Fratley was busy in the armoury preparing himself for his next battle. He was in the middle of putting on his chest plate when his opponent, who was also in the middle of putting on his armour, struck up a conversation.
"So we will end up fighting each other..." A familiar voice called into Fratley's ears.
Fratley looked up to see Gray, smiling nervously at him whilst trying to put on his armour. The two had talked to each other just before the tournament, and Gray mused about the fact that the two could end up fighting each other. The fact that it was now going to happen was a great coincidence.
"Yes, it seems so." Fratley replied. "At least one of us will qualify..."
"I suppose that is one good thing." Gray replied, looking slightly better and becoming a little more confident. "And I get the honour of testing my strength against a member of the lineage of Burmecia's finest warriors."
"I suppose that is a good way of looking at it. Put up a good fight."
"I will ask the same from you."
The two had finished putting on their armour, and they heard the King announce the victor of the match currently taking place. It was time for the two friends to fight each other for a place in the Royal Dragon Knight tournament.
The two made their way down to the arena and faced each other, at a distance just out of range of any lance strikes. The two then entered their personal battle stances and the King announced the start of the match.
"You may begin."
Their two lances clashed together with immense force the second after the match had started and a deadlock had begun. Fratley used his strength to try and push Gray through the arena, but Gray stepped back and swung his lance back to break the deadlock. As soon as Gray withdrew his lance he had to block another assault from Fratley.
Gray broke this second deadlock and jumped back a small distance across the arena to try and find a different way to attack. The two warriors maintained full eye contact over the distance between them. Fratley rushed forward and swung his lance in a third attack but Gray rolled away from the strike. It was then Fratley's turn to jump back as he evaded a counter from Gray.
Gray charged at Fratley to continue his assault, but Fratley had him well scouted and leapt straight over him, managing to kick Gray in the face in mid-air. Gray grunted in pain before instinctively placing his free hand on his face. Fratley had a clean landing before turning around and making use of the opening to swing at Gray.
He was unfortunate, his lance clashed against Gray's armour, causing a loud clank of metal to be heard and a few sparks to fly. Gray yelped and moved forward before removing his hand from his face, revealing a small bruise on his forehead.
Gray scowled, but was thankful of his luck. He charged at Fratley once again; bringing his lance upward to counter any form of leap. Fratley swung his lance downwards to block the strike. Fratley then used his strength to push Gray's lance against the ground, forcing another deadlock.
A few seconds passed, and as Gray couldn't lift his lance due to Fratley's strength, Fratley decided to break the deadlock by leaping backwards. Gray lifted his lance far too high, as Fratley had leapt faster than his reaction. Fratley utilised the opening and charged towards Gray, his lance starting to grow a white colour.
"Lancer!" Fratley shouted.
Gray desperately tried to move his lance down to block the strike. He succeeded, but the physical strength of Fratley and the magical power of the Dragon Knight ability knocked Gray's lance clean out of his hands.
The lance clashed against the concrete floor of the arena, and Fratley brought his lance back and eased off. The magical power of the lance faded away.
"Sir Fratley is the victor. He now qualifies to participate in the tournament." The King announced throughout the arena.
Gray sighed in bitter defeat, before shaking Fratley's hand in a congratulatory manner. The Dragon Knights applauded the victory.
"Good match." Fratley said with a smile to Gray.
"You were a worthy winner." Gray replied, starting to smile slightly despite his defeat.
Their handshake ended, and the two left the arena and headed to the armoury.
Several matches passed before Frato was in the armoury, putting on his armour and preparing himself for his last qualifying match. Dan, who was to be his opponent, was looking over at him with eyes wide with fear as he put on his armour. Dan decided to say something to break up the slight tension building between the two.
"Uh...Frato, may I please ask that you ease off slightly in this match?" Dan stuttered, which caused Frato to glance at him with stern eyes. "It's just that I don't want to end up in the same condition as your last opponent."
Frato just grunted in response, and turned his attention back to his armour.
"Please?" Dan continued.
Frato looked back at him and frowned slightly. "I will do what I need to do to win. Wounds will be given, and blood will be spilled. If you think you can participate in a contest like this and come out with no injuries, then you may as well go home."
"I know that! It's just you went overkill in your last battle!" Dan spluttered in response. "Ease up a little, okay? This isn't life or death."
Frato stood up, as he had finished putting on his armour. He made no response; instead he just listened out for the King to announce the winner of the match currently taking place.
A few moments passed, and it was time for the two to come out and do battle. Frato marched out into the arena and took his position. Dan followed, his eyes wide with fear once again as he took his battle position.
The King's voice rang through their ears. "You may begin."
Frato was the first to attack as he charged forward and swung his lance at Dan with immense force and extreme quickness. Dan just managed to block the strike, and he had to block again as Frato took another swing at him.
Dan decided to leap back for some breathing space, but Frato charged at him as he leapt and took another swing at him. Dan blocked once again, but the two kept their lances together and a deadlock ensued. Frato shoved Dan back with his superior strength and took another swing, but Dan scouted this attack and leapt up into the air to evade the blow.
Frato looked up to keep track of his opponent and saw Dan sailing up into the air. He noticed Dan was charging up his lance with magical power, preparing a Dragon Knight ability whilst in mid-air. Frato began to charge up his lance with a mysterious red energy as a counter.
Dan was the first to charge up his ability, his lance was glowing with a white energy. He pointed his lance at Frato and shouted "Dragon's Breath!" At these words, a Dragon's head formed on the tip of his spear in a flash of white energy. The dragon's head looked at Frato and opened its mouth wide open, and fired an intense beam of white energy towards him.
Frato saw this and leaped back to evade the powerful attack. The beam slammed down into the arena floor and exploded in bright light. Dan landed soon afterwards and charged through the smoke formed from his previous attack and straight towards Frato.
Dan swung at Frato as hard as he could, but Frato had scouted this attack also and he evaded it by leaping over his opponent and across the arena. Dan turned around to see Frato land, with his lance glowing brightly with red energy. Frato pointed his lance into the air and shouted "Luna!"
A mysterious red aura filled the arena, pouring out of Frato's lance and hitting both of the warriors. The aura filled both of them with an intense rage, a burning feeling which made them want to strike at each other.
The attack took effect, and both of the warriors charged into the centre of the arena and begun slashing at each other's armour. Neither of them could control themselves. Eventually the chain of attacks ended when Frato connected a powerful strike to Dan's right shoulder, and onto his chest.
A severe cut was formed, and Dan fell backwards and sprawled out on the arena floor gasping from the pain. Blood was gushing out of the wound as the red aura left the fighters.
"Sir Frato is the victor. He now qualifies to participate in the tournament." The King announced throughout the arena.
The Dragon Knights murmured to themselves once again about the half-breed's aggression in the match as Frato turned and left the arena. One knight ran into the arena to aid Dan to the infirmary, as Dan could barely move.
The rest of the matches came and went, and the qualifying matches ended. After the last match had took place the King rose from his seat and walked into the centre of the arena. He then began to speak:
"The tournament will commence in this arena this time next week. All of those who have qualified will need to arrive on time or they will be considered to have forfeited their match. Tickets will be sent to families of the participants so they can watch if they wish. I look forward to seeing you there; this looks to be shaping up to be quite a tournament! Until then, I grant you farewell and good health."
With that, the King turned and left the arena, accompanied by two Burmecian guards.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 9 or anything in it, so don't sue. Frato is a concept of my imagination and is mine. Okay!?
Author's Rant: Hello...where is everybody...I want reviews!