Disclaimer:DeadlyDragon12, and I ( Alchemypoetry) do not own the characters of Zelda, nor Final Fantasy. However, Brittney, and James are completely copywrited to us.Any use of these characters without our knowledge will result in us deleting this story and reporting your I.P address to the site, making you unable to make another account. So no stealing please.

Soul's Eternal Darkness

The summoner raised his hands in the air as a chant filled his vocals. James pushed energy into his feet, launching himself after his foe. To his surprise, he dodged quickly, to quickly. James growled and swung his blades in a criss-cross motion, only to catch air. Landing upon the ground, he rolled until he placed his back against on of the oddly placed blocks on the field.

" How the hell does he move so fast? "

" Heh, just because I'm a summoner, doesn't mean I'm not quick on my feet " he laughed as he stood upon the block. Using the heel of his palm, James slammed down upon the summoner's foot, getting a pain filled howl in return. He forced himself off the wall and rolled unto his feet, swords raised. He then stopped as a shimmering ball of light floated behind the summoner. The summoner smiled as he clapped his hands together twice.

" Your a bit late to stop me buddy " he said with a smile. James tilted his head, eyebrows furrowing together.

" What type of summoner did you say you were again ? " he asked innocently. The summoner didn't answer, but instead allowed the ball to form into the shape of a Light Dragon. It roared in fury at James, its teeth glistening in the bright sun. James smiled as it glared at him continueously.

" Whose a good dragon? Yes you are, yes you are " James laughed as he put his blades away. The crowd murmered in confusion, what the hell was going on. The dragon summoner looked at him, his gaze reflecting the spectators.

" What the hell is he doing? " Brittney asked as she crossed her arms. Link turned halfway, keeping his eyes on the arena.

" I was actually hoping that ' you ' would know the answer to that one ".

" Why me? "

" Your his friend aren't you ? "

-+-+

" Light Dragon of Emar. I command you to kill this feeble insane child " the summoner shouted, pointing at James with a shakey finger. The dragon stretched out its golden wings, air rushing around them all. It charged towards James, and he did nothing of action to stop it. He merely crossed his arms and smiled as the dragon came closer.

" Sit boy " James said calmly, and to everyone's surprise the dragon's fierce looked disappeared and it sat down instantly, its weight landing upon the one who summoned it. James outstretched a hand and petted the bridge of its nose. His dark eyes turned a light golden color as he met the dragon orbs.

" Thats it, be a good girl now. Do me a favor ok? " James asked warmly. The dragon responded by nodding her head.

" You go and...whats the only way I can win? I suppose he'll have to die. Be a good girl for me and snap him in half with you teeth...ok? " James smiled wide and turned his back to the dragon as the sounds of teeth sinking into flesh echoed off the walls. James rolled his eyes.

" Come on! I was expecting a challenge " he smiled, his arms stretching behind him. Suddenly an explosion rang out from behind him. Turning quickly he saw the body of the Light Dragon hit the floor. His jaw dropped as his eyes turned angrily. The summoner wobbled to his feet, his own expression full of hatred as he looked upon James. James's hands clenched into fists.

" You killed it! " he shouted angrily.

" Of course I killed it you fool! It was trying to kill me! Besides, its not as though the creature held any value " the summoner spat in James direction, blood bleeding through his open wounds.

" Reptiles are sacred within my city walls. How dare you defile a God like creature such as a dragon! You will pay for that " James hissed, his canines extending to sharp points as claws extended in place of his fingernails. Wind rushed all around him, blowing his clothes in many directions. The wind caused his sleeves to reveal his cursed mark written in acient text. Putting his hands together in some formation, he sucked in a deep breath.

" Taste the fires of Hell " he growled as flames shot out from his fingertips, flying and surrounding the summoner, his screams drowned out from the cackling sound. After a few seconds, James snapped back into reality and shut off the power. He looked at the smoldering ember of what used to be the Dragon Summoner. He walked up to him calmly before nudging the charred corpse with his foot, only satisfied that it caved in. The noise from the crowd made him look up, people were cheering in their seats, money being exchanged. James laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head.

" Guess that means I win " James shrugged as he walked towards the decapitated dragon. He gently rubbed his hands against its scales as a frown filtered across his face. Bending down he reached through the puddle of blood something stringy and unmoving. He held it gently in his hands as he walked back towards the entrance to the arena.

-+-+

" That...was...awesome! " Cloud exclaimed with a smile as James reached the opening. James laughed lightly as he hid his cradled object from their sight. Tifa patted his shoulder.

" Why didn't you tell us you could do that? It was awesome! Where did you learn that? "

" I've always been able to do it ".

" Thats an awesome gift then " Tifa smiled. James' smile disappeared.

" Actually...its not really considered a gift...its actually my curse...but I consider it a gift " James smiled sadly. Tifa bit her lower lip before apologizing.

" So...James is one of the few to be hand chosen by Arch Mors herself. It is a terrible curse and a wonderful gift...but how long until the powers of the dragon consume you? Till your soul is forever enveloped into darkness? " Brittney asked, her form leaning against the wall. James looked up, whatever trust that had been in her eyes were now gone.

"Arch Mors? She is the Queen of Mal right? " Link asked, his finger and thumb grasping his chin into a ' I'm thinking ' pose.

" Yes ".

" So she is your queen then? " Cloud asked.

" NO! " James shouted, anger flooding his body, welding into his blood. Cloud and Tifa looked at him in confusion.

" That...that bitch is not my Queen. She does not rule me, but she likes to think she does...and she never will " James vowed. He then looked up to the group before looking at Brittney once again.

" How did you know I was from the City of Mal? " Brittney smiled to his question, as the sounds of the trumpets signaled that the arena was ready for another fight to begin.

" I voluntere to go next " she continued to smile as she forced herself off the wall and walked to the opening before stepping out and being greeted by cheering. She placed her hands on her hips as she stood in the center of the arena.

-+-+

" Come now, I haven't got all day " Brittney rolled her eyes, her fingers tapping impatiently on her hip bone. A warrior with a spear stepped out, his expression a smug smile.

" Let me handle this little girl, eh boss? No prob " he rubbed his chin as his hands twirled the spear.

" Oh great...a drunk ".

" Excuse you me miss. But I happen to be sober! "

" Yeah? You reek of alcohol. I can smell it from here " Brittney waved the air around her nose with her hand as if to disturb the odor.

" Shut your mouth wench, or I will spear it shut " the man shook his weapon angrily. Brittney laughed as she mimicked his twirling with one of her arrows. The trumpets sounded again, blaring at them. Brittney withdrew her bow before loading the arrow.

" I'm a fast shooter...lets see how fast you can move " she smiled and fired off the first arrow, successfully piercing him in the shoulder. In a fluid motion she loaded another and soon another. Link's elven eyes had a tough time keeping up with her movements.

" Those are not human movements " he whispered lowly to himself, but James had caught those words.

-+-+

Her smile never faltered as the arrows continued to fly like mad. But to her discontent, Brittney had run out of arrows.

" Damn it " she cursed as she sheathed her bow.

" Guess the ball is in my court now " the warrior cackled as he thrusted his spear towards her heart. Brittney grabbed the sharpend end and twisted it upwards, regardless of the pain.

" Big scary spear, I'm so afraid " she responded sarcasticly. She pulled out a spare sword that lay hidden within her cloak. She swung it high, her skills with the blade were not as sharp as her bow. The warrior seemed to have a small hunting knife of his own as he parried the attack. Brittney took her bow before swinging it hard across his head, and watched with great sadness as the wood shattered and splintered into tiny pieces. She used her fluid movements to twist around him, her legs stiffening together in some sort of serpent movement. She then planted her knife into the square of his back and watched as he crumbled to the ground. Her smile disappeared as she picked up a splintered piece of her weapon. The trumpets sounded loudly signalling the end of the second match, the third and fourth would begin at sun down to make it more exciting.

" Oooh...my bow " Brittney's lips tugged to the side as she walked back to the entrance before completely walking outside. Someone then suddenly touched her shoulder. Spinning quickly, she moved like water to behind that person who had snuck up behind her, before placing a blade to their throat.

" So you know who I am and what my purpose of. But those moves...they were learned in Mal weren't they? The serpent's dance. How, and why, do you know that style of fighting? " James asked calmly as he pushed the blade away.

" Yes I learned it in the City ".

" But why? "

" Hmm...thats a good question...wish I could remember " she answered and began walking away.

" Your not to skilled with a sword are you ? " James asked, his tone mocking. Brittney stopped and pivoted her head around enough to look at him,

" What are you trying to get at? " she asked icely.

" Nothing. Just that if in a real battle you run out of arrows, what is to happen? Can you rely on your sword skills enough to save your life? "

" Bye James ".

-+-+

An hour before sunset he found her sitting by the lake. James crept very carefully and quietly from the grassy hill to the shore of the water. Brittney's hands seemed close to her body, her elbows barely moving, the glinting of a knife in her hand.

" What are you doing ? " James asked, fear that she was using the knife to hurt herself. Brittney looked up from her work, the sun reflecting in her emerald pools. She blinked twice at him before looking back in the direction of her hands, a little tune humming inside her vocal cords. A few moments later she stood up, her heeled boots digging into the soft grass as she took out coiled string from her pocket. Tieing the ends into loops, she brought it back to her front before a loud strum was heard. Turning to face him she held up her newly carved and finished long bow. James raised his eyebrows.

" This is what you've been doing all day? "

" Yes. Thats whats great about being an archer. See, if my weapon breaks I can simply make another one on my own. However, you being a swordsman, needs at least a week for a new sword to be ready. You poor poor swordsman " Brittney smirked as she placed her bow over her shoulder. James laughed before withdrawing on of his swords. He turned it within his fingertips and offered her the hilt. Brittney looked at him, her eyes narrowing.

" Whats this for? "

" I'll teach you how to wield one. Once you learn the proper way to use a sword, you can use any blade. Granted you balance the weight. Anyway, we've got an hour, so, lets get practicing " James took out his other blade before balancing it in his hands.

-+-+

Forty-five minutes of swinging and hacking away with a sword, and at least ten of those minutes were spent falling down. Brittney threw the sword into the ground, letting it ludge in and stay sticking up. The blade gave a soft ' thwang ' as it wobbled back forth. Brittney sat down and brought her knees to her chest. She used the back of her hand to wipe the sweat off her brow.

" Ugh...you stick to the sword. I'm fine with being an archer ".

" Are you suggesting that we stay traveling together? Because thats the only way you could stick to archery and not have to worry about being ambushed ".

" Look, I was fine before without you. If I recall correctly, I'm the one that saved your sorry hide alright? "

" Testy testy aren't we? " James smirked. Brittney's eyes narrowed angrily.

" Shut up! "

" Why? I'm just trying to make you laugh. You seem as though you can never be happy ".

" SHUT UP! "

" Calm down. You need to let people in. Cause I bet there is someone out there who cares and misses you ". Brittney walked up to him before slapping him across the face. The action surprised him, but not as much as did her next. Before James could even question her, her lips sealed over his own, her hands grasping his shoulders. James eyes were still wide when she let go and pulled away. She picked her bow off the ground before standing straight and looking at him.

" I don't want to hurt you " she said quietly as she walked in the direction of the castle where the trumpets sounded for the third match to begin.

-+-+

" So who fights tonight? " Link asked as James and Brittney arrived. Cloud twitched his buster blade in Link's direction.

" I'll go ".

" And I'll get the battle after you " Tifa winked, making Cloud turn a shade darker as he smirked.

" Are you going to fight tonight or what? " Brittney asked Link. Link shook his head no.

" No...the king decides my battles ".

A/N: Can you say, " I hate life? " cause I can. Things are not going well, for anything really. Ugh, enjoy the update. Alchemypoetry