Chapter 3: The Lion Awakens
"Fate is like a great wind; humans can be like the old tree, which tries to stand up against it, yet fails and falls in the end. Or they can be like the leaf, and allow it to carry them along onwards, to new lands and experiences."
Thomas Hardy (The Mayor of Casterbridge
The wheels of time continued to turn, revealing new chapters and events in the world. The expression "time flies" can be very deceiving. For some time did indeed "fly", it flew faster than the blood rushing to your face when mom found your secret stash of playboy magazines. Those assigned to constructing and organizing the fighting tournaments for The Chosen did not notice as the night turned to day, day to night. It was this focus and commitment for their work which made them unaware of time, utter blind dedication to their cause, the glory of Zoot.
For others it crawled along at snails pace, those like the Mall Rats waiting to see what new events would unfold. They were protected from the horror of the outside world by The Mall, that great dome of righteousness filtering out all the bad thoughts and feelings that radiated towards them. But cracks were beginning to appear and gradually widen.
Time could be man's greatest ally, or his greatest enemy.
"AND I SAY WE ATTACK! THIS USELESS WAITING AROUND AND WASTING TIME IS GONNA GET US WASTED!"
"NO! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, WE HAVE TO GATHER REINFORCEMENTS. IT'S TOO RISKY, WE CAN'T LOSE ANYMORE PEOPLE!"
"DON'T YOU GET IT! WE HAVE THEM ON THE BACK FOOT, THEY'RE GONNA GET STRONGER IF WE WAIT!"
"LOOK I'M LEADER, WHAT I SAY GOES!"
"Oh right, so that's how it is, HUH? WHAT HAPPENED TO VOTING AND DEMOCRACY, MISTER LEADER, YOU WANNA END UP THE SAME WAY AS YOUR FUCKED IN THE HEAD BROTHER?!"
"THAT'S IT, YOU WANT SOME OF ME LEX?!"
"GUYS, GUYS! THAT'S ENOUGH! ARE YOU FORGETTING WHO THE ENEMY IS?" Amber stepped in between the incensed Bray and the absolutely pissed off Lex.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS AMBER! GO BACK TO YOUR OWN TRIBE!" Lex would not back down no-one had ever seen him this angry. Only he knew what he had been through over the last couple of days fearing for Tai-San's safety. He wanted to destroy The Chosen and never let them take away his beloved again. Love can certainly change a man.
"NO! WE HAVE WORKED TOO HARD TO SEE IT ALL FALL DOWN; WE HAVE TO BE UNITED."
Lex and Bray just continued to stare at each other neither backing down. Finally after what seemed a long while they both turned around and walked off in opposite directions.
Bray had a heavy heart and many thoughts on his mind, he never knew being a leader could hold so much responsibility, if it was just him involved, sure he would have just gone after The Chosen but too much was at stake. As he marched through the Mall he heard someone calling his name…
"Bray… BRAY!" He stopped and turned around.
It was Amber, "Bray, what's wrong? Look it's just Lex, you don't need to get so upset."
"No Amber…" Bray breathed out heavily, "Look what he says is true, I hate this stalling as well, but what else can I do? We may have got the Mall back but our problems have just begun, and I don't know if I can handle it Amber, not again."
Amber looked at him, and then walked over towards and just held him close in her arms, any doubt in Brays mind instantly vanishing. "You can," she whispered lovingly, "We all believe in you."
Bray closed his eyes and returned her embrace, "Thank you Amber… I just wish none of this happened, I don't want to lose you again."
"You won't, I promise." And they just stood there in each others arms as the world around them raged on.
They were united by the strongest force in the universe, Love.
A force even twenty million atom bombs couldn't destroy, love lasts for eternity and beyond, it unites souls, provides hope and best of all it conquers fear, the worst fear possible. The fear of being alone.
The warehouse stood, old and grey, tired from the constant battle against the world. First it was the machines threatening to tear it down, the little mortals ripping chunks out for their own needs, and then when they had gone it was Mother Nature constantly pounding it into submission. It seemed everyone was out to get it. If there ever was an example of the old tree standing in the wind, this would be it. Rigid, unmoving and alone.
Then entered the leaf, the tall figure with the small girl next to him. He truly was carried along with the wind, moving from place to place, not alone yet… alone? How could this be? Perhaps he was one of a kind, a solitary leaf that might one day come to rest and stop… somewhere.
The tall figure looked around at the masses of people gathered within the warehouse, all shouting and yelling as two men fought in the center. But the crowd, however large in number, paled in comparison to the amount of Chosen guards, all alert and watchful.
Tight security, thought the taller figure, to tight for an ordinary tournament.
At the front there was a podium with two thrones which could be seen by anyone and everyone in the warehouse. It was the stage, and around them was the audience all eyes, ears and… mouths.
"YEAHHHH!"
"COME ON!"
"GET HIM!"
Two figures sat in the thrones, one in a white robe and long golden locks sat watching the fight before him intently, the other smiling seductively looking around admiring the power she held in her grasp.
In the ring a giant of a teenager faced an albeit shorter opponent. The shorter one circling around him, trying to find an opening. The giant was heavily built, with large arms and thick features. He would have easily been around 6 foot 7, his style of fighting suited his large frame, slow and very, very powerful.
The shorter boy kept getting in and out hitting him, but you would have more luck trying to make a hole in a concrete block with your bare knuckles. The blows were not having any effect at all, the large monstrosity just kept coming at him. Then with one blow to the head the shorter one fell to the floor, or to be more accurate flew and hit a pillar knocked out.
The giant raised his hands and bellowed a guttural celebration.
"Well it seems like we have a winner," said The Guardian looking at the Supreme Mother sitting next to him.
"No wait, it was too easy for him," she replied, "lets make it little harder." Her eyes were scanning the crowd around her, looking at each individual when suddenly she noticed a tall figure making his way to the front of the crowd. She looked harder.
Hmm, Tall about 6 foot 2, fair brown hair messed up and spikey, perfect thin eye brows a scar between them, dark shades and small amounts of black face paint. Long black trenchcoat that came down to his knees, it was of the rigid stiff kind it collars sticking upwards, a skin tight T-shirt with what looked to be a flaming skull itched in it's design, black leather trousers and heavy combat boots. If you were a guy, the impression given would be, "Don't fuck with me," and if you were a girl well, lets just say the words, open mouthed and gaping came to mind.
As Trudy watched him the same thought was going through her mind… "Hello sassy."
He was the best looking guy she had ever seen, a tiny smile formed at the side of her mouth and she whispered something into the ear of the nearest Chosen guard.
The tall figure held on tightly to the little girls hand, "Stay close to me Jenny, this is a big one."
The girl nodded her head and they continued through the shouting crowd, upon reaching the front the tall figure was grabbed by two Chosen guards.
"You dare disrespect our Lord Zoot."
"Hey! I didn't say anything," the tall figure replied angrily, letting go of the girls hand.
"We say you did." The two big, burly guards throw him into the ring.
The little girl watched helplessly, "SQUALL!" she cried out.
The tall figure performed a forward roll and rose nimbly and gracefully to his feet. He looked around at the crowd and finally at the monster before him, he stood staring at him, sizing him up.
The Guardian turned to the Supreme Mother, "What's this?" he asked with the beginnings of a smile on his face.
"Oh, just a little fun," she replied. The Guardian laughed and turned back to the ring.
The two figures in the ring were the exact opposite, one soft of features and perfectly built, the other with thick features and heavy of build. Beauty and the Beast for sure.
The large brute was standing with a grin on his face cracking his knuckles, his hands shot out and he grasped the tall figure by the scruff of his jacket and began pushing him around. The crowd began cheering and yelling encouragement,
"YEAH!"
"FINISH HIM!"
"BREAK THAT PRETTY FACE OF HIS!"
From behind his sunglasses the tall figures eyes squinted, and in a flash he raised up his left arm breaking the monster's hold then clenched his right into a fist his whole body shot forward and his fist launched into the belly of the brute with a sickening thud. He stood there his hand engulfed somewhere in the brute's belly his head down looking to floor.
The brute's eyes were bulged open and his mouth so wide you could have put a bus in it. He fell to the floor clutching his stomach,
K.O.
If you had blinked you would have missed it.
The crowd went dead silent, if someone had farted it would have been heard, the silence was deafening. One might think it was impossible for silence to deafen someone but it was so vast, consuming, and all prevailing it did just that, it made you want to scream out, yet you were too scared to do so. No one even dared breath.
The figure stood facing the brute on the floor his back to the most powerful people within The Chosen, he swiveled his head so he could see them out of the corner of his eye, his face cold and unemotional.
At long last somebody spoke, "Impressive, but was it a fluke?"
"Why don't you ask him?" The tall figure looked at the body on the floor and gestured to him with a slight incline of his head.
The Guardian chuckled and looked at the figure, "What is your name stranger?"
The figure still had his back to him, "The name's Squall, Squall Lionheart."
"Well Mr. Lionheart I am impressed, lets see how you fare against one of Zoot's elite." He made a gesture with his hand and a hooded figure jumped down. Squall turned his head slowly towards the figure.
The Guardian continued, "If you win you will have the choice to become one of us and have everything you ever desired. Do you except the challenge, Lionheart?"
Squall said nothing he just turned to the hooded figure and assumed his fighting stance, his right fist near his cheek the elbow pointing upwards and his left arm near his waist.
(Cue Slipknot: Spit it out)
The Guardian smirked and nodded to the hooded figure who removed his cape and flung it to the side revealing a thinly built boy with short black hair. He only had black boots and brown loose fitting trousers on, no top.
The two fighters were locked in a stare down neither winning. The newcomer assumed his own fighting stance, and began to slowly edge towards Squall.
Then out of nowhere "YAHHHH!" The boy swung his right fist towards Squall who blocked it by rising his left arm, then he swung his left fist which Squall intercepted by rising his right arm immediately the boy spun round with a roundhouse kick his right heel threatening to remove Squall's head from his shoulders Squall jumped back, flipped in the air so he landed facing the boy. No sooner had he landed than the boy was upon him aiming a kick to his mid-section Squall spun out of the way and in one fluid motion and sweep kicked the boy's legs from under him, the boy landed on his back but in an instant rolled back flipping himself upwards he rushed forward elbow outstretched and caught Squall off guard nailing him in the ribs and sending him onto the floor skidding a few meters.
He stood back and let Squall rise to his feet dusting himself in the process,
"My name is Aaron," the boy said, "And it will be the last name you ever hear."
Squall breathed out and assumed his fighting stance once again but this time rose his left arm a little higher and drew his right arm further back. The Guardian's eye's opened in recognition, What? he thought, He can change into offensive and defensive stances.
Being a martial artist himself The Guardian was aware that only the most skilled were able to change their stance in the middle of a fight to suit their needs, he leaned forward and watched more intently.
Squall waited for a second then,
"Whoosh!" It sounded as though someone had just waved an object at a very fast speed past your ear. He launched himself forward planted his right fist into the ribs of Aaron then he uppercut him with his left not stopping he rose his left boot and planted a heavy kick into Aaron's side at once spinning round and sticking out his right foot his heel connecting with Aaron's skull.
The boy was stunned by the speed and strength of Squall's attacks and was sent tumbling to the ground.
He rose immediately viciously angry "HASSSOOOO!" He ran at Squall with a flurry of punches, Squall ducked and blocked all of them and just as Aaron let fly another punch with his right hand Squall grabbed it with his left spun around and planted his right elbow into Aaron's stomach. Enraged Aaron shrugged off the pain and punched Squall with his right making him to remove his elbow however just as Squall was falling backwards he spun round and roundhouse kicked Aaron with his left foot impacting against his shoulder.
Aaron fell back holding his arm in pain he ran at Squall with a forward kick, Squall waited until the last possible second moved to the side then raised his right knee and brought down left elbow trapping Aaron's ankle in between them with a sickening "CRUNCH!"
Aaron winced in pain and drew his foot back hopping on one foot.
He looked at Squall through one eye, and was breathing heavily bruises starting to turn purple underneath his skin.
Squall looked at him and began to lower his hands, Aaron was enraged.
"NO! IT'S NOT OVER YET, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING, GET READY." Squall's mouth tightened and he raised his hands once again.
(Cue Final Fantasy 7 Battle Theme)
Aaron moved towards him once again, Squall stepped back and The Guardian gave a nod. Suddenly someone put their foot behind him and he was caught off balance, he fell backwards owards the floor flipping back to his feet quickly, but it was too late, Aaron was already jumping owards him with a flying kick hitting Squall square on the chest and sending him flying into the nearest pillar.
Squall was dazed and saw double in front of him his head having smacked the pillar hard. Aaron wasted no time and began punching him countless times in the stomach then he kicked the side of his head and Squall saw the ground rushing up to embrace him. He was about to give in to the blackness when…
Jenny watched as Squall fell to the floor in slow motion. She had watched that mean man peatedly punch and kick him, Then she saw Squall fall to the floor. Squall had never fallen down before unless he was badwy hurt, NO!
"SQUALL!" She shouted with all her being tears in her eyes.
Squall heard a voice above all others his eyes opened and he saw a girl in a light blue dress…
Jenny!
He gritted his teeth and tried to lift himself up, but was knocked down again by Aaron.
No, I can't lose she needs me.
Aaron brought his foot down trying to crash Squall skull, Squall rolled out of the way and braced himself against the pillar. Aaron came at him again and Squall was knocked onto the floor.
Squall muscles were straining he could hardly move.
No! I… will… not… leave HER.
Then drawing strength he never knew he had, Squall lifted his foot and kicked Aaron in the balls without wasting a second he flipped to his feet and jumped in the air spinning around a full 360o with his left leg outstretched his heel connecting solidly with Aaron's jaw sending the boy flying to the floor and landing in a heap, unconscious.
Squall landed on his feet in his fighting stance, breathing slightly heavily. He turned towards the Guardian lowering his hands.
The Guardian rose to his feet and put out his thumb pointing… Down.
Squall looked at the limp body on the floor before him.
One of the guards threw Squall a spear he caught it and put it through Aaron's neck with no hesitation killing him instantly. The crowd cheered loudly.
The Guardian smiled, "You are indeed a truly skilled fighter join us and make you're wildest dreams come true."
Squall looked at him then back at the entrance of the warehouse.
What should I do? I can't keep running forever, I've been down that road it doesn't lead anywhere, you can't keep going on like this, maybe it's time to settle down, what about Jenny? She deserves a home and care.
I… I have no choice.
"Okay, whatever, but on one condition." Squall said.
Everyone started looking at each other all The Chosen guards were stunned, no-one ever questioned The Guardian, his word was law.
The Guardian seemed a little taken back, "Well what is that?"
Squall looked at him, "You get me some ice cream."
The Guardians smile returned "Sure, as I said, anything you desire."
With that everyone began to chant, "SQUALL! SQUALL! SQUALL!"
Squall walked towards the exit, the crowd split down the middle like the sea for Moses as he walked through. Upon reaching outside a guard came and placed something in his hand, he looked at Squall and said, "I hope you like it, it's my favourite flavour."
Squall thanked him, as he turned around Jenny burst out of the crowd, running towards him she jumped up and before Squall knew it he was holding her to his chest, small slender arms wrapped around his neck.
"I was so scared I thought you were hurt," she said sobbing into his shoulder.
"But I wasn't and I'm here now," he said wiping her tears away from her face.
"And guess what?"
"What?"
Squall grinned as if he were a child, "I got ice cream!" he held out a tub of Haagen-Dazs chocolate flavour.
"YAY! Squall you're the best, OH WOW! I love you!" Jenny rained kisses on him and hugged him so tight that she threatened to choke him, yet Squall didn't stop her he hugged her closer.
They looked at each other and smiled.
To be continued…
Disclaimer: How's that for action, Huh? Yeah baby! Don't know if I'll do more I need at least 5 reviews to continue, no point writin if nobodies readin. Until next time. (maybe).
Note: When it says Cue a song that's when you should play a song and read the story at the same time, believe me it really helps to create atmosphere.