Disclaimer: Still don't own any characters mentioned from Nintendo, M.G.S, Sega, Namco, Shonnen Jump, Nippon Ichi, ATLUS, Square Enix/Soft, AKSYS Games, Sony, and any other animes/manga in the story except for my own. Also, in case you did not know, the plot is completely original, the mentioned characters so far are original, (Dark, Death, unknown woman, and the two street fighters) and expect more, but as far as I know, I'm going to introduce characters throughout; some you may recognize, others, not as likely; those characters for certain are made by the companies mentioned above.

The Dark Flame

A Super Smash Bros. Brawl Fan Fiction

Chapter 4: The Dark King of Dragons

I had left the gym like any other; however, the thoughts about what I had just seen prior to leaving still bugged me. I mean, why a ninja would be stalking me is something I may not exactly come to understand. But I had a strange suspicion that maybe I once knew a female ninja, however, it was a serious haze within my mind when I try to look back between the time I was in that fire where Death found me, and now. Everything in between wasn't clear to me, and it aches me when I try to.

I merely sighed, and paused when I heard two individuals making a conversation nearby, which I barely made out. One was a voice that was about that just older than a teenager, and the other was more settling and relaxed.

"A chance to meet up with you here is the most unexpected thing that has occurred so far, my old friend. So tell me, what is your reason for fighting here, to prove a point that you can be a tough warrior when you set your mind to it?" This voice had a slight accent in it, a deep like that of a man in his mid thirties.

"It's nothing like that… I merely came here to see if he is here as well, because… I feel that since he is a templar, he would most likely and learn of fighting techniques in which we could fight. Besides, I need to know what happened to my sister, since he was the one who took her… I never expected he would return; the powers of those stones are most unusual…" This voice was a bit younger than the previous one. I know the conversation was none of my business, and I decided to press on despite.

"Well, I can tell you one thing, lad… I haven't seen this man you're searching for, though there was one woman who was by far unusual… I, of course, kept my distance due to the fact that she was so dangerous, even with that limiter on her wrist… I never cause most of her features, she had cold eyes, and the weapon she used was a very odd spear… Kind of similar to that holy spear when you took on the role of a dragoon a few times, only different at the same time; how she used it though was similar to one of those found in a torture chamber giving the pain." The deeper voice explained, and that stopped me. A spear, did he say? The wounds on those who she killed were caused by a spear! It can't be just coincidence; so she is here. However, I could not waltz in on their conversation.

"You think this woman might be working alongside him…? Last time I learned, he never fought alongside any female except for his sister who… I struck down…" I heard the younger voice go more silent as the last words were spoken.

"So, it's a fact of confrontation and revenge for him; you killed his sister, and he threatens your sister's life for doing that to him. I have no doubt that the next time he sees you, he will not grant you the chance to live, even with these limiters. If he has that kind of power as you say he does, he's going to be faster than my shot to be able to do much. As I said on our meeting, "My shot's faster, or my name's not-"" I heard, but knew he was interrupted.

"Yes, yes I know… But trust me, I know from experience that he will not stop until I am out of his sight, permanently-" Upon saying that, there was a bit of a rumbling, and a very loud sound coming from outside.

"If you ask me, that sounded much like an airship; we need to look more into this, lad… This can wait, can't it?" I heard from the deeper voice, and soon heard running footsteps coming my way, causing me to hide behind a nearby pillar off by the side.

"H-hey, wait a minute; what is it with you and airships anyways…? We came across so many upon our arrival…" I heard from the lighter, and the footsteps ran past, though there was clinking plates while this one ran by. They had gone outside, and being as who I was, I stepped out from behind the pillar and went out to examine this myself. When I did, I looked up to the sky, and saw quite a number of dark clouds looming at a fairly low altitude. I walked to the center field, where the two individuals stood, who I assume were the ones who were having that conversation. They were looking up at the sky also.

"That's… not an airship…!" I heard the man with the deeper voice, watching as he drew the old-designed short rifle in his right hand. He wore what appeared to be a white jacket, short dark blond hair, and black pants, boots, and gloves. I had reasons to believe that he was some kind of pirate that had a very serious interest when it comes to airships and other flying crafts. What we were looking up at the sky was what appeared to be some kind of demonic eye, glaring down at us. It closed moments later, and strange, purple particles fell from the sky, landing on the platform. Many of these particles combined together, and slowly assumed the shape of some strange-looking creatures, which were humanoid. However, they appeared to be hostile.

"What are these beings…?" I heard the other man speak, holding a broadsword out to the side, ready to fight if he had to. He was a blond also, though his hair color was a bit brighter than the other man's. This man was also clad in a piece of armor plate for his torso, dark in color, with the shoulder plates having spikes radiated outwards. He wore leg guards to a degree, and also wore some iron greaves of sorts as well. A knight, perhaps, I thought to myself, but it would appear they were outnumbered greatly, and by more than just these creatures on the ground; there was a number beings made of the same dark particles above them also.

I heard movements behind me, and I quickly pulled Soul Eater off my back and swung it, cleaving through the creature, which fell and the particles dispersed, but more were being made. Ugh, if it's one thing, I hate fending off creatures like this that come in massive hordes like this. They wear down the individual, but when the individual fight with a team, it becomes plenty easier. I heard gunshots coming from the pirate, damaging those in the air while aiming head-on shots against them. And it would appear that he was finished for a moment, and while I was swing my scythe to cut down those who came close, I heard a gunshot behind me, and I saw one of them was about to attack me from behind.

"No need for names now, but will you lend us your aid to fend off these… things?" I heard him ask, and while he did, that knight I mentioned earlier was no longer wielding a sword, but was now holding what appeared to be a spear, and he most definitely had a powerful jump, since he was at heights where the airborne creatures were fighting.

"Does it look like I have much of a choice here? Besides, it would appear you two are having difficulties of your own… However, it would appear that their numbers are quickly declining, sometimes a good sign, but I'm not too sure… Something more powerful is on its way, I think…" I spoke, gritting my teeth as I swung the scythe over and over, cutting down these creatures by the high numbers, and it was evident the numbers were going down. The knight now no longer had a spear, nor did he have his sword, but rather, he had a bow in hand, releasing arrow after arrow towards these creatures. Clearly that man is multi-talented in abilities, not just swords or spears, curious to know what else he specialized in.

The numbers were reaching the smaller numbers now, easy enough for us to dispatch; a good sign. However, I heard a roar from the sky just after the last thing went down, much similar to a dragon's roar. And these two appeared to have recognized the roar quite easily.

"It can't be… We overlooked a summoner!" I heard the pirate speak out, and from the far side of the arena, and flying at a high speed towards us was a black dragon, which I had to crouch quite low to avoid being swept away, like the two, and watched as it flew back, and landed in the center. It appeared to be some kind of powerful dragon; the wings were very wide, the body was large and quite powerful, and its mouth looked as though it could easily bite through the toughest of materials without really trying.

"It's Bahamut, King of Dragons, and lord of all summon spirits; a beast that has met no match in combat, and would most definitely make easy work of any one of us individually… But, I have a plan…" I heard the pirate speak, and he was quite knowledgeable, I had to admit. "Ramza, I'll try to distract it; you and this lad go and try to get on it and fight it, and end this battle hopefully." I heard the man give his plan, and he wouldn't even think that this "King of Dragons" might be wiser than it appeared, and understand our words.

"But… Alright, but be careful of it's mega flare, Balthier; I'm certain that whoever summoned this wore a limiter like us, so I have no doubt it would make you a trophy in one shot if it had to…" I heard the man known as Ramza speak, and soon enough, he looked at me and nodded, just as Balthier began to shoot at the dragon, though his ammunition didn't appear to be harming it in any way. But it drew its attention towards him, granting me and Ramza to run towards the fiend's claws that were on the ground, though when Ramza got on, he was easily shaken off. So what I did was run underneath the beast, and ran towards the tail. It was moving quite a bit, but I was willing to do anything to bring this beast down.

Ramza saw my intentions, and I could see that his bow had shifted back to its sword form, and he was swung at the arm, though the attack was deflected also. But he quickly ran to avoid being hit, making his way to the tail as well. I was just under the base of the tail at that point, so I took this time to jump as high as I could, and swung Soul Eater to at least grab onto a scale to propel myself upwards in a swift motion. It was just enough to boost my body up farther and faster, and I landed on the base of the tail, though the action caused Soul Eater to be tossed in the air. It came down and I caught it easily, and I ran up along the back, but it was a rough ride, I had to admit; it hadn't been for the tight scales, I would've been tossed off like a rag doll.

I was running up, but soon, I could feel the sudden motion of Bahamut's flight that caused me to lower my body to grasp on for dear life. When Bahamut's body went entirely vertical, I swung Soul Eater, and it was enough to pierce through the scales and dug into the skin, remaining stuck. I had no intentions to be tossed off so easily, and I could hear that Balthier was still trying his best to get shots off to harm the King of Dragons. I was holding onto my scythe with my right hand, so using my left hand, I swung my arm and a few bolts of darkness flew from my fingertips and towards Bahamut's head. The blows appeared to be glances, however, upon closer inspection one of them actually struck Bahamut's eyes, and I had no doubt it caused the King of Dragons to become blind. Though, as much as it would help, dragons had a very keen sense of hearing and smell, last time I remembered.

However, it already knew I was on it, yet still, it quickly descended to the arena once more, landing with a quaking force. It was horizontal once more, so I quickly took this time to pull Soul Eater free, and I quickly ran up along the spine of the dragon, until I could see the dark particles from the back, like those things from earlier. This dragon was no different than them, only a much stronger, more versatile and larger beast to handle as an individual. I continued to run up along the low neck, and as I gazed, I saw the creature's mouth open, and began to glow as Balthier continued to let off shots at it. However, he appeared to have stopped, and began to run the more a sphere began to form in its mouth. If it released here, than the fighting would cease for a while; this caused me to run much faster, still a difficult ride, up until the bottom of the head. I leaped up, and twirling the scythe a few times, I came down with the scythe ready.

"Haaahhh!" I yelled out, as the blade penetrated through the scales through the head, earning a roar to come from it, and it immediately retracted to the strike, and the blast escaped its mouth, and flew to the sky, unaffected by gravity until it exploded in the far-off distance. However, that was the only attack as it let out, as I pulled Soul Eater from the newly inflicted wound, and began to cast alternating fire and dark-based magic into the wound mercilessly, until it collapsed, and it began to disappear and become like the dark matter which had come from the sky. I stepped out of it before it overcame me, and watched as it all disappeared. Whew, that was some kind of challenge, I would admit. I looked up, and saw that the eye was gone, as well as the dark, menacing clouds that were there too; now it was just a normal night sky.

I looked around to see if there was anything else, however, it was basically entirely clear now of this point. I twirled the scythe of mine a few more times, and set it on my back, and turned towards the other two who had fought alongside me.

"Haha, it would seem you have a bit more to learn about combat Ramza… This fellow may give you a pointer or two should you two meet in combat yourselves as adversaries. Not many have fought this dangerous beast before, and lived to tell about it either, or in our current place, they would've been trophified if they should fail against it. But all the same, to end up with a victory like that, I feel you might be able to make your way through the ranks, lad…" I heard the pirate, Balthier speak.

"The name's Demitri, not "lad"… but I would admit, both of you had fought quite respectively yourselves before that dragon appeared. I have no doubt you two will make your ways through your tournaments quite well." I spoke to the both of them, dusting myself off, and I knew I would not let anything else pull me back; I needed sleep.

"Sorry to have offended you, but that's just how I, a sky pirate, am… But it's Ramza who had performed much more than I have in both fights; I was just there keeping those things at a range. My name's Balthier, as you probably heard from Ramza, I'm sure…" I heard from the pirate, and soon enough, Ramza nodded.

"Well, things couldn't have gone any better that what had happened here, should you not have come at all… Quite an unusual warrior you are, Ser Demitri, at least from the way you're dressed, however… Many here are dressed much different than the next, and many speak in strange ways; sometimes we can't understand a single word, despite our knowledge…" I heard Ramza speak, but I knew he had a point there. I saw him hold out a hand, which I held my own out to shake his hand firmly. "Though, you fought with a dark magic that is not like most I've seen… However, should we do meet in combat once again, as adversaries, I think I might know of a way to counteract it… Until then, farewell." That was what I heard from him, before watching him bow respectfully and then he walked away, with Balthier lagging a small ways behind him. Perhaps they were going to finish up their conversation from earlier.

I stretched my arms upwards and gave a sigh, showing I was a little tired, while gazing up at the moon somewhat, blinking as I soon found myself walking in the direction opposite of the two medieval age warriors. I just wanted to get back to my room and get to sleep. Though, once again, I felt those eyes gazing upon me once more, and that sent shivers up my spine. But I tried my best to ignore it when I left and arrived at the bus stop, where a bus had basically just arrived and was waiting for any brawlers wanting to return to the ground level once again.

Once inside, the bus ride was slow and time consuming; if my guess was right, then it was sometime just after eleven; less than three days before my scheduled fight against my opponent. He didn't seem all that tough, but from where I was at, I couldn't get too clear of what his facial expression was like, and that often helped me decipher how tough an opponent is, though some demons in existence don't even have faces, and that caused me to shrug while I left the bus while still in thought. I walked through the lights towards the residential building where I was staying, which appeared to be a modern building with a bit of a Japanese feel around it. Huh, so Demitri was a serious person about Japanese culture or something; easy to adapt to I guess.

I went through the hallways and climbed the necessary stairs towards a room that was a single bedroom. A futon was on the floor somewhere in the corner, a low table in the center of the room, a chair in another corner, and a TV setup against the one side of the room, with the remote next to the flat screen. A dresser was in there as well as a desk and a matching chair for it, with two doorways; one leading to a small dojo of sorts and the other to a bathroom. A suitable room, I suppose; not what I'm used to, however, I can live with it, I suppose.

I walked to the futon, and pulled Soul Eater off my back, and set it underneath the mattress. I know I would be able to find it, due to the scythe-like shape I was sleeping on. Though today was done, I know that tomorrow was another day with more experiences along the road I have chosen to walk down when I decided to be part of this. I laid on the futon, and found myself drifting off to sleep; unaware that same individual was still spying on me to the best of her ability.