The Grand Tournament
Chapter 6
The five-year-old Duran continued to run in the rain, chasing a shadowed figure in the distance. Tears rolled down his youthful face, already splattered with drops of rain and mud.
"Papa!" He called out, but the figure in the distance continued to walk on, "PAPA!" The child fell into the deep mud, still weeping.
"Papa...don't...leave me behind..." Duran cried and sat miserably, letting the sky cry along with him.
~*~
Duran woke with a start, sitting up quickly in his bed. He was breathing deeply, and a single tear was rolling down his cheek.
'A dream...just a dream...a memory...' he thought, and wiped the tear away. He carefully slid open his drapes on his bed and looked at the window; surprised to see it was the middle of the night. He stood up and checked on Angela and Carlie, suddenly feeling pity for both.
'We've all been through so much...why can't we just be like normal people...with no worries...?' He pondered, slipped the covers up Carlie's shoulder, and left the room quietly in his robe.
The hallway was lit dimly with only a few candles seemingly floating in mid-air. He sighed and headed to the end of the hallway, where the main balcony awaited. He might as well think a little bit before heading back to sleep; it was better to sleep on an empty mind.
Stepping out onto the stone floor of the balcony, he was surprised to find someone was already there, leaning over the edge of the rail. The Swordmaster took a closer look and blinked realizing it was the Darkshine Knight.
"...Fine night it is." He spoke softly, knowing there was someone behind him.
"Yeah...stars are very clear." Duran replied and walked over and stood next to the Black Knight. They looked on in silence before Darkshine spoke again.
"What brings you up?"
Duran paused; should he tell him?
"...Nightmare. Bad memories re-surfacing."
Darkshine nodded, and shifted his weight to the other leg. Had he dreamed what he had dreamed? That day when he had to leave...?
"...What about?" he asked, looking at the warrior. Duran sighed.
"...When I was five...my father left me to fight your master. The Dragon Emperor. You already know that," Darkshine nodded slowly, "...It...was hard to see him leave...and never see him again."
Silence. The sound of night owls and gentle water from the court fountain in the background. Darkshine shifted his weight again.
"And so he died."
More silence.
"...Duran. Do you believe in the myth that when people die, they become a star in the sky?" The Knight asked.
"Yeah...I mean, sometimes. It makes sense...there's so many stars...and they're looking over us, watching us, making sure we don't do anything stupid." Duran explained, looking more deeply into the night sky. Darkshine shook his head.
"It cannot be true. What happens once the person enters the cycle of reincarnation? What happens to the star? Does it die? And reborn again? Stars do not contain spirits. Too many evil men in this world don't deserve to belong in the heavens."
Duran bit his lip and shrugged, "I'm still young. I have time to figure out what I believe in." The Darkshine Knight turned to Duran.
"The dead should serve the living, not hinder them."(*) He said, and walked back into the hall. Duran spent many minutes thinking about this before returning inside as well.
~*~
"There was a fighter who had a sword and Duran was his name-o!" Hawk sang as Duran sat down at the breakfast table. Duran smirked and pushed Hawk lightly, making him fall off his chair.
"Hey, c'mon Duran, it wasn't that bad!" Hawk chuckled, getting back up. Lise snorted.
"Do us all a favor and never become a singer...I'm serious Hawk." She muttered, sticking her tongue out. Hawk grinned.
"There was a bitch who had a spear and Lise was her name-o! L-I...no! Put down that...gah!" Hawk ran for his life, being chased by Lise holding a salad fork.
"GET BACK HERE YOU BASTARD! I'LL SPLIT YOU IN TWO!" The Amazoness screeched, running past Koren and Heath who were coming into the dining area.
"...Breakfast in the room today." Heath declared, and Koren nodded and the turned around to head back just as Kevin began to go down the stairs. He turned around and looked at Heath.
"Where you go? Breakfast down here." He said, turning his head to one side in confusion. Heath smiled.
"...It's a little crowded."
"And crazy." Koren added, and they continued up the stairs. Kevin shrugged and walked over to his friends.
"Hey Kevin! Good luck today!" Carlie squealed, jumping up and down in her chair. Kevin grinned sheepishly.
"Thank Carlie. Nervous, I am, fight girl...no hit girls...what Beast King said when Kevin little. Lugar even say it. No hit girls. But me fight girl...what me do?" he asked aloud, sitting down in an empty chair. Duran swallowed a bit of eggs and turned to his friend.
"You have no choice buddy, you got to fight her, and don't hold back either. It doesn't matter if she's a girl, she's a fighter too, just like you." He explained, and Angela nodded.
"That's right, just because girls fight boys it doesn't mean the boys go easy on the girl. They shouldn't get special treatment. Oy! Waiter! More juice for the lady here!" she yelled and tapped her spoon against her glass. Everyone at the table moaned.
"When this whole thing is over...we're sending her back to school..." Duran muttered and finished his breakfast. Just then, Lise and Hawk came running back; Hawk with several scratches on his arms and face, Lise madder than ever.
"BEND OVER BITCH! I'M STICKING THIS FORK UP YOUR ASS!" She screamed again. Duran shook his head.
"She's going to school too. Far...far...away."
~*~
The stadium was packed once again today, and the Mana Heroes took their usual spot in the box above the arena. Hawk and Lise were separated with the Darkshine Knight guarding Hawk from the angry queen. Duran checked out what he hadn't been able to before since he was fighting last time, and Heath and Koren were finishing their breakfast (Heath had toast, Koren self-consciously nibbled at a carrot stick).
"It's progress," Heath told Angela while Koren wasn't noticing, "Before he wouldn't eat in front of ANYONE but me...I'm happy for him." Angela nodded, smiling.
~*~
"Welcome to Day 2 of the Grand Tournament!" Shichi squealed into the microphone, sending the crowd into frenzy, "Today, we have Round Two involving the team which the young man yesterday was from! Today's fight is Kevin Bladeclaw of the Beast Kingdom against Laini Lakehart from the town of Astoria! Or...rather...what's left of it."
Both fighters approached the arena, neither looking to the cheering crowd. Kevin was too ashamed of what he had to do and Laini's eyes were filled with hatred. Shichi backed off and raised her hand.
"Ready...fight!" She cried out and the crowd cheered as the two fighters went into position. Kevin made his fists reluctantly but Laini took out her whip immediately and snapped it inches away from the Beastman, making him step back. Not waiting any longer, Laini charged forward and slapped Kevin in the face with her whip rolled up. The God Hand wiped blood off his cheek and took a deep breath.
"Me must do this. Me sorry." He said quietly to her, making her falter.
"What...was that?" She asked, not moving her position, but slightly relaxing it.
"Me sorry. No hit girls before. Wrong, what father said. But must try, friend Duran said try. Win tournament!" he growled and charged forward towards Laini, picking her up and slamming her against the ground. The young lady rebounded and jumped up onto Kevin's shoulders, surprising him. She then grabbed his neck and flipped him over herself, crushing him onto the arena floor. The crowd moaned and then cheered at the move.
"Don't you dare try and treat me differently because I'm a woman!" she shrieked, bringing her whip down across Kevin's back, making him yelp, "I thought you were apologizing for what you did to my home!"
"Did...what? Home?" Kevin muttered, and dodged his opponent's next blow.
"Destroying the town of Astoria! You Beastmen are all the same...destroy destroy! I bet you weren't sorry when you also sent Dune burning into the ground 12 years ago! I hate you all...for...killing my family and destroying my home!" she yelled, and began attacking more fiercely. Kevin tried to dodge the blows while going over what she said in his mind.
'Burn Astoria? Beastmen? Me knew that, me didn't do it! Lugar did! Beast King! They ruin this girl's life! Why me fight her? Me...feel bad...' he thought, then roared as the whip struck him in the head, sending him spinning in the air and landing harshly. Laini took this chance to wrap her whip around Kevin's neck, tightening it.
"Murderer..."
*~*
Can Kevin overcome his beliefs and somehow prove to Laini that he wasn't involved in the destruction of Astoria? Can he even win the fight, with the odds now against him?
*~*
A/N: The (*) at the end of Darkshine's sentence is a quote from Metroid Prime (PLAY THE GAME...PLAY IT...NOW!!) It's from a Space Pirate data log entry titled "The Chozo Race".
Play...the game...so good...it is...
Chapter 6
The five-year-old Duran continued to run in the rain, chasing a shadowed figure in the distance. Tears rolled down his youthful face, already splattered with drops of rain and mud.
"Papa!" He called out, but the figure in the distance continued to walk on, "PAPA!" The child fell into the deep mud, still weeping.
"Papa...don't...leave me behind..." Duran cried and sat miserably, letting the sky cry along with him.
~*~
Duran woke with a start, sitting up quickly in his bed. He was breathing deeply, and a single tear was rolling down his cheek.
'A dream...just a dream...a memory...' he thought, and wiped the tear away. He carefully slid open his drapes on his bed and looked at the window; surprised to see it was the middle of the night. He stood up and checked on Angela and Carlie, suddenly feeling pity for both.
'We've all been through so much...why can't we just be like normal people...with no worries...?' He pondered, slipped the covers up Carlie's shoulder, and left the room quietly in his robe.
The hallway was lit dimly with only a few candles seemingly floating in mid-air. He sighed and headed to the end of the hallway, where the main balcony awaited. He might as well think a little bit before heading back to sleep; it was better to sleep on an empty mind.
Stepping out onto the stone floor of the balcony, he was surprised to find someone was already there, leaning over the edge of the rail. The Swordmaster took a closer look and blinked realizing it was the Darkshine Knight.
"...Fine night it is." He spoke softly, knowing there was someone behind him.
"Yeah...stars are very clear." Duran replied and walked over and stood next to the Black Knight. They looked on in silence before Darkshine spoke again.
"What brings you up?"
Duran paused; should he tell him?
"...Nightmare. Bad memories re-surfacing."
Darkshine nodded, and shifted his weight to the other leg. Had he dreamed what he had dreamed? That day when he had to leave...?
"...What about?" he asked, looking at the warrior. Duran sighed.
"...When I was five...my father left me to fight your master. The Dragon Emperor. You already know that," Darkshine nodded slowly, "...It...was hard to see him leave...and never see him again."
Silence. The sound of night owls and gentle water from the court fountain in the background. Darkshine shifted his weight again.
"And so he died."
More silence.
"...Duran. Do you believe in the myth that when people die, they become a star in the sky?" The Knight asked.
"Yeah...I mean, sometimes. It makes sense...there's so many stars...and they're looking over us, watching us, making sure we don't do anything stupid." Duran explained, looking more deeply into the night sky. Darkshine shook his head.
"It cannot be true. What happens once the person enters the cycle of reincarnation? What happens to the star? Does it die? And reborn again? Stars do not contain spirits. Too many evil men in this world don't deserve to belong in the heavens."
Duran bit his lip and shrugged, "I'm still young. I have time to figure out what I believe in." The Darkshine Knight turned to Duran.
"The dead should serve the living, not hinder them."(*) He said, and walked back into the hall. Duran spent many minutes thinking about this before returning inside as well.
~*~
"There was a fighter who had a sword and Duran was his name-o!" Hawk sang as Duran sat down at the breakfast table. Duran smirked and pushed Hawk lightly, making him fall off his chair.
"Hey, c'mon Duran, it wasn't that bad!" Hawk chuckled, getting back up. Lise snorted.
"Do us all a favor and never become a singer...I'm serious Hawk." She muttered, sticking her tongue out. Hawk grinned.
"There was a bitch who had a spear and Lise was her name-o! L-I...no! Put down that...gah!" Hawk ran for his life, being chased by Lise holding a salad fork.
"GET BACK HERE YOU BASTARD! I'LL SPLIT YOU IN TWO!" The Amazoness screeched, running past Koren and Heath who were coming into the dining area.
"...Breakfast in the room today." Heath declared, and Koren nodded and the turned around to head back just as Kevin began to go down the stairs. He turned around and looked at Heath.
"Where you go? Breakfast down here." He said, turning his head to one side in confusion. Heath smiled.
"...It's a little crowded."
"And crazy." Koren added, and they continued up the stairs. Kevin shrugged and walked over to his friends.
"Hey Kevin! Good luck today!" Carlie squealed, jumping up and down in her chair. Kevin grinned sheepishly.
"Thank Carlie. Nervous, I am, fight girl...no hit girls...what Beast King said when Kevin little. Lugar even say it. No hit girls. But me fight girl...what me do?" he asked aloud, sitting down in an empty chair. Duran swallowed a bit of eggs and turned to his friend.
"You have no choice buddy, you got to fight her, and don't hold back either. It doesn't matter if she's a girl, she's a fighter too, just like you." He explained, and Angela nodded.
"That's right, just because girls fight boys it doesn't mean the boys go easy on the girl. They shouldn't get special treatment. Oy! Waiter! More juice for the lady here!" she yelled and tapped her spoon against her glass. Everyone at the table moaned.
"When this whole thing is over...we're sending her back to school..." Duran muttered and finished his breakfast. Just then, Lise and Hawk came running back; Hawk with several scratches on his arms and face, Lise madder than ever.
"BEND OVER BITCH! I'M STICKING THIS FORK UP YOUR ASS!" She screamed again. Duran shook his head.
"She's going to school too. Far...far...away."
~*~
The stadium was packed once again today, and the Mana Heroes took their usual spot in the box above the arena. Hawk and Lise were separated with the Darkshine Knight guarding Hawk from the angry queen. Duran checked out what he hadn't been able to before since he was fighting last time, and Heath and Koren were finishing their breakfast (Heath had toast, Koren self-consciously nibbled at a carrot stick).
"It's progress," Heath told Angela while Koren wasn't noticing, "Before he wouldn't eat in front of ANYONE but me...I'm happy for him." Angela nodded, smiling.
~*~
"Welcome to Day 2 of the Grand Tournament!" Shichi squealed into the microphone, sending the crowd into frenzy, "Today, we have Round Two involving the team which the young man yesterday was from! Today's fight is Kevin Bladeclaw of the Beast Kingdom against Laini Lakehart from the town of Astoria! Or...rather...what's left of it."
Both fighters approached the arena, neither looking to the cheering crowd. Kevin was too ashamed of what he had to do and Laini's eyes were filled with hatred. Shichi backed off and raised her hand.
"Ready...fight!" She cried out and the crowd cheered as the two fighters went into position. Kevin made his fists reluctantly but Laini took out her whip immediately and snapped it inches away from the Beastman, making him step back. Not waiting any longer, Laini charged forward and slapped Kevin in the face with her whip rolled up. The God Hand wiped blood off his cheek and took a deep breath.
"Me must do this. Me sorry." He said quietly to her, making her falter.
"What...was that?" She asked, not moving her position, but slightly relaxing it.
"Me sorry. No hit girls before. Wrong, what father said. But must try, friend Duran said try. Win tournament!" he growled and charged forward towards Laini, picking her up and slamming her against the ground. The young lady rebounded and jumped up onto Kevin's shoulders, surprising him. She then grabbed his neck and flipped him over herself, crushing him onto the arena floor. The crowd moaned and then cheered at the move.
"Don't you dare try and treat me differently because I'm a woman!" she shrieked, bringing her whip down across Kevin's back, making him yelp, "I thought you were apologizing for what you did to my home!"
"Did...what? Home?" Kevin muttered, and dodged his opponent's next blow.
"Destroying the town of Astoria! You Beastmen are all the same...destroy destroy! I bet you weren't sorry when you also sent Dune burning into the ground 12 years ago! I hate you all...for...killing my family and destroying my home!" she yelled, and began attacking more fiercely. Kevin tried to dodge the blows while going over what she said in his mind.
'Burn Astoria? Beastmen? Me knew that, me didn't do it! Lugar did! Beast King! They ruin this girl's life! Why me fight her? Me...feel bad...' he thought, then roared as the whip struck him in the head, sending him spinning in the air and landing harshly. Laini took this chance to wrap her whip around Kevin's neck, tightening it.
"Murderer..."
*~*
Can Kevin overcome his beliefs and somehow prove to Laini that he wasn't involved in the destruction of Astoria? Can he even win the fight, with the odds now against him?
*~*
A/N: The (*) at the end of Darkshine's sentence is a quote from Metroid Prime (PLAY THE GAME...PLAY IT...NOW!!) It's from a Space Pirate data log entry titled "The Chozo Race".
Play...the game...so good...it is...