Chapter 16

"So… at last, she is up. Solara… is it?" Phantom's companion asked.

"Yes, Peta."

"To be honest, I cannot understand the depth of your interest in the girl."

Phantom smiled. "She possesses a very interesting… imagination. Plus… she reminds me of… Danna." He looked at Peta. "Speaking of which…"

Sol and Babbo stood across from Garon. She could hear the audience murmuring their concerns. She heard Snow tell them to cheer her on, but she dismissed it all, focusing only on her opponent.

"Poor girl." Garon said. "Honestly, I can't help feeling sorry for you." Sol cocked an eyebrow. "A team of just six fighters! With a kid like you for a captain! The pressure must be terrible!"

Sol shrugged. "Not really. Quality over quantity. I've been fighting since I was little. Brawling and professional training. Just because I'm not as big as you, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass."

"Then come at me."

Sol charged at him, Hammer Arm in place. She hit him hard enough to make him skid back. It became clear that Sol was faster than Garon, easily avoiding his heavily telegraphed swings, while pummeling him with blows.

Garon seemed to be getting frustrated. He took a big swing, which Sol ducked under. Deactivating Babbo, she grabbed onto Garons belt and the collar of his shirt. In a shocking display of strength, Sol lifted Garon up over her head. Shifting her stance, Sol threw Garon down, head first.

There was a loud *CRACK* as he hit. He lay on the ground, unmoving. Sol looked for a moment, then turned to walk away, knowing that the move she had used was designed to break the recipients neck. If he wasn't dead, he'd never move again.

A hand latched onto Sol's ankle. She whipped her head around. Garon was getting up. The crack hadn't been his neck, but the tile she had slammed him into. Garon grinned and wrenched Sols leg.

Lifting her in the air by her leg, he brought her crashing down on her back. He then tossed her away, sending her tumbling across the platform. She came to a stop on her stomach. Babbo hopped over to her. The she made in response to his question was a cross between a groan and a growl.

"Look." Garon held up both of his hands. "On the left hand, five body-solidifying Nature ÄRMs! On the right, five strength-increasing Nature ÄRMs!"

"Ten ÄRMs?! That's cheating!" Jack cried indignantly.

"I afraid not." Alviss replied. He may only be a Bishop, but he's the top of his class. He has the willpower to manipulate ten ÄRMs at once… to make a body that hard and powerful… What are you going to do, Sol? Show me something that will earn my respect.

Garon smirked. "With this match, the War Games will come to an end. There will be no need for Phantom to take part…"

Sol shifted, putting her hand under her. Her left hand landed on something. "I'm not dead yet, jackass." She pushed herself up, grabbing the object on her way up. Upright, she looked at what she had picked up… and froze.

"You have spunk, girl." Garon cracked his knuckles. "As your reward, you won't die… quickly."

"Have you sensed them, Dorothy?" Nanashi asked.

Dorothy grinned. "Of course! They're swarming all over the place!" She was referring to the numerous Chess Pieces that had arrived to watch the fight. "The Chess Pieces are watching Sol. They're assessing her. The strength of our captain!"

She glanced at Snow and noticed that her knuckles were white, she was clenching them so tight. "Snow? What's wrong?"

"…Sol…"

Confused, the others looked back at Sol, who hadn't moved since she stood up, staring at something in her hand. Garon was shifting… nervously? What… was this brutal feeling permeating the air? It was so intense that the audience was starting to feel it.

"Solara?" Babbo cautiously spoke. Sol twitched, and finally lifted her head.

All the color drained out of Garons face and he took an involuntary step back.

"What's wrong with him?" Nanashi asked.

"She's angry." Snow said quietly. Jack blanched. Alviss and Nanashi looked confused. Dorothy frowned.

"Sol said to me, 'If I was mad, you wouldn't be asking.' What am I missing?" Dorothy questioned.

"Sol… is a berserker." Snow was wringing her hands. The others looked at each other, not sure what a berserker was, but concluding that it probably wasn't good. They looked back to the platform.

Sol's left hand clenched. Babbo flashed and disappeared. A huge hole opened in the floor. Something massive and red rose out of it. Sol threw her head back and released a primal scream. In response, Gargoyle snapped open his wings and roared.

All those watching, from the gathered Chess to her own teammates, stared with mixtures of awe and horror.

The monstrous guardian hauled back and swung. Garon sneered. "A guardian ÄRM, eh?! I'll fling that aside too!" He did stop Gargoyles swing, but his sneer immediately morphed into a display of pain and fear as the skin on his arms started splitting under the tension.

Gargoyle growled, his other hand digging into the platform.

"What… is that?!" Dorothy cried. "Even I've never seen a guardian like that! And… what's this rising magic power?!"

"So she did have a trick up her sleeve." Alviss swallowed. A giant with ten ÄRMs vs. the handler of a monstrous guardian… "from here on, it's a battle of wills!"

"Wills?" Snow shook her head. "No, Alviss. Garon's already lost." The others looked at her. "If a berserker wants you dead… you will die." The others looked mildly horrified, while Snow looked strangely subdued.

On the other side of the ring, Pano and Leno were watching in horror. "H-hey… Pops!"

Sol screamed again, a sound of raw pain and bitter rage cutting through the air. Gargoyle roared. Garon's ten ÄRMs shattered.

Garon stared, horrified. Impossible… I had ten ÄRMs under my control!

Gargoyle slammed his massive hands shut around Garon. He lifted him into the air and hurled him back down into the platform. Garon struggled to rise and looked up just in time to see Gargoyle release his ring.

The ring started to spin, the engravings beginning to glow blue. Garon knew he was dead.

"STOP!"

Pano was on the platform, her arms spread as she tried to hide her huge dad. Sol raised her right arm. "Stop! Please! I don't care if he loses… just don't kill him! He's our dad!" Pano trembled, tears in her eyes.

Sol didn't move, but she didn't call Gargoyle off either. Finally, she spoke.

"I know you're watching, Phantom." Everyone shuddered at her snarling tone. "You destroyed my dreams. You stole my sanity. You killed my father." The eyes of her teammates widened in shock. "Let this be your warning. I'm coming for you." She twitched her hand and Gargoyle roared. The monstrous energy beam erupted from the ring.

BOOM

A huge section of the courtyard wall was gone. Obliterated. But Garon and Pano were untouched. She had shot over their heads.

Sol lowered her arm and Babbo reverted. She looked at Pozun. "Call it."

"Y-yes! Winner – MÄR – Solara!"

"Ah… I-I…" Pano stuttered, wanting to say thank you, but not sure how.

Sol looked at her with an almost soft expression. "Always value your family. For one day… they may not be there." Pano's eyes widened as Sol walked away.

The team came up, intending to congratulate her. She held up her hand and shook her head. "No. Just leave me alone."

The group watched with concern as Sol walked away, Babbo hopping along behind her, a gold, heart-shaped necklace dangling from her left hand.

Two things:

Yes, the necklace is what she found and what set her off.

No, the necklace was not there the whole time. I plan to explain that, but can you figure out how it got there during the fight?

Also, thank you to AugustMoon. I really appreciate your reviews.