Chapter 7: Shining Warrior vs. Fallen Knight! First Battle! Fight!
"Garland, I wish to know something," asked the Warrior. To him, the cycles were just another part of life, like another day, and so it wasn't uncommon for Garland to answser his questions because he would forget after the next purification. "Tell me, what is this? So many people have gathered here to fight. I remember losing the last cycle, but I shouldn't remember anything. Please, tell me."
Garland extended the chain on his weapon and swung it out like a flail. The Warrior quickly evaded the attack as the blade returned to its owner.
To Garland, the Warrior was an enemy, like everyone else besides Chaos and then Chaos didn't understand that he was self conscious around him and didn't like taking off his armor, or his chainmail socks! But the Warrior listened to him each and every time something came up, so even if he did have to be killed, he deserved answsers.
"Warrior, the world has been damaged," he said, as the Warrior sent a barrage of sword like projectles his way, "this is the god's way of continuing the cycle. They must have a reason. I encourage you to seek out your own answers though." Garland swung his weapon whipping up a cyclone that blocked the swords.
"Thank you." replied the Warrior, moving to avoid the path the cyclone was taking.
Garland dove through the cyclone, arriving above the Warrior, "Anytime. Now let's get back to business!"
Raising his shield and bracing for impact, the Warrior prepared to block Garland's attack. Garland brang his sword up and, switching to its axe mode, slammed down on his shield, causing him to buckle under the blow. One knee rested in the shallow waters of Sanctuary. "Garland, for the light, I will defeat you, here and now!" said the Warrior, as he used his free arm to slash at the dark knight's calves.
"You fight for nothing!" replied Garland, narrowly avoiding the blade and putting distance between them, "all that your victory will bring is more battles."
The Warrior charged forward, sword at the ready. He thrust his sword through an opening, only to be blocked by his opponents sword. Garland swiftly removed the second blade from his weapon and struck the Warrior square in his right arm, knocking him over, and slamming him into an invisible wall.
The Warrior was down, the pain of his arm kept him from pulling himself up. But now was not the time to lose hope!
The dark knight replaced his other sword and moved to finish his enemy, "hmph," he grunted, "a mockery. The Champion of Cosmos, defeated so easily."
Garland raised his sword, the lance-like tip facing the Warrior's chestplate, armed to finish the battle and his nemesis.
"Sora!" Cried the Warrior, and in a flash of light his savior came, blocking the fatal blow in time and, with a combo of quick strikes, threw the knight off balance.
"Hey now," said the boy, waving his key shaped weapon. He took the Warrior's hand, helping him to his feet, "don't have too much fun without me!"
The Warrior gave a quick "Thank you." Before Sora vanished. He tried to pick his sword up, but failed, the edge digging into the marble floor. His arm was in pain still, but he could still fight. He grasped the hilt, and prepared for his final attack, his sword glowing white with light.
Garland quickly recovered and, setting himself in a stance, gripped his greatsword, charging it with energy. It was his Flare, his most dangerous attack, and one that would leave him vulnerable if it missed. This would be the end, for one or the other.
"Garland. This is, my love, my anger, and all of my sorrow!" The Warrior pulled his blade from the ground, cutting the marble cleanly, and sending up a pillar of light, "Shining Wave!"
Garland lunged directly toward the pillar, his greatsword charged with a red glow. He tore through the light, striking the Warrior, the charged energy setting off a burst of fire in the apperance of a small star. Garland laughed, "Muwahaha! Feel the fires of Hell!"
The Warrior, lying on his back in the shallow water, saw Garland standing above him, his weapon in axe form.
Then he saw no more.
"The battle is over! The winner is Garland!" Announced Chaos, as the loudspeakers sounded out a victory tune. "go on give your winning words!"
The Sanctuary faded away until Garland was standing on the stone of the arena. He kicked the motionless body of the Warrior, "A pitiful battle, are there any amongst you vermin that could challenge me?"
The warriors were shocked, not knowing that this was a battle to the death. The gasps and uproar of the crowd made themselves known.
Lightning, in particular, was outraged. "See Fang?" She spit, "this is the result of 'lets see what happens'! Now he's dead and we're next! We're just entertainment to these 'gods'!"
"Light, I didnt-" began Fang.
"Shut it!" She pulled her Blazefire Saber, leaving it in gun mode, and turned toward the announcer's box, ready to kill this "goddess" before it got to her.
Suddenly a bright light appeared in the skies above the stadium and washed over the Warrior's body.
"Fear not," came the voice from the light, "nothing will die here. The warrior you see before you is simply, sleeping. In a few of your hours this Warrior will be revived, and resting in his cabin"
Lightning tried to refuse the voice, but its influence was like that of Cosmos, almighty, yet trusting. She felt that it was telling the truth, even though she had clearly seen the Warrior's head roll from his body, and that he would awaken soon. She couldn't fight it, and soon believed its words. She then blacked out.
"Continue, Cosmos, I will take the fallen and revive him. I have calmed the warriors, they will accept that their comrades are sleeping after battle. In a few moments they will wake from their trance, none the wiser."
"Thank you, Shinryu. Although I think between me and Chaos we could have calmed them." Said Cosmos
"I do not want conflict among the gods and warriors. They believe this is all for glory, and that is for the best."
The light faded and Lightning stood, wondering why she had her gunblade out. "Uh, what just happened?" She asked her also clueless team.
"I dunno," replied Sazh "that Warrior guy lost and then you went wavin' around your gun. Put that thing away!"
"Everyone, thank you for attending the match, you are now free to do what you wish between your fights. Also, you no longer have to be present for any other fights. Other than your own, of course," came the voice of the Goddess, "again, thank you and have a wonderful day!" Cosmos then left the stadium for the Warrior's cabin.