing."
"Then I see no purpose in your stay, get lost."
"I say nothing because there is nothing I can see inside worthy of a purpose." She paused as Aeon stepped up with Hayte turning to face her, the two just mere inches away. "I've come on behalf of my own accord."
"I can see it in your eyes; Fox has been weeping on your chest. Is he your little joy toy now? Good but keep your pet on his leash." Aeon was a bit surprised, even if she's lost that mentality of Krystal; Hayte knew exactly what had been going on. She felt no invading thoughts or presence in her mind.
"Why do you feel so empty on the inside? Isn't this what you've wanted? To have a chance at killing Fox? Now you have it; will you not seize it?"
Hayte only growled lowly as she reached for a hilt on her hip, "I will shed McCloud's blood. I'll make him bleed until he's lost so much his soul departs."
"Empty words mean nothing." Hayte activated her black blade and lifted it to Aeon's neck. She never flinched. "To kill him isn't what you truly want; Hayte hasn't taken over yet Kursed. You don't want his blood, you want vengeance. You want him to suffer what you've been through, ever since the roots of your past life beyond Kursed."
The grey vixen remained silent.
"You just want him to feel pity for you. You want his love, but do not wish to be hurt."
"Shut up." Hayte sneered through her clamped jaw.
"You can't bear through the chain of events. The destruction of our planet, your holy savior comes to give you his being but pushes you away. Running away from your life and your past. When fate finally gives you a chance to make-up does he capture you and enlist you into the Death Tour. With no love and no hope do you turn to the hate to make you sane. And now when you have a chance to take it all, after all this, you can't. You won't."
"Shut up!" Hayte swung out of pure anger as Aeon had easily avoided her strike flipping back words. In mid air did she shoot two quick bolts of lightning. The first connected with the hilt disarming Hayte and the second straight in her stomach pushing her back several feet. The grey vixen collided with the table of her weapons as everything was thrown in several directions.
Aeon landed gracefully onto her feet as Hayte picked herself back up. "The hate has lost its control over you. Now you fight powerless."
"Never."
"I know you Kursed! I know you Krystal! I know your pain!"
"You could never know my pain!" Hayte reached for the nearest beam sword and dispersed the blade. She reached for her whip and latched the hilt into its jaw. She twirled it around menacingly and struck out against her vixen opponent. Aeon only side-stepped out of the blades path and caught the whip within her grasp.
"Were from the same planet you fool!" She pulled Hayte in as she knocked the whip out of her grasp and threw her aside. Hayte stumbled back up and over the bed and fell backwards resting on the floor. Instantly did Aeon emerge on top as they locked paws.
"I know what your feeling. I know what you've been through."
"You could never know! I've been ridiculed once! Abandoned two lives! I will not do so again!"
"McCloud gave you that second life."
"Shut up!" Hayte kicked her off and went for her discarded sword on the ground. Knowing her intentions did Aeon quickly blast at the hilt, it being ejected several feet away from Hayte. Before the grey vixen could even retaliate did Aeon blast another powerful bolt of violet shocking power straight at her. Hayte had been pushed back and clashed up against the room's walls as her electrified body slowly glided to the ground. Knowing that she was beat did Aeon casually walk over toward the lying vixen as sparks still danced across her body. She didn't look up as the strands of hair were in between their faces.
"You still love him. Hayte is not whole. Not anymore."
"You're mistaken." She said barely above a whisper.
"You're nothing but broken pieces of a bigger puzzle. You've forgotten what life was like before all of this. All of what you use to be."
"Krystal is gone, Kursed has vanished. Only the hate is what keeps me going."
"Because you chose it to be that way." Aeon added as she still could see nothing of the broken vixen. "Fate can be such a hazy concept can it not?"
"Indeed it is. To think it would go down this way." Hayte's words sounded hurt, emotionally hurt.
"All the thoughts swirling through your mind is sad." Aeon stood up as she looked down to the broken vixen one last time. "Hayte is weak, Kursed is reaching the surface. You have a match to the death with McCloud. Can you kill him? Or will he free you from the chains of hate?" Aeon departed leaving Hayte to herself. She still slouched up against the wall looking to the ground through the bangs of her hair.
She thought long and hard, about how bizarre all of this has become. She loved Fox, she loved him to death. But he would never love her, Hayte hated him dearly. Everything he's done, he needed to suffer. Just like how she had. But with Kursed and even Krystal intervening, could they shield him from the pain that was coming down? One of them would be spared, and she feared it would not be him.
Hayte picked up her head and stared out in anger toward the door. She banished Kursed and Krystal to the darkest corners of her mind. No, he would not be spared. Not after everything he's done. Everything he's done to her. She had the power to silence his soul, and she would be sure to see it through and be free of him. Forever. With his death would lock the completion of Hayte. The storm brewed in her mind as her turmoil ate away at her, but she would deny the savior.
She was a slave of guilt, a slave of emotions. But now she had the strength to face them, and the power to break free.
"Power beyond containing. I will not be a slave anymore."