Sten's Test: Trial By Fire
"This is what I have planned for you," Sten said, in his high, squeaky voice, "We're going to return to Highfort. My family has always had the tradition of tournaments over a pit of fire."
"Explain a bit better?" Ryu said, scratching his head.
Sten smiled. "I think you'll see when we get there. Jean, if you would, please!"
"Oui!" The frog prince said, and with his magic he spirited them all away to the top of the mountain where Highfort castle rested.
"Hail, hail, the chief is home!" Gayne cried as they entered the front door. "And his company as well!"
"Hey," Sten muttered as the rest of them came in.
"Well well," said an arrogant voice, "Back so soon?"
Sten smiled. "Hey Trubo."
Trubo nodded to acknowledge the rest of the group. "What brings you back here? Have you come to help us rebuild?"
"No. Actually…" Sten whispered furiously in Trubo's ear.
"Oh… oh, I see…" Trubo said. "Well then, we shall make preparations!"
"Um, excuse me, but can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Hundreds of years ago, injustice was dealt with by having the accused battle the toughest of the tough in the great arena, a high platform above a fiery pit." Sten answered. "And that tradition has carried on to present day."
"And you're going to have Ryu fight someone in there?" Katt asked, horrified.
Sten nodded.
"And who will he be fighting?" Nina inquired, anxious to see Ryu matched up against an invincible opponent.
Sten simply smiled.
Ryu stepped forward, sweating, his breath heavy. He gripped his sword firmly in his hand. The room was dark, and the long platform he was standing on was wide, but it didn't seem that way when he looked down. Flames and lava boiled far below, and even a simple stumble would mean certain death.
Across from him, Sten emerged from the opposite room, holding a long, wooden staff. Ryu found his silhouette chilling and disturbing, despite all the times he'd considered him a simple monkey.
"Are you ready, Ryu?" Sten called, his voice echoing off the high, domed ceiling.
"Ready!"
"Begin!"
Sten began advancing down the platform slowly. Ryu approached him at an equal pace, and soon they were inches from each other.
"Have at thee!" Sten roared, and with incredible agility, he swung the staff directly at Ryu's head. Ryu just barely blocked with his sword, and kicked Sten several yards backwards.
"Clever…" Sten whispered. He got up and charged, but had to stop on a dime, as Ryu had his sword pointed right in Sten's path.
"This isn't a fight to the death," Sten said. "We just have to disarm the other."
"Ha! You can give me warning after warning to disarm, and I still won't do it!" Ryu slashed, hoping to slice the staff in two, but it held firm, and Sten used the force of the blow to send Ryu reeling towards the other end of the platform.
The rest of Ryu's group stood in the adjacent room, watching the fight through a stone opening in the wall. Nina was delighted to see Ryu having such a hard time, but the rest of them were watching in horror as Sten pushed Ryu closer and closer to the edge of the platform.
"If he falls, he's done for," Bleu whispered.
"Sten won't let him fall," Bow said. "They're buddies! …Right?"
Nobody answered.
"What's the matter, Ryu?" Sten snarled, hitting Ryu square in the back with the staff. "Tired?"
"Never!" Ryu gasped, smacking the wooden pole away and getting to his feet. "I'll never let you win, Sten. I'll never give in! I'll stay here forever!"
"Then you will meet your destiny!"
"No!" Ryu ducked as the staff came at him again, and then with his other hand, seized it and pulled it from Sten's grip. However, it was surprisingly heavy, and the sudden shift of weight caused Ryu to stumble and fall. He grabbed onto the edge of the platform, and was just barely hanging on.
"Sten!" He cried. "Help me! Buddy! Please!"
"What do you want me to do?" Sten chittered, freaking out. "I'm sorry!"
"Just… grab my hand…" But it was too late! Ryu's grip failed him, and he went tumbling towards the fire.
"Aaaah!" his friends cried from their vantage point, "He's dead! He's gonna die!"
Nina acted on impulse. "I'll regret this," she muttered, but she jumped out of the window, fell towards Ryu, grabbed him, and started to flutter back up, her wings beating a mile a minute.
"Hey, Nina! You're flying!" Ryu exclaimed.
"It's not flying," she said bitterly, "It's falling with style."
"Ripoff," he muttered.
"Buddy! We're so glad you're okay!" Bow cried, slapping Ryu on the back.
"Oui, we thought you were to be deceased!" Jean said.
"Ryu!" Katt whispered, hugging Ryu tightly, "Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?"
He smiled, and turned to the group. "You have to give me one thing! I'm never one to back out of a fight! Come on, let's go back."
And so Ryu and company bid a fond farewell to Trubo, Elforan, and Highfort, and teleported back to town.
