Ninja Showdown! Amarant vs. Shadow

Chapter note: thanks to my cousin for this battle, This will be set in Cleyra in FF 9. It takes place before Amarant meets Zidane.

The violent sandstorm raged around the city in the tree. Amarant walked directly through the storm like it was a small wind. When he arrived inside the city, he saw the city in the tree. He hopped up onto the first branch and began to scale the giant tree. When he arrived at the top he saw Shadow waiting for him.

"It's about time you got here," he chuckled.

"I can take you," was Amarant's only reply.

"What makes you think you can defeat me," Shadow boasted.

"I have to defend my morals," he said with determination.

"What morals exactly."

"The only reason to live is to fight. I have to win that is my only goal."

"You fool, I'll have to break that moral, I will defeat you."

Shadow rushed forward drawing his katana, and he thrust his blade down on Amarant. Amarant managed to see the blade before it struck and he dodged it, and he counterattacked sending his fist into Shadow's side. Shadow crashed into the hard tree bark.

"Ha, I should send you flying down to your death," Amarant laughed as he kicked Shadow over the edge.

Shadow started flying down from the top of the tree. He thought on his feet and stuck the blade he wielded into the tree and pulled himself up. Amarant was standing right above him.

"That's exactly what I would expect from the flaming Salamander," Shadow said.

"So you didn't underestimate me," Amarant laughed.

"Yeah, but you better not underestimate me either," Shadow said as he grabbed a shuriken.

Shadow threw the shuriken directly at Amarant's face, but he managed to avoid it. As he jumped, it scraped his leg. Shadow jumped up from the hanging sword removing it in the process.

He rushed forward, katana in hand and swung violently at the large, muscular man. Amarant dodged the blow even with his injured leg. Shadow continued to rapidly swing, but always missed Amarant.

"Your fast, but I suspected that," Shadow said continuing the onslaught.

Amarant knew he couldn't dodge forever, so he sacrificed his hand to stop the assault. He grabbed the blade with his left hand and threw it to his left. Shadow sat there astonished at the durability of is hand. Amarant started a counter-assault frequently throwing his fist towards Shadow.

Shadow avoided the blows by escaping to the left and and right of the fist.

" Your fast to," Amarant said realizing it was useless to continue.

Shadow said nothing as he grasped the katana and threw it at Amarant. Amarant, who managed to avoid the sword, and grab it out of the air. He rushed forward toward Shadow, who was still stunned over Amarant's speed, and right before he got there he threw the katana. Shadow realized it at the last moment and he caught it ready to retaliate, but Amarant's fist plunged into his stomach.

"Owwww," Shadow screamed hitting the ground with bang.

Amarant was ready to deliver the final blow. Shadow though was not ready to lose yet. As Amarant went to punch at Shadow; he lifted the sword and amarant's fist lodged in.

"Arrgh," he yelled as blood shot out of his left hand. Shadow quickly regained his balance and shot up. He propelled the sword through Amarant's left arm, causing a huge gash in it. He cut deep enough to sever the bone.

He fell to his knees in pain. He was screeching out of intense pain.

"Fool, learn that there is more to life than just violence," Shadow told the "defeated" Amarant.

"I can't lose, I refuse to lose," he yelled out. He grabbed a shuriken from his bag and hurled it into Shadow's arm, using his right arm. Shadow felt the intense pain reach his arm and he dropped the sword. Amarant grabbed the sword as it fell from Shadow's hand, who was above him, and slice open both legs. The cuts Shadow received were not nearly as deep as his Amarant's though. He still dropped to the ground in searing pain.

"Maybe you should learn life is all about fighting," Amarant preached. He walked away from the dying man.

"Isn't your goal to kill your opponent who you defeated," Shadow called out to him.

"No, you were a worthy opponent,.and when you learn that fighting is all life is then I'm looking for a rematch," which were his last words to Shadow as he walked away.