She could do nothing else but stare at her own self-reflection as she stared at the marking that would brand her of this conflict forever. Krystal stood in front of the full body mirror in her Royalist quarters as she felt the scar received from her last match. It openly mocked her as it showed itself to all who would gaze upon it. The cut was clean and long. The scar ran about six inches as it was cut in straight down the center of her right eye. It was still bloody red as it hasn't had much time to heal but it wouldn't matter, her fur would never cover over it and would follow her for the rest of her life.

The surviving eight were to report to Nemesis' private chamber after a day of resting had gone by, to let the pain and the medicine and the doctors do their thing. She stood there as Krystal had just departed the shower and was wrapped with a fluffy white towel that quickly turning light brown and red. She was absolutely filthy from head to toe from all the filth that she brought back from the battle arena; and a pint of sand had been knocked to the ground forming a small pile after she shook it loose from her clothing. For the first time in days she felt pure and truly clean again, but just how long would that last? She could only help but to wonder. She wanted to cry, find a shoulder to weep upon as she wondered how many more indignities she must suffer through to get out of here. If she would ever get out of here.

Just like it was meant to be she turned to the sound of the metal door sliding open, and out from the darkness came her savior. Krystal gazed upon the vulpine as he could hardly believe it himself; Fox scratched the back of his neck and looked away. What could he possibly say to her to raise her spirits? She had been beaten, bloodied, and now scarred for life.

"I-I-" He tried to get out but Krystal interrupted as she surprisingly ran straight for him stalk naked, and rested her head upon his chest while crying purified tears.

"Please don't speak. Just hold me like you did so long ago, I'm home now." She rubbed her right eye on his chest ignoring the minor pain, wishing it would just vanish and be purified by Fox's warmth. He just did as he was told and wrapped his arms around the suffering vixen. He truly felt sorry for her, being dealt so many indignities for corrupted fame and the amusement of others who didn't give a damn for the wellbeing of the fighters. Considering most were dead up to this point.

Time stood still as the two were finally together again after bidding apart for so long. There was so much to say, so much to tell, but sadly enough just simply not enough time for it all.

X

"How is she doing?" Nemesis asked as he stared at the female lynx Royalist known as 'One-Second' Blink. She thrashed about in her sleep underneath the covers as the pain was great and the medicine showed ill effects in a step toward helping her. Her head was bandaged and was still bleeding a little. After a few more moments of looking over notes the blue healer canine in a white doctor's coat spoke towards the Game Master.

"She is stabilized but extremely weak. The situation looks very bleak for her. We've done all we can, now the only thing that will keep her alive and going is her own willpower to live on."

"I see." Nemesis paused as he looked over toward the lynx that had stopped thrashing around, and now just breathed heavy. "What a pity." An attendant of Nemesis came from out of nowhere as he talked to Nemesis who looked back at him and his corrupted eyes.

"Everything is set, just like the way you planned for it."

"Everything is set? Are you sure you didn't overlook anything?" He talked back to the black furred vulpine assistant as he cracked an evil smile.

"We've done our absolute best, nothing can possibly go wrong." Nemesis shared his evil smile and maniacal chuckle as he could only dream of the future. The future that his new champion would sweep across the competition and Kursed and he would obtain single ownership of the company, while executing Firion personally.

"Did I miss something?" The doctor asked as he knew where this was going, and knew the job he would have to do next. This wouldn't be the first time the order was given and he was sure it certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Nothing." The lupine Game Master and his assistant headed for the door. As Nemesis was about to depart he stood in the doorway with his back facing toward the doctor as he talked back to him. Blink was starting to awaken from her daunting sleep as she heard those two words that were thick with her blood.

"Terminate her." Her eyes went wide as Nemesis departed closing the door behind him. She looked over toward the doctor now wearing a smile mixed with malice yet sadness. It was nothing personal, it was just his job. He laid down his clipboard and stood over the lynx while rolling up his sleeves. She wanted to flee but she couldn't move, her entire body felt numb to even her minds commands. She started to cry and breathe heavy as the doctor flicked his right wrist, and an assassin's blade popped out. The doctors here in the Death Tour decided to use these instead of the normal tools used. This type of order was given regularly, and it made things more simple and clean.

He grabbed her throat with his strong left paw and choked her as he held her down, only torturing her more before it would end. Her eyes weren't on him anymore, only the blade connected to the arm that was rising up like a snake to strike her down. She let out a massive horrified cry of yelling as the blade descended upon her. Her horrified yell never left the room or the Death Tour hospital.

X

Krystal breathed uneasy as they headed for Nemesis' private chamber, for some reason she was nervous about seeing the rest of the survivors. She wasn't told who had survived, just that there was eight of them; or just barely eight. One of the survivors was still in jeopardy of perishing as their wounds were so great doctors had to work on them for the full twenty-four hour resting period, and they wouldn't even be attending this small gathering due to their critical state of being. What if Aeon had survived? What if she didn't survive? All she knew who was going to be there for sure was Thrysta, the others she had no clue. She felt like something truly horrible was about to unfold, something she feared she wouldn't be able to destroy and triumph over like all the other lives she had before.

"Don't worry about it." The comforting words of Fox flew by her as she was lost in deep thought, "Your fights won't be for another day or so. All that's being told tonight is who you will be fighting, when and also where."

"I see…" Krystal trailed off as the two stood before the front doors to the Game Masters private chamber.

"Are you ready?" Krystal's only response was to breathe deeply through her nostrils and let it out slowly as she opened her emerald gaze.

"I'm ready." She stepped through as the doors slid open granting her access to the chamber. For a chamber being private for just the Game Masters at this time it didn't seem like the case. News crews and anchor heads were all placed in a single corner eagerly awaiting the time Nemesis would announce the match-ups and the interviews could begin. And there at the bar table is where the real action took place. The six surviving Royalists sat in a small circle not speaking to one another but most staring at their stilled drinks. Each Royalist held a solemn expression and was empty of emotion. Krystal walked slowly toward the table of survivors as Fox was heading with her, but was stopped when a paw landed on his shoulder. He turned to see Firion beckoning him away from the survivors.

"Let her be; she has her paws full with the other survivors right now. Just join me and the news crews and you can talk to her after." He didn't like it, but the vulpine only gave a slight nod and followed the Game Master. None of the other survivors looked happy with Krystal walking toward them, but none of them were complaining as well. Krystal sat at one of the 'ends' of the rounded table with Thrysta to her left and Kraze to her right. Aeon sat across from her with Raven to her right and Tyronos to her left while Ripper sat to the vulpine's left. Everyone couldn't help but to stare at the new scar the vixen had obtained from her fight, all except Thrysta that is who just sat there taking shots from her glass.

So, you survived. The words intruded in on Krystal's mind.

I did, and you survived as well it seems.

Of course, if anyone was to make it out alive in those circumstances it would have been us.

Indeed. "Bartender, a drink." Krystal broke off the mental conversation but kept her eyes deadlocked on Aeon's own violet orbs.

"What would you like Miss?"

"Something hard." She simply stated and a moment later a drink slid down her way and halted right in front of her. Krystal grasped it and sipped through the straw the dark colored liquor, it tasted like some sort of vodka but was mixed with a common plant used for brewing, but she just couldn't place the name of it at the moment.

"So, how was your match Kursed? I'm sure it was interesting." Tyronos asked as he had to wait a moment for an answer while Krystal still attended to her drink. "My match here with Raven was quite interesting. We had to constantly keep fighting the tides and he tried to get the jump on me, but failed to do so."

"You got lucky that Sullie interfered right when I had you dead, and also the fact that there were only three of us at that point. If I had of caught you on the first day your hide would have been pinned to the cave wall."

"Excuses excuses." Tyronos mused out of his mouth while picking his teeth with a toothpick at the same time; and discarded it right after.

"I should have had you dead." The crude works came from Ripper on Tyronos' left as he spoke crudely toward the blue vixen across from Krystal.

"That Royalist was a fool to intervene as it cost him his life. I would have made it out and survived to live on, it's of my birth. It's in my blood."

"Don't start with that garbage. The only reason you're alive is because you got lucky all three of us survived even though we were all in the same match. You're lucky Blink was the only survivor from her match."

"We'll see in the arena now won't we?" Aeon mocked the lupine as everyone's attention was diverted to the female wolf to Krystal's left as she slammed her glass onto the table.

"Our match was interesting; we fought cave beasts that tore Crypt apart. I killed the other two Royalists in flawless form and," Thrysta paused as she looked back to Krystal, particularly the scar across her eye. "Gave Krystal a 'parting' gift from the arena." The vixen wouldn't stand for being ridiculed by this survivor in front of the others. She slammed her paws on the top of the table and stood up in place as she looked down to Thrysta.

"I'll be sure to return the favor."

"If you live that long that is." Thrysta challenged the vixen as she stood up also and the two stared one another down, her words tainted with bloodlust. Luckily the grand doors opened just in time to stop a brawl before it would begin, and Nemesis stepped forward as the press gathered around him in a semi-circle. He looked about the faces of the press and then diverted his attentions to the seven survivors around the table. He noticed the scar across Krystal's right eye and smiled on the inside.

"Good evening news crews and surviving Royalists. It's come down to this, the final round. Where you seven and possibly Blink if she makes it through her injuries will fight your final matches. You will drop down to four and then only two, and then finally literally the crowning moment of our next Death Tour Champion over your triumph of the thousands of souls who fought for the privilege and honor you will be awarded over the corpse of your final opponent." The lupine paused for a breath of air as he let the press and the Royalists soak in the information.

Privilege? Honor? The only honor in this damn tournament is the honor of your blade. And the 'privilege' to live on. Krystal thought to herself as she put on a hateful gaze for the lupine, one that he noticed and took note of. With that scar she looked much more vile, more evil then before and he couldn't help but to be happy about that. It would help him in the end after all.

"The matches have been set up and the arenas chosen. We will only reveal the first two matches at this point in time until we are aware of Blink's physical status." Nemesis lied through his teeth, pretending not to know of the lynx's ultimate fate he himself casted upon her. "And without further ado, here are your match-ups."

The Game Master walked out of the way of the large screen behind him as it flickered and came to life. A single portrait of each Royalist was placed upon the board and smaller portraits of many other Royalsits at the bottom. They were the Royalists who fell in battle against the survivors now. Underneath Krystal's portrait was a picture of Prowler, and after that Alexia. Then came Burst and so on. Her list of casualties wasn't the longest of those four Royalists but it was fairly long, she did go on a psychotic killing spree. But right now she wasn't focused on that, she was just focused on her opponent, as she simply couldn't believe it…

Day 1

Royalist 715 – 'Viperess' Thrysta V.S. Royalist 619 – 'The Claw' Ripper

Battle Arena: The Sands of Time

Royalist – 666 'Hells Angel' Kursed V.S. Royalist 999 – 'Flash Freeze' Aeon

Battle Arena: Sunset Coliseum

A picture resembled the Sands of Time for Thrysta and Ripper as it looked like a dark arena, pitch black in fact only lit up by half a dozen torches throughout the whole battlefield. What they mean by the Sands of 'Time' they would have to wait and see. For Krystal's and Aeon's it was quite clear. A grassy hilltop over looked a dazzling sea with a sunset in the back. Hundreds of feet above the ground a coliseum was placed and overlooked the sea from above. It looked like a coliseum built in the ancient times of life. Back when gladiators and champions fought for honor and glory.

Nemesis smiled to himself, quite pleased with the results. "And there you have it, the first two matches have been set up and the next two will be announced tomorrow after the battles. Good luck Royalists, you certainly will need it." Nemesis talked specifically to Krystal as he walked on by leaving the reporters in a daze until they chased after him. That look on his face made her blood boil, how long did he think she would be his puppet? His plaything? She was certain it wouldn't be much longer.

"Finally." The words came from behind as the blue vixen looked at her opponent, not just her opponent; practically her sister by blood of their annihilated planted. "The moment I've been waiting for."

"Looking to settle the score eh?" She turned toward Aeon as the two stepped forward. The other Royalists had already scattered and right now the press was focused on the Game Masters. Nemesis spoke to the same assistant who was with him at the hospital as he posed for the cameras.

"Fetch me McCloud." He said speaking through his gleaming smile as his assistant was dismissed. The two vixens stood there staring one another down, with only eight Royalists left; the rematch of the tournament was bound to happen sooner or later.

"I wanted to keep you alive for this exact moment. I looked out for you even though I should have been looking out for solely myself. Finally, a rematch for what you failed to reclaim and a chance for me to silence your soul." Krystal could hardly believe, here she thought Aeon would be her ally but now the table has turned, she was only keeping the vixen alive for a chance to kill her later on.

"So this is how it's going to play out? A cruel strike from the hands of fate."

"I have my reasons, you shall learn what my intensions are if you manage to kill me."

"I'm much stronger then before, I will fight to win Aeon."

"If you had done that in our first match, then we wouldn't be here now. You wouldn't be a broken warrior without pride if you had the strength to kill me in the first place. Because I to Krystal, have grown stronger. And I as well, will fight and battle to claim victory for myself." The two looked at one another for a single moment more as Krystal was ready to walk on by, the next time she would see Aeon; would be in the battle arena as she attempted to claim her life. Krystal walked on by forgetting Aeon for now as she would see her soon, but was halted from her advancing words.

"You can't hide from destiny Krystal. I've seen this moment in my dreams; it was crystal clear yet hazy. I know it was meant to be…" Krystal stopped in place as she listened to possibly the only other Cerinian in the universe, it made her sad knowing they would have to kill one another or face certain death for them both.

"I won't let my race perish in vain; sacrifices must be made in order to live on. But I'll tell you something shocking. You weren't fighting at your maximum strength, this is true. But neither was I…" The vixen's eyes went wide as she turned around to face Aeon and her crude smirk. A second later she was up against the wooden chamber wall, her look didn't change but Krystal grew furious.

"You weren't fighting at your maximum strength! What is this 'Honor' business then that you have with me! What's going on here!"

"You were tainted!" Was her only explanation, "If I had fought with all my capabilities I would have slaughtered you in a heartbeat. You think you were Princess 'Krystal' back in the Elemental Plateau? You may have worn her garments and used her weapons but that wasn't her… That was the demon Kursed, and it weakened your Cerinian spirit." Krystal let go of her grasp on her Cerinian sister as the words drove their way through to her brain.

"I gave myself to you through protection and sacrifice. I've prepared you for this moment; you have been cleansed of Kursed and of Hayte. Now you will fight as a true Cerinian against a true Cerinian. And when your death comes in the arena you will truly be free, and leave this world with no regrets."

This was a lot to take in for Krystal. Now that she had taken a moment to think about it, Aeon had been doing exactly what she had said. Kursed was gone and Hayte was to never show herself in this world again. Krystal, the true heir to the Cerinian throne, had returned. And now it was time to reclaim her long lost honor.

"You talk as though you've already killed me." The comeback came to a surprise by Aeon as she began to walk away, but retreated to look back to the vixen. "I'm pure again; I'll prove myself to all of Cerinia in the heavens, that I am the true heir to the throne, and not just a broken warrior. Even if it means your death, I won't give up on this fight."

"Then our final destination will be in the coliseum in the skies." Aeon looked over to the board as it was still showing the picture of the battle arena. It was in such a beautiful environment, a shame it was a battle arena where someone must die. "A fine place to be put to rest."

"Indeed." Aeon looked back toward Krystal as the match had been set and the time of dying was right. The two walked away from one another heading separate directions, but the conversation still dragged on.

You have returned Krystal that much is true. But you have lost much; will you have the strength to kill me? We shall see…Do not hesitate, because I won't hesitate to bring you down.

Krystal didn't bother replying to the advancement of words, right now she was to dazed in deep thought to even think about threats right now. It had come down to this. Aeon had been preparing not only Krystal, but herself for this final battle ahead.

It's still hard to believe. She had been preparing me the entire time for our final battle. Quite the shock, but I guess that comes with the gauntlet. She walked on through the double doors alone with her head held high and proud like the true Cerinian she was reborn.

No more Kursed, Krystal is back. The vixen was so lost in thought she forgot all about Fox and returned to her chambers alone, preparing for the time of dying tomorrow for either her or Aeon.

X

The lupine Game Master leaned back in his chair wearing the same evil smile he had been hiding the entire evening. Everything was falling right into place, and soon Krystal would pay the ultimate price of eliminating Keira, with her life. A knock came to his door as he talked to them without turning his chair around, still day dreaming the epic experience.

"Come in." He granted entry to the vulpine in a daze of confusion, "Come and sit down Fox." The vulpine did as he was told and closed the door behind him. He felt a bit weird walking in looking around to see various champion ship belts and trophy weapons as well as a bunch of file cabinets as well. He took a seat across from Nemesis' desk with confusion placed upon his muzzle. He eyed the folder in the lupine's grip but ignored it for now. It's probably what he wanted to talk to Fox about.

"You wanted to see me Nemesis?"

"Yes Fox I did." Evil practically drooled from his words as he let out a deviant chuckle. Death Tour guards suddenly came from nowhere as the vulpine began to panic, what was going on? The guards surrounded them lined up side-to-side all around the room and one placed in front of the door, locking it behind him.

"Tell me Fox." Nemesis' words brought him back to reality as the Game Master spun around in his chair still leaning in his chair. He threw the folder across his work space as it slid down straight in front of Fox. The brown and yellow file folder had writing on it's side tab, as Fox read it saying, '666 – 'Hells Angel' Kursed' and a portrait of the vixen was paper clipped to the file.

"How well do you know Krystal?"

Author's Notes

Gasp! :O And BAM! There we go now, this is for everyone who said, 'Oh you didn't kill Aeon…' back in Chapter 24. Well…This is why! :D Rematch!

OMG suspense! :O