Disclaimer: Not mine, yay!
Chapter 25- Leon's Pride
Yuffie tapped her fingers on the side of her seat. She and Leon were travelling to the Olympus Colosseum to participate in a tournament they had heard about.
"Squall!!" groaned Yuffie anxiously. "Are we there yet?"
"Leon, Yuffie! Leon!" growled Leon. "And no, we aren't!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Yuffie pouted. "Anyway, are we there yet?"
Leon death-stared at the ninja for several minutes.
"I just asked if we were there yet. What's wrong with that?" Yuffie shrugged her shoulders, ignoring Leon. She paused for a second, staring into space. "Are we there yet?"
"Arrg!!! No!!" yelled Leon.
A button flashed several times. Leon looked down at it, then back up to see Olympus in front of them.
"Alright, now we are." grumbled Leon.
"Great!" Yuffie hopped over the transporter and disembarked.
'You just had to bring her, didn't you?!' Leon thought angrily as he followed.
The two appeared by the grand gates of the world exit. Yuffie ran ahead, pleading Leon to hurry up. Leon walked extra slow, just to annoy the ninja.
"You did that on purpose, I know it!!" shouted Yuffie as they finally entered.
"Oi, quiet!" commanded a goat-man from below them. "People are trying to work here!"
"Oooh," Yuffie bent down and poked him. "It's a hairy little man!"
The 'hairy little man' turned red. He slapped Yuffie away. "I'm a satyr, got it?! And the name's Phil!"
"Fine, then." pouted Yuffie.
Leon rubbed his temples. Yuffie always gave him a headache. He looked down at Phil. "We're here for the tournament."
"Have you got a pass?" asked Phil.
"We need a pass?!" screeched Yuffie unexpectedly.
Phil winced and felt his head ringing with bells.
*****
"Ooooh, yeah!" Yuffie danced around as she finished off a Heartless. "Just one more match to go!"
Leon lowered his Gunblade and wiped his brow. He took a swig from a potion bottle quickly, hoping that Yuffie wouldn't see. She didn't, instead choosing to keep talking.
"I wonder who we'll face in the next match? I hope it's someone good!" Yuffie made some fake punches in the air.
Leon's Gunblade suddenly clattered to the ground.
"Hey, Squall, what's up with you?" Yuffie turned around and she dropped the shuriken in her hands.
"I was expecting you guys." smirked Iji. She strolled onto arena area and put her hands on her hips.
"Why are you here, Iji?" Leon asked.
"Oh, just thought I'd have a little fun. Courtesy of Hades, of course." she mused. She lent back into an attack position and summoned her Star Cutters. "So, are you ready?"
Leon picked up his Gunblade, eyes narrowed. "What happened to you, Iji? Why have you given in to the darkness?"
Iji's eyebrows twitched. "It wasn't my choice, but I must admit, it's a lot more fun that hanging out with you guys. Now put up, or shut up!"
Iji ran in for the attack. Leon responded and prepared himself.
*****
Sora tapped his fingers on the arm-rest of his seat. He was impatient to find the two girls. A small fist tapped him on the head. Dale jumped down into his lap.
"Hey, Sora! I just heard over the transceiver that there's a new tournament on at the Colosseum!"
Sora perked up. "Let's go then!" He jumped to his feet.
"No! Don't let him near the controls!" yelled Donald.
Sora was set upon by the two chipmunks.
"Aiiee! Teeth! Teeth!" screamed Sora as the chipmunks gnawed on his ankles. He swatted at them.
Donald ignored the chaos and set the warp drive. Light filled the cabin as they instantly arrived at their destination.
"Guys, we're here." said Donald.
Goofy, Sora, Chip and Dale continued to wrestle.
"Fine, whatever…" sighed the magician and teleported off.
"Oi! Wait for us!" yelled Sora as he and Goofy finally managed to hold back the rabid chipmunks. They leapt into the teleporter.
"About time!" grumbled Donald as they arrived a few seconds after him. "Come on, let's get in there."
The trio wandered into the foyer. Phil wasn't there. Instead there was a note that read; 'Gone to the locker room to patch up some losers –Phil'. Sora scratched his head. It couldn't have been the Heartless Phil was looking after; they disappeared when you defeated them. Sora decided to investigate and headed inside to the locker room.
"Heya, Sora! You made it for the next cup!" Hercules greeted them from outside the locker room.
"Yeah," nodded the spiky-haired kid. "Herc, who is Phil patching up?"
"A guy and a girl, both pretty strong, but they got beaten up pretty bad by this other girl. Think their names are Leon and Yuffie." Hercules rubbed his chin in thought.
"Leon and Yuffie?!" exclaimed Sora. He burst into the locker room.
"Sora? I thought that was your voice!" Yuffie was looking at the doorway. Leon's head was in her lap. She wetted a cloth and placed it on the Gunblade wielder's forehead.
"What just happened? I heard you both got beat up!" Sora walked up to the pair.
Donald and Goofy went over to talk to Phil.
"Well, I didn't get beat up too badly, but poor Squall here. Iji just took him apart." Yuffie caught the damp cloth as it slipped and placed it back on Leon's forehead.
Sora's head nearly exploded. "Did-did you say Iji, Yuffie?"
Yuffie nodded sadly, she looked like crying. "You wouldn't believe how much she's changed, Sora. She's not the same girl anymore. Something bad happened while she was with Maleficent that made her Heart turn to the darkness. When we fought her, I could see nothing but hatred in her eyes. It was like we were her enemies."
Sora stared at the floor. What happened to her while she was away?
Yuffie grabbed Sora's hands and stared into his eyes. "But there's still hope, Sora! If she really was our enemy now, she would have killed us. She had every opportunity to, but she didn't! You have to save her, Sora!"
"What can I do though? You guys are stronger than me!"
Leon opened his eyes and looked over at Sora, smiling weakly. "No, you are stronger. Your Heart is your weapon. Use it to save Iji."
They were interrupted by Hercules. The hero kept flashing his eyes back to the door nervously as he approached Sora. "Um, Sora, that girl… she's challenging you to a one-on-one."
Sora grimaced. "Looks like I this will be my only chance to save her." He rose and walked out the door to the arena.
Leon and Yuffie watched after him.
"He's got a good Heart, that Sora." smiled Yuffie. She looked down at Leon. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, but my pride's still damaged…" Leon gave a short laugh, followed by a cough. He stared up at the ceiling, thinking back to the last few seconds of the battle with Iji…
Yuffie was on the ground, knocked out, but not badly hurt. He, Leon, was down on his knees. Iji kicked his Gunblade out of his hand and held one of her Star Cutters deadly close to his neck. "Kill me already," he whispered hoarsely. Iji gave a hollow laugh. "Why should I do that when I can just leave you empty? This match is over." Iji pushed Leon to the ground and smirked. She left, laughing at her victory…