Chapter 14

Olympus Coliseum-Hercules Cup

Cloud watched from above as Sora entered the Coliseum with Donald and Goofy following shortly behind him. He had made a promise not to help Sora anymore, this was his journey.

"I think he needs to be tested again," Cloud said. He pulled the Buster Sword from his back. He had a tournament to sign up for.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy walked into the coliseum when a sudden wave of people came at them.

"Oh Zeus! It's Sora!" Sora heard a girl scream.

"Wow!" Said a really good-looking girl near the entrance. "It's Sora!"

"Hi," Sora said as he faced her but Donald grabbed him and pulled him inside.

Hades stood face to face with Sephiroth. Hades tried to show no fear from Sephiroth's presence but even the Lord of the Underworld shook under his gaze.

"You will take them out soon," Sephiroth told him.

"I'll take out whoever I want whenever I want!" Hades shouted.

"I don't want to waste my time cleaning up your messes," Sephiroth's voice was so demanding Hades had an urge to drop to his knees and bow to the warrior.

"There will be no mess. If the snot nosed brat is able to beat Jerkules then I will fight him. Only then!"

"You better hope you succeed," Sephiroth scowled and disappeared. Hades yelled in fury as red fire consumed the room he stood in. He needed a plan.

"I got it!" Hades yelled. "Soon both Hercules and the Keybearer will fall!"

Sora stretched as he prepared for his first fight. Donald and Goofy stood impatient behind him. Suddenly five Gargoyles and three Shadows appeared. The two teams jumped at each other.

"Well if it isn't Cloud," Phil said as Cloud walked into the room. Cloud stared at Phil and slightly smiled.

"I would like to sign up Phil," Cloud said.

"Really!" Phil jumped in excitement. "I still have time to advertise it! Cloud vs. Sora, Donald, and Goofy: Rematch of the Century!"

Donald shot off the Thundara and killed two Gargoyles with it. A Shadow jumped at him but Donald leaped over it. Donald stayed in the air and used Glide to get to the Shadow quickly and used Fira to kill it.

Goofy dodged an attack from a Gargoyle and then spun around and cracked it in the head with his shield. As the two remaining Shadows came at him Goofy dropped to the ground and spun on his shield, effectively kicking the two Shadows hard enough to destroy them. Only two Gargoyles remained.

The two Gargoyles flew at Sora at high speed. Sora jumped and did a twist in the air to dodge the strikes.

"Gravira!" Sora used his spell and the two Gargoyles were killed. They smiled and waved at the crowd who approved of their fast victory.

"Attention everyone!" Phil came running out onto the stage. "I am sad to announce that Sora, Donald, and Goofy will not be fighting for another thirty minutes." The crowd groaned and booed. "But say hello to their next opponent!"

The crowd erupted into applause as Cloud walked out. Sora almost went pale when he saw Cloud. The tournament just got a lot harder.

Hercules stood in a quiet forest. His eyes were closed and his listened for any sound around him. Hercules jumped up and punched straight through a nearby tree, reducing it to splinters.

"It's my turn to win," Hercules said. "Sorry Sora."

"What?" Sora shouted when he heard the news. "I have to face Cloud and Hercules in the same tournament!" Donald was walking around nervously and Goofy was on his bed, fast asleep.

"That's what I said!" Donald told him. "I'm not sure what chance we stand. The Heartless would be no problem but those two?"

"I see your point," Sora said as he sighed. The coliseum battles were just getting harder and harder as time went on.

"Next round!" Phil shouted. "Hercules will face Cloud! The winner of this round goes on to face Sora!" Phil heard the boos start. He had promised them Cloud vs. Sora and the others next but certain things had gotten in the way.

Hercules and Cloud stepped into the ring as the crowd started to settle down and choose whom they wanted to win. The two warriors jumped at each other. Cloud decided to leave his Buster Sword on his back for a while.

Hercules delivered a powerful punch but Cloud was able to maneuver away at the last second and delivered a kick in the hero's gut. Hercules was sent flying backwards but stopped himself. Cloud and Hercules ran at each other and clasped their hands together and began to push in a match of strength.

"Forget it Cloud!" Hercules shouted. "I'm a Demi-God!"

"Oh yeah?" Cloud said in a cold voice. "Well I'm a full God!" Cloud pushed hard enough that Hercules was pushed backward and Cloud landed a heavy punch to Hercules' face sending him to the ground once more.

Hercules jumped back up and charged at Cloud and tackling him to the ground with tremendous force. Cloud slammed into the ground and the ring was starting to be ripped into pieces. Cloud flipped the two of them over so Hercules was taking the damage. Both tried to get to their feet but the other would pull them down.

Hercules placed his foot into Cloud's gut and kicked as hard as he could. Cloud was sent into the air and crashed back into the ring. Hercules pulled his blade from his side and Cloud pulled out his Buster Sword.

Both blades met as the two met in the center of the ring. Hercules moved back and ducked to stab at Cloud's stomach. Cloud spun around with his Buster Sword out and deflected the attack.

Cloud and Hercules clashed their weapons again and both blades were thrown from their hands and landed a couple of feet away. Hercules pulled his fist back and Cloud did the same. Hercules' fist glowed with golden energy and Cloud's was red. The large black wing erupted from Cloud's shoulder.

They ran at each other and punched each other at the same time across the face. They were both thrown back and landed hard on the ground. The two were still and didn't get back up.

"I guess that means a tie!" Phil shouted. "Both of them will advance. So after he gets enough rest it will be Cloud vs. Sora, Donald, and Goofy and then Hercules will face them!"

Sora paced along with Donald in their room. They had hoped that either Cloud or Hercules would have been taken out of the tournament but both of them advanced with their tie.

"It's time you guys!" Phil said. "Cloud's waiting for you in the ring."

"All ready?" Sora said. "Oh well." Sora and Donald woke Goofy and they walked out to the ring.

Cloud was ready. He had been waiting for this match for a while now. He needed to test not just Sora but Donald and Goofy as well. Those two would be needed if the Heartless were to be defeated.

"Begin!" Phil shouted. Cloud ran as fast as he could at Sora but then jumped over him and attacked Goofy. Goofy had his shield up and ready as quick as possible. Donald had turned around and used Blizarra on Cloud. Cloud ignored the cold and jumped away. The three warriors stood in front of Cloud with fierce determination.

"This should be very interesting," Sephiroth laughed to himself as he sat in the stands. "If Cloud is being equaled by these feeble ones then he has truly lost his touch." The Sephiroth felt it. A greatly suppressed power.

He stared at Cloud and could feel the great energy within him. Cloud was holding back and he was holding back a lot. Sephiroth chuckled to himself. "When will you truly fight the boy Strife?"

Sora blocked a strike from Cloud and dropped to the ground as Goofy jumped over him and hit Cloud in the head with his shield. Cloud fell to the ground but quickly hopped back to his feet.

"Sonic Blade!" Cloud and Sora yelled as they both used the attack. The two blurs rushed pass each other and when they were able to be seen they turned to face each other again showing neither took to much damage.

"Fira!" Donald shot off and Cloud was hit in the back hard. Cloud whipped around and kicked Donald in the stomach, sending the wizard flying back. Goofy used Charge and knocked Cloud off his feet again. Cloud was quickly able to spring back to his feet with Buster Sword ready once again.

Sora decided to take the offensive and ran straight at Cloud. Cloud swiped at him with the Buster Sword but Sora rolled under it and brought the Fairy Harp up and made a cut into Cloud's chest. Cloud looked at the cut and smiled before healing himself up.

Donald and Goofy prepared to attack but Cloud was one step ahead of them and they were left on the defensive. Goofy got in front of Donald and used his shield to block Cloud's strike. Goofy then ducked and Cloud was hit with a Fira in the face. He healed himself again and jumped back.

"Aerora!" Sora used his spell as he felt Cloud's attack coming. The black wing erupted from Cloud's back once more. Dark energy surrounded Cloud as he floated into the air. Suddenly Cloud was no longer the friendly loner that Sora knew but in that pose in the sky and dark energy around him Cloud was a great demon of destruction.

Cloud flew forward and started slicing with the Buster Sword. The strikes were powerful and Sora was thrown back. Goofy held up his shield but the shield cracked and was split in half from the force of the attack. Donald was able to avert danger as Cloud came back down to the ground and the energy disappeared.

Cloud's eyes went wide as he felt two objects strike both sides of his head. Goofy had sandwiched Cloud's head between the two pieces of the shield. Cloud fell to the ground and did not get back up.

"Winners!" Phil announced. Donald and Sora cheered but Goofy just stared at his broken shield.

"Hey Goofy," Hercules came up to them. "I think I know someone who can fix your shield for you."

"Really?" Goofy's eyes filled with hope.

"Yeah, I'll take it now and we can fight when I get back," Hercules said as he started to walk off.

"Wait," Cloud's voice stopped them. They turned to see a perfectly fine Cloud standing there. "You need to fight now. I'll take the shield to get fixed." Cloud walked up to Hercules and took the shield pieces. He nodded once and flew into the air.

"I guess we can get on with the finals!" Phil shouted. "It will be Sora, Donald, and Goofy vs. the great Hercules!"

"No," Sora stopped them. "Hercules! I challenge you to face me alone!"

"What?" Hercules asked in shock.

"Hey!" Donald stormed up to him. "You can't do this!"

"You already used up most of your energy and Goofy can't fight either way! Besides, this is the way I want it!" Sora shouted.

"Fine!" Donald walked away. "Show off."

"I guess it's only Sora vs. Hercules!" Phil shouted. About half of the crowd that had the Donald or Goofy signs booed but soon shut up to see the match.

Hercules and Sora faced each other in the center of the ring.

"This is it Sora!" Hercules said. "If you beat me you will officially be known as a full fledged hero!"

"Is that so?" Sora asked as he leveled the Fairy Harp at Hercules.

"Begin!" Phil shouted. They jumped at each other and Hercules pulled his sword from his holster and the two blades struck each other. Sora was the better swordsman of the two but Hercules was much stronger.

Sora jumped back to avoid a strike from Hercules and then whipped the Fairy Harp around to hit the Demi-God but Hercules jumped out of the way. Both blades met once again and Hercules used his strength to push Sora back. As Hercules ran at him Sora prepared his attack.

"Ars Arcanum!" Sora shouted. His Fairy Harp became a blur of green as it began to strike Hercules all over. Hercules was able to get one good block and jumped away from the onslaught.

Hercules slammed his fists into the ground, making a shockwave that knocked Sora off his feet. For the second Sora was in the air Hercules ran up to him and punched him as hard as he could. Sora was sent flying backwards until he slammed into the magical barrier around the ring.

Keeping on the offensive, Hercules ran forward as Sora slowly got to his feet. Hercules hit him in the face again and then in the stomach. Sora crashed to the ground and didn't seem to be moving.

"Sora! Get up!" Donald yelled.

"You can do it Sora!" Goofy cheered with him. Sora could barely hear his two friends as he was on the brink of unconsciousness.

'Wait!' Sora thought. 'That's it! That's what makes me a hero!' Sora finally realized what being a hero meant.

"And the winner is…" Phil started.

"No!" Sora shouted as he slowly got to his feet. "I'm not ready to lose yet Hercules!" Sora said in a demanding voice. With the Fairy Harp at his side Sora rushed at Hercules with full speed. He ducked under a punch Hercules threw at him and sliced into the hero's side.

Hercules was in shock as he dropped to the ground with his side bleeding. He started to get back up but Sora stood over him.

"I win," Sora said and hit Hercules in the head with the blunt end of his Fairy Harp and Hercules was knocked out.

"The winner and still champion! Sora!" Phil shouted and the crowd erupted into applause. Sora smiled and waved before passing out right in the center of the ring.

Sora awoke later that day. He now stood in the lobby with Donald, Goofy, Phil, and the cured Hercules. Cloud had already stopped by and gave Goofy his shield back.

"I finally figured it out," Sora said. "I finally know what makes me a hero."

"Let's hear it then," Phil said.

"My friends make me a hero. Without them I would be nothing. I make them heroes and they do the same with me."

"That's not exactly…" Hercules clamped his hand over Phil's mouth.

"That's right Sora. Good job on finally becoming a true hero," Hercules said.

"Hey! I bet we can move this now!" Goofy said as he pointed to the large block that Sora had tried to move the very first time they came to the Coliseum. They laughed and all three walked over to it and pushed. The block moved and on the ground where the block had been was the Coliseum's Keyhole.

Sora stared at it and then pointed the Fairy Harp at it to lock the world for good.

"Great job Sora," Hercules said. "I had this for a long time and wondered when I should give it to you and I think now is the right time." Hercules handed Sora a Keychain.

Sora took off the Fairy Harp and placed the new Keychain on. The Keyblade changed quickly. The blade of it went from round to rectangle-like and the key part looked like clouds of some sort.

"Thanks Herc," Sora said as he examined it. "I'll call this one the Olympia."

"I'll see you Sora," Hercules waved as Sora, Donald, and Goofy left the Coliseum.