Chapter 14: Round Two, Fight! Wait, What?

The next day…

Zephyren woke up as he heard a banging on the door to his room. He looked over to the clock which read eleven thirty.

"Crap, I'm late!" He cried, dashing out of bed. As he opened the door he saw Sonic waiting for him.

"Finally!" Sonic shouted as they both dashed down the hall. "They're giving you about ten more minutes before they start."

"Thanks for waking me..." Zephyren looked down & chuckled. "I'm glad I decided to sleep in my clothes."

"Yeah..." Sonic nodded as they took a left & made a mad dash towards the coliseum doors in front of them. "Good luck!" The blue hedgehog took off to the where the spectators were waiting for their last participant. The guard opened the door as Zephyren entered. Everyone's eyes followed him in silence as he reached the podium. Waiting for him was Reikourin, along with Melissa, Slate, Raziel, & Patrick.

"Sorry..." Zephyren panted. "I slept in." He took a deep breath, waiting for Reikourin to reprimand him as he had in the past. But, as he looked up he saw that Reikourin was in fact smiling.

"At last..." Reikourin said, turning to the crowd. "Our competitors are all here. Though there is some physical strength required, this round will basically test your mental capabilities." He looked at Patrick as he said the last sentence. "Now, for the rules." Several small keys appeared in his hands. "Each of you will be placed in a completely random location in a labyrinth. Your objective is to find one of the ways out." He handed each of the five warriors a key. "But there is a catch. The maze walls will change over time & each key can only open one specific door. So, if you choose the wrong door..." He closed his eyes & chuckled. "Well then, the key will disintegrate & the door will burst into flames."

"What!?" Slate gasped. "But then, how the hell do we get out? You said it was a test of the mind, not a test of luck!"

"Slate..." Reikourin sighed. "Everything in life requires some degree of luck. This trial is no exception. Now, let me finish. If your key disintegrates, then there is another way to get you & everyone else out." The warriors looked hopeful at Reikourin's words. "If you manage to defeat me then everyone will continue onto the next round." He smiled as the challengers faces went into shock. "Don't worry. I won't use my full power on you. Moving on, fiends will be continuously released throughout the labyrinth. Hope you all make it to the next round. Farewell!" The competitors disappeared as a light engulfed them & Reikourin.

The spectators looked at the screen as each fighter appeared one by one & a map was displayed in the corner.

Slate's P.O.V

I found myself surrounded by three walls. It was dark, but my enhanced senses allowed me to see ahead easily. I walked forward where the path split two directions. I turned to the left & preceded down the wall, I began to turn around the oncoming corner when I heard a sizzling sound. My instincts took hold as I slowly advanced to the wall & peeked around the corner. As I poked my head around the corner a ball of flame shot towards me! I pulled my head out of the way just in time to see the flame disperse as it hit the wall. I waited there; & as I reached into my satchel another fireball flew by. I guessed that they were timed to fire at certain intervals.

"Great…" I sighed. "Not only are there monsters in here. There are also traps." I took out the claws from my pouch & put them on. I'd need to be ready, just in case a fire elemental monster was mixed in with this trap. I waited for another fireball to go by before I jumped into the next hall. I charged forward. I jumped into the nearby space as a fireball flew at me from the opposite wall. I continued running as soon as it passed, ignoring the next safety point. Another fireball started towards me. The next safety point was about five meter. I put on an extra burst of speed as I lunged for the space. I was going to make it…

But a Dragon dropped in front of me as I neared my destination! The fireball blaze through me & continued onward. The flames scorched my body & I patted out the flames of my clothes, trying to ignore the pain.

Then I realized; a fireball wasn't what hit me…it was the dragon's flames! It was the one shooting the fireballs at me! I was at the end of the corridor, but the monster blocked my way. I looked up at the massive reptile, its golden eyes glared at me hungrily; the creature's black tongue licked its scaly cyan lips.

"Man…" I grimaced. "You're ugly!" I covered my ears as the dragon roared at my comment. "Could you move over a bit? I kinda need to get through." The dragon shot a wave of fire at me this time & I had to jump back so I wouldn't become a barbequed snack. Pain flared throughout my body as I did & I looked down at my legs to see that the fire had done a large amount of damage.

I looked up & saw that the dragon had taken to the air now. I ran forward, feeling the adrenaline build up in me. The dragon swooped down so that it was low enough to reach me if I tried to run underneath, but I continued running. Its claws slashed at me as I rolled out of the way & kept going until I was directly underneath it. I jumped with my claws stretched out above me; the monster screeched in pain as I crawled along its side & onto its back. I continued crawling as I reached the top, & I went down to its neck.

"Bon voyage!" I jeered as I allowed myself to swing around its neck, the claws cutting deeper with each rotation. Finally the creature fell to the floor & I was launched into the wall. "Slate one, Dragon nothing." I said, brushing myself off & uncorking a potion to heal my body.

Melissa's P.O.V

I jumped forward as the wall ahead of me started turning. I made it through just as it closed & found myself in an even worse situation than being lost. Before me were several Bombs (monsters made out of a ball of fire that slowly expand themselves as they are hurt, eventually exploding) & they were blocking my path. I walked towards them, muffling my footsteps as much as possible.

The first one spotted me & cried out in alarm. The others immediately advanced onto my position. They stopped a few meters apart from each other & several meters in front of me. I backed up slowly, eventually coming to the wall that had closed earlier. They moved in closer to me now, slowly expanding themselves. I placed my hands on the ground & bowed my head. I heard them chuckle & I gave into them; I knew it was a lost cause…

Yeah right! As they advanced closer to me, they also edged closer together, just a bit more &…BOOM! Two of the Bombs touched each other & blew up! Luckily they were closer to the back. Not exactly what I had planned, but I'll take it! I made two columns of earth rise out of the ground one in front of me & another behind them. I made more of the earth rise as I slowly closed them in, forcing them to join together. The columns I had made broke as the Bombs exploded & I was sent flying back into the wall, I tasted blood & felt some run into my closing eyes; everything went black afterwards.

"Melissa?" A voice called. "Get up!" The voice demanded. It wasn't one I had heard before. I opened my eyes to see that I had changed into a wolf. As I looked around I noticed that I was in a forest. When did I get here? The last thing I remembered was fighting Bombs. There was a shuffling behind me.

"Who's there?" I called, afraid because my heightened senses should have caught on to someone being behind me. I sniffed the air. Only the smell of dirt & various plants was in the air.

"My name is Rika…" The voice said as a woman appeared from the trees. "Please, I won't harm you. You may return to your human state." She lifted her hands in a peace gestured & smiled.

"Okay…" I turned back to normal, examining the woman in the process. She had sandy brown hair & tanned skin. Her clothes seemed awfully rigid & looked uncomfortable. "How did I get here anyways?" I asked as my muzzle reverted back to a human mouth.

"This is my home. Technically, you are still unconscious in the maze at Eternia." She walked towards me & placed a hand on my shoulder. "Therefore, we must be brief. You have awakened my spirit within you…" She closed her eyes as her hands started to glow a golden-yellow colour. "My power is now yours so use it wisely, as your predecessor did." The rest of her body began to glow as her hands had. Her body turned to sand & slowly crept around me.

"What's happening?" I said panicking. The sand was now wrapped entirely around me & was seeping into my skin. As I looked around I noticed the forest was fading. My eyes felt heavy as the rest of the sand embedded itself in my skin. I let my eyes close, too much of an effort to keep them open…

"Melissa! Get up!" Someone was screaming at me, shaking me. "Melissa!" I opened my eyes to see that Patrick was standing over me. "Are you alright?" He asked, helping me to my feet.

"Yeah…" I looked around to see that two of the other walls had broken from the Bomb's blast. "Just had a weird dream…" Patrick looked at me.

"Did you meet someone in that dream?" He asked. "And did they say something about giving you their power or something similar?"

"Yeah…" I said. "Maybe this is what Reikourin meant."

"What do you mean?" He started walking ahead, I followed him. "What did Reikourin say?"

"He said that my brother & I both have the 'spirits' of the Gods of Earth & Wind in us. He also said they were twins too." I sighed, recalling the event.

"I see…" We took a left, walking down that corridor. "So, Water & Earth have been released. What does that leave us with then?" He asked looking towards me.

"Well, we've at least got Light, Darkness, & Wind." I said, not entirely sure whether or not Raziel had the same thing happen to him already.

"How do you know that?" Patrick took another left & we found ourselves at a four-way intersection.

"Well, Zephy has Darkness, Reikourin told us that Keira has Light, & Raziel has Wind. That would make five out of the nine elements, right?" I started to count them on my fingers.

"Yeah…" Patrick nodded. "Anyways, which way should we go?" He looked to the other three paths. "Ladies' choice."

"You're such a gentleman." I replied sarcastically. "I'm going straight ahead. Please don't follow me."

"Why not?" He asked, looking hurt. "Why shouldn't we stick together?"

"Cause if we find a door, only one key will work on it & if we both try our keys & they don't work then we're screwed. Also, I'm assuming each door only lets one person in." I turned & started down the path I had chosen. "So it's better that we don't weigh each other down. Later!" I waved, leaving Patrick to choose his own path.

Raziel's P.O.V

The Ahriman screeched as I dug my scythe into its left wing. The creature fell, its other wing was flapping vigorously, trying to keep itself airborne. I ripped the scythe out & delivered another swing, this time directed at the large eye of the creature. The monster's body went limp & faded away afterwards. I continued where I left off & turned the corner, finding a door! Happiness surged through me as I advanced. My fingers stroked the door as I reached it. I placed the key into the lock and…it disintegrated!

"Damn!" I said, backing away as the door burst into flames, leaving a wall in its place. "I really hate this labyrinth." I sighed & continued back the way I came, this time taking the other route. I wander aimlessly, not really paying attention to where I was going, but scratching each intersection so I'd know where I'd already been. I was about to turn another corner when I heard fighting. I stopped, edging myself closer to the corner & peeked around. What I saw was…I can't describe it. It was like watching the most graceful thing, but at the same time it was horrible. Zephyren & Slate were fighting Reikourin for everyone to get out, but at the same time they were fighting each other for the other's key.

"Stop!" Zephyren snapped as Slate went to attack him again. "I'm not going to fight you!"

"Then give me your key so I can get out!" Slate roared as he lunged. "I need that key!"

"No! You've got your own!" I saw his eyes flicker over to where I was. A smile flashed across his face as he looked over to Reikourin, who nodded. Reikourin knew I was here too! There goes any chance I had to surprise them if I intervened. "You should be helping me!" I heard Zephyren say to Slate. "We all win if we defeat him…" He took out his key. "And I don't know about you, but I want all the help I can get in the next round." He grasped the key with both hands…and broke it in half!

"Are you stupid?" Slate questioned. "How are you gonna get out now!?"

"Didn't you listen to what I just said?" Zephyren questioned. "I plan on getting us all out of here at once! You can help if you want…" He turned towards Reikourin. "Or you can run away like a coward." Slate hissed at Zephyren, but turned to Reikourin also.

"Well done, Zephyren." Reikourin praised, clapping loudly. "An excellent strategy but, can you pull it off?" He held up his hands as a purple light appeared around them. The light flew towards Zephyren, catching him off guard. "There, I have unsealed Nexion's power within you. Now we can fight on fair terms."

"What!" Zephyren screamed. "Do you have any idea what you've done!?"

"Relax…" Reikourin said, raising his hands. "I did not release the seal placed on Nexion himself, only on his power. Now you can use that power without his influence." Zephyren roared & charged, I ran forward at this point, grabbing Zephyren by the arms.

"Don't fall for his taunts. He's trying to goad you into an early defeat." I whispered. Zephyren relaxed & moved back with me to where Slate was.

"Three on one then?" Reikourin asked.

"Hey Raziel…" Zephyren spoke, a grin spreading across his face. "Remember what we used to do to scare the newcomers?" I chuckled, remembering the past.

"Think it'll work?" I asked. "I mean, we're fighting Reikourin & all."

"What are you two talking about?" Slate asked, looking more confused than ever. "What are you two planning?"

"You'll see…" Zephyren & I spoke in unison. "When we make our move you charge forward, got it?" Zephyren transformed & I felt the wind ripple around my body. Dark flames & electricity sprouted all over Zephyren's avian form. I used the wind to lift the electrically charged flames off of Zephyren & launched them at Reikourin. Slate charged through the flames & I used the wind to wrap them around him. Zephyren kept the fire at bay so it wouldn't burn him. Slate slashed at Reikourin with one of his claws as he got close. Reikourin swerved to the right & I used the wind to send the flames at Reikourin's arms.

"G-g-g-g-g-raaaaah!" Reikourin cried as the flames razed & zapped his body. Slate sliced again, this time hitting the burning warrior in the chest. The claws pierced the aquatic armour & left a deep cut. Reikourin fell to his knees, clutching his chest. "Y-you've done well." He said. "I was prepared for the fire, but the electricity was something I had not…" He groaned as he stood. "Anticipated; I guess it's time for me to get serious." The cut hadn't healed, though the flow of blood had stopped.

"Well…" I sighed. "At least he's no longer underestimating us."

"And that's supposed to be a good thing?" Slate asked. Zephyren nodded in response.

Keira's P.O.V

There were footsteps. Dozens of them & they followed me, wherever I went. I broke into a run, realizing that I was holding someone's hand. I looked & saw a light, a woman, holding my hand.

"Run!" She screamed. "Run away! They're coming!" She swung me in front of her & pushed me forward. The footsteps had stopped. All I heard was the single beating of wings. As I watched the woman stand, arms spread, I saw what had been chasing us. It was a human-sized bird, a Phoenix. The bird landed, purple flames scorching across its body.

"Keira, come here…" I heard an all too familiar voice as the Phoenix turned to Zephyren & the flames died down. "Please?" I found myself moving forward, despite the woman's best efforts to stop me. "That's it." He beckoned me forward, his arms outstretched. The woman grabbed me.

"You have the power to stop him…" She said, her body glowing. "But you mustn't succumb to him." Her body was turning transparent. "If you do, all will be lost & he will win. Everything will end, this world, the natural world, even time. I hope you will make the right choice. I, Verina, grant you my power, do as you desire with it." The light that had replaced her body melded with my being.

"She's coming 'round." I heard Cadence speak. "It seems like she's awoken too." I opened my eyes. I was in the infirmary at Eternia. "Hey, how are ya feeling?" Cadence asked, waving a hand in my face.

"I'm fine, just had a weird dream. Why am I here anyways?" I asked, trying to recall.

"Well, to put it simply you turned into your beast form, lifted a wall using Light elemental abilities & passed out." She said as if it was perfectly normal.

"I did what!?" I gasped. "So that means…" I remembered what Kratos had mentioned to me before. "Am I able to transform at anytime now?" I asked, looking at my hands.

"You should be able to…" She said getting up & heading to the exit. "Come on, Zephyren has started the second Trial. Didn't you want to see it?" I jumped when I heard that & ran off towards Kratos office as quickly as I could; Cadence was running beside me though it seemed like there was no effort put into her strides.

When we got to the office, Kratos was standing near the couch & was staring at the huge screen on the wall. "Ahh, Keira..." He gestured to the chair on his left, opposite the couch. "I was wondering when you were going to get here. It would've been a shame for you to miss out." I sat down on the chair & looked at the monitor; it showed Zephyren, Raziel, Patrick, & Slate on the screen. All of them were staring at something offscreen.

"I'll come get you afterwards, Keira…" Cadence spoke. "I'll teach you how to control your powers & how to turn into your beast form at will."

"Okay…" I said, not really paying attention to her. "See you later." The monitor moved over to Reikourin. He was cut all over, his hair was ragged & falling over his face, & he was panting. The ground around him shot up into a pillar, the camera panned out to reveal the four looking surprised. There was a rumbling as the ground surrounding Reikourin shattered & fell. Melissa appeared from the right side of the screen.

"Miss me boys?" She cheered. "I couldn't let you have all the fun!" She winked at Patrick.

Reikourin's P.O.V

"It's a shame…" I spoke, keeping up the ruse of being exhausted. "I wouldn't have thought that you five were the type to toy with your opponents, except for you Mr. Feral." He glared at me as I said that. "I'd expect it from you merely because I can see Nexion in you; the two of you are surprisingly similar." I chuckled.

"Shut up!" Zephryen roared, jumping towards me & slashing. "I'm not like him & I never will be!" I jumped out of the way, landing on the pile of rubble behind me. I kicked him in the chest, knocking him over.

"You see, he got angered easily too. He was really overconfident like you too…" I laughed, feeling my wounds close & the itching cease. "I think I'll kick it up a notch now." I manifested a dual-bladed axe in my hands. "Think you can handle it?" I nodded to Slate. "You look pretty worn out."

"That's what you think!" He shouted, grabbing a red vial out of his bag & drinking its contents. "Here guys, this'll help us." He passed another four of them around. They drank the fluid & after several seconds they looked completely revitalized.

"I see that you planned ahead, Mr. Xio." I said acidly. "Bringing elixirs with you, well done." I clapped my hands. "Now, are we going to fight one on one or five on one?" My five opponents looked at each other & I saw a hazy version of my disciples in them. Raziel's was hazier then most. "One moment…" I said. They glared at me, assuming I was going to attack when they were off-guard. "Raziel…" I spoke again & he stepped forward.

"What?" He snarled, taking a defensive stance.

"Why hasn't Kryonas awoken in you yet?" I asked curiously. "You have more than enough potential to draw him forth. Why does his power still lie untouched?" He flinched as I mentioned my student.

"Untouched…" Raziel chuckled. "I don't know…" He took a couple of steps closer. "You tell me!" He roared as a typhoon generated around him. He charged forward, still surrounded by the large tornado. I jumped out of the way as the wind blew the rubble into the nearby walls, destroying them. "He's been with me for as long as I can remember!"

"Melissa, Patrick, do you still have your keys?" I heard Zephyren ask. I glanced sideways to see them nod. "Okay, give them to Slate…" The two looked at him, confused. Slate looked incredulous.

"Stop running!" Raziel roared, wind pushing against my back, trying to propel me towards him.

"Why? I can fight!" Slate cried; he had two keys in his hands.

"You'll get in our way. We may be able to channel our elements through you, but we are immobile when we do & thus, vulnerable. You wouldn't be able to keep up with the match, it doesn't matter if you're a Vampire or not." Zephyren replied icily.

"I'm staying…" Slate said, crushing the two keys, he reached into his pocket pulling out the destroyed mess of his key. "If you don't like it, tough." He said, rushing towards me. I jumped over Raziel, flying upwards as the currents of air lifted me. Slate jumped up, following me.

Zephyren's P.O.V

"You wanted him to fight without the temptation to leave, didn't you?" Patrick asked. I nodded, a smile spreading on my face.

"I didn't think it would actually work though…" I sighed. "Now it's all a matter of seeing whether or not he'll actually get in the way or not."

"Yep…" Melissa said, her face changing to that of a wolf. "Now, are we starting?" She looked ready to jump out of her skin.

"Definitely…" I replied. "We can't go along with any sort of plan though."

"Yeah…" Patrick said, pulling out his dual-bladed sword. "He'd be able to tell what we would be doing anyways."

"That's not what I meant…" I whispered. "I mean if we just wing it then it'll confuse him & will most likely give us more chances to strike." I pulled out my blades. "Ready?" I yelled. The two nodded & we joined the fray.

I felt the familiar dark power build in me as the battle raged. This time however, there was no voice. I felt like a shaken bottle of soda pop; ready to burst at any moment at the overflow of power. I could feel the urge to use the darkness & finish this fight quickly, but thought better of it. I deflected Reikourin's attack & jumped sideways as a stalagmite appeared where I had just been. The rock hit Reikourin, knocking him towards Slate. The young Vampire stepped out of the way of the incoming 'projectile'; he grabbed him by the arm & threw him to Raziel. Raziel stop Reikourin in front of him & spun him in spiral-like manner, causing minor cuts in him with his scythe, toying with him.

Columns rose around Reikourin & Raziel jumped back as another rose where he had just been. The columns started to collapse inwards. After several seconds they fell.

"That was very well done…" We heard Reikourin say as the rubble started to shake & he emerged. "It's my turn now!" He charged towards Slate & pinned him to the ground. He punched him a couple of times & threw him in my direction. I caught him & placed him on his feet, he looked exhausted; he wouldn't be able to keep up with the rest of us much longer. I looked over to Melissa to see her dodging & deflecting most of Reikourin's attacks. Patrick had taken out his gourd & poured it onto himself. Patrick charged in to help Melissa after she took a blow to the chest & was now suffering a heavy beating from Reikourin.

"Stop it!" Raziel & I roared as darted to our allies' rescue. Raziel used the wind to lift Reikourin off as I pulled her away.

"Sorry…I got…overconfident…" She choked out as she reverted back to her human form. "I guess…I'll…have to sit…the rest of…this out." I nodded & carried her to the wall & rested her against it.

"Seems like you do need my help…" I heard a familiar voice say inside me.

"I sealed you away!" I replied. "How are you out?" I got up & grabbed my blades.

"Did you really think you had enough strength to seal me away forever?" Nexion chuckled. "Don't worry; I won't take over this time. Consider it an early birthday present."

I felt a surge of dark power in me as I felt my wings spread. I looked at my face in the reflection of one of my swords. I was still human! But the wings were there. As strange as it was, I didn't have time to think about it as I saw Patrick & Raziel had been forced into a corner by Reikourin. I flew forward (literally) & grabbed Reikourin.

"Get the other two out of here!" I cried as Reikourin struggled. "Quickly! I'm unleashing 'it'!" Reikourin broke free & punched me. I staggered backwards, but I flapped my wings to stop me from falling. I looked to see Raziel & the others had already disappeared.

"I see that you have attained your 'Hyper' Beast Form." Reikourin gasped, wiping blood from his lip. I flipped my swords backwards so the blades were against my arms.

"Dark…" My swords were glowing purple, fire & electricity surrounding them. "Rendering!" I slashed the air releasing two giant waves of dark energy forward. The attack engulfed the area & Reikourin, exploding after several seconds. As the dust from the attack settled, there stood Reikourin…& he was laughing!

"Superb, Zephyren!" He cheered. "Incredibly well done! I didn't think you had it in you!" He walked towards me. All of his hostility was gone. "I surrender! Congratulations on passing Round Two!"

CHAPTER 14 END!