Chapter 20
The group appeared next to a smoldering volcano. Solara scrunched up her nose in distaste. "Sulfer. Lovely."
Jack peered at one of the lava pools. "Um…if I fall in…?"
"You'll die." Was Pozun's blunt reply.
"Yeah…I figured…"
Snow had bee looking around. "Um…aren't the Chess Pieces here?"
Pozun fiddled with his fingers. "Well…to be honest…one of them…" he slumped slightly with embarrassment, "overslept."
Jack cracked up. Sol rolled her eyes. Alviss and Ed did nothing. Snow looked thoughtful. "Sounds like Ed." She commented, making Ed flush.
The air across the way began to shimmer. "Ah! It seems they've arrived." Pozun stated.
Although there were five shimmers, only four members appeared. Sol's eyes narrowed. "Where's the fifth one?"
Pano was once again on the opposing team. She pointed behind one of the rocks and said, "He…tripped."
The person in question scrambled up. "Oh, this is so embarrassing! I was running too fast…after oversleeping…" Rolan blushed cutely, "b-but I just couldn't sleep thinking about today's battle! I'm so looking forward to going up against you!" His smile was radiant.
Jack and Snow blinked in confusion, then looked at Sol. Her expression said she was unimpressed by his cutsie act. She glanced at the two of them. "Neither of you are taking him on. Period." Jack nodded because he was very uninterested in taking on a Knight. Snow nodded because she knew Sol wouldn't budge.
Sol looked at Pozun. " I know Pano from the first round, and the dork Rolan. Who are the others?"
"Ah, yes. One is a Rook and two are Bishops. The Rook is Alibaba," this was a young man in a turban and a scarf, "and the Bishops are Mr. Hook," a man with peg leg and a pirate style of dress, "and Kannochi." A creature dressed in a sharp outfit with what looked like a ball for a head with a caricature of face painted on it with star-shaped eyes.
Ed, looking at Rolan, scratched his chin. "You remember him, Alviss?"
"Yes. He was there six years ago. Back then, if I remember right…he was a Rook…perhaps a Bishop…but now he's a Knight!"
"So, Alviss, even you're taking part in the War Games. You were just a kid last time…time does march on doesn't it?" Ed walked into the open space. "Well. I'll step up first." He cracked his knuckles. "Where's my opponent?! A Knight I assume? Not that I care…"
The Chess Pieces didn't move, varying levels of fear etched into visible faces and stiffened postures. Except for one.
"Don't tell me you're scared?! You are all so contemptible!" Alibaba scorned their weariness of the man that once tied Halloween. "I'll…sweep that pile of junk away with one strike! Then they'll demote you, 'Rolan the Coward' – and I'll probably be promoted up the levels – from Rook to Knight!" He shrieked with laughter.
Rolan shrugged with a giggle. "Well, if that's how it's meant to be… Good luck, Alibaba!" Mr. Hook gave Rolan a funny look. Pano waved Alibaba on, interested in living. Kannochi neither moved nor spoke, so Alibaba stepped out.
Alibaba giggled. "I'm sure Halloween will be pissed off if I kill you!"
Solara snorted. "How is this idiot still alive? Contemplating deliberately pissing off Halloween and thinking he can take on Alan? He won't survive this mistake." Alviss nodded. It was no surprise that this guy was just a Rook.
"You're a spirited young boy. You've got plenty of courage, I'll give you that." Ed commented.
"Third battle, first match! Chess Piece – Rook – Alibaba vs. MAR – Alan! Begin!" Pozun started the match.
"Guardian ARM – Genie's Lamp!" Alibaba pointed the spout of the elaborately decorated flat teapot at Ed. "Let me tell you something, 'Man of Legend!' Don't underestimate me just because I'm a Rook! Sure, we Chess Pieces come in different classes…but don't think that power level correlates with rank! There are Rooks more powerful than some Bishops – and there are worthless Knights like Rolan, too! The key to victory is how well you use an ARM! The Rook Loco defeated your friend Nanashi, right? And this ARM…is about to defeat you!"
Alibaba rubbed the lamp and a large humanoid creature with green skin emerged. "Come out, Genie of the Lamp!" The genie bared its teeth. "This ARM is most in sync with my sixth sense! Not even a Knight could handle it easily! You hear me?! Only I can-"
Finally, Ed cut off his obnoxious monologue. "I get it, I get it! So try me!" He stood with his arms crossed.
Snow was about to protest his casual attitude, but Sol dropped a hand on her shoulder. "He's fine."
"B-but…that genie…sure does look powerful." Jack pointed out.
"No." They looked at Alviss. "You guys…don't understand yet…how terrifying that man is."
Alibaba laughed hysterically. "You'll pay for your arrogance!" The genie lunged forward with stunning speed.
"Yeah, yeah." Ed punched the genie. With a huge BANG, it exploded.
"What?!" Alibaba stared, flabbergasted. Ed strode forward and hammered Alibaba in the gut, throwing him to the ground, where he lay gasping. Ed grabbed his scarf and started dragging him.
"You made…three mistakes." Ed said, starting up the incline to one of the lava pools. Alibaba shrieked in terror. "First. It takes time for ARMs to completely synchronize. Concentration…sixth sense…gets built up during the battle. And if a guardian is moving on its own volition, synching is even more essential! Showing your trump card at the beginning…was stupid. Second. It was just too early for you to take on a fighter like me." Ed had reached the rim of the lava pool.
"S-stop! Stop! I get it! Stop!" Alibaba begged.
"Third." Ed tossed him. "Who did you think you were talking to – huh?!" He barked as Alibaba fell screaming. He hit the lava with a splash and sank.
"First match – Winner – Alan!" Pozun declared.
Ed rejoined the group. "One punch. Nice." Sol stated.
Ed shrugged. "An ARM with no magic coursing through it is no more than a balloon."
"You! Don't sleep a wink after today! We need you! Ow!" Before Ed could protest the stupidity of Babbo's comment, Sol slammed him into the dirt.
"Idiot." She said.
Snow looked across the way. "Four…left…"
Pano smirked. "So Alibaba couldn't cut it. I thought a much." She stepped forward. "I'll go next."
Sol frowned. "We beat her team…but she get's to go again because she beat Jack…right?" she looked at Alviss. He nodded.
We're counting on you, Pano! You're the only member of the Rodkin family still standing! Pano straightened her shoulders remembering her brother and father. She grinned, excited to start. "Who's my opponent?!"
With a glance a Sol, who shrugged, Jack stepped forward. "How about me?!"
Pano blinked, before looking annoyed. "What? You? You've already lost to me once! Give somebody a chance who might actually win!"
Jack frowned. Sol rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like you won thorough a display of skill. You won because of a kneejerk reaction induced by terror that resulted in a lucky shot. You tripped into your victory. You didn't earn it."
Pano was shocked. She grit her teeth, then took a deep breath and released it. "…okay. I'll fight you. And this time…I'll fight to kill."
"Second match! Chess Piece – Rook – Pano vs. MAR – Jack! Begin!" Pozun announced.
Pano immediately fired her ball. "Boom!" As it zipped through the air, Jack tracked it with his eyes.
Gaira's punches…I still…can't see them well…but these moves…I can see! As it came at his head, he brought up his Earth Scoop and smashed the ball into the ground. Pano's jaw dropped. Snow and Alviss looked surprised. Even Ed look mildly impressed. The corner of Sol's lip twitched up in the barest hint of a smile.
"…now it's my turn." Jack dug the end of his Earth Scoop into the dirt. Pano stepped back, remembering the Earth Beans. However, Jack stepped away from his ARM and started towards Pano.
Snow gasped. "Unarmed?! Jack, what are you thinking?!"
Pano laughed. "Sorry, moron! But I'm gonna hafta repeat my win!" She split the ball into four, each piece zipping around separately.
Jack's eyes flicked back and forth, trying to see them. "At my current level, I can only see three…guess I still need Mr. Gaira's training, don't I?" He charged forward.
Pano cocked an eyebrow. "A last ditch head-on attack?! You really are stupid!"
Jack rolled under one and dodged around two more. 6 inches from Pano, the last one slammed into his gut. Pano giggled, "Tsk. So close."
Jack gave her a strained grin. "Close enough!" He flicked something at her while she frowned in confusion.
"What're you…? Ow!" Pano flinched at multiple points of pain. Looking at herself, she found several…things stabbed into her arms. "…? Are these…thorns?"
Jack had backed away. Now he activated his ARM. "Sprout!" His Earth Scoop flashed behind him and, to Pano's horror, the "thorns" embedded in her arms turned into mushrooms.
Pano squealed. "Noooo! What are these?!" She started pulling on them.
Jack smirked. "'Magic Mushroom' – Type one!"
Pano continued tugging at the mushrooms. "Th-they won't come out!" Her eyes were starting to glaze over and unfocus. "Gross!" Suddenly, she stopped.
Pano could hear rumbling. She looked up and screamed. "The volcano…is erupting!" Then she froze as worms appeared on her, squirming. She shrieked and started flailing around, attempting to dislodge them.
Mr. Hook blinked. "Isn't she…acting a bit oddly?"
"…a hallucination…" Rolan said.
"What…? Hallucination?"
Snow snapped her fingers. "I've seen that kind of mushroom before. It's a Mararai!"
"Mararai?" Sol asked.
"Poisonous…but survivable. Famous for its hallucinatory effect. An 'up' personality…might think they're meeting a god." Ed explained, "but a 'down' personality…well. You can see that." He indicated Pano, trying to scrub non-existent worms off herself.
Rolan cocked his head. "Mr. Weasel can do something like that. He's a nature ARM wielder…he can handle all types of plants."
Jack stepped close enough to catch Pano's attention. "Only I can take out those mushrooms! Whatcha say, Pano? Give up?" Pano looked up at him and stared. Remembering last time, he smiled and winked, trying to seem less threatening. "It's okay, Pano! I can handle it!"
Pano continued to stare for a moment at the most handsome boy she had ever seen. What'd he say? Surrender? "…yeah." She jumped at him, looping her arms around his neck. "I surrender!" She crooned. Jack, unprepared for that reaction, turned bright red.
"Second match – winner – Jack!" Pozun stated as Jack set about removing the mushrooms. He insisted that Pano stop hanging on him before he took out the last one, though. Sol smirked.
Jack got the last Mararai out and quickly stepped back. Pano blinked a couple of times. "You okay, Pano?" Jack asked.
Pano blinked again, then flushed. "Y-you -! You tricked me!" She swung at him, but he ducked and skipped farther away from her.
"Sorry, Pano, but that's the game. I couldn't predict what you'd see. Sorry!" Jack sprinted back to his teammates.
Pano wandered back over to the other Chess Pieces, dejected that the handsome boy she saw was an illusion.
Sol raised an eyebrow, "Do I want to know how you came up with that?"
Jack blushed. "I-I didn't eat it! My dad taught me about all kinds of plants."
"Okay! My turn next!" Snow exclaimed. "Let's go for three-to-zero!" Behind her, every ounce of amusement was scraped off of Solara's face.
Rolan watched as Snow stepped on the field. "…it's…two-to-zero… we've been pushed…into a corner…" Mr. Hook and Pano looked at him expectantly. "In that case…Please win for us, Mr. Hook!" Their jaws dropped.
"What are you thinking?!" Mr. Hook shouted.
Rolan smiled sweetly. "I just…don't feel right fighting a girl…Maybe…Mr. Kannochi, would you like to go?" Kannochi didn't respond.
Mr. Hook grit his teeth in annoyance. "Fine then! I will battle Princess Snow!"
Pozun announced the match up. "Third match! Chess Pieces – Bishop – Mr. Hook vs. MAR – Snow! Be-!"
"Wait a minute!" Snow cut him off. She peeled off her coat, "This place…is hot!" then her fleece, leaving her in her spaghetti strap tank top. "Now – I'm ready!"
"Uh…okay. Third match – Begin!"
Mr. Hook smirked. "This fight's outcome…is already clear."
"He's right." Ed grimaced. "Snow can't win."
"I will bring this to an end in five minutes…Princess Snow!" Mr. Hook declared. He activated an ARM on his wrist. "Screw Saber!"
As he lunged towards Snow, she fired off her ring ARM. "Ice ring! Sword of Ice!" A large chunk of sharpened ice encased her left hand.
The two clashed. Jack looked at Ed. "Snow looks good to me."
"Yeah, what do you mean, 'she can't win'?" Babbo asked.
Ed exhaled a swath of smoke for his cigar. "…you…don't see anything at all, do you?"
Mr. Hook pulled back. "Heh…two minutes have elapsed." Snow was breathing hard. "The end of your rope…is near, is it not?" Snow glanced at her ice sword. Her eyes widened as she realized it was cracking. "For you – this is the field from hell!" Mr. Hook started attacking again.
Alviss took pity on Jack and Babbo. "The main attribute of Snow's ARM is ice. Since she's forced to be in synch with that ARM constantly – she's physically predisposed to be weak against high temperatures. And in this land of volcanic mountain ranges, she is expending more physical strength than anyone else. This physical and mental stress detracts from her synchronization with her ARM…decreasing her magical powers. She has no chance of winning!"
Jack blanched. "That's what he meant?! This is bad, Sol! We should have her give up – eep!" He squeaked in fear when he turned to look at Sol.
Sol was standing with her arms crossed, with blood running down them from where her fingernails had bit into them. She had every muscle locked and her jaw was clenched so tight, the group was surprised that they couldn't hear her teeth cracking. If looks could kill, Mr. Hook would be obliterated.
Babbo realized that she was holding herself back from jumping into the fight and murdering the Rook. "Snow! It's okay! We'll get it done next!"
Snow blinked. Never surrender to you fears. She smiled. "I can still…keep going."
Alviss swore quietly and Jack cringed as the blood trickling down Sol's left arm turned into a stream.
Snow looked back at Hook as she let the ice sword go. I've been building up…my weakened powers. I've got enough…for a final attack…
Hook snickered. "Time left…one minute!"
Snow grasped her Snowman. "Yuki-chan!" A huge snowman came barreling at Mr. Hook.
Now her sneered. "Very impressive in your current state! Too bad – I already predicted this!" Hook activated a ring ARM. "Anger Anchor!" A monstrous anchor dropped out of the sky and smashed into Snowman's neck, taking it out.
Snow collapsed.
A feral snarl tore through the air. Mr. Hook froze instinctively.
Alviss moved between the two. "It's clear who won and who lost. You'll be fine if Snow surrenders this match?" Unsaid was the threat of Solara, who would probably kill him if he tried to attack again.
Mr. Hook swallowed. "Th-that's fine with me." I can't kill her anyway. We've been ordered…by her. Snow's to be brought in her…alive. He glanced at the furious Solara and flinched. However, I don't think anyone will be bringing Snow in while she's alive.
Pozun declared Mr. Hook the winner. Hook hurried off the field. Only then did Solara move. Jack winced and Babbo grimaced at the wet *POP* of Sol extracting the end of her right middle finger from her left bicep. Her shoulders popped and the crack of unlocking her jaw caused the Chess Pieces to flinch.
Snow looked up at her as she picked her up. "I…I'm sorry, Sol…" a tear trickled down her cheek. "I didn't…give in to my fear."
A low growl rumbled in Sol's chest. "That didn't mean you should surrender your common sense." Snow winced and looked down. "Do you have any idea what I would do if you died?" Snow looked back up at her, wide-eyed. Sol exhaled harshly. "I'm benching you."
Snow made a small sound of protest. "I'm not asking, Snow. I let you fight, against my instincts, because you needed to. But you're exhausted. You need to rest. You'll spend the next two days in the Gate. And you will rest for sixty days. If you feel well enough after that, you can train."
Sol put her on her feet next to Ed. Snow looked upset still. Sol tipped Snow's head up with a touch under her chin. "This is as much for my sanity as it is for your health. Do you understand?"
Snow stared at her for several moments, then nodded. She hugged her. "Love you, Sol."
Sol pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Love you too, Snow."
