A/N:

So who remembers me putting this up? Yeah it has been a while, but I really wanted to finish some other stuff up before I went on to this and thus adding more to my plate thus slowing down overall update. But I figured I should post this since Fractured Reality is going a little slow for the moment. And I'm having a bit of a brain fart on literally everything else. But this is chapter 2 and I'm think that later I'll move the rating to M. Things are gonna get violent and cringe worthy later on so fair warning before any actual combat in seen.

Psionic Gladiators part 2

"Rule Two: Fight"

The three boys simply sat in the dimly lit room, or cage as it felt like to them with only the sound of intense action to distract them. They had been there for what felt like hours. But from the sounds of the extreme violence outside only a few fights had come and gone so far. Lucas retreated into a corner farther away from Ness and Ninten for the time being and curled up. Ness assumed that the boy was simply exhausted, and the sounds of such intense fighting was not helping him to rest. Ninten simply sat with his back against the wall next to him staring off in the distance. He looked to be in deep thought. His eyes ventured to the sealed doorway multiple times and then scans the room. It was so dark in here it was hard to make out the corners. So they were very limited to what they could understand about where they were and how they were being held. Ness however was about to go stir crazy. He's been locked in here too long and he was beginning to grow anxious. If he didn't get out this place soon he was going to start screaming. It wasn't long before he started having these little ticks all over his body as if pent up energy was going to make him have a seizure. Ness went from clicking his tongue, clicking the toes of his shoes together, tapping his fingers, and messing with the bill of his hat. Eventually it was impossible to ignore, as his antics finally attracted Ninten's attention who looks to see Ness cupping his hands over his eyes like binoculars.

"What's wrong with you?" he asks with a quirked eyebrow.

"I've been sitting way too long, and I need to do something!" Ness exclaims jumping to his feet as if Ninten just set off the explosion that launched Ness' body into a tirade of motion. "We don't know where we are. We don't know who is holding us captive. We don't know how they're holding us captive. And we don't even know each other enough to have any sort of trust. So much of what is going on is what we don't know!"

"Yeah, that's been bugging me too," Ninten says with eyes shooting towards the darkened corner where Lucas was curled up at. "And without our PSI it's hard to read emotions to tell if someone is lying or trustworthy. But with that in mind it shouldn't take supernatural powers to come to a decision to trust someone or not. We're locked up here, that part is obvious to all of us, which means we're in the same boat."

"Plus there are these fights, I wish the window was lower so we could watch," Ness states.

"Hang from the bars," Ninten responds folding his arms behind his head. Earlier he hung from the bars to watch and even found himself get swept away by the action.

"Normally I could hold myself up. I thought I'd get some strength back after waking up, but my body still feels weak. My arms could hold me up for a few seconds at most, so can't you just give me a boost?"

"No way."

"Come on! The way you lifted me earlier was like you were lifting up a stick."

"That may be true, but I'm still weaker just like you are. You think your strength is cut off, but mine is even more so. I want to save what strength we have because we might need it."

"What makes you say that?" Ness questions.

However, before Ninten can respond a loud snap echoed through the arena from outside. This brought the crowd into a lull before cheering even louder. Both boy's grimace at the thought of what was just broken. Then a booming voice echoes around them; the announcer from before began speaking. "This looks like the end of the match my adoring audience. No way he's walking that off! Now, then good citizens of Vega-32, that concludes this season of battles. But do not fret for the new season shall begin within a few planetary rotations and with a new season brings new challengers!" The crowd cheers upon hearing that obviously very eager to see what was in stored for them. "Now everyone I bid thee farewell for now!"

What follows was what sounded like a large crowd of people all converging toward an exit. Excited chatter could be heard but it was all indistinguishable to the boys. Now that the fights were over they hoped they could get a moments peace to rest themselves. It was hard to calm and collect yourself with thunderous roars echoing from what felt like a few yards away. As time passes on all the noise came down until there was nothing but silence. It was joyfully welcomed and instantly refreshed even Ness who sighs as he drops to the ground next to Ninten. Ness looks to see that Ninten had closed his eyes seeming to jump at the chance to sleep. Ninten had the right idea and Ness definitely agreed a lot with what Ninten said too. Nobody invited them or asked if they wanted to be here. They probably didn't much care if they made it back home either. Which meant their survival was completely up to themselves. Ness decides close his eyes and catch up on some sleep of his own.

It felt like Ness had only closed his eyes a few moments ago. But Ninten shaking his shoulder and him slowly regaining consciousness assures him that he had indeed fell asleep. Ness looks at Ninten for the boy to point forward. Ness also noticed their cage was illuminated somehow. He looks towards Ninten's gesture to see the announcer that he had seen flying around earlier.

"You…" Ness mutters.

"Excellent, everyone is up and awake so I won't have to repeat myself twice." He says. Ness blinks confused before glancing to Ninten. He wasn't completely sure before but he definitely sees the strong resemblance between himself and him. Only Ninten's hair was lot shaggier then his own. Also Ninten looked toned, pretty beefy arms he's seen for a kid his age. Ness also looks toward the corner to see Lucas giving the being his undivided attention although still with his hood up. All Ness could make out was blue eyes and maybe blonde hair. "Alright meat sacks allow me to introduce myself, I am MC."

"Master of Ceremonies?" Ness questions.

"That's an interesting expression, must be an Earth thing. No, MC, has multiple meanings in multiple languages. This nickname is the only one that translates well between interspecies so it is the name I choose to go with."

"Well what is your name in our language?" Ness asks.

"Hmm…I believe it would be…god." Ness and Ninten blink at that. "Well the closest thing I can think of anyway."

Ness honestly doubted that, and it sounded more like the guy was just being a pretentious douche. "What are you?" Ninten questions.

"I'm what you would call a cosmic event given form. A natural part of the universe that cannot be truly destroyed. What do you see looking at me?"

"Your face looks kinda human, and your body is glowing…" Ness points out.

"Sounds about right. That's cosmic radiation you see with all the glowing, and the form you see is what your monkey brains is able to process. Every species perceives me differently, so I often find myself curious as to what they see me as." MC lets out a sigh before turning rather serious. "Alright, I entertained your opening questions of me, although I personally would've asked the important ones instead of wasting that opportunity. Right Lucas?" MC asks jerking his head over toward the hooded boy who jolts at the attention. "I'm sure you were trying to get them to ask the important questions."

Ness and Ninten look over to Lucas to see the boy had his hands up, but watches as they drop while he deflates. Had he been signaling them the entire time?

"Don't worry, I'm a fair cosmic being, so I will give you those answers anyway. As I said I am MC and I am the organizer of this little game you may have witnessed outside, Warriors Madness."

"Of what we could see anyway…" Ness states gesturing to the window and pointing out the obvious height issue.

"Ah I see the window was a little high. Most creatures would kill to have the kind of show access you did. Only fair you get to enjoy it right, sorry about the height a bit of an oversight. We're used to having creatures a lot bigger then you three." MC simply holds his hand up and flicks his wrist down to make the window fall lower so the boys could see out standing up. The three boys gape at how he just made something like this possible. "Issue handled. Now then, to answer another question, why are you here? That's simple really, you are fighters from a rather insignificant little blue planet. But news of Gigue's defeat at the hands of humans; creatures no one has even heard of was news so big it outshined a supernova! I don't know much about that race the Giganians because of how reclusive and secretive they are. I do know they're a bit self-righteous, and an enemy you don't want knocking on your door. I used to have these things on a large ship for convenience…Gigue saw to breaking it," MC frowns at the memory but quickly shakes that off to recover his pep. "So I had to seek out these humans and discover this gift for battle they had. To find out how someone could do that to the monster known as Gigue which led me to you…" MC gestures to Ninten who kept his glare steady the moment Gigue was mentioned. "I found you Ninten, but honestly I was rather…dissatisfied. Humans don't live up to the hype at all, most of your species can't even do what you three can."

"Then why am I here?" Ninten spat out.

"I just explained why you're here boy, you're a novelty."

"A novelty!" Ninten barks jumping to his feet. He's been ripped away from his home, thrown in this cell, and caged like an animal because he's fucken novelty!

"As I said Gigue has garnered quite the reputation through the stars. To hear you sent him packing, it'll at least turn some heads. But you alone were not enough to garner attention I needed power like yours, and unfortunately your ragtag group wouldn't live up to the hype. Your reliance on each other would hinder you all later on and I needed a fighter who could hold their I only took you." Ninten seemed to give signs of relief at hearing that. "But no other being existed on that planet that was similar in scales of strength, so I had to search through other time periods."

"Time periods?" Ness asks confused.

"Yes, as I am neither human nor weak, I am not bound by this thing you humans call physics. This led me to you Ness, vanquisher of Giygas. Very impressive and I can see your powers have served you well. You will be the most entertaining to behold," MC then turns toward Lucas. "And you Lucas my dear boy. No creature has ever avoided capture for so long before, I could not believe I had to send my elite hunters." MC floats over to tug on Lucas's collar. "And I had to make something with you in mind as well, since those regular collars wouldn't do for you at all my little monster." Lucas' head falls hearing that as his body tightens up with clenched fists.

"So you pulled us from different time periods?" Ness asks.

"That is correct. Currently we are in Ninten's timeline. I pulled Ness from the future, and Lucas from even further than that. I was tempted to go farther but I prefer an odd number."

"This all sounds like some whimsical bull crap you're pulling! You won't keep me here!" Ninten barks.

"I'm glad we've reached this juncture so quickly." MC points his finger at Ninten. Suddenly the circuits in the collar begin glowing blue. Then Ninten collapses to the ground thriving in pain. "Those collars are connected to your vitals through your spinal column. From what I understand of your anatomy, movement is dictated by electronic pulses through the mind and travel down the spinal column. Through the spinal column this is what allows you to function. This collar interferes with those signals. The signals going to your lungs to breath don't make it, and the mind is scrambling to get the body balanced again. I can make your blood boil, your heart to explode, or suffocate you by making you hold your breath. Or my favorite," Ninten finally gasps as air returns to his lungs and the pain he was in seems to have ended. He stands to his feet before suddenly rounding on Ness to slam his fist into Ness' jaw knocking the boy to the ground. Ninten moves attack again with Ness demanding him to stop. "Your free will now comes at a cost, and you would do well to remember that." MC drops his hand which has Ninten stop on the spot just before his fist implants into Ness' face again. Ninten quickly backs away from Ness.

"You've made your point…" Ness growls rubbing his jaw.

"Then…if you can control us, why explain anything at all? Why show your hand?" Lucas voice asks. Ness and Ninten shift their gaze to the hooded boy who fixes MC with a stern stare. MC smirks at Lucas as if extremely glad the question was asked, or elated someone was smart enough to ask it.

"Because a battle with the outcome known by me is boring and I don't fix fights. No point in gathering warriors and not having them rely on their own skills and experience. I am going to have your cooperation, because the more victories you acquire you can have this lovely little hovel become something more comfortable. You've brought me wealth, so I shall return the favor. One of stars here, Vega, lives like mighty conqueror with his every need met or whatever your heart desires." Lucas's eyes narrow into slits. This makes MC chuckle "But you weren't interested in that answer nor what I have to offer. You're interested on how I will acquire your compliance from this point, is that right?"

"Yes…" Lucas responds in a scratchy voice, maybe from disuse.

"I brought you all here from different time periods, is it not so farfetched that I can make things difficult for you to return home." MC holds up one finger. "One lose, that's all it takes, and your record is smeared and you're no longer a hot commodity. One lose will lead to all privileges being revoked, and you end up right back here in a cell like this one. Then you'd have to win your way back up and the climb will be so much harder the second time around. Lose again and that's it, your planet is forfeit."

"What do you mean?" Ninten questions with dreed seeping into his bones.

"I think I have demonstrated that my power is limited to my imagination. Planet busting is a relatively easy feat, but to be frank. You lose again, I blow up your planet. But I'm a generous guy even at that stage I may give you the choice. I could spare your loved ones and blow up the planet. Or I could kill your loved ones, and spare the planet. But still even with that generosity some beings still get the third strike. They end up losing everything. A fighter without the will to fight is useless to me, so at this point I take their free will. Even if they are hacks, they may prove useful in breaking in new combatants."

"You're a monster!" Ness yells in utter disgust at the idea that he'd hurt the ones he cared about. His mom, his sister, or his friends.

"You talking to me or him?" MC questions jabbing a thumb at Lucas.

"Will you leave that kid alone!" Ninten explodes as he stomps over to stand in front of Lucas. "He doesn't need to take that from a creep like you!"

"Like Ninten said earlier, we won't be here long," Ness states in a challenging tone.

MC lets out a sharp laugh, "Oh my it has been a while since someone has outright challenged me. I've forgotten how amusing it is. When I said if you win enough you can have your heart's desire I meant it kids. You can have the opportunity to return home in between matches sleep in your own beds, and enjoy those home cooked meals you'll miss so much. I don't want my warrior's spirit broken after all, I want them doing what I want, but in return I can do what you want. I may be a powerful godlike being above your comprehension, but I still hold some compassion. Besides boys you being here means that I clearly know where you live. If by some hallow miracle you leave here without my knowledge, because let's face it you aren't really escaping, you'd find yourself dealing with me personally. And I'll make sure you suffer in ways you didn't think was possible."

All three boys were inclined believe him when he said that. To make his point clearer his body starts shining red with intense heat rolling off him making the boys feel like they were being cooked. The heat quickly subsided as MC took his jovial features again. "So that's it. As far as meals go. You'll be fed before your match, and as far as bathrooms go…eh I'm sure you guys can be creative. Alright kiddos, have fun," And with that he warped away taking the light with him and any indication that he had even been there. Ness releases a breath he hadn't realized he was holding after MC threatened them. It seemed like a rather hopeless situation, but he was right. Ness didn't know what a cosmic being is or what kind of powers he had. He had no Jeff to explain this to him, no Poo to come up with an attack plan, and no Paula to keep him steady when his heart begins weighing him down. He was alone.

Ninten clenches his fist tightly. He doesn't know it, but he completely sympathizes with Ness. He didn't know how he was going to make it through this on his own. The friends he made that went with him to stop Gigue. He hadn't done that alone, as selfish as the wish feels he wants them to be with him now. Loid, Teddy, and…Ana are all far away from him right now. He had faced Gigue with them at his side, not alone, and not on his own strength. Suddenly Ninten is yanked from his stupor when he feels a tug on his shirt sleeve. He looks down behind him at Lucas who let's go of the fabric.

"Um…t-thanks…for that," Lucas's words stumble out his mouth. Unsureness and doubt lacing his words. But under that it was clear that he was sincere. Ninten only gives him a curt nod as he mostly did that out of reflex. He didn't like seeing people getting picked on especially right in front of him. "I'm sorry…"

"Huh," Ninten questions turning to look back down at the boy. "What did you say?"

"…Sorry…for earlier…" Lucas spoke quietly.

Ninten snorts out a laugh. "Apology accepted I guess."

"So I guess this is our life now…" Ness mutters as he palms his face. "A death tournament I can't even say no to. Heh, if this was another dimension I might've been able to call Hand. But he can't interfere with the worlds even if it is wrong…" Ness says only to himself for his ears only. He had no hope and from the look on Ninten's face he didn't either. He couldn't read Lucas's expression, but his body language was pretty much the same. "Wait…" Ness says suddenly perking up as he looks toward Lucas. Lucas' body language has hardly changed. Ninten and himself are seemingly about to have a break down at the thought of this becoming their lives. While Lucas hardly seems affected by it! So much so he's more focused on his apology to Ninten! "Wait a minute!"

"What's with you?" Ninten questions glumly. Ness shoots to his feet to move around Ninten and crouch at Lucas's level.

"You," Ness states with a stern purple eye stare. His stare was hard and laced with frustration. Lucas could see that as he felt himself back further in the corner. "After all that, you don't seem too bothered by anything that asshole just said. Not a single thing bothered you about our arrangement did it?"

"How does that have anything to do with anything?" Ninten questions.

"I-I don't-," Lucas began but he cut himself off.

"Why does the news of our lives being taken from us so easy for you to go along with?" Ness asserts his question.

"Ness what's this gonna prove? He's pretty unresponsive everything and everyone so I'm assuming that's his thing."

"Both of us are freaking out here Ninten. Lucas isn't at all, I wanna know why."

"And why is that?"

"Because it's creepy and it makes it seem like he knows something we don't. Also I don't like how chummy MC was with him. Even if he was messing with him but I still don't like it!"

"He has just as much to lose as us Ness, I don't think harassing him is gonna make you feel better."

Ness ignores Ninten as he reaches out grabbing the scruff Lucas' shirt. He presses the younger boy against the wall. "This is a tense situation we're in, and sometimes pain is better than feeling nothing at all. I'm not saying he needs to freak out like I currently am right now, but I would like some reassurance he's human."

"I don't have anything left to lose…" Lucas spoke. Ness pauses staring at the hooded boy dumbfounded. He felt this knot grow in his stomach at hearing that. He eases up on the boy a bit as tries to fully understand what Lucas has just told him.

"What?" he asks.

"It doesn't bother me… I don't mind if he destroys my world…" Lucas states plainly.

"How can you say that?" Ninten asks beside himself in terror at the thought of such apathy.

"I-I plan…to throw my first fight…"

"But your world and the people-,"

"You really think it matters…he was toying with us. You lose…the opponent has the chance to take your life…" Lucas states. This makes both Ness and Ninten flinch at this realizing that Lucas was right! All those horrible noises didn't sound like someone was merely being knocked out. Bones were being shattered, muscles torn apart, and who knows what else kind of painful ways of death. If the crowd was any clue it sure didn't seem like the majority were type to favor both combatants walking out of the ring.

"We should've been able to figure that out on our own," Ninten mutters rubbing his face. Ninten is starting to see that Lucas is an observer. Because he doesn't talk much that means he's always taking things in always listening. He looks back at Ness then reaches out to try to pry his grip off Lucas. "Listen, Lucas, I don't think you should just give up."

"The only way out of this…is to beat him…and that's impossible…"

"It sounds like you gave up before he even came in here," Ness accuses.

"I had given long before coming to this place …" Lucas responds. "No matter who I'm fighting…it'll be my last…I didn't want to bother you guys…so please ignore me…"

"No!" Ness yells reaching out to grab Lucas's shoulders. "Listen, you can't do that! Because we need to work together!"

"Huh?" both Lucas and Ninten question.

Huh Ness thought in his head. The words were out there now, so he had to follow through with it, "Yeah, we need to work together."

"And do what, MC didn't want us with our friends for that very reason." Ninten pointed out.

Ness turns to look at Ninten, "But we're all stuck in here, we're earthlings, and we all have PSI. You mentioned that a lamp started you on your journey to save the world Ninten, a freaken lamp! And a meteor with an alien bee inside of it started me on mine. Neither of these things made a lick of sense to us then, but that's how it happened right? And we made great friends along the way too!"

"So what we just see this as a brand new adventure?" Ninten questions with distaste.

"We didn't choose how our first adventure started, why should the second one be any different?"

"This doesn't feel like an adventure at all, we're prisoners and slaves!"

"And how long it stays that way depends on us!" Ness says before looking back at Lucas. "But we need every resource we can get our hands on. Right now, that's each other, so no one goes dying."

Both boys were stunned at Ness's bold words. It did echo along with their thoughts because they each took them in to mull over it a bit. Ness wasn't sure why he said those things either. But he wasn't willing to give up, and he couldn't say for sure about them he felt like they were fighters too. So maybe they'd be willing to risk it all just like him. He did feel like this was big leap of faith for them and himself. He had no idea if he could trust these guys or not, but at this point onward trust is a luxury. They need to survive and doing that may require each other.

"You don't want me…I'll make things worse…I'm no good…" Lucas finally says after a moment.

"Ness may be right, and as callous and selfish as this is going to sound," Ninten suddenly began. "Hold off on the suicide for now. If you don't want to help yourself at least help us. We'd rather not die here, and like MC said. We're a novelty, I doubt he'd let you be killed off in the first round."

"Geez man…" Ness says with a disproving tone as he glares at Ninten. "We don't need that kind of attitude and it doesn't have to be that harsh." Ness returns his gaze to Lucas his hands squeeze his shoulder. "Look sorry for that freak out, a few seconds ago it was uncalled for and you didn't deserve that. But listen Lucas, I understand that you don't want give this guy what he wants. From what you said you've already lost everything, but I'm begging you…I don't want to lose everything. I want my life back…so please. Please help us…" Lucas gapes at the boy in front of him. He saw the confident look on his face fall away to show the scared boy underneath. "Please…"

Lucas is silent for a few moments. Clearly thoughts were racing through his mind though it was hard to tell what kind with the hood over his face. But whatever it was something made Lucas jump before his body started shaking. From his grip on his shoulders Ness felt the boy trembling which confuses him. Was he crying? Ness couldn't really tell with Lucas trying his best to hide his face. Lucas lets out a sigh before holding up his hand. "Okay." He responds clearly trying to keep his voice even. Ness is taken by surprise as he looks at the hand offered then back at Lucas. "I'll help you both get home."

Ness smiles as he clasps Lucas' hand to shake. "Thank you so much Lucas!"

"Let's be clear, this doesn't make us friends. Don't try to be my friend either, the second you do the deal is off, and you'll be on your own." Lucas states sternly. Ness is startled, partially that Lucas spoke a whole sentence, but mostly toward the implications of friendship. Ness didn't understand and felt a little saddened. However, all the same he agreed to Lucas' terms as did Ninten.

"So what's the plan for now?" Ninten asks.

"Go along for now, we need more information on where we are, and MC seems really willing to give us those answers," Lucas explains.

"So we play the parts for now until?" Ness questions.

"We know how to beat him." Lucas answers.

"I can't wait to see the look on his face, when we show him up he'll regret messing with us. We'll show him!" Ninten states suddenly pumped up.

Ness stands up turning to Ninten. "We're gonna tear this guy to shreds for sure!"

"And he's gonna help us stay in shape too with these fights, everything is just gonna be a warm up!"

"I'll bet he's all bark and no bite when the deck isn't stacked in his favor."

Lucas silently listened on to their boasting. It was hard to imagine that only a few moments ago these two had given up. But it was like the second they gave up they realized what giving up really meant. He admired the confidence they had and genuinely hoped for the best for them. But he silently begins to cry bringing his head down. He stiles the wailing he wants to express not wanting them to hear his anguish or his pain. "You've got no home to return to my little monster which makes this rather hard to convince someone who hardly has the will to live let alone fight for me. So I'll do this instead, for every friend you make, if you lose I'll kill someone precious to them and I'll make them watch. I'll be sure to let them know why this is happening and I'll be sure to keep you alive. You die, when I decide you die." MC's telepathic message rang clear in Lucas' mind.