Konnichiwa.
Zealous Goanna: Thanks! Was that message pre-made, though? o.O
Hollowed Shame: Yes, how the plot doth thicken!
Xiao-Darkcloud: I know! I was rereading the chapters, and I suddenly got really sad when they had to split up… Hm… I really like Kaze.
Basiliskwings: Kaze? A butt? Lol!
Daikoran: Heh! Maybe for a little while, but I'm back! Kaze is the coolest! And Link! Yeah, he's crazy!
I'm back, and have officially mapped out eight more chapters! You know? I thought then that it was pretty lame, but now I kinda like it… I find things more justified, now. Anyway, I stopped writing Survival! because people didn't like my characters… But guess what! Ferah isn't the perfect candidate for being Roy's Player, because she's normal. She's clingy, a little arrogant, doesn't like video games, and is only doing this for her brother! Okay? And I like Kaze! I think he's cool! I've found that I don't like Stephen King books, though, so maybe I'll go back and change what books he's reading. Tom Clancy FTW? I also like Trent. He's based off a real guy. A really hot guy. Anyway, yes, I think Trent has the right to be a little bit cocky, I mean, he is the best contestant, isn't he? OR IS HE?
And I'm sorry you hate him, Adriana Dimitriov. XP
NOTE(S):
- I do not own SSBM, or Fire Emblem, or any other video game (besides the cartridges).
- I do, however, own all the Players (I.E.: Ferah, Kaze, Trent, or Selena).
- Earlier, when I said that Roy told his servants to prepare for "Lady Lilina and Lord Hector's arrival"? Well, I didn't know, but he… hm… dies. Sorry.
- And when I said that the Amethyst and Topaz Teams were disqualified… That doesn't make any sense. They just lost. And they got "GBADSes", which also doesn't make sense. It's just "DSes". Sorry.
- Did I give Ferah the same e-mail from her brother twice? When I reread, I thought I did… Dejavu…
- Also, did I say in one of those e-mails that one of Ferah's friends was disqualified? How did she know that so early? I'm sorry, my last few chapters have been very jumbled!
XXX
Chapter Eight: Cello Minuet
XXX
"The Sword of Seals isn't for jabbing." Said Roy dismissively.
Ferah and Roy walked the halls of Pharae as busy maids holding platters of food or soldiers late for training dashed past them, their swords clicking irritably against their shiny armor. Side by side, the young swordswoman and the to-be Lord of Pharae made soft clacking noises as they walked the length of his beautiful castle, conversing lightly.
"That is the fourth time you've brought that up." Frowned Ferah. "I know it isn't for jabbing, but it just seems to work better that way. I've gotten alotta kills like that."
"But you used slicing to duel against Lord Marth, and he's your real enemy." Continued Roy, looking at the tapestries of the Great Scourging on the stone walls.
"But I didn't win." Continued Ferah. She was being stubborn, because she didn't really think technique mattered as much as getting it done, but she was also enjoying this simple squabble with her partner.
"There are different sorts of swords." Said Roy, ignoring the matter. "A rapier is what you need. The Sword of Seals is a double-sided blade. It's used for slicing, and burning, sort of." He replied.
"…A rapier?"
"I'll have to show you some time." Roy agreed.
"Anyway, why is it that I can't get it to burn? Selena told me your sword is supposed to light my enemies on fire, but that hasn't happened yet. When Kirby copied us, he couldn't do it either" She said, looking at the golden blade hanging at the small of Roy's back.
While she and Roy had belonged to the Emerald Team, his armor had been green, gold, and brown. Now that they were in the Lynx Trinity and there were no respective colors, his armor had gone blue and the inside of his cape a bold red that matched his hair.
Ferah missed the Emerald Team.
Roy fixed his mouth and stopped as they came towards a stained-glass window. It threw vibrant colors and sunlight on the cold marble floor as dust particles danced in the air. He walked over to it and then drew the blade from his back. "See this?" He asked, rotating the double-edged blade and making it gleam elegantly in the colorful sun.
There was a large, circular ruby in the middle of the golden hilt and it's blue wings. It was bright and polished neatly, but as Ferah narrowed her eyes, she could almost see a legendary battle taking place inside of it.
"The reason other people couldn't claim this sword was because of this. It's called the Fire Emblem. It's a symbol that signifies the king of Elibe, this continent. A princess gave it to me, and it's what I used to unlock it, hence it is no longer sealed." He paused. "I'm not sure if that has anything to do with why you can't wield it, but that's at least why others couldn't."
Ferah frowned. "I don't think that's it." She said, and joined him leaning on the edge of the stone windowsill. "Just because it doesn't know me? Would the game be that extensive, making it so that no Player could wield the sword properly? I think there's something wrong with me."
Whatever it is, thought Ferah, I'll bet anything that Van wouldn't have to deal with it.
"I once met a dragon…" Began Roy, wondering if Ferah had ever encountered one herself. "…that told me the story of this blade. A warrior called Heartmut used it to seal away the Dark Dragon Idoun. But the man pitied the dragon, for he had seen her in her human form as nothing but a little girl. And because the sword reacts to the wielder's heart, he did not kill it, but only caused it to loose consciousness."
"I do not pity my enemies." It was something else.
Their conversation ended. Ferah tried to make out figures beyond the glass. When she realized something bright red was approaching, she sighed. A few taps on the window and a vivacious smile from Roy sent the Player on her way home.
---
Miss Fell was the first Player to reach the Lynx Trinity's hotel room. She opened it slowly with the newly acquired golden key and looked around. It was smaller than the suite she had stayed in before. Now, it was just one bedroom, a bathroom, and one leisure room. Suddenly realizing that she would be sleeping with two other boys in the room, she blushed, but felt rather lonely.
Sliding her chief luggage bag into the room with her foot, she closed the door behind her and let Snow Fern out of her gym bag. The cat that was no longer a kitten bounded out, not liking the confines of her bag at all, and began sniffing the nearest wall.
After investigating the bedroom Ferah found that it was rather small, with one desk, a six-shelved drawer, and two king-sized beds. She claimed the furthest bed by tossing her purse onto it. Absentmindedly staring at the same floral designs on her bed cover as the one she had in the Emerald Suite, she remembered Selena's white teddy bear, with it's royal blue ribbon, and her black GBA SP, before she had thrown it into the wall.
What had happened to her Pokemon file? It probably just suffered from a glitch. It was too bad it had to happen to Selena, of all people, though, thought Ferah. Maybe she played it too much?
Ferah's pigtails slid as she turned to look at the other bed. Was Trent really on her team? I'm so lucky. She thought to herself. But she'd have to be at her best for him at all times. Ah, such was the burden of a girl.
Carefully, she began unloading her clothing into one of the drawer shelves. Fern soundlessly strode over to her and rubbed on her hip, purring.
There was some scratching and rattling at the door, and then she heard it open. Still refolding a chic sweater, she looked up. "Charizard." She noted, remembering his brutality and mocking comments during her match with the Sapphire Team.
"Hey, it's the cross-dresser." Cameron "Charizard" said, grinning. When she didn't giggle back girlishly, he ruffled his hair. He hadn't put the gel through it this morning, and therefore his spikes were just silky strains of blue-tipped gold. "Hey... We're teammates now. I was just playing with you, you know. We were enemies then. But you were good, I was surprised, honest."
"Yeah, whatever." Said Ferah, letting up good-naturedly. "But Roy wants me to tell you to never take his sword again. You know, I don't have any other weapons." She picked a strand of white fur off a black cardigan.
"Did he really? That scares me." Remarked he, amused. He dumped his bags next the wall and pulled off his black backpack. "Huh, what's this?" He said, as Snow Fern emerged from under Ferah's bed and tiptoed over to investigate him.
"You weren't the first to take it from us." She watched Cameron as he brushed Fern's thick white fur back and forth like he would a dog, uneducated in the way of cats. With a sudden breath of nostalgia, she missed Aaron deeply, knowing he would sneeze at this exact instant.
"Well you're no scaredy cat." He smiled, talking to Snowy as he crouched down to see her properly.
"Hah, I didn't think you were such a rebel." Remarked the boy to Ferah as Snow Fern made some deep growling noises. "Sneaking a pet into a hotel like this."
Ferah finished the transporting of her clothes and scooped the kitten up. It stopped it's crazy growling and began kneading in Ferah's lacey, aqua-colored blouse. She wore white pants and black boots, her hair up in buns tied with white ribbons. The lip-gloss she had bought with the Emerald Team was warm inside her pocket.
"I have a name. It's Ferah." She said irritably.
The door swung open once again. Ferah suddenly felt a rush of heat, and then felt the impending insecurity of a foreigner who didn't speak the Sapphire Team language.
"Well, hello Ferah." Sang Trent Williams affably. He gave the door a kick from behind and it slowly locked closed. Putting the New York Times on the coffee table, he smiled at her genially.
"Here we are once again, Trent." Said Cameron in a casual welcome. Feeling uncomfortable, Ferah she sat down on her decided bed with confidence and placed Snow Fern on her lap. She went into a ball of white fur and closed its eyes.
Trent was wearing a nice, forest green track jacket over his white t-shirt. As he laid his bags on the desk, he held a half-eaten, shiny apple in his hand. And on his back was what appeared to be a very large, obscure, silver guitar case.
"Aha, I had forgotten about that." Said Cameron as he took out his Player's necklace and pulled it over his head. His hair fell back into place in front of his eyes. After giving the necklace's stretchy material a sharp snap, he flicked his head to the right, trying to get it out of his eyes.
"That… What is it?" Asked Ferah. It wouldn't have been easier to identify if she had had her other contact in because she wasn't a musically gifted person, so she remained meek.
With a clunk, Trent took the case off his back and laid it carefully against the wall. It might have been heavy, but Trent's posture was always upright and straight. "It's a cello." Said Trent proudly, almost to himself, as he looked at it lovingly. Ferah thought it cute that one so determined and victorious as he was so attached to wood, but there was always something passionate about musicians that she liked.
"Oh, wait!" Said Ferah, snapping her fingers. "Did you play that a lot at night? Like, around midnight?"
Trent nodded as he went through his bag for his laptop. "Yes, that was me. After the UberSSBM competition, I have a week until a major audition… Turns out that's in New York, too. Well, did you enjoy it? It was movement five, the minuet, of Bach's Cello Suite number one, in G Major."
Ferah put her chin in her palm. There appeared nothing Trent couldn't do, and she couldn't help but fall for him. "Yeah, it was really beautiful. It helped me sleep." She paused. "Anyway, I've claimed this bed for myself." Her green eyes searched the two boys, one taller and one shorter but bother taller than she, for any opposition.
---
Trying not to look down, Ferah took another step on her way across the bridge. There was no railing, and the wood planks were thin and spread out, as well as only held together by two ropes. She held out her arms, trying to balance herself, as her wavy dark hair fell over her eyes. Without using her hands, she blew breath upward to get it out of her vision. She felt lucky that vision issues were one of the few things that didn't register in UberSSBM, and her sight was 20/20 here.
"Come on!" Called Saria, smiling. Ferah couldn't help but smile back. Saria really had the prettiest smile. It seemed as if Saria, regardless her bright green hair and obstructive, pointy elf ears, was more human than anybody else Ferah had met. Reaching the large stone platform that marked the end of her balancing act, Alice helped her onto the ledge.
Ferah felt the cool, fresh wind of the forest blow past her as she stood up straight. From here, she could see the entire Kokiri Village, and the Great Deku Tree far ahead of them. Everything around her was a warm green and brown. Elves as short as Saria wandered around below her, talking, playing, and working. Plui, Saria's fairy, struck ringing bell chords as it swirled around the three of them, laying down a glow on the winds.
"It's so beautiful…" Said Alice. She had taken off her wide glasses and was now holding them in her hands. "I'm going to miss this, and the both of you, so much…" She was crying again.
Saria, too, had started to weep silently. She still smiled, though. "It's only been a week, and already I knew you're my best friend. It's too bad you have to leave, really." She giggled, in spite of herself.
Ferah was hush, saddened, but still took notice of Saria's A.I. at work. It wasn't artificial intelligence, was it, really? This was too much. Saria was too human. The forest was too beautiful. She cupped her fingers over her mouth and closed her eyes.
After Alice said her final farewell to the Forest Sage and made Ferah promise to visit Saria as often as she could, the two Players clicked their necklace's chip boxes to the left and disappeared.
---
Before the losing Players were to be picked up and taken to the airport, a picnic was held for all of them at Lily Water Park, where their previous matches had taken place. While there were citizens, fans, and paparazzi scattered about, the Players had taken to ignoring them. There was a game of tackle football going on in the grass expansion, where Bruce "Bowser"'s team was leading by a long shot.
"This is completely unfair!" Shouted Scott "Luigi" as Aaron took him down from behind.
The two girls woke up, back to back. Ferah got up first and stretched. "It felt like we spent a good 45 minutes in there, but it's was only 25." She said, checking her red cellphone.
"If I could bring the game and Saria home with me, I'd do my homework in Kokiri." Alice smiled.
Cassandra strode by them, ignoring them completely. She took off her flat brown cap angrily, her gold-brown hair askew, but she didn't seem to notice. "Alright, that's it!" She yelled at the boys, cupping her hand with her mouth. "You guys suck! I'm playing too!"
Stephanie "Jigglypuff" had obviously decided this was a good time to flirt with some boys before she had to leave, and stood beside her. The burly Karen "Samus" was always up for physical competitions, so she stood up as well, as if she were being personally addressed.
Even Tori "Shiek", the punk-clad Player with no reason to care about anything at anytime stood up, abandoning the coloring in of her nails with black Sharpie. "I want to play." She said simply, in her monotonous voice. The golden roots showing under her dyed black hair was even more noticeable in the gleaming sun.
"Whatever." Said Nick "Kirby", smiling. "You guys can play, too. But let's just play without Bruce, okay?" He crossed his arms on his chest.
"That's not fair." Grunted Bruce as he tucked the leather-skin football under one of his thick, hairy arms. It had been in his possession the entire game, as nobody had gotten it away from him.
"You two playin'?" Asked the tall Selena as she walked over to Alice and Ferah, who were sitting on the bench of a wooden picnic table, under a shelter. She wore her golden hair in a high ponytail, and the layered tips fell on the back of her neck. The beautiful Hispanic wore a white halter-top and some black capris. It was sunny today, and Selena couldn't help but want to wear something more summer fitting, regardless of her mishap last week.
"You play?" Responded Ferah. "You always have surprises for me, don't you?"
Selena laughed as she readjusted a metal clip in her hair. "Ehehehe… Anyway, are you guys in or out?"
"I'm in if you are." Chimed Alice to Ferah. "And as long as Bruce is on our side. I'd hate to have him tackle me."
"Then we're in!" Said Ferah loudly, so the other girls would hear her. The three joined the assortment of other female players on the field.
The afternoon sun was pleasantly warm and the summer breezes that blew down from the cloudless sky were refreshing. As usual, the Players were incredibly competitive, which made the day's games even better. They had eventually worked out that the game would be girls versus guys, but the girls would get Bruce on their team. Aaron decided he wanted to be on the girl's team too, and when Selena got down in her crouch next to Karen "Samus" to receive the ball, he slapped her ass. This threw the self-appointed leader Cassandra's play out of whack, but they won anyway.
Ferah ran forward and tackled Eric to the earth. The dark-skinned, black haired boy laughed at her attempt as he fell onto the grass beneath her, rolled her off, and went on. Getting back up and flipping her wavy locks out of her eyes, she noticed some photographers in the distance. Jess "Popo", the male half of the Ice Climbers' Players, was also filming them with his small camera. She waved, and he waved back, adding a narrative.
Tori jumped up and caught the football and a score was made. Ferah laughed as Dominick tripped and collided with Cameron "Charizard". Now that the players were all at one end of the field, Ferah realized how many of them were not actually out there. Where were they? This is fun, she thought. They shouldn't miss this. She wasn't into sports herself, but she did enjoy a good game, and it was in honor of the procession of the competition.
Shading her eyes and looking around the park from her position on the field, she saw Trent watching the game from the shade of a large, brightly green tree. On his right sat the lovely Madison "Dragonair", and they were obviously arguing. While the pale-faced girl was getting a little red, Trent kept his peaceful demeanor.
Who else was missing? Ferah looked at the benches spread along the path. Where was Kaze? It's completely like him to be anti-social, she thought.
"I'm taking five." She said to Cassandra, who suddenly had to reconfigure her game plan.
Ferah walked out into the surrounding woods. Not far off, Kaze sat in the grass. It had been obvious he had come to read, but had abandoned his book. The black clothes he had usually worn were now traded for a t-shirt and cargo pants. His head was laid against the warm rock he was sitting next to. His glasses were sliding off his nose and his eyes were peacefully closed.
Slowly and quietly, took a seat on the rock next to him. However, he still woke up, as if he were synchronized with the sensitive Fox McCloud.
"Why don't you come join us?" She asked, looking down at the small pond below. It wasn't incredibly wide, but she figured it was deep, as cattails and tall grass were growing out of it. She heard a frog splash into the water somewhere far off.
She made sure she didn't place her footing too close to the edge, in case her lack of depth perception caused something hazardous to happen. Then again, with Kaze by her side, she always felt safe.
"I'm fine here." He said shortly. He took off his small reading glasses and placed them in his pant's pocket.
"Would you mind having somebody to talk to?" Ferah continued, probably pushing it, she figured. When he didn't respond, she continued. "I'm glad our team made the cut." She felt she owed him this much.
She was pleased to see a slight smile form on his lips. "Yes. That was barely, though. It was tough… You did a good job."
Finally. She thought. He has something nice to say to me.
There was some movement behind them, and they took their attention away from their reflections in the water below to look behind them. Jess, the short, brown-haired boy, was walking toward them, his camera in hand. The camera's LCD screen open, he didn't take his eyes off it. "Hi Emeralds." He said friendly-like, and waved at them through his screen.
"I thought you might want to see this before I left. …You know, my loss against you guys was mostly you." He said, eyeing Ferah through the camera. Ferah recalled their match. Ice pick against blade, she hadn't really been concentrating on their duel. "Anyway, I've already showed a lot of people this, so it's payback."
He leaned over Ferah's shoulder and rotated the screen of the camera so that she could see, and Kaze straightened up so he could see too.
Ferah had no idea what it could have been, and wondered if she should elbow Jess in the stomach before it even began. But he didn't look mad, just amused.
After she watched herself, in Roy's clothing, jump up from a tree stump and feebly try to wrangle the Sword of Seals away from Charizard's orange claws, only to see a close-up of the now-visible light blue underwear visible from under her white skirt, she didn't blush, but instead grabbed Jess' head and put it into a headlock.
"You jerk!" She shrieked. She took the camera from his hands and began pressing buttons, trying ineffectively to delete the footage.
Kaze, on the other hand, did blush, but only watched as Jess yanked his camera out of Ferah's hands.
"Be careful!" Warned Jess, but he laughed as he spoke. "You might drop it."
Ferah covered her eyes with her hands, laughing to herself, as the footage played over and over again. "Good! You suck, Jess."
"I said it was payback, right?" He closed the camera screen and pulled its strap up onto his arm and put his hands in his pockets. "I've been filming the entire UberSSBM contest, until this point." He sighed, and his frown faded. "Yup. Don't tell Hirogawa, but I'll be putting it on the Internet." He laughed as Ferah glared at him. "Too bad it's over, now. Maybe I'll give it to Cameron…"
Ferah checked the cover of her flip cellphone. "The picnic ends in an hour. You guys want to go play football?"
Kaze pushed off the rock to get up, and stretched absentmindedly. Jess continued looking at his camera. Suddenly, Ferah had an idea. "Jess, want to film one last thing?" She asked, and got up.
Ready to go, he flipped it open and pressed play. "Sure, swordschick, whatever you've got."
With that and the thoughts "I hope my ex sees this", Ferah grabbed Kaze's shirt and planted one lipgloss-coated kiss on his lips.
Jess laughed, and then turned the camera on himself. "So ends the Emerald Team!" He reported. Ferah let go of the pink-cheeked Kaze and wandered back with Jess to the football game.
When they returned, it was utter pandemonium. Apparently, when Bridget "Pikachu" had tried to join the game, some of the guys wouldn't let her because she would probably bite them. Bridget decided this was completely irrational and unfair, especially since they let Claire "Nana" play, and she was only 10 years old. They argued that Claire wasn't teething, but the unstable redhead had instead called out her Pikachu, and therefore the Avatars were now on the field.
Clan McCloud's Falco was now high above ground with the ball, as both Aaron and Alice shot arrows at him, Aaron's on fire and Alice's sparkling green. These always missed, and rained down on everybody else. Princess Peach's dress was now on fire, and Stephanie "Jigglypuff" was hard at work trying to get it out. Mario was now getting a running start onto a boost into the air that Mr. Game and Watch and Luigi had set up for him, and Cassandra "Zelda" was trying to teleport up to him. Every time she got close, he just flew away, and she fell back down to earth. Katrina "Crystal" had taken it upon herself to try and help catch her, but was never strong enough. And when Eric "Ness" had fully primed his psychic ability, the entire field exploded in purple electricity.
---
After lunch at a nice restaurant, the losing Players departed. Jess had insisted on a kiss like Ferah had given Kaze, so she gave him one on the cheek, which he made sure to film. She said her final farewell to Alice and an apology to Bridget. Bridget, who was inconsistently sane, had seemed to have completely forgotten who this Ferah "Roy" was and insisted that she showed her her driver's license immediately.
One or two eyes wet, the Trinities were assembled at an incredibly large and seemingly new indoor soccer arena. This time there were no pre-made arenas with purposely annoying physical obstacles, or risers of which for them to sit upon. This time, there were just chairs. The large, steel chairs with red cushioning were set up in two circles, each with six. Above each circle there were wide, four-sided monitors with the SSBM logo on them, waiting.
Taking a deep breath, Ferah began her contemplation of how many ways playing in a virtual world could screw her over.
Selena, who had been making sure Ferah didn't trip on anything, stood next to her. Ferah looked up at her to exchange glances with, but she was staring onward. When she noticed Ferah was looking at her, she laughed, and unclenched her ringed fists. "I want to win." She said, as if it were that simple. Ferah nodded. That was what they were there for, after all, even if she thought she deserved to win more than anybody else. Why you were there didn't matter – it was how you fought while you were that did.
"I didn't think indoor soccer arenas had risers." Said Ferah softly as she sat down on one. She had changed into skirt – she was conscious of it as her legs touched the cold steel. She had figured that the other girls must have this problem as well so a few panty shots couldn't have been that much of deal.
"It's nice." Commented Trent, as he sat down on her right. He looked around. The ceiling was high and the green field was wide, but the chairs were what were doing the foreboding. He didn't look too worried, but instead watched the audience sections overfilling, pleased. Those who could not find seats were now standing against the walls and looking through the glass.
"Some dorks would never come to a sports field otherwise." Joked Cameron as he sat down on her left. She wondered how the three of them would perform, feeling a little bad that they didn't bother to train beforehand. Then again, nobody else had, so hopefully it wouldn't be a problem.
"Let me begin…" voiced Hirogawa, quieting the chatter as usual. His voice was deep and with very little accent. His round, dark face appeared on the eight screens. "…with congratulating the fifteen Players in the middle-left stands for making it this far. I have been especially pleased with their performance, and so far the premier of UberSSBM has done very well. I also thank the audience for joining us here today."
"Do they charge them?" Asked Cameron of Trent.
"Now, may I introduce you to the Orlen Ridgewood Soccer Arena!" The spectators cheered loudly, clapping and yelling and whooping. Players blushed and waved as the camera focused on their faces and necks.
The cameras returned to Hirogawa as he addressed the Players once again. "Your newly-assembled Trinities have been made randomly, as are who will be fighting who and which levels these matches will take place upon today. Because there are five Trinities, only four will be fighting today. The other has another night to prepare. Now, if we can go over the rules again… The first Trinity to force the other into submission, in example traps them, causes them to forfeit, or knocks them out, will win the match. In the case of a tie, the last Players standing will receive fifteen minutes to heal and or to discuss with his or her partners what to do next. After the match, points will be totaled up, depending on your performance, such as technique of fighting, advantages taken, and relationships with both your fellow Players and your Avatar." Ferah felt like he was looking at her, although she could barely see him in his position in the middle of the field. Some fans could be looking at her too, if they had been watching the progression of UberSSBM from the beginning.
"These points will be displayed here. In combination with the amount of matches you win, these points will determine the two teams that will go home. The other three, however will continue on in this contest." He looked pleased and relieved that the contest had gotten this far. "And so. The Trinities fighting today will be… The Lion Trinity versus the Tiger Trinity, …"
Ferah bit her lower lip. Selena, Aaron, and Kaze were all in that match. She didn't want to see them fight each other; it would be too awkward, and almost… sad. Anyway, she didn't have a choice.
"…and the Panther Trinity versus the Lynx Trinity!"
And more cheering ensued. Selena and Ferah gave each other a hug, but didn't whisper soft "good "luck"s in each other's ears. They were too concerned with themselves, and knew as well that someday they would be enemies too.
"That there is the Lion Trinity, and that's the Tigers, so that must be the Panthers." Labeled Cameron, cocking his head with a quick snap, getting his bangs out of his eyes again. While Trent wondered if it might be an obstruction, Ferah cursed.
"Dominick's on that team." She thought out loud.
"And we're not going to think about that." Trent decided. He placed his hands on her shoulders and began directing her through a gate and into the soccer arena. Cameron followed after.
"No, I know, it's just that…" She stopped talking. She didn't want him to think her weak. But Dominick… He just wasn't that strong. She had spent so much time helping him. Was she just going to shatter it all now? With a pursing of her glossed lips, she sat down in one of the large chairs under the two screens displaying LYNX TEAM.
The red cushions were plush and the low angle of the backing was comfortable, but Ferah was not. She thought about Dominick and the giant monitors above her that would show her at least 16.6 of the time. Taking a deep breath, she closed her lips and pulled her pale skirt lower so that it would cover her knees.
Cameron and Trent took a seat in their respective chairs. Turning his head over to the side, Cameron sent a friendly smile Ferah's way. She mechanically looked over at Trent. He was looking up at the ceiling, calm. His dark black curls were laid messily over his cheeks and ears. Then he closed his eyes.
Mr. Hirogawa's voice rang out again as the two four-screened monitors made a series of synchronized, fast beeping noises, until both slowed down and a bell tolled. "Match A will take place in the Great Fox." He said, and people cheered. Ferah was getting sick of their giddiness, literally. "And Match B will take place on Mt. Moon."
Two of Mr. Hirogawa's assistants arrived at the circle and connected cords with each Player's necklaces, and, as the crowd hushed, with an adaptor in the middle of them all. Ferah crammed her eyes shut.
---
There was a void. A dark void, and it was lonely, but she was not alone. Some distance away to her right was Cameron, and on her left, Trent. She felt their warmth and knew that they, too, felt the invisible rush of wind, water, and fire run through their bodies. She store downward as they descended, their breath and heartbeats loud.
Their time in the air was shorter than she thought it would be. It usually took her a few minutes to arrive at Pharae, but this time, stars appeared and did not fade, and suddenly there was a giant gray spaceship underneath them. She saw a red imprint on the top fin; a winged fox, and underneath, the word "STARFOX".
Then she wondered. What if Roy is busy?
She meant to touch down on the steel with her boot tip, but she went straight through and landed in the Command Room of the Great Fox.
"Ahaha, awesome!" Said Cameron as breath returned to him. He looked around. The room was dark, and everything was a shade of metallic blue. The three stood around a circular visual display machine, and bright screens displaying statistics, maps, and information surrounded them. The entire ship whirred gently.
Standing solid in the shadows, Ferah could hardly see Trent's eyes under his dark hair. He looked around, too, and then smiled. "We're being watched."
Ferah was suddenly alert. "We are?" She revolved around, searching for some sort of floating camera. All that met her eyes was what was visible from their windows; the Lylat System, dark, beautiful, and vast.
"We have to be." Agreed Cameron, as a deep voice bellowed "5…" throughout the ship.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Trent said in a jovial manner.
Tall, handsome, and especially dark in the room, Marth appeared on Trent's right with a quick whirr of sparkling blue smoke. He adjusted one of his gloves and looked around. "A very strange battlefield we have found ourselves in." He said as he adjusted the layers of his robe with a petite hand.
"4…
Cameron nodded and gave a flick of his hair. He held his right hand out, and in it appeared a ball, half red, half white. He tossed it up with an immediate energy. "Let's go! CHARIZARD!" He yelled, which disrupted Marth's serenity and ultimately the eerie quietude of the Great Fox.
Ferah unwillingly let out a yelp and suddenly found the room very small as a great orange dragon emerged in a flash of red. The Fire Pokemon was at least two times her size. It flew as far as it could above them, lighting the room with a small pod of fire on its tail. With an awakening flick of it's wings and ivory claws, it let out a roar louder than Cameron's summoning.
"3…"
"Roy!" Ferah held out her hand. She kept her eyes open and was incredibly pleased to see that the smoke that appeared whenever Roy arrived was still a deep emerald green. The Lord's figure appeared, short in height but with the confidence of a determined warrior. Lightly taking his hand off hers, he drew the Sealed Sword.
"2…"
"Wow." He looked around uncomfortably, a little offset. The room wasn't exactly inviting, but Ferah thought it was cool.
"We can barely fly in here." Grumbled Cameron. "What a waste of ability…"
"Good afternoon, Roy. And Cameron, you're lucky you can do so many things." Murmured Ferah. "I only have one ability, and I can't even get that one to work completely."
Roy looked at her. His spiky red bangs shadowed his face, but she could see him smile. "We're skilled enough to deal without it."
Ferah knew he had just been hanging out with Lady Lilina of Ostia.
"…One-"
"SURVIVAL!"
Roy snapped into her like a rubber band in slow motion. She felt her bangs being raised off her forehead and the tight boots folded down to her knees. She couldn't ignore the sudden weight of Roy's armor, either, as her shoulders drooped. And as if someone had poured liquid into the shell that was her body, Roy's warmth and mind were inside her. When she opened her now-blue eyes after the darkness of their synchronization had disappeared, she saw Trent in his nearly god-like form and Cameron, hair still in his eyes, with scaly wings, claws, and dragon ears.
Touching a sharp, gleaming tooth that poked out uncomfortably from his upper lip, Cameron wondered what it would be like to eat something as a Charizard.
"Let's go!" Said Trent, smiling as the adrenaline of the game beat throughout him. They took to the only entrance out and were in the dark hallway.
"Would it hurt to turn the lights on?" Said Ferah, feeling the walls for some sort of button, to no gain. The halls were considerably tight, and the three had positioned into a single file. There was a fork in the path and Trent, who found himself unintentionally in the lead, decided to go right. Ferah wanted to follow behind him and stay in the middle, but Cameron took her spot.
"Don't be a coward." He laughed.
"I am not." She said, and she knew Roy said it with her.
"Look, you're a close range fighter, and I'm both. If someone approaches us from behind, you'll be able to defends us, and if you need help, I could too." He gave her a pat on the back.
Ferah suddenly felt the hair at the back of head stand on edge.
"Shh, you two." Said Trent in a loud whisper. The two obediently fell quiet, and everything was still, besides the flicker of Charizard's tail on the black walls, the flutter of Marth's cape, and the clacking of Roy's boots on the grate flooring.
"…Fuck." Voiced Cameron with shock, after a very long time of wandering. Trent knew that they had no idea where they were going or what to do and could do nothing but give direction. Now, however, he was ready.
He stopped suddenly and pushed them back, so that they were behind a sharp corner. In front of them was a path that crossed theirs. "What do you hear, Cam?" He asked, wrapping his cloak around his sword as he drew it so it was muted, and straining his eyes to see through the obscurity in front of him. When Cameron offered the light of his tail, he pushed him back, and repeated the question.
"Beeps. Lots of them. 'Could be just a computer. I just freaked, that's all. It was so quiet earlier." He closed his eyes. "Yes, it's very faint. Oh. They stopped."
"Heh." Said Marth, and he backed them up further. "Ferah, we can assume that nobody is behind you. Turn around, and cover up Charizard's light."
Ferah blushed, for she had been walking nearly completely backwards for the entire match so far. She had tripped and fell onto Cameron several times, which completely embarrassed both her and Roy. It only got worse when Cameron had said he didn't "like other guy's like that" and she had proceeded to slam her boot into his dragon stomach. At one point, his tail had also lit her skirt on fire.
"Don't put it out." Warned Cameron with a hiss.
She cupped her hands around it, and all went dark.
Roy said, "Don't be afraid." And she was not.
Everyone's breath was loud, especially Charizard's, which also smelt like old clothes and small, dead animals. Ferah coughed. Marth continued to push Cameron back and into Ferah. The two had backed up, very slowly, so there was a gap in between them and Trent. Then, suddenly, he swung his blade back and lunged forward. The Falchion flashed, and something beeped irritably and loudly.
Marth disappeared into the shadows, and Ferah heard him slam into the wall and his blade ring as it clacked onto the floor. Trent was suddenly coughing deeply, and Ferah could feel something thick and disgusting clog her throat. She too began to cough, and grabbed the wall for balance as the picture of the orange dragon swirled in front of her.
Charizard pulled his tail out from Ferah's half-gloved hands and dove into the path ahead of them. Everything was alight again but suddenly the light turned extreme, and everything was hot. Cameron's voice literally pierced the darkness. "FLAMETHROWER!"
Roy threw up his arms just in time to cover Ferah's face as her cape opened and she flew backwards. The entire hallway exploded.
Electricity from wires and machinery fizzed and roared, and the grate that had held them up collapsed. Ferah didn't know what happened until she landed on the level below after the others with another heavy thud. Her forearms burnt, Ferah steadied herself and looked around.
Cameron had his sharp, thick claws around some black blob… It was a cartoon, maybe…
"Dominick!"
She thought she saw him smile in his 2D blackness, but she wasn't sure. She wanted to pull him away from Charizard, but she knew she shouldn't, and didn't have much of a choice anyway.
"Behind you, Ferah!" Yelled Trent as he got up and tried to run to her.
But something already had its hands on her shoulders. She was yanked up with a great amount of force, and after the breath-slow views of the shadowed chaos above after Mr. Game and Watch's gas and Charizard's flames had mixed, she was slammed into the ground. Her face was slapped hard and the wind knocked out of her. She felt the armor under her chest crack and fall apart. Her bruised knees knocked as she tried to push herself up.
Marth flew past her and pinned Nick "Kirby" against a wall. His sword drawn, he meant to stab him, but Kirby rolled out from underneath him and floated up into the air. He drew a star-adorned hammer from who-knows-where and, after letting his air go, came down on Marth. Expertly, he crouched and rolled over to Ferah. Grabbing the layers of cloak around her neck, he pulled her up and tore around the corner.
Ferah slammed into the wall, but her back didn't hurt nearly as much as her chest did. She coughed a little again from both Kirby's attack and Mr. Game and Watch's bug gas.
"Are you alright?" He asked, catching his breath. He face and entire torso was burnt.
"I'm fine." Coughed Ferah. She touched her chest. Roy's armor was half gone, and there was a large amount of that bright, blue-white liquid of zeros and ones she had learned was blood streamed down it. She flicked it off her hand and followed Trent's blue curls as he ran back around the corner.
There were now two Charizards; one in the air, and one on the ground. If part of Kirby's technique had been to confuse the other Lynxes, he had failed, because it was obvious from who was being teamed up against who was who. Cameron was using his wings to cover his face as Madison "Dragonair" sent an "Icicle Blizzard" his way. Daggers of ice threatened to pierce his leathery skin.Her blue dress sparkled, regardless of their being no light to reflect off it.
Next, Cameron took a severe hit from Dominick's roulette of random moves, titled "Judgment". He had received the electricity sentence of #5, and down came the hammer. Cameron was too out of breath to fight back.
Shaking it off, Charizard roared and tucked in his head, then lunged forward with a Skull Bash.
Marth ran over to Cameron and turned his back to Mr. Game and Watch, blocking the injured Player from another hit. It was naught but cartoon bacon, but it would have been enough to KO the failing Cameron.
"Fudge." Breathed Dominick. "That ain't what I was tryin to do!" Then he noticed Ferah. "Are you…" He paused, and noticed Marth was going for him. He knew his place. "…hungry?" Angling his pan, he jumped up above Ferah, avoiding the Falchion, and brought down his frying pan.
Ferah jumped to the side as he landed on the ground with a booming click. Mr. Game and Watch made some angered and disappointed beeps as Roy regained his balance and drew his sword. "Good night." Ferah said, softly in the dark, like a sister tucking in her baby brother. In went the thin, broad blade of the Sealed Sword. Dominick turned gray and collapsed.
See? Stabs win. Thought Ferah.
Roy shook his head. You could have done that with a slash, too.
Whatever…Marth now had his hands full with both the mirror Charizard and Madison's Dragonair. Ferah pulled herself off the ground with rejuvenated force and readied her sword. She joined him at his left, trying to protect Cameron from their claws and lightning. But they had the higher ground, so to speak, and neither Marth nor Roy could fly. Carefully, Cameron tried to contribute to the long-distance fight by sending flame their way, but it was to no avail.
"Pick him up! We need to move! We can't last like this." Spoke Marth as he used Counter to deflect a downward claw slash from Madison and her opera gloves.
But Ferah had no time, as Nick suddenly made a lunge for her. He had his talons around her neck as he picked her up off the ground in a second. Taking a deep breath, he began filling his dragon lungs. The copycat was ready to blast her straight in the face and send her out, but she was faster. Her blade slid straight through Charizard's bony arms, and her neck was saved.
See? The slashing technique was very effective.
I could of K.O.'d him if I stabbed him, I think… Darn it! Ferah thought regretfully.You paid your respect to the sword. Replied Roy. That's important too.
Ferah sighed.
The ship echoed with the Pokemon's pain as it roared and whimpered, backing away from her. Ferah ripped the butchered claws off her throat and went back into a defensive stance. The real Charizard, however, who had waited for this moment, suddenly sprang into the air and tackled Nick into the far wall. His tail had swung madly behind him, and his sheer weight had taken Madison down with him too, and soon he had both on the floor and the room alit.
Trent and Ferah both knew that that was Cameron's last move for the game. They also recognized that regardless of how many points a lost Player cost them, he had bought them time. The two swordsmen took off through a dark hallway.
Neither stopped to look behind them, running as fast as they could. Their footsteps were loud. Without Charizard's flame, the two were blind. Marth, who was faster than Roy, took the lead once again, and ran his hands down both sides of the walls, trying to figure out where the next turn was.
Suddenly, Marth stopped, and Ferah slammed in to him.
She mumbled an apology as she made out Marth's hands searching the wall. "A dead end?" She breathed. Then she turned his back to him, sword drawn, waiting for the enemy to emerge.
"No, a door." He found what he was looking for, and pressed a large button. A short gush of wind blew around their feet and their hair as a large, thick door slid open, not to the right or left, but around and up. The door was large, thick, and circular, and bright lights caused Ferah to cover her eyes. Trent found her arm and pulled her in. The door whirled close behind them.
She was surprised to hear her partner chuckling softly, but as she uncovered her eyes and got up from the floor where had fell, she couldn't believe their luck either.
There had found the artillery room.
---
"One more hit and I'm totally KO'd." Ferah noted as she picked up some sort of bazooka. It was thicker than her head and bright red. It had the Clan McCloud logo on it.
"I think with two or three general ones or one well done smash should do me in." Trent paused in consideration, and then adjusted his sheathed sword at his side. "That one's for taking out Arwings. I don't think we'll need it."
"It wouldn't hurt. And… Ah, what's an Arwing?" Ferah pulled her red hair behind her ears, and picked up a small rifle, trying out the trigger as she shot the floor.
Trent watched her idly. "I don't recommend you do that. You remember how weak the floor is."
"This place is a mad house." Said Ferah. She really didn't want to go back out into the darkness. There appeared to be no other light than in this room, and when they opened the door, Nick and Madison would probably know where they were.
"Well, here's for luck." She kissed her right-hand gun, Roy being right-handed, and watched her lip gloss print disappear.
Trent smiled his good-natured smile, and placed his hand on the button, when large crashing noises, what sounded like explosions, and screeching tore through the room. The lights went out.
"Dammit." Said Ferah, who decided that that night, she would convince the guys to let her sleep with the lights on.
Trent disappeared into the darkness and Ferah gripped the handle of her guns hard. She thought she could feel Roy's thoughts crashing into her own.
There, there it is.
I don't think so.
What is that? It's there again.
Is it behind us?
Perhaps it's ahead.
"3…" Whispered Trent.
"2…" Murmured Ferah.
Trent slammed his empty fist through button panel and into the wall. The doors slowly parted, turned, and got stuck halfway. Ferah was glad that they did as two pairs of bright, yellow lasers suddenly pierced the darkness. Roy hit the deck as the lasers barely missed Ferah's pigtails.
"THAT'S AN ARWING." Shouted Trent as he whirled through the seizure-causing-esque rays of gold, jumped over the half-open, half-closed steel doors, and onto the white nose of the Arwing.
"And I thought we were lucky." Muttered Roy with their face pressed to the cold ground.
It dipped forward from the sudden weight and fired again, but Roy was quick enough to roll Ferah away from its contact point. She pushed herself up off the ground and, dropping the time bombs and long rifles she had acquired earlier, followed after him.
Running along it, Marth dropped his guns and drew his Falchion. Raising the blade, he struck the yellow-tinted windows of the cockpit, catching Nick "Kirby", who had resumed his own face, out in the meantime. He pulled his paled carcass out as he jumped into the Arwing, lasers from elsewhere nearly finding his head. The cockpit door closed automatically. Backing up and breaking the wall obstructing his way, the blue and white jet-like ship turned and returned fire.
Ferah didn't know what to do, but as she saw it slowly rotate she knew she jumped onto his right hand wing. The Arwing dipped slightly, so she moved closer and stood, panting, against the blue of the Arwing's booster. When she saw Madison's Arwing in front of her, she knew she had good use for that bazooka.
Firing back at the Arwing, Trent accelerating, retracing the path of destruction Nick had used to get the Arwing inside the Great Fox. Ferah narrowly avoided lasers as they destroyed everything behind her, and could see Trent's hot lasers in return, showering her view with bright sparks.
Getting off her stomach and finding her balance as Trent slowed, Ferah heaved the large barrel up onto her shoulder. She didn't know what would happen, but she closed one, her red hair flopping over her headband, and prepared for impact. With a full fist, she pulled the trigger. The amount of strength and energy it took just to fire the damn thing threw her backwards and nearly off the Arwing's thin wing. She grabbed on just before falling, and the bazooka turned upwards, so that it missed. Ferah's attack had accomplished one thing however, the two Lynxes realized happily. Trent nodded to Ferah as the enemy Arwing suddenly turned around as quickly as it could, clipping it's own nose, and took off in the direction it came.
The bright blue boosters caused Ferah to cover her face as Trent opened his cockpit. Carefully, she jumped into it, landing on him in the cramped space as the door closed on top of her. He moved aside so she could sit more properly.
"Want to drive?" He asked politely as he accelerated and followed Madison through the labyrinth of destruction.
"Nah, not really." She laughed, and readjusted the bazooka so she could move her arm into a more comfortable position.
Screeching and slamming into things, Ferah feared the Arwing might be considerably damaged when they got out, but Trent had had no choice. They finally emerged in the launching pad room, and the Arwing could properly hold the length of its wings. Trent took a deep breath.
"Can we shoot it from here?" Asked Ferah, hoping they could stay in the safe cove.
"Unlikely." Trent opened the cockpit as shards of cracked glass showered their heads. He looked around. "Dammit, no other Arwings." He sighed, trying to think of a plan.
Ferah stood up silently, and yanked her right arm up, pulling the heavy bazooka up with her. "I'll stay in here. Lead her this way, and I'll shoot her through the doorway." She didn't mean to be a coward, and Trent understood.
The boy considered, and decided that it was a smart move. "Alright. Just make sure you know which Arwing is ours."
Ferah laughed. "It's the one with my blood all over the wings."
Taking a deep breath and holding it in his chest, the damaged Arwing picked up speed as it glided off its platform, lights flashing, and emerged into space.
It was brighter out here than it was inside the hallways Great Fox, but it was cold. Trent's breathing was unsteady as the crack in his cockpit slowly let his air out. He tried to make out his enemy in his screens of the dark expansion, but his alarm system had been damaged and couldn't assist him.
Ferah pulled Roy's gold-tipped collar up to her ears as she crouched down in the middle of the Arwing launching pad. The depth of space she saw outside made her feel as if the Great Fox would suddenly tilt and dump her into it.
She heaved the bazooka up onto her shoulder, almost losing balance. Where was it…?
I shouldn't be able to breathe. Ferah thought in the silence.
I wonder if Lilina is looking for me. Thought Roy.
Trent's Arwing didn't wander far from the launching pad. He was determined to kill the enemy, but he wanted to keep Ferah alive too, and if Madison found him, at least Ferah could shoot her. He tried changing the views of his camera and tested out the Arwing's booster for a short moment. It had an energy bar. He frowned. That was no good - it was nearly used up.
Behind him, Madison's Arwing came in quietly. Her alarm system had been damaged too, but she had spotted him before he had spotted her. She prepared to fire.
Still trying to figure out exactly how the controls worked, Trent messed around with the joystick in front of him and changing some options. While he was tinkering with it, he went backwards, and his tail slammed into Madison. She fired, and it grazed his Arwing's under side.
Ferah nearly lost her balance as the Great Fox rumbled. "Trent!" She shouted, knowing he had found her, or she had found him.
Red lights flashed throughout the cockpit. Trent slammed on the acceleration and took off, trying to get away from her. How did he turn the damn thing around? He pushed the joystick to the right gently. The Arwing turned suddenly but gracefully, cutting through space like a knife.
Slightly sick, Trent spoke out loud. "That works."
Ferah noticed Trent take off and the Madison's Arwing come down from above her and glide begin dissapearing quickly. Closing her left eye, Ferah focused and shot, trying to get her before she got too far away.
Ferah fell backwards as the missile flew out into space. It found its mark as Madison's right booster exploded.
"Yes!" Said Ferah out loud, but it had not enough.
Unfortunately for her, Madison had decided that Ferah's bazooka was more dangerous than Trent, for it was specialized in Arwing destruction and could shoot further. Shoving the joystick forward, her Arwing suddenly shot upward, curved downward, and turned over while dodging Trent's lasers.
Ferah stumbled back into firing position and took aim again. Madison began firing, and the Great Fox rumbled. Some paneling from the ceiling crashed down on Ferah's right. Yanking back her right arm, another missile launched. Madison was able to avoid it, but fell into some of Trent's lasers as he took after her. Even with her busted booster, she still had had a head start.
Again, she rolled herself up off the metal floor and pulled the bazooka up onto her now bruised shoulder. This time, however, she couldn't pull the trigger.
"Ferah!"
In a second, Ferah was down. Her figure paled as she let go of her bazooka and slid onto the ground.
Trent let out a sigh and shook his head, trying to get his curls out of his eyes. The flashing red on his screens had disappeared, but he knew his Arwing was about to explode at any minute, just like in the real Star Fox games.
Madison turned around one more time, sure her job with Ferah was done. She had known it was unfair to plot an Arwing against an infantry unit, but she had had no choice. Now, it was just she against Trent.
"Hi, Trent." She said after her picture appeared on his screen.
"What a pretty horn you've got, hm?" He said, and she didn't know if he was being his usual friendly self, or he was seriously mad at her for taking out his partners.
She puffed her cheeks. "See? I never know if you're kidding or not. Now do you really have a girlfriend or not?" She demanded, referring to their heated conversation in the park.
Trent laughed. "No, I don't. Now, let's go."
With a white-gloved hand, Madison fixed her long hair behind her ears.
Trent took a deep breath. He could hardly breath now, and the crack in his cockpit's window was only getting bigger. He looked at his screen.
An Arwing's booster could only last for a certain amount of time, and his was almost completely depleted after he had chased Madison during her pursuit of Roy.
"To fight to the end." Said Marth and Trent steadily.
He saw Madison coming straight at him, and could feel an impending doom. This, however, would not scare him.
Holding down the trigger and watching the stats of his boost energy, he complied with the technique and shot forward as well, firing in a steady stream. Trent was more concerned with taking Madison out first and foremost than keeping himself alive. When the Arwings were only a couple feet apart and the red alarm lights flashing in his cockpit became insane, Trent took one hand off the controls and touched the cockpit release button gently. Feeling the fire of the jet's wings scourge his arms and shoulders, he slammed the booster on.
"WINNER! THE LYNX TRINITY!"
One second had passed between Madison's K.O. and Trent's.
The crowd roared insanely, jumping up from their stands and yelling out as if America had won another war. The entire arena shook and the monitors went fuzzy for moments that lasted like hours.
Cameron had taken out Ferah's cord himself, and now helped her up. It was several minutes before Trent let the assistant pull him to, but when he did, the crowd cheered for him.
"TRENT WILLIAMS! TRENT WILLIAMS!"
"So much for keeping last names covert…" Mumbled the assistant to himself as he watched the fifteen-year-old boy sit up in his chair. His forehead was slightly wet with sweat and he looked around, almost in a daze. Slowly he remembered where he was and why, and smiled to himself as he stood up. He ruffled his curls modestly as the monitor switched between "WINNER: LYNX TEAM" and his face.
Ferah found herself in his arms before she could think of anything else. Cameron laughed and slapped Trent hard on the back so that he lost his balance. Cameron followed up by grabbing his neck and messed up his hair. All three of them on the floor, Ferah didn't notice that her hair was very messed up, or her lipgloss had run dry. They had won.
Getting up off each other, the three Lynxes walked into the space in between the circle of chairs, where the Panther Trinity was waiting. Dominick didn't look too hurt, but Nick looked defeated, and Madison looked purely furious. She composed herself in time for the camera to see, and put on her model's expressionless face. Her pale hand extended, she searched Trent's face, mortified inside.
He shook it without thought. "Good work out there. It looked like you'd been flying one of those all your life."
"I just finished Driver's Ed." She stammered. "It's sort of like driving a car, just with missiles." She paused.
Ferah got to Dominick before anyone else could. Picking up his small body up and enfolding him in her arms, she nearly strangled him. If she was embarrassing him, he didn't care.
"Ferah!" He laughed. "We lost."
"You were great, though. You dueled Trent, and you freaked me out with that gas and the pan. I thought you were going to K.O. me."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
Switching partners, Ferah and Nick quickly shook hands, as did she with Madison.
"That was crazy. Nice maneuvering."
Madison looked behind her at Trent, who was talking to Nick about the ingenious utilization of Arwings. "He didn't do it all by himself, you know."
Following her partners, she joined them and the Panther Trinity on the risers previously belonging to the Players. Their points were being totaled up. The Lynx Trinity's t-chart appeared first. Cameron received 40 points for "Elaborate Tactics", in play when his fire and Mr. Game and Watch's gas mixed and blew up the entire level. He also gained points for sacrificing himself for the good of the team, but lost 50 for dying. Trent and Ferah both received 15 points for guarding Cameron while he was injured, and 30 for fighting alongside each other. Ferah lost 50 for dying, but like for Cameron, Trent did not hold it against her. With their winnings of 100 points, heir overall total was 130.
The Panther Trinity's T-chart didn't display anything interesting. Bravery points were awarded for splitting themselves up so they could cover more ground or trap their opponents, although it hadn't worked out right, and their strange use of Arwings got them some creativity points. They lost 100 points for losing. Their overall total was 50 points.
Match B was still going on. As the monitors flickered through images of the six Players, Ferah wondered about what the audience thought of her.
Kaze, Selena, Alex "Falco", and Ryan "Mario" were already down for the count. Ferah watched as Aaron crawled, flat against the dirt on a high platform. Below him, the fish woman Amanda "Ruto" took careful steps in the dirt, looking forward and behind her for some sign of her last enemy. She was on edge; scared of noises she had made herself.
Members of the crowd spoke out while the rest were eerily quiet.
"Look above you!"
"Watch out!"
"Quick!"
His favorite item in hand, Aaron's pre-lit bomb came crashing down as Ruto shrieked a high pitch call.
"WINNER! THE LION TRINITY!"
Ferah smiled, and wondered how Kaze and Selena had gone down. "Good job, guys." She said softly, mostly to herself.
XXX
Trent's piece, Movement 5 of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1, is a real song. I had to pick it out myself so it was an actual minuet, to fit this chapter's title, and that it was a lovely piece that Ferah could fall asleep to. As a musician myself, I suggest you check it out, so you get a feel for Trent, maybe. It's short.
Well, I hope this works out well. It's hard picking up on a story and seeing everything wrong with it but not being able to alter it. Well, kisses for all ye.
No editing this time, so thanks to me, because this was my birthday present for myself.
Luv, Rainstorm Sonata