From the Side
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Disgaea 2
A/N: I APOLOGIZE A LOT FOR NOT UPDATING WHEN I PROMISED. And worse, taking over a month to do so. My laptop's keyboard fully broke (no 'n' key and a few other keys are being difficult) and the other computer I use apparently doesn't have any writing program outside of Notepad. Even now, I'm using someone else's laptop. Still, hopefully this'll work and if need be I'll hike my butt down to the library.
A promise: Next week (not this one due to an event I'm going to) I am going to attempt to catch up to where I should be. Meaning there will be 5 updates next week, starting on Monday ending on Friday. Once a day in other words. Keep an eye out!
~*~
Zarame found himself sitting on a wooden desk where a couple of monsters were chatting away. He wasn't interested in their talk, though they kept sending suspicious glances at him as if he was spying. No, he was here because Adell requested that he stay with Brandon to avoid any "unfair advantages" the other competitors might try to create. The gunner was surrounded by Prinnies, his excitement unconstrained and their annoyance barely hidden.
"So Etna really throws you guys to make you explode?" Brandon asked, eyes glittering.
One Prinny sighed. "Dood, she doesn't need to throw us. She just stabs us and kills us off. I think she thinks there's an unlimited supply of us, dood."
"Amazing!" Brandon cheered. "Beauty Queen Etna really is as good as Demon Lords get!"
The samurai sighed and leaned back, blocking out the rest of the conversation. If any fights were going to start preemptively, Brandon and the Prinnies would be in the center of it. Best friend or no, Zarame didn't want to have to defend someone from their own stupidity.
At that moment, Aerin stormed up. She glared at Zarame. "Do something about that." Zarame shook his head, closing his eyes and getting comfortable. Aerin stomped her foot like a child who was just refused the candy they wanted. No response. She grabbed onto the samurai's collar and pulled him forward. This time calm, red eyes opened to stare at the archer. "Do. Something. About. That," she repeated.
"Why? What's the harm? He's a lot more manageable than the drooling mess he was when the Demon Lord was actually here. Let him have his fun, we may learn something about a possible enemy anyway. Or, if you're really jealous, you can attempt to break him away, but that will be your doing. I'm just here to watch," Zarame mumbled.
"You're a jerk, you know that?" Aerin growled.
"Haven't I always been?"
"Yeah, but I was just beginning to tolerate you." The archer sighed and walked towards Brandon. She tapped him on the shoulder and quickly began an argument that Zarame chose to walk away from.
Free at last to roam, he explored the preparing area they were in. Groups of enemies were placed all over. A few that Zarame recognized as villagers from Adell's home, such as the puppet or the plant guy/girl. There was also a fellow ronin, sitting by himself in a corner, glaring at all who passed. A gunner and a ninja were chatting together, arguing about which was better for battle. Eventually, a strange man with white hair also walked up, his arms bound by chains. He threw in an argument that fists were far more advantageous, or rather anything that took the enemy out in one blow. This made Zarame grin. He couldn't help but agree.
"Armanda, who's side are you on?" the gunner barked at the chained man.
"I have no reason to side with you when I think you're wrong. Just because we're on the same team doesn't mean we're buddies." Obviously unwelcome, the white haired man stormed off.
Precisely how Zarame felt, though even now he wasn't sure if he'd be able to say that directly to Adell's face. After all, Adell did accept him back into the group even after his stupid stunt. "Er... it wasn't my fault," Zarame mumbled to himself. "But considering how much he was offended, I do have to appreciate him accepting me back."
"If you have the time to mumble to yourself, then move out of the way for to-be-champions of the coliseum!" a man with a thick accent hissed from behind the samurai. Zarame hesitated and then looked around.
"No one's in my way," he stated, loud enough so that the person behind him could clearly hear him. "There's no need to push aside people who aren't in the way." He cupped a fist in a hand with a face of mock realization. "Oh, you think you're the champion! I get it." He spun around, a glare instantly locking onto the man behind him. "Sorry, I don't move aside for people who are hallucinating."
It was a man in a yellow robe similar to his. A ronin by appearance, an idiot underneath. He had two female fighters, two rogues, a healer, a mage girl, and a skull. His eyes locked onto the skull, sitting far in the back. "A man with a harem and a young boy. Hardly what I find victorious."
"That is where appearances are deceiving!" the lead man stated, oblivious to the insult Zarame had thrown. "We are the Invincible Squad! Our equipments are invincible! I am Undefeatedable, the leader of this group."
"Your equipment may be strong, but in the hands of a weakling, those who know what they're doing will win. You stand no chance. I bet you won't even make it passed the first round." Zarame walked away before Undefeatedable could retort with something even half-witty.
Or so he thought. Suddenly, one of the rogues jumped up behind him, giggling insanely as she laid a trap and forced him to stay where he was. Undefeatedable stormed right up to the samurai and punched him, proving that at least he had the force to do damage. Zarame moved a hand to where he hit instinctively, feeling the bruise already forming.
The enemy went in for a second attack but a green figure moved between them, a bow aiming at his face. "Stand down and save it for the arena, fools, or I'll steal those pants off of ya and cause ya more embarrassment than ya caused my buddy here with a move like that."
"Waffle," Zarame said through half a mouth.
The girl in front of him tilted her head to the side and grinned. "On the other side, I might be tempted ta take the pants anyway. They're shiny."
"Oh wow, they are," came another person's response, making everyone spin around to where Aerin and Brandon stood. Brandon smirked and continued. "In fact he's entirely shiny, maybe we should strip him of his equipment entirely. It could fetch a nice price on the black market, I'm sure."
Waffle's eyes glittered. "True, and it'd only be right after the stunt ya just pulled. What do ya say Mr. Undefeatedable?"
"Oh, his opinion doesn't matter," Aerin added, leaning against Brandon. "After all, I'm sure he can't even comprehend half of what we're saying."
"My sentiments exactly," Brandon and Zarame stated at the same time, making eye contact afterwards and laughing. Waffle even giggled as Undefeatedable began shaking in rage.
"You guys are dead!" he shouted and stormed off.
"Well at least he left without doing anything else," Zarame muttered. Waffle put her bow down and shrugged.
"I hope we don't fight 'em," she yawned.
"Why?"
"I don't wanna go easy on anyone."
The two guys laughed again. Aerin shrugged. "I don't know. I like seeing women in this fight, but set up like that it really angers me."
"Like they're nothing but lackeys to the idiot?" Zarame asked.
"Precisely."
"Well, let's hurry and rendezvous with the others," Waffle added. "I was actually sent out ta get ya all here."
~*~
Mouth healed and equipment readied, the group heard their team be called and headed towards the arena. The arena was brightly lit with hundreds of people in the audience section, which was probably small considering the normal amount of people at events like this. Well, that was what happened with an only recently famous place such as Veldime.
A surprise came when the MC stood in the center, a big familiar grin on his face. "Welcome to the Coliseum!" Axel shouted to the audience. "Your great Dark Hero is here to be your MC!"
"I can only take so many idiots," Zarame moaned.
"This is going to be a nightmare," Adell agreed.
"Hey, what's with the frowns crew?"Axel asked, a smirk replacing the casual grin. "Sad to see me again? Have I struck such fear into your hearts?"
"Uh, no, how did you get here?" Adell said.
"I impressed Zenon with my charming good looks and extreme talent."
"Actually, he begged Zenon's publicist to let him on," Axel's director added, the old man sitting off on a corner with a camera-zombie-man.
"Director!"
"I get it now, that totally makes sense," Rozalin noted, nodding as if all questions had been answered.
"Y-you know what? I'm going to make you guys regret having ever crossed my path! You are going to fight now!" Axel shouted.
"That's what we came here for," Adell responded, punching the air.
"Heh, that's what you think. You guys are going to fight The Invincible Squad!"
Zarame, Waffle, Brandon and Aerin stared in shock as the one team they didn't want to fight stepped forward. "The idiot has returned," Aerin sighed.
"Well, now is a good time for vengeance," the samurai agreed. "Adell, I have a request."
"What's that?"
"Let me make up to you by proving that I'm a worthwhile fighter. Let Brandon, Waffle, Aerin, and me go into this battle alone. No help, whatsoever."
"What? That's stupid, you'd be the only close range fighter," Adell rejected.
"This is also a bit of vengeance, Adell. They won't be that tough anyway."
"Please?" Waffle asked, giving her best impression of a begging puppy. Adell and Rozalin both gazed at her for a few moments before the princess caved first.
"It's only one fight, Adell. We can heal them afterwards, right Miriam?" Rozalin stated.
"Yes, we can," Miriam replied.
"Fine," Adell growled, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking back, obviously disliking the arrangement. The four fighters however were very happy, instantly stepping forward.
"So, Mr. Undefeatedable, last time we held back. But this time you understand it's a real battle, right?" Aerin stated, aiming her bow at the man in front. Zarame pulled out his sword, holding it forward, ready to charge at any second. Brandon placed a few bullets in his gun, spun the chamber and also aimed. Waffle sighed.
"Yeah, I'm not going to pose like some super hero, but I do think this guy is going down," the thief stated, leaning backwards at the three who suddenly stopped standing readily. She smirked. "Ya three know each other a tad bit too well."
"Shut up," Zarame mumbled.
"If you're done with your show, then I want my own revenge for what you did before!" Undefeatedable roared.
"Oh, the irony," Brandon mumbled.
The magic words from the MC resounded after that. "Round START!" Instantly, Zarame took several steps forward, his sword clashing with the shiny one that Undefeatedable held. A grin crossed his face as he realized once more that the idiot did have strength behind him, but if he didn't have the skill...
A quickly slide down the sword, while Zarame moved himself to the side, allowed him to dig his blade into Undefeatedable's hand before the fellow swordsman could bring his own weapon into Zarame's exposed shoulder. The sparkling blade dropped from his hand and Zarame quickly kicked it away.
As he disarmed the lead man, one of the lady warriors pulled out a gun and went to shoot him off of her boss. A gunshot was heard, but it wasn't until Zarame saw the blood on the girl's shoulder that he realized Brandon was right behind him, gun smoking. Undefeatedable noticed this as well and kicked Zarame's stomach to create distance.
The other warrior replaced Undefeatedable, a staff already swinging towards Zarame's head. Attempting to dodge allowed the blunt object to hit him right where Undefeatedable had cheap-shotted him earlier. Zarame glared at her for a moment, not allowing himself to move until he heard a quiet "duck" from behind. Obeying the order, he heard rather than saw an arrow strike the staff warrior and send her onto the ground. One hit and she was down for the count. Aerin gave Zarame a thumbs up and loaded another arrow.
The previously injured gun user was now healed, the healer proving that she had been at work as well. Undefeatedable was picking up his sword with his off hand, but he had a few more moments before he was back in the game so Waffle chose to go after someone else. She launched an arrow at one of her fellow thieves, and letting Zarame disable the other that came running up with the flat end of his sword.
Three more shots echoed, this time from the enemy gun wielder and it was soon followed by an ice spell from the female mage. Zarame was hit by both and he hit the ground for a moment before springing back up, diving towards the mage and striking her in the waist with such force that she flew out of the arena.
"Two down," Brandon muttered, a glow forming in front of his gun as he took aim again.
It took only a few minutes to quickly have everyone down besides Undefeatedable, the healer, and the red skull. The former two had proved to be a lot stronger than expected, taking several blows and healing back very little. The skull however had just managed to avoid being hit by always being in the right place at the right time. The few hits he did take, though, had definitely hurt him.
On the other side all four were still standing, though Zarame had taken several blows that left him bruised and bleeding. No one else had taken damage, the samurai determined to defend his pride by keeping all the ranged fighters of his team away from the rest.
Leaning on his sword, Zarame glared daggers at Undefeatedable. His hair had been cut free, leaving black hair that was also singed from fire hanging down below his waist. "Give... it... up..." he stated, breathing heavily from the damage he took. One deep breath allowed him to stand up once more and steady his voice. "You will not win this battle."
"Say... that after you won," Undefeatedable barked back. His right side was completely disabled, leaving him forced to use his off-hand while holding the not-so-shiny weapon. His pants were also missing, leaving him in heart print boxers. When Waffle had taken them was a mystery, but no one could doubt the skill of the thief who was now parading around behind Zarame in the brightest pants anyone had ever seen.
"Zarame, let me get the little one," Brandon muttered.
The two bow users nodded and patted Zarame's shoulders. "We'll get the last girl," Aerin said. Waffle flashed a big smile.
"Leave me with the annoying one, I see how it is."
"Hey, we all have ta make sacrifices," Waffle laughed.
"Far enough." Though he was obviously not really bothered by it. He wouldn't ever say it aloud—and nor would anyone else on his side—but Undefeatedable was definitely a fighter. Zarame made a feint towards Undefeatedable, forcing the man to pull up defensively before he realized Zarame was diving to the side.
Brandon also began running forward, appearing to head to the swordsman before slipping to the side and stepping right in front of the skull. "Dodge this," he called, firing a shot that was so powerful, he slid back a far distance.
Meanwhile, the healer had found herself surrounded by what appeared to be six other girls, two sets of triplets. A short little dance from the ones that looked like Waffle and a haughty wave from the Aerin lookalikes and all six sent an arrow at the healer.
Zarame took Undefeatedable's right side easily, shoving him off balance at the cost of a sword digging into his shoulder. Zarame grabbed his opponent's left arm and bent it with such force that the snap was heard throughout the arena. Then he used the hilt of his blade and jabbed it into his chin. "Good bye Mr. Defeated."
All opponents out, the four victors stood up once more. They turned together to face the blonde haired MC. Axel shook for a few moments and then stood up on his stand. "And it appears we have a winner!" he shouted in a shaky voice.
With the announcement, followed by clapping, the four walked off the stage. Adell and the group were clapping as well. The red haired leader jumped forward. "That was amazing!" he shouted, fire blazing in his eyes that said he was hungry for his own battle. "Such great tea--" Remembering Zarame's last response to teamwork, Adell cut himself short.
The samurai glanced back at the three ranged fighters, unhurt but still tired from all the work. They just defeated a team of twice their members and a much better set up with only one injured. The black haired man gave a shy smile and turned around to Adell. He patted him on the shoulder and shook his head. "We had great teamwork, they're good teammates." After that, he just walked past them. Straight towards Miriam.
~*~
A/N: Read and review please!