Not nearly as long as some of the other chapters, I know, and I'm sorry, especially since it's the first one I've had in a while. But, I had to do this because I didn't want part of Deep Jungle running into this. Okay? Also, this chapter and they last were only supposed to be one chapter, but… The last chapter was getting too long…
Chapter XIV: Olympus Coliseum Part Two
Sora did his best to stumble to his feet. Oh crap, he thought. That thing definitely looks worse than the man with the sword. Hades gave him a malicious smile.
"I hate it when pawns don't do what they're supposed to do. Oh, well, things are working out anyway." The dog reared its heads then lunged forward. Sora winced, giving a futile attempt to protect his face with his arm. Again, however, the fatal strike never came. He peeked under his arm to see a figure grappling with the monstrous dog. Sora instantly recognized him as Hercules.
"Run!" The man gasped. "I can take care of it, just get out of here!" Sora was quick to oblige, climbing to his feet faster than he thought possible and high-tailing it. Donald and Goofy weren't far behind. Phil led them out of the arena and into the main hallway where they had originally met.
"Are they going to be alright?" Sora asked when he had caught his breath.
"Oh, sure," Phil replied. "He's fought Cerberus loads of times." There were loud crashes coming from the arena in steady succession. "I hope," Phil muttered to himself.
"Maybe we should go get Sabrina and Jeremy," Goofy said worriedly as the sounds grew in volume. In that single instant, Sora made up his mind.
"No!" He replied forcefully. "There's not enough time! We'll have to go."
"U-us?" Donald stuttered, sounding more than a little scared.
"No way, kid," Phil replied. "There's no way I'm letting you go out there. You ain't no hero."
"I don't care what you say." Sora glared at Phil. "If I'm ever going to prove to you that I'm a real hero, I've gotta help Hercules." Phil recognized the same glint in his eyes that he'd seen in Herc's, and realized that he really was going to have to let this kid fight. If not because the time was ripe for him to prove himself, then because Herc was going to need help.
"… Alright," Phil agreed grudgingly. "I'll let you go." He quickly opened the door to allow Sora and his faithful friends through to the arena. Upon entering, they saw a dead-tired Hercules hauling the body of the man with the sword being backed into a corner. Hades appeared to have decided to leave.
Leaping into action, Sora shouted, "Here, Doggy!" As he ran away from the entrance. "C'mon boy! Follow me!"
With a strange grunt, the three-headed dog switched target and left Hercules to escape. The Greek hero took the opening and escaped into through the door. Donald and Goofy ran out to fight the dog with Sora, and Phil turned to shout one last thing to the trio.
"I've got two words for ya, kid! ATTACK!" Sora didn't need to be told twice. The monster gained speed as it approached, and Sora got a better grip on his Keyblade. Right before it lunged, he and the other two scattered, Sora running one way and Donald and Goofy the other. One head went after Sora, who lunged forward and whapped its nose with a hard swing. It yelped, drawing the attention of the other two heads. With a growl, they forgot about Donald and Goofy and focused upon Sora. Nimbly dodging sharp teeth with more speed than he realized he possessed, Sora fired the odd blast of cold solidified air into the mouths of the dogs. He was barely surprised when a fireball, courtesy of Donald, hit one head. At one point, all three heads came at Sora at once, blocking off any chance of escape. At the last minute, he was saved by Goofy who jumped in the way, shield blocking all three heads. Taking the opportunity, Sora ran around behind them, jumping first up onto a back leg, and then onto the monster's back. All three heads roared in anger, the dog rearing onto its back legs. Sora lost his footing and almost fell off, but managed to grab onto Cerberus's fur. Holding on for dear life, he was jostled and tossed around as Cerberus continued bucking.
Finally, it seemed as though the dog had momentarily stopped. Sora took the opening and pounced on the dog's necks. He attacked all three heads at once, first knocking around one, then another. Whenever a head would try to attack back, Sora would whack it into submission.
Finally, whether it be from exhaustion or a concussion from being pounded on the head, Cerberus collapsed it defeat.
"Yes!" All three fighters yelled in unison.
They looked over to the sidelines to see that everyone else had apparently left. Going back over to the doorway that led back to the hallway. They flinched when they heard an all too familiar screech.
"YOU LET THEM DO WHAT!"
Less than fifteen minutes later, the tired trio were being dragged off by a very angry dragon girl.
"I can't believe you! Charging in to fight some kind of demonic dog! It's a wonder none of you were killed!"
"Sabrina, it wasn't that bad…"
"Yes, it was! What did I tell you? It was a rigged tournament, and you came so close to getting killed! Twice! And what are we supposed to do without you, huh? Hope the Heartless just go away? Fat chance of that!"
"Sabrina! Will you please let me talk!" The group, not including Jeremy, who'd been left to look after the Gummi Ship, all stopped. Sabrina glared sullenly at Sora.
"Despite what you may think," Sora said, trying to sound as calm as possible, "I'm not completely powerless and unable to protect myself. I'd think the fact that Donald, Goofy, and I just beat Cerberus is evidence of that! So, lay off a bit, okay? I can take care of myself."
In response, Sabrina's face seemed to soften for a second. Then, it hardened again in anger.
"Fine! Go get yourself killed, for all I care!" With that, she stomped off to get on the ship. Sora sighed.
"What did I say?"
Finally, the group was all, once again, back on the Gummi ship and ready to go. Donald and Goofy were at the controls, ready to get going, while Jeremy and Sora were sitting behind them. Sabrina was sulking in the back, still somehow managing to wear a smile, despite the anger she felt towards Sora.
"Is everybody ready?" Donald asked. Before anyone could actually answer, though, he said, "Alright! Let's go!" The ship's engines revved up, and they were off.
Okay, I just want to clear up something right now. Sabrina does realize that she was in the wrong, and that Sora can take care of himself, but she's too proud to admit it. That's why she's mad- not at Sora, but at herself. Also, Sora almost being killed brings back painful memories of how she let the people in her village down, and, because of it, their hearts were devoured by the Heartless. She's afraid of loosing anyone else.
Okay, if I get lots of reviews, I'll update sooner! So, if you read this, REVIEW, even if you don't actually belong to the site. I accept anonymous reviews!