Chapter 8: Crash Course
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad to see all of you loved my most recent chapter. Now for this one I have a big surprise in store. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves in the caverns of the Underworld near the passage that leads up to the Overworld.
There we see Aivenna walking through the cave.
"I gotta admit, this is a surprise. I never thought you'd of all people would come this way." Aivenna turns around to see her ally walking behind her still in the shadows.
"We have no choice. Our spies in the Underworld say a mysterious creature with the battlegear we're looking for was recently spotted in the Underworld. If we want to get that battlegear before they do we need to hurry." Aivenna said.
"Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm liking this side of you." She said as they made their way down.
On the opposite side of the caverns, Nivenna was making her way through the caverns with a spear strapped to her back.
"Where are you? This is the only way out of the Underworld? You have to be around here somewhere." Nivenna said looking around
In the middle, Roxas had decided to transport to the passage in order to find some scans. Unaware that he was about to be caught in quite the battle.
Back at Chaotic, Sona was sitting with Joey, Peyton, Erika and Kaz.
"Remember girl, you gotta stay loose and stay focused. Eye of the Tiger, other eye of the tiger." Peyton said.
"So who's your opponent?" Joey asks.
"Out of my way!" Looking over they saw Klay push past some players.
"Him." Sona points.
"Klay? Oh you have got to win this! No way you can let that jerk win!" Erika said.
"He's a liar, a cheater and a bully. And those are his good qualities." Peyton said.
"Doesn't mean he'll beat me." Sona said.
"True, but he has a sick battlegear collection. Has scans of everything." Joey said.
"Not everything." Kaz said. "Sona, Roxas and I are the only ones with scans of the Viledriver. It was all new."
"Yeah, we got only scans because you wrecked the real one." Sona glares.
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?" Kaz asks.
"I'll let you know." Sona said.
"Well if it isn't my next victim." Sona turns to see Klay walking over to her. "I've heard a lot about you Sona. I hope you're not as bad as they say."
"Bad? Sona's only ever lost once." Joey said.
"That makes you a loser and when you try and come at me with your Takinom I'll be ready to clip her wings and another loss to your record." Klay mocks before walking away.
"Okay, I don't like him either." Sona said.
"But he does have a point. You use Takinom in almost every fight. For this battle you might need a new strategy." Kaz said.
"Agreed. Time to change up my approach." Sona said.
Back in the Underworld, some Underworld guards were walking through a cavern.
"I thought I heard an intruder down here." One said.
"I don't see anything." The second said.
Little did they realize Roxas was wearing his black coat and thanks to the darkness in the caverns allowed him to blend in with the area quite easily.
Peeking his head out, Roxas saw the coast was clear.
"Sometimes it's just too easy." Roxas said leaping down and ran down another corridor, but as he approached a large room a fireball narrowly missed him.
Jumping back Roxas summons Oblivion.
"I found you." Turning around Roxas saw Nivenna across the hall with a fireball in one hand.
"Wait…you look familiar." Roxas said.
"I've been looking for you. A creature in a black coat with a mysterious battlegear. I've been ordered by Chaor himself." Nivenna leaps down and lands in front of him. "You have two options. You either hand over the battlegear or I take it from you."
"Sorry but this thing is a little picky with its wielders. It's sticking with me." Roxas said taking a fighting stance.
"Fine, but I gave you a chance." Nivenna said before throwing a Flame Orb at him.
Swinging his keyblade, Roxas slashes it in half causing it to explode echoing throughout the caverns.
"What was that?" Aivenna said.
"Sounds like we found our target." The mysterious figure said as they ran to it.
In the Krellan Drome, Sona and Klay faced off.
"DevilSitri, Klayotic prepare your teams for a 3 vs 3 battle."
"And prepare to lose." Klay said as Sona glares at him.
Docking their scanners, Sona and Klay looked at their decks.
'You think I'm some kind of one-trick pony, Klay? Well I got news for you. A true fighter never relies on just one way to win.' Sona thought picking her creatures, battlegear, and mugic.
"Why don't you forfeit? Save us both some time." Klay suggests.
"Or what? You'll keep boring me to death with your annoying voice?" Sona asks shutting him up.
"Why you. I'm gonna knock those dumb glasses right off." Klay said.
"Battle teams locked."
On Klay's side we saw Dardemus and Pyrithion up front with Ulmar in the back and on Sona's team was Skithia, Cerbie and Nivenna.
"That's your team? My granny could win against that team." Klay mocks.
"Maybe but instead I'm facing you." Sona counters.
"In light of his battle record, Klayotic will attack first." Spinning the randomizer it lands on a card. "The first location, Skeleton Springs."
"Dardemus attacks Cerbie!" Klay said turning into Dardemus. "Get ready mutt. I'm about to put you down."
"Cerbie is no mutt." Sona said touching the icon and turning into Cerbie. "He's the guard dog of the Underworld."
At the table, everyone was watching the match.
"I played Klay last week, he totaled my Tartarek with all his battlegear." A player said.
"Sona better win. I am so sick of Klay doing whatever the hell he wants and getting away with it." Erika growls.
"It's not the gear, it's how you use it." Joey said.
"Just watch and learn." Peyton said.
"That's right watch and learn." At the table next to them they see a girl with long brown hair and purple clothes. This was Krystella. "Watch your friend learn how to lose."
"What?!" Joey growls.
"Uh oh. The Witch Mobile just pulled in." Peyton said causing everyone to laugh.
At Skeletal Springs, Cerbie was running through the boneyard before landing on a tall rock overlooking the toxic springs.
"Ugh this place smells awful." Cerbie said.
Suddenly a fireball flew in causing Cerbie to jump quickly avoiding it.
"Found you!" Looking up Cerbie saw Dardemus flying in on a Windstrider.
Leaping off the rock, Cerbie ran towards Dardemus and from its three heads released Flame Orb.
Flying up, Dardemus dodges it.
"Nice try but you can't hurt me if you can't reach me!" Dardemus said throwing another Flame Orb forcing hitting Cerbie.
Firing multiple Flame orbs, they crashed around Cerbie trapping it in a ring of fire.
"This is actually quite enjoyable. I'm getting all fired up." Dardemus said readying one more attack.
'That's it, no more playing nice.' Sona growls using a mugician.
"Melody of Malady!" Cerbie said as a mugic glowed causing a red energy to fly in hitting Dardemus making him drop down closer to the ground.
"Thunder Shout!" Roaring sonic waves, Cerbie's attack causing Dardemus to wobble and struggle to stay flying.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Dardemus screams.
"Inferno Gust!" Releasing a flaming gust, it flew towards Dardemus knocking him off his Windstrider sending him crashing down into the springs making him code.
"Whoo! Go Suna
"Ha! Klay never stood a chance." Kaz smiles.
"See the skills, feel the chills." Peyton said.
Nearby Krystella was glaring not ready to admit defeat just yet.
Back in the caverns, Roxas and Nivenna clashed weapons.
Nivenna swings her spear but Roxas blocks it with Oblivion before jumping back.
"Thundaga!"
"Flame Orb!" Both attacks fly in and explode canceling the other out.
From the smoke Nivenna leaps at him but Roxas counters and swings his keyblade knocking her to the ground.
Picking herself up, Nivenna was about to counter when a blast of lightning exploded a hole in the nearby wall.
Looking to it both Roxas and Nivenna saw Aivenna run out.
"I found you!" Aivenna said when she saw Oblivion. 'Hmm it's different from the one that human had.'
"Aivenna." Nivenna growls getting her attention.
"Nivenna." Aivenna growls as they both glare daggers at each other.
"I'm seeing double. Wait…are you two sisters?" Roxas asks looking at them.
"Not for long. Back off Overworlder, this guy and his battlegear are coming with me!" Nivenna declares.
"Not a chance! Unlike you, I've seen that battlegear in action and I plan on bringing him to Maxxor." Aivenna said.
"Over my dead body!" Nivenna said.
"That can be arranged!" Aivenna declared leaping into the battle.
Gulping Roxas found himself in the middle as both sisters glared him down.
'If I use Oathkeeper, Aivenna will recognize me. I guess I can only use one keyblade for this battle.' Roxas thought gripping Oblivion tight.
Readying their weapons both charged in from opposite ends.
Moving in Roxas attacks Nivenna clashing with her before pushing her back.
Using this gap, he turns to Aivenna and blocks her Cyclance and kicking her in the chest.
As both sisters struggled to fight Roxas managed to fight both of them off.
Spinning her Cyclance, Aivenna released a cyclone. Thinking quick, Roxas drops to the ground allowing it to hit Nivenna.
"Oh that's it!" Forgetting all about Roxas, Nivenna attacks Aivenna.
Popping his head up Roxas saw the two of them clash weapons.
"I am not letting you take my target from me!" Nivenna snaps.
"Not a chance! That battlegear will help us crush you Underworlders!" Aivenna snaps.
Swinging their weapons they locked grips before Nievnna swings her knee up knocking them up in the air.
Grabbing her sister by her hair, Nivenna throws her into Roxas making him skid back as he caught her.
"Whoa are you okay?" Roxas asks concerned.
"Let me go! Let me at her!" Aivenna breaks out of his hold and charges at Nivenna smacking her right in the face.
"Oh you wanna play that way?!" Nivenna smacks her in the face right back.
Ditching their weapons, the two sisters were engaged in the most painful and epic slap fight you ever saw.
"This is painful to watch but I can't look away." Roxas cringed watching the chick fight.
As both sisters grabbed the other by the hair they growled butting heads.
"Let go!" Aivenna yells.
"You let go!" Nivenna yells.
Seeing this might be the best chance, Roxas turned to make a run for it when suddenly some rocks flew in forcing him to deflect them.
"Nuh uh uh. You're not getting away that easy." A figure said landing in front of him.
Stepping out of the shadows, Roxas saw himself face to face with a tan-skinned, catgirl with one yellow and one turquoise eye, red sleeveless padded armor, a red headpiece behind a wild cedar brown mane, two diagonal belts and a grappling glove on her left arm.
"Oh great another fighter." Roxas gulps.
"While Aivenna is having her family reunion you and I can have our own fight." She said cracking her knuckles.
"I don't suppose you have a name?" Roxas asks.
"Name's Catra." She declared.
Leaping at him, Catra swings her foot to deliver a powerful round house but Roxas blocks it and knocks her back.
"Thundaga!" Roxas yells firing a bolt of lightning at her forcing Catra to fire a cable and swing out of the way. "Strike Raid!"
Throwing his keyblade it nails Catra in the chest sending her tumbling to the ground.
"Whoa, looks like this one has some fight in him." Catra grins loving the challenge. "Iron Balls!"
From her eyes, Catra fired multiple steel balls forcing Roxas to dodge as they hit the wall making the stalagmites above shake.
'Man I cannot catch a break here.' Roxas thought.
Back in Chaotic, everyone was watching the match.
"Our girl Sona is kicking code in this battle." Peyton said.
"Guess she doesn't need just Takinom to win." Erika said impressed.
"Of course not. Underworlders are fierce and can easily pull out a win." Kaz said.
"Just like Klay did in the last battle. He had Pyrithion use the Liquilizer in the Riverlands. The perfect combination of battlegear and location." Krystella said.
On-screen, Cerbie was being pelted by water attacks by Pyrithion until he was coded.
"That Cerbie was all washed up." Krystella smirks.
"So he lucked out, big deal." Joey said.
"Yeah what are you his campaign manager for creep of the year?" Peyton asks.
"My name is Krystella and I happen to appreciate highly skilled Chaotic Players." Krystella said.
"Well clearly you need to keep looking because Klay has no skill." Erika mocks.
"Ooh burn!" Peyton, Joey and Kaz said.
In Ravenaugh Ridge, Skithia was running along the cliffs as Pyrithion aimed his battlegear at her.
"Time for another win!" Pyrithion said firing a blast of water, but Skithia used the Ring of Na'ran to block it.
"Not this time!" Skithia said firing a lavalanche sending Pyrithion crashing into the wall.
Leaping in, Skithia kicks the Liquilizer out of his hands.
"I'm gonna enjoy this." Skithia punches Pyrithon in the face before grabbing him by the tail.
Spinning him around and around Skithia slams him to the ground.
"Squeeze Play!" As his tail grew in size Pyrithion wrapped it around Skithia's neck and crushed causing her to choke until finally coding.
Back in the drome, Sona rubbed her neck as Pyrithion turns back into Klay.
"So close, yet so far." Klay mocks.
"This game isn't over yet." Sona said.
"It might as well be. You only have one creature left." Klay said.
Spinning the location, the next location was the Lava Pond.
"Nivenna attacks Pyrithion!" Sona said pushing the icons.
In the Lava Pond, Pyrithion had his Liquilizer ready in one hand and a fireball in the other.
"This is gonna be too easy. I can shut down her attacks and increase my own." Pyrithion said when he heard a smashing noise.
Bursting out of the cave behind him Pyrithion gasps seeing Nivenna on the Viledriver.
"What was that about this being easy?" Nivenna glares.
"Uh oh." Pyrithion gulps in fear.
Back in the caverns, two epic battles were going on. Roxas vs Catra and Aivenna vs Nivenna.
As Roxas swings his keyblade Catra dodges and delivers a spin kick knocking him to the ground.
He was about to get up when Catra pounced him pinning him to the ground.
"What are you hiding under that hood of yours?" Catra asks. "I think I need a little peek."
She was about to pull it back when Roxas kicked her off.
"Sorry, I like to keep it on." Roxas said firing blasts of light but Catra fired her grappling knuckle allowing her to swing away avoiding the blasts.
Nearby Nivenna and Aivenna were rolling on the ground wrestling.
Rolling on top, Nivenna punched Aivenna multiple times before they rolled allowing Aivenna to be on top.
Grabbing Nivenna by the shoulders she banged her against the ground multiple times before breaking free.
"I'm not done with you!" Nivenna roars erupting in flames.
"Bring it on!" Aivenna roars.
"Torrent of Flame!" Both sisters roar releasing a powerful fire attack that upon collison the shockwave knocked all of them back and made the stalagmites above them shake violently.
"Oh that's not good." Catra gulps as they dropped down.
"Run!" Roxas yells as they scrambled to avoid being crushed.
Nivenna tried to run but a rock fell on her foot making her fall down in pain.
As another stalagmite fell towards her she gasps in horror when Oblivion flew in and smashed the rock to pebbles.
"What the?" Before Nivenna could even react, Roxas grabs her and tosses her down another path.
Turning around he saw Aivenna and Catra struggle to get out when he sees multiple stalagmites about to crush them.
Moving quickly, Roxas tackles Aivenna and Catra out of the way as the stalagmites came down creating a giant dust cloud.
As the dust cleared, Catra looked up to see the creature in the black coat was gone and many stones separated them from Nivenna.
"Dang it, we had him and now he's gone again." Catra growls.
"We have to catch him. He couldn't have gotten far." Aivenna said before wincing in pain.
Looking to her, Catra saw Aivenna's arm was hurt and she had some bruises on her face.
"No, I gotta get you back to Kiru City." Catra said helping her up.
"But Catra our orders—"
"We'll find him again, we just gotta be patient." Catra said.
"Oh all right." Aivenna said as they escaped.
'That last attack wasn't to hurt us, he saved us, even Nivenna. Who is he?' Catra thought confused.
On the other side, Nivenna coughs up dust.
"What a creature, being able to fight us all off and escape. Who is he?" Nivenna asks.
Little did they know down another corridor, Roxas took off his coat and opened his bag.
"I think I've had enough action for one day." Roxas said taking out his scanner.
Porting back to Chaotic, Roxas was stuffing his coat into his backpack as he looked up to see Sona's battle on screen.
As Pyrithion tries to make a run for it, Nivenna blasts him with the Vile Driver coding him.
"Haha!" Peyton cheered.
"Whoo! Yeah Sona!" Joey cheers.
"Okay, that worked." Krystella crosses her arms.
Back in the drome, Sona and Klay faced off.
"All tied up. Only one piece left on each side." Sona smirks.
"You don't have me beat yet." Klay said when suddenly Sona's scanner went off.
"Hey I'm not too late am I?" Roxas said as his face appeared on screen.
"Roxas?" Sona said surprised.
"Sorry I'm late, but I'm here now. Take this guy down." Roxas said as a determined smile appeared on her face.
"All right Klay, your move." Sona said as Klay spun the location.
In Fear Valley, Nivenna was riding the Viledriver looking for Ulmar.
"Come on Ulmar! Where are you hiding?" Nivenna calls out.
"Who's hiding?" Emerging from the darkness, Nivenna looks to see Ulmar riding a Viledriver as well. "Surprise, surprise."
Pulling a lever, Ulmar blasts Nivenna making her stagger.
"Another Viledriver? But I wrecked that thing!" Kaz said as Roxas walked over.
"Well then Klay must have scanned it before you wrecked it." Roxas said worried.
"You think you're so smart? You act like Chaotic is a game of chess, well Ulmar's smarter than you'll ever be! He's the genius who built the Viledriver!" Flicking a switch, Ulmar leaps off the rocks and lands in front of Nivenna. "The things we can do with this gear will blow you away!"
As the two Viledrivers clashes explosions went off all over as Ulmar seemed to gain the advantage over Nivenna.
"Looks like it's checkmate Sitri!" Ulmar said as flames shot out of Nievenna's Viledriver from all the damages.
'I can't give up now. I have to win and there's only one way. I hope it works.' Sona thought.
Pushing on the controls, Nievenna charged towards Ulmar.
"Are you crazy?!" Ulmar gasps.
"Yeah! Crazy driven!" Nievenna said firing at him making Ulmar's Vile Driver stagger.
"All right! Bring it on Girlie!" Ulmar roars as the two Vile Drivers charged towards each other firing at one another.
Watching it from the drome, everyone was on the edge of their seats.
Yelping Peyton held Krystella's hand. "I can't watch."
"Come on Sona, get him!" Joey said.
"Beat that jerk!" Erika said.
"You can do it!" Roxas said.
"Come on…almost there." Nivenna said as both battlegears collided causing an explosion and someone to code.
Cheering everyone saw Nivenna and Klay appear back in the dromes.
"What happened?" Peyton asks opening his eyes.
"Two horrible things: Klay lost and you touched me." Krystella said pushing him off her.
"The winner, DevilSitri!"
"Checkmate Klay." Nivenna said turning back into Sona. "It all went according to plan." Sona said adjusting her glasses.
"Wait a minute! Both our Viledrivers crashed at the same time! How come she wins?! I demand a replay!" Klay orders.
"Replay acknowledged."
Up on the screen, they saw right before the Viledrivers crashed Nivenna jumped off leaving Ulmar the only one affected by the explosion.
"Since I knew that Ulmar knew how to pilot the Viledriver better than I did I realized I had to outsmart that brainiac so I planned a kamikaze maneuver and nailed it. Ulmar knew how to build the Viledriver, but figured out how to destroy and survive. All thanks to a certain buffon for showing me." Sona smirks.
"Hey!" Kaz said annoyed by the insult.
"Enjoy your victory now Sitri because one day you'll regret it for getting in my path." Klay growls.
"Somehow I doubt that." Sona said taking her scanner and walking out.
At the table, Sona walked back to see everyone waiting for her.
"Now that was some strategy." Erika smiles.
"I can't believe you used my trick to win the match." Kaz said.
"I wouldn't call it a trick so much as an accident." Roxas said.
"You rocked girl." Peyton said.
"Thank you, and I didn't even have to use my favorite creature to win." Sona said sitting down.
"So Roxas, what took you so long?" Tom asks.
"I ran into some trouble down by the passage. Hard to find a moment to port out." Roxas said.
"Creature battle?" Peyton asks.
"Something like that." Roxas said.
"It happens. You'll find a scan next time, but I'm glad you made it back before my match ended." Sona said.
"You were pretty amazing. I gotta learn some more Underworld tricks if I want to improve." Roxas said.
"Well if you'd like I can show you a few tricks." Sona offers.
"Really? That be great." Roxas said.
Narrowing her eyes, Erika did not like Sona using this to get close to Roxas.
Meanwhile, at Kiru City, Aivenna and Catra return only to see Tangath Toborn glaring at them.
"Uh oh." Catra gulps as he made their way towards them.
"Uh Tangath Tobron sir we have important information to give to Maxxor." Aivenna said.
"Aivenna." Tangath said causing her to stand up straight.
"Yes sir?" She asks.
"Report to Maxxor immediatly. I need to have a word with this one." Tangath said turning to Catra.
"Right away and Catra…good luck." Aivenna said running off.
Once she left the hallway, Tangath Toborn groans holding his head.
"Catra, what were you thinking? You know you're not allowed to leave the city." Tangath said.
"Why not? I can take care of myself. You always say I'm better than half the Overworlders in the army." Catra said.
"That's not the point. You disobeyed me." Tangath said causing her to groan.
"But dad." Catra whines.
"No buts." Tangath growls.
"Dad, I've been your student since I could throw a punch. I know every single one of your protocols better than anyone and I've held my own against some of Maxxor's best. So if there's any reason why you think I'm not capable of doing this besides me being your daughter I'm all ears." Catra said crossing her arms.
"Ugh where do you get this stubbornness?" Tangath Toborn groans.
"Try looking in a mirror." Catra smirks pointing at him.
"Ugh." Tangath groans pinching his nose before leaning against the wall. "Am I gonna have to tell the outposts to stop you from leaving the city?"
"You know they can never catch me. I'm too sneaky for them." Catra said leaning against the wall next to him. "You can't expect me to stay cooped up here my whole life. I want to get out there. I'm not a little kid anymore."
Looking to her, Tangath Toborn sighs. He couldn't blame her for wanting to get out into the world, he wanted that too, but was always needed at Kiru City.
"All right, Catra I'll make you a deal. You can go, but..." Tangath Toborn said.
"There's always a but with you." Catra rolls her eyes.
"From now on, you always report to me before leaving Kiru City and I mean EVERY time. Do we have a deal?" Tangath Toborn asks.
"Deal." Catra nods.
"Good girl." Tangath smiles ruffling her mane.
"Hey cut it out!" Catra said trying to break free making him laugh.
"So what were you doing with Aivenna anyways?" Tangath Toborn asks.
"Tracking this creature with a unique battlegear. Aivenna ended up dealing with Nivenna so I got to battle him on my own." Catra said.
"What kind of creature was it?" Tangath asks as they walked down the hall.
"I'm not sure. He wore a black coat that covered his entire body and his battlegear looked like a sword but it was shaped like a key." Catra said causing Tangath's eyes to widen.
"A key?" Tangath Tobron said surprised.
"I know right? So weird. Bet he could give you a run for your money." Catra said.
As they went to Maxxor the only thing on Tangath's mind was what he should do with this revelation because as far as he knew. He was the only one who knew the truth behind this cloaked figure and his battlegear.