A Mysterious New World
Episode 6: Fun and Fights
By Chessrook44
Chesrook: This is a landmark event! Lister: Eh? What do you mean? Chesrook: This is the 10th fanfic I ever made! Sakura: But it's only episode 6. Chesrook: I guess you forgot about my other fanfics? Sakura: Oh, yeah. Chesrook: Anyway, to celebrate, I'm going to give all the readers out there a treat! Lister: Woo! We're having ice cream? Chesrook: No, Lister. At the end of the story I'll be giving a sample portion of the first episode of a series I'm planning called, "The Elementals". So be sure to read that part! Now, on with the fanfic!
Sakura woke up, but didn't open her eyes. 'Please, please let it all be a bad dream!' she thought. 'When I open my eyes, I'll be in my own bed, in my own body and Kero will be sleeping in the drawer and I'll go to the park with my friends. Please!'
Sakura opened her eyes. Alas, her wishes were unheard. She was still in the room in which she remembered falling asleep. Sakura reached for her ears. They were still elven. Sakura let out a sigh of despair. 'I want to go home,' she thought. She saw Madison and Meilin still sleeping in their beds. Sakura went over to her trunk and got out some clothes. She then went into the bathroom to change. When she came out, she put her nightgown into the trunk and went to the window. She gazed out longingly. 'Why? Why did this have to happen to ME and my friends? Why not anyone else?' she asked herself. She gazed out the window at the horizon. To the left of her window was a tall thin tower with a light flickering on top. She heard faint bells from that direction. To the right lay a small castle-like structure. The wall lay near it. She focused on the blank, white marble wall. 'That's how I feel,' she told herself. 'Fenced in like this city. Fenced in this world, this city,' she looked down at herself. 'this body. Oh, why can't I go home?'
Sakura turned around and noticed something on the table. 'Hm? What's this?'
She walked up to the table. On it was a silver tray with three teacups in it. Two of the cups she recognized as filled with saka. The third cup was filled with cerrak. 'Well, that was nice of Laramie!' Sakura thought. She reached for the cup when she noticed a piece of parchment slipped partially under the tray. She picked it up. 'It's a note!' she thought, and she sipped her tea as she read it.
To Sakura, Madison, Kero, Li, and Meilin:
I managed to get a date and time with which to talk with Emperor Chezrok! It is at an event at the Cosolem around noon today. I do not wish to keep you locked up bored, so you'll find 6 tickets to the event today included with this note. One for each of you and one for Laramie. She'll explain the rules, prizes, and so on later.
I shall see you later today.
Lister
Sakura read the note again. "You'll find 6 tickets to the event today included." Sakura looked at the note, lifted the tray, looked under the table, but she could not find the tickets.
"What are you looking for?"
Sakura bumped her head on the table as she turned around to see who had just spoken. Madison stood there, yawning.
Sakura rubbed her head. "I, um, well," she handed the note to Madison, who then began reading. Sakura noticed a reddish tinge on Madison's face when she finished. Madison rubbed it off. "So, er, you're looking for the tickets?" She said.
"Yes. Any idea where they might be?"
"Did you check under the platter?"
"Yes. And the table too."
Madison thought for a moment. "Maybe Laramie has them."
"Hey, yeah! That seems sensible. So, um, are you going to change or are you going to walk around in public in your nightgown?" Sakura said, gesturing at Madison.
Madison looked down and turned red. "Oh, er, yeah, um," she dashed to her trunk, pulled out some clothes and rushed into the bathroom. Sakura sat down, sipping her tea.
Madison came out a short while later, still flushed. She put her nightgown back in her trunk and sat down next to Sakura. She took a cup and sipped the tea inside.
Sakura decided to start a conversation. "So Madison, um, what do you miss the most?"
Madison gulped down the tea in her mouth hard. "E-excuse me?"
"I asked what you miss most about home."
Madison thought for a minute. "My mother," she said after a minute. "Her and my camcorder. I wish I could catch you on film as an elf, Sakura! You look so nice!"
"Dyah!"
"What about you, Sakura? What do you miss most?"
Sakura thought a moment. "My friends," she said.
"But Sakura, I'm here. And so is-"
"I know, Madison! And I'm happy about that! But I also miss my other friends. Yue, Julian, Nikki, Chelsea, Rita, my father, even Tori! I just. just." Sakura began to cry.
"Sakura, please don't cry," Madison said, putting her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "It's like I said last night. Everything will turn out fine. Don't focus on the negative, Sakura. Focus on the good things. I, for example, always wanted to be able to do magic. And now I can! You, Sakura, what's good for you? Come on, there must be something!"
Sakura sniffed. "Well, I guess it is kind of nice here. And I'm making new friends too. Like Laramie and Lister."
"There you go! Just keep thinking about that. It's not so bad here, really."
Sakura stopped crying and heard movement behind her. Meilin was waking up.
Meilin changed and sat down in silence. A little later Laramie came in. "Ah, up bright and early I see. You all slept well, I presume?"
"Yes, I suppose so." Sakura answered sadly.
"Why, is something wrong, Sakura? You look like you've been crying!"
"No, it. it's nothing. Don't worry. I. I'm fine."
"If you say so."
A thought struck Madison. "Oh, Laramie, do you know what happened to the tickets Lister gave us?"
"Tickets? Oh, I know what you mean. I have them. Lister gave them to me and told me to hang onto them."
"Oh, OK. Have the boys woken up yet?"
"I don't know. I haven't checked yet."
Later, at around 11:00, the group left TAGOR and went to the Cosolem. Laramie led the way and the others followed eagerly. It wasn't long before they found seats inside the Cosolem. The Cosolem was very large. It seemed to consist of little more than stairs all around the center, on which everyone sat. The center was simply a circle of dirt ground. There were 6 gates around the Arena. Directly opposite where Sakura and the others sat across the stadium was a white marble booth with red velvet trimming. Laramie told them that it was where Emperor Chezrok, Sokkru, and any honored guests sat. A white marble booth below it was where the top Glators sat.
Sakura looked at a paper that had been given to them when they entered. It appeared to be a schedule of what was going to happen today. All that was written was:
12:00-Glator Vs. Glator-No teams-30 fighters-Play until 5
"What does this mean?" Sakura asked Laramie.
"Oh, this is going to be a full Glator match of warrior vs. warrior. Every man for himself. There will be 30 people fighting and it will end when only 5 people are left."
"What are the rules?"
"Losers die first!" Laramie let out a laugh.
At about 12:00, judging from the sun's position, a series of trumpets sounded. A voice from the other side of the arena rang, "All rise for the great Chezrok, Emperor of Remo!" At once, everyone around the arena rose as did Sakura and the others. A thin man entered the booth. Just behind him came a young woman, which to Sakura looked like.
Just behind her came Lister, who sat down on the Emperor's right side. Another voice rang out. "Please remain standing for the Champions of Remo!" At once, 4 people came into the lower booth. One of the seats was left open.
The emperor waved his hand and all there sat down. Again a voice rang out. "Please welcome today's contenders! They are." The voice then began reciting names as people entered the Arena to the crowd's cheers. When all thirty were out the announcer spoke again. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a special guest fighter today, Zar!"
The Arena erupted in clapping and shouting, leaving Sakura and the others confused. "Laramie," Sakura asked. "Who's Zar?"
"Oh, you're in for a treat today. Zar is the current number 3 ranked Glator. He does not get any prizes, but once in a while one of the top 5 joins the fight."
"Oh, I see."
Behind her, Sakura heard the voices of two men.
"20 gold says Zar kills in the first five minutes."
"Nah, I say 50 he kills in the first two!"
"And I bet an extra hundred he makes the first kill!"
"It's a bet!"
Sakura turned away from this. "Gamblers," Sakura muttered.
"Hey, Laramie," Kero said. "All I see down there are elves and humans. Why?"
"You probably can't tell, but there's also half-elves down there. Any being with above-average natural strength or uses magic regularly is not allowed to become a Glator. Thus, half-orcs, dwarves, and gnomes cannot become Glators. No magic may be used in these fights."
A minute later, the fight began. A minute into the fight, the first kill was made. Zar was not it. He didn't make a kill until 5 minutes later. 10 minutes into the fight, 7 men lay dead. Another 10 minutes later, another 6 lay dead. It took 27 minutes for 25 men to die. The battle in all was very bloody. Sakura noticed that Meilin developed a slightly greenish tinge in her face when a man's head was chopped off. A few minutes later, she held her hand over her mouth and ran outside. In the end, 2 humans, 2 half-elves, and an elf won. Zar was not counted. The winners each received cash prizes. The emperor then dismissed everyone and left.
Laramie led them out. However, at the gate someone stopped them. He seemed formally dressed. "Can I help you?" Laramie asked.
The man held up a roll of parchment and announced, "His Royal Highness Emperor Chezrok of Remo has decreed that the following people are to report to the palace to have an audience with him after the fight. Sakura Avalon. Madison Taylor. Li Showran. Meilin Rae. Kero Beros."
The man stopped and rolled up the parchment. "Well, guys, I guess this is where I leave," Laramie said. "I'll see you later. Farewell!" And with that, she left.
Sakura turned to the man. "I suppose we shall go to the palace now?" She asked. The man simply nodded. And with that they walked away from the Cosolem towards the palace.
Chesrook: Done! So, what do you think? Sakura: Well, now we know how I feel about being stuck there. Lister: Yeah. And we know what a Glator fight is like. Say, Chesrook, didn't you say you were going to. Chesrook: Oh, yeah! Thanks Lister! Anyway, here's a preview from the first episode of a new series I'm working on called, "The Elementals". NOTE: It uses the Japanese version of CCS, so I'll be using some Japanese words and phrases. Don't worry, I'll have a translation chapter!
Sakura and Tomoyo [Madison's Japanese name] were walking down the street chatting when it happened.
Without warning, they heard a woman scream "Help! Help!" Turning, Sakura saw a woman being carried off by the red-cloaked figure she had seen in the restaurant! In fear, Sakura and Tomoyo dashed into a nearby alley and watched from there.
As the figure began to walk away, a police car arrived. An officer came out and pointed his gun at the figure. "Matte! [Wait!]" he shouted. "Put the woman down and your hands in the air!" The figure turned around slowly. "Isogi! [Hurry up!]"
The figure spoke. "Well, I'm afraid I can't put the woman down, however I can put my hand up." He raised his hand, and a moment later a ball of fire appeared in it. The figure hurled the fireball at the police car, making it explode and hurling the officers in other directions.
A minute later, more police cars arrived. Officers ran out and pointed their pistols at the figure. "Freeze!" one of them shouted.
The figure spoke again. "Ah, now that is the one thing I CAN'T do." With that he began throwing more fireballs. Then fire started spraying from his hood! Sakura saw television vans and choppers begin to arrive.
Sakura turned to Tomoyo. "Oh, there must be SOMETHING I can do!"
Tomoyo simply smiled and reached into her bag. When her hand came out, it was holding one of Sakura's old battle costumes- the one she wore when she captured the Big Card, actually. Sakura realized what she meant when Tomoyo took out her video camera. "Oh, no. Iye! [No!] Iye iye iye! IYE!" Sakura shouted. "There's television cameras out there! I am NOT going to use my magic when people can recognize me!" Tomoyo simply smiled and pulled a blue mask from her bag. It perfectly matched the costume. "Please, Sakura-chan, you have to! You're the only one who can defeat this teki! [enemy!]" Sakura looked out. Most of the street and the policemen were devastated. Sakura let out a sigh. "What choice do I have?" she muttered.
Chesrook: OK, there's your preview. This probably leaves you with several questions. Who is this red-cloaked figure? Why is he taking that woman? How can he throw fireballs like that? How will the world react to Sakura's powers? Why did Tomoyo have that costume in her bag anyway? All these questions and more may be answered in the premiere of "The Elementals", coming soon to a website fanfic page near you. Lister: So that's it? Chesrook: Yep. Sakura: This doesn't seem good. Chesrook: Don't worry. Well, I'll see you all next time! Seeya!
Chesrook: This is a landmark event! Lister: Eh? What do you mean? Chesrook: This is the 10th fanfic I ever made! Sakura: But it's only episode 6. Chesrook: I guess you forgot about my other fanfics? Sakura: Oh, yeah. Chesrook: Anyway, to celebrate, I'm going to give all the readers out there a treat! Lister: Woo! We're having ice cream? Chesrook: No, Lister. At the end of the story I'll be giving a sample portion of the first episode of a series I'm planning called, "The Elementals". So be sure to read that part! Now, on with the fanfic!
Sakura woke up, but didn't open her eyes. 'Please, please let it all be a bad dream!' she thought. 'When I open my eyes, I'll be in my own bed, in my own body and Kero will be sleeping in the drawer and I'll go to the park with my friends. Please!'
Sakura opened her eyes. Alas, her wishes were unheard. She was still in the room in which she remembered falling asleep. Sakura reached for her ears. They were still elven. Sakura let out a sigh of despair. 'I want to go home,' she thought. She saw Madison and Meilin still sleeping in their beds. Sakura went over to her trunk and got out some clothes. She then went into the bathroom to change. When she came out, she put her nightgown into the trunk and went to the window. She gazed out longingly. 'Why? Why did this have to happen to ME and my friends? Why not anyone else?' she asked herself. She gazed out the window at the horizon. To the left of her window was a tall thin tower with a light flickering on top. She heard faint bells from that direction. To the right lay a small castle-like structure. The wall lay near it. She focused on the blank, white marble wall. 'That's how I feel,' she told herself. 'Fenced in like this city. Fenced in this world, this city,' she looked down at herself. 'this body. Oh, why can't I go home?'
Sakura turned around and noticed something on the table. 'Hm? What's this?'
She walked up to the table. On it was a silver tray with three teacups in it. Two of the cups she recognized as filled with saka. The third cup was filled with cerrak. 'Well, that was nice of Laramie!' Sakura thought. She reached for the cup when she noticed a piece of parchment slipped partially under the tray. She picked it up. 'It's a note!' she thought, and she sipped her tea as she read it.
To Sakura, Madison, Kero, Li, and Meilin:
I managed to get a date and time with which to talk with Emperor Chezrok! It is at an event at the Cosolem around noon today. I do not wish to keep you locked up bored, so you'll find 6 tickets to the event today included with this note. One for each of you and one for Laramie. She'll explain the rules, prizes, and so on later.
I shall see you later today.
Lister
Sakura read the note again. "You'll find 6 tickets to the event today included." Sakura looked at the note, lifted the tray, looked under the table, but she could not find the tickets.
"What are you looking for?"
Sakura bumped her head on the table as she turned around to see who had just spoken. Madison stood there, yawning.
Sakura rubbed her head. "I, um, well," she handed the note to Madison, who then began reading. Sakura noticed a reddish tinge on Madison's face when she finished. Madison rubbed it off. "So, er, you're looking for the tickets?" She said.
"Yes. Any idea where they might be?"
"Did you check under the platter?"
"Yes. And the table too."
Madison thought for a moment. "Maybe Laramie has them."
"Hey, yeah! That seems sensible. So, um, are you going to change or are you going to walk around in public in your nightgown?" Sakura said, gesturing at Madison.
Madison looked down and turned red. "Oh, er, yeah, um," she dashed to her trunk, pulled out some clothes and rushed into the bathroom. Sakura sat down, sipping her tea.
Madison came out a short while later, still flushed. She put her nightgown back in her trunk and sat down next to Sakura. She took a cup and sipped the tea inside.
Sakura decided to start a conversation. "So Madison, um, what do you miss the most?"
Madison gulped down the tea in her mouth hard. "E-excuse me?"
"I asked what you miss most about home."
Madison thought for a minute. "My mother," she said after a minute. "Her and my camcorder. I wish I could catch you on film as an elf, Sakura! You look so nice!"
"Dyah!"
"What about you, Sakura? What do you miss most?"
Sakura thought a moment. "My friends," she said.
"But Sakura, I'm here. And so is-"
"I know, Madison! And I'm happy about that! But I also miss my other friends. Yue, Julian, Nikki, Chelsea, Rita, my father, even Tori! I just. just." Sakura began to cry.
"Sakura, please don't cry," Madison said, putting her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "It's like I said last night. Everything will turn out fine. Don't focus on the negative, Sakura. Focus on the good things. I, for example, always wanted to be able to do magic. And now I can! You, Sakura, what's good for you? Come on, there must be something!"
Sakura sniffed. "Well, I guess it is kind of nice here. And I'm making new friends too. Like Laramie and Lister."
"There you go! Just keep thinking about that. It's not so bad here, really."
Sakura stopped crying and heard movement behind her. Meilin was waking up.
Meilin changed and sat down in silence. A little later Laramie came in. "Ah, up bright and early I see. You all slept well, I presume?"
"Yes, I suppose so." Sakura answered sadly.
"Why, is something wrong, Sakura? You look like you've been crying!"
"No, it. it's nothing. Don't worry. I. I'm fine."
"If you say so."
A thought struck Madison. "Oh, Laramie, do you know what happened to the tickets Lister gave us?"
"Tickets? Oh, I know what you mean. I have them. Lister gave them to me and told me to hang onto them."
"Oh, OK. Have the boys woken up yet?"
"I don't know. I haven't checked yet."
Later, at around 11:00, the group left TAGOR and went to the Cosolem. Laramie led the way and the others followed eagerly. It wasn't long before they found seats inside the Cosolem. The Cosolem was very large. It seemed to consist of little more than stairs all around the center, on which everyone sat. The center was simply a circle of dirt ground. There were 6 gates around the Arena. Directly opposite where Sakura and the others sat across the stadium was a white marble booth with red velvet trimming. Laramie told them that it was where Emperor Chezrok, Sokkru, and any honored guests sat. A white marble booth below it was where the top Glators sat.
Sakura looked at a paper that had been given to them when they entered. It appeared to be a schedule of what was going to happen today. All that was written was:
12:00-Glator Vs. Glator-No teams-30 fighters-Play until 5
"What does this mean?" Sakura asked Laramie.
"Oh, this is going to be a full Glator match of warrior vs. warrior. Every man for himself. There will be 30 people fighting and it will end when only 5 people are left."
"What are the rules?"
"Losers die first!" Laramie let out a laugh.
At about 12:00, judging from the sun's position, a series of trumpets sounded. A voice from the other side of the arena rang, "All rise for the great Chezrok, Emperor of Remo!" At once, everyone around the arena rose as did Sakura and the others. A thin man entered the booth. Just behind him came a young woman, which to Sakura looked like.
Just behind her came Lister, who sat down on the Emperor's right side. Another voice rang out. "Please remain standing for the Champions of Remo!" At once, 4 people came into the lower booth. One of the seats was left open.
The emperor waved his hand and all there sat down. Again a voice rang out. "Please welcome today's contenders! They are." The voice then began reciting names as people entered the Arena to the crowd's cheers. When all thirty were out the announcer spoke again. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a special guest fighter today, Zar!"
The Arena erupted in clapping and shouting, leaving Sakura and the others confused. "Laramie," Sakura asked. "Who's Zar?"
"Oh, you're in for a treat today. Zar is the current number 3 ranked Glator. He does not get any prizes, but once in a while one of the top 5 joins the fight."
"Oh, I see."
Behind her, Sakura heard the voices of two men.
"20 gold says Zar kills in the first five minutes."
"Nah, I say 50 he kills in the first two!"
"And I bet an extra hundred he makes the first kill!"
"It's a bet!"
Sakura turned away from this. "Gamblers," Sakura muttered.
"Hey, Laramie," Kero said. "All I see down there are elves and humans. Why?"
"You probably can't tell, but there's also half-elves down there. Any being with above-average natural strength or uses magic regularly is not allowed to become a Glator. Thus, half-orcs, dwarves, and gnomes cannot become Glators. No magic may be used in these fights."
A minute later, the fight began. A minute into the fight, the first kill was made. Zar was not it. He didn't make a kill until 5 minutes later. 10 minutes into the fight, 7 men lay dead. Another 10 minutes later, another 6 lay dead. It took 27 minutes for 25 men to die. The battle in all was very bloody. Sakura noticed that Meilin developed a slightly greenish tinge in her face when a man's head was chopped off. A few minutes later, she held her hand over her mouth and ran outside. In the end, 2 humans, 2 half-elves, and an elf won. Zar was not counted. The winners each received cash prizes. The emperor then dismissed everyone and left.
Laramie led them out. However, at the gate someone stopped them. He seemed formally dressed. "Can I help you?" Laramie asked.
The man held up a roll of parchment and announced, "His Royal Highness Emperor Chezrok of Remo has decreed that the following people are to report to the palace to have an audience with him after the fight. Sakura Avalon. Madison Taylor. Li Showran. Meilin Rae. Kero Beros."
The man stopped and rolled up the parchment. "Well, guys, I guess this is where I leave," Laramie said. "I'll see you later. Farewell!" And with that, she left.
Sakura turned to the man. "I suppose we shall go to the palace now?" She asked. The man simply nodded. And with that they walked away from the Cosolem towards the palace.
Chesrook: Done! So, what do you think? Sakura: Well, now we know how I feel about being stuck there. Lister: Yeah. And we know what a Glator fight is like. Say, Chesrook, didn't you say you were going to. Chesrook: Oh, yeah! Thanks Lister! Anyway, here's a preview from the first episode of a new series I'm working on called, "The Elementals". NOTE: It uses the Japanese version of CCS, so I'll be using some Japanese words and phrases. Don't worry, I'll have a translation chapter!
Sakura and Tomoyo [Madison's Japanese name] were walking down the street chatting when it happened.
Without warning, they heard a woman scream "Help! Help!" Turning, Sakura saw a woman being carried off by the red-cloaked figure she had seen in the restaurant! In fear, Sakura and Tomoyo dashed into a nearby alley and watched from there.
As the figure began to walk away, a police car arrived. An officer came out and pointed his gun at the figure. "Matte! [Wait!]" he shouted. "Put the woman down and your hands in the air!" The figure turned around slowly. "Isogi! [Hurry up!]"
The figure spoke. "Well, I'm afraid I can't put the woman down, however I can put my hand up." He raised his hand, and a moment later a ball of fire appeared in it. The figure hurled the fireball at the police car, making it explode and hurling the officers in other directions.
A minute later, more police cars arrived. Officers ran out and pointed their pistols at the figure. "Freeze!" one of them shouted.
The figure spoke again. "Ah, now that is the one thing I CAN'T do." With that he began throwing more fireballs. Then fire started spraying from his hood! Sakura saw television vans and choppers begin to arrive.
Sakura turned to Tomoyo. "Oh, there must be SOMETHING I can do!"
Tomoyo simply smiled and reached into her bag. When her hand came out, it was holding one of Sakura's old battle costumes- the one she wore when she captured the Big Card, actually. Sakura realized what she meant when Tomoyo took out her video camera. "Oh, no. Iye! [No!] Iye iye iye! IYE!" Sakura shouted. "There's television cameras out there! I am NOT going to use my magic when people can recognize me!" Tomoyo simply smiled and pulled a blue mask from her bag. It perfectly matched the costume. "Please, Sakura-chan, you have to! You're the only one who can defeat this teki! [enemy!]" Sakura looked out. Most of the street and the policemen were devastated. Sakura let out a sigh. "What choice do I have?" she muttered.
Chesrook: OK, there's your preview. This probably leaves you with several questions. Who is this red-cloaked figure? Why is he taking that woman? How can he throw fireballs like that? How will the world react to Sakura's powers? Why did Tomoyo have that costume in her bag anyway? All these questions and more may be answered in the premiere of "The Elementals", coming soon to a website fanfic page near you. Lister: So that's it? Chesrook: Yep. Sakura: This doesn't seem good. Chesrook: Don't worry. Well, I'll see you all next time! Seeya!