Hello Readers ^^ if I do have any...okay I know I do ^^

I'm sorry for not updating last week. I wasn't really able to because I was really busy doing things T-T

But, at least It's up now...a week later ^^; And whoever guessed what the world was, you're right, it's Olympus Coliseum! *Hands you cookie* :3

I hope you like it ^^

Disclaimer: (Look in first chapter)

A Fighting Chance

Two gigantic soldiers of gold glinted in the sunlight, their swords crossing each other with that of a warrior. They were in front of a massive building that had columns structured upright in the center that lead to an entrance, where the soldiers' sword touched above. The ground was sandy and as I breathed I could taste the dry air that filled my lungs. I looked up at Axel who stood beside me whose eyes were filled with a hard determination of some sort.

"Where are we now?" He didn't look at me, but just stared ahead. "Olympus Coliseum-that's where we're at," he looked down at me and grinned, "a nice change of scenery huh?" I moaned and looked at the white building, which seemed interestingly intimidating.

"Mmmm do we go in or do we just stay out here gawking at it in this dust bowl?" I asked. He took a step ahead of my position and turned to look at me, his eyes relaxed. "Of course we go in. I was just thinking of something, besides," he paused, "if you're so eager how about you go first?"

My eyebrows contorted as my arms crossed giving out a huff of annoyance. "Fine, I will then." My feet walked pass him, my arms going back and forth in fists.

'Hmmm…I wonder what does going to a building have to do with finding my sister…' When my foot touched the third concrete step that led up to the gigantic door, I turned waiting for Axel to make it up to me; he was just now making it to the sloped staircase. "Axel, what kind of building is this?" He stepped up to me, finally reaching my stance and put his hands on his hips in fists. He brought his head up to look above at the statues and stood that way for a moment.

"Take a wild guess," he began, looking down on me, "two statues depicting warriors, their swords clashing together in war, armor that works as guards on their bodies…" He leaned towards me slightly with a smirk of entertainment, "really Deonna?" My eyebrows arched as I waved my hand in his face to make space between us.

"Okay, okay jeez-you don't have to make me sound like a fool." My ears heard him muffle a chuckle as I went ahead up to the final steps of the wide staircase to open the wide door.

I stepped into the building while holding the door open for Axel to come in behind me. The inside of the building wasn't what I expected it to be. The room was sort of small but it seemed it would've been able to hold at least twenty people in it. The walls were brown with ancient Greek designs which gave the walls a creative streak. There were two dents on either side of the room where ignited candle bowels occupied them, making the trophies on their sides seem dull.

My eyes spotted a little man with goat like legs attached to his upper body that resembled a man; the man was dusting with a little broom in the corner of the room on the far left of us, totally oblivious to our presence. My eyes widened at the sight of it. Axel was on my right so I gave him a little nudge out of bewilderment of the tiny creature.

"Axel, what is that thing?" He looked down at me and spoke. "It's a creature, half human-half goat, called a 'Satyr'. Don't worry, he don't bite," he said with a grin. He looked back up. "Just beware if his ol' grumpiness."

"Uh huh," I nodded. Our voices carried on in the room, finally making the creature acknowledge our occurrence with a slow turn. I could feel my face grimace as the creature came coming up to us on his little goat feet with his broom in hand. He looked mad and grumpy, like he was having an unhappy marriage or something.

"And who are you?" the little man demandingly said, finally stopping in front of us with his eyebrows stitched. I at last had a good look at him; he had little horns on his head that arched back and a bald spot of red hair that ran back like a tire went over it. He was chubby and short, probably the size of a fat toddler and had the color of red for his button nose, his goatee and for his furry goat legs.

"Uh I'm-" I began, but was soon cut off by Axel who took a step up. He started with a smooth introduction with his hand directing who was who. "I'm Axel and this is Deonna. Commit it to memory." The goat creature crossed his chubby arms with the broomstick sticking out, looking at us with a face of consent. "Oh, alright Axel and Deonna, but you guys can't be here!" He then started to point his finger at us like he was peeved. "Olympus Coliseum is for heroes only, HEROES, where they fight ferocious monsters in a huge arena. Sorry but you guys got to beat it!"

I felt myself give a leer at his churlish mannerism. 'Man, not only is he a fat goat-man, but a mean ol' fat-goat man!' Axel then started to make hand gestures as he spoke in reply. "But that's just the thing!" He went up behind me, resting his hands on my shoulders with a firm grasp. I turned up slightly wondering what he was about to do. "Deonna, here wants to be a hero." My eyes widened at his comment as my eyebrows contorted with confusion.

"Axel, what are you-"

"Her! A hero?" a loud boisterous voiced commenced. My head turned to see the little goat go into a laughing fit from hearing that I wanted to be a hero. "Ha ha ha ha ha!" My eyebrows turned into sharp daggers from his scoffing. Retaliation got the better of me as I retorted. "Hey what's so funny about that!" He wiped his head of sweat from the tiredness of laughing and stood upright to walk to the left side of the room in huffs of air.

"Sorry girly, but I can't let you enter the fighting arena. I wouldn't want blood guilt on my hands of a little teenage girl like yourself." He placed the broom against the wall and began walking up to us, his hoofs sounding of a walking horse. A feeling of pique started to rise inside me as my fist tightened, which started to feel warm. I soon had a change of heart; all of this talk about being a hero and fighting in an arena with monsters made me want to prove myself oh so dearly. 'Stay cool Deonna…stay cool…' I leaned back taking a breath of composure to ease myself and looked back down at the goat man. A stern calmness tried to show itself in my visage as I spoke my highpoints.

"I am not a little girl, I am a hero and I've fought lots of monsters," I then crossed my arms, "those monsters were heartless and I defeated them with my keyblade." The goat man then crossed his arms, which seemed to have rested on his big potbelly. "Huh- that's interesting to know…" Axel then finally spoke up as he came beside me.

"Yeah, you should totally see her in action," he pointed his finger at the goat man, "what you see is what you get. Oh come on give her a chance." The goat man stood there on his tiny little hoofs for a few moments with an expression of thought, moaning 'hmmmms.' He finally spoke.

"I've known a few keyblade wielders in my time and they've always turned out to be pretty good fighters, though you might not look like it…" He looked up at me, his hands on his hips. "Eh-since I've got nothing else to do, I could probably see for my self what you got, that is, if you got any fight in yea." A feeling of relief passed through me as a smile spread across my lips.

"Oh please sir, I won't let you down." A slight smile vaguely came upon his thin lips as he started to walk away from us, heading for a dark tunnel that was opposite of us. "Yeah, you better girly, or I was wrong about you and your encouraging friend over there!" I nodded in content as I paralleled my arms to rise and fall in fists.

"Yes!"

Axel came in front of me with a showy gin on his face, talking as he made hand gestures with his hands. "Good, you finally convinced that hairy little man to show you some of your moves!" He placed his hand on my head, making my face inch down at the floor. I soon heard the sound of satisfactory in his smooth voice. "…Make sure you prove yourself worthy like you did me." I shook my head up and down with a smile while his hand dropped down off of me. I felt my heart feel a little strained, but it wasn't a bad feeling, for I was happy of what he thought of me; being worthy. I then began to think of what he just did to me.

'Thanks but…' My face came up to look at him, my lips showing a grin, but my eyes showing a partial glare, making him look dumbfounded.

"Why do you keep putting your hand on my head?" I said crossing my arms. His expression changed to relief as he huffed a laugh while putting his hand on his hip and scratching his head with the other.

"Oh that…I thought it was something I said," he said with a shrug. Not hearing what I wanted to hear, I gave him an obvious statement. "You know I'm not a dog." He then waved his hand in the air with opposition. "Oh, I know you're not- don't think of it as a bad thing." His left eye fluttered at me in the sign of a wink as a smile followed. My heart felt a little heavy as I could feel my cheeks feel warm, making me give him a coy smile. A chuckle escaped his lips from my blushing display. His arm waved up backward as he turned around. "Okay let's go D." I followed suit, finally stepping into the dark tunnel where the only bright light visible was at the other far end of the tunnel.

As we walked in the dark dusty corridor, I began to wonder why Axel told the goat man that I wanted to be a hero. I didn't want to wonder with dubious feelings while the answer was walking right in front of me, so I just had to ask.

"Axel, how come you told the goat man that I wanted to be a hero?" My voice produced echoes that bounced off the bricked walls. He made a little titter as he spoke but failed to turn his head. "Heh he, well don't take this personal, but I think you should have some training."

"Training?" The lowliness in my voice came with a surprised shock. "Are you kidding me, I don't need no training, I mean you know how well I fight!" My fists soon tightened out of there relaxed state. Axel slightly turned his head to look at me; though it was still dark, I was able to see his relaxed darkened face. "I just said not to take it personal didn't I? I just want you to be more experienced in defeating heartless that's all." He turned his head back around, looking at the now brightened atmosphere of the tunnel that lightened the walls in its interiors. "I am assuming that you have not dealt with that much heartless in the past…well maybe you did, but I just want you to become more aware of how different heartless fight against their enemies," he paused, "is that so much to ask?" My voice didn't utter a reply to his clever idea as I began to remember what happened at Twilight Town and how I fought.

"D-Do you mean about what happened at Twilight Town? When I fought those heartless?" He nodded. "Yup, you did defeat them, but you weren't that quite prepared to face them off. So as a result, I'm going to have the goat man thing bring heartless at you, just to make you more aware." I gave out a sullen moan.

"Ugh, alright…fine I'll play it your way." We finally stopped at end of the tunnel where I could finally see Axel's pale tattooed face in the sunlight, looking at me with a smirk where I stood on the side of him. "Oh, come on, where's the enthusiasm- I thought you wanted to prove ol' hairy guy over there!" he said directing his hand at the goat man, who stood on the far right side of us yelling at someone ahead of him. My body shook in a mild laugh from Axel's name calling. "A-Axel s-stop that or he'll hear you!" I covered my mouth in giggles while I shoved his arm. Sometimes, I feel that Axel can be so wise in my eyes, and then turn into an idiot that quickly like a popping balloon. Axel stepped ahead of me while I followed, finally admiring the beautiful scenery of the spacious arena where a clear blue sky was overhead.

"Deonna look at that," Axel told me with a nudge, making me look at the center of the arena. My eyes fell upon a man in the center of the bowl; it appeared that he was fighting some dark creatures that resembled heartless. The goat man yelled in cheers at the man, encouraging him to fight them off.

"Come on Herc show them your stuff!"

Axel then yelled at me with a forceful enthusiasm in his voice that took me by surprise. "Come on what are you waiting for?" His hands shoved me from the side to get ahead of him, making me stumble in advance to a run. "You can't make the grade just by dreaming about it! Go On!"

"Okay-okay sheesh! Stop nagging me!" I yelled back. I threw my book bag off and tossed it at Axel while pressing forward to the center with fast speed.

I summoned my keyblade to aim at a heartless that had a metal helmet on its darkened black face while its body was green with a heart symbol embellished on its chest. Its puny legs tried kicking me, but in all its aspects it failed to give me more than three blows as I finally sliced it into oblivion. As it disappeared, a heart came out of it and went up into the sky. My eyes spotted about six more running around like a nest of rats around the guy who was fighting them. The guy had a very strong muscular build who wore a brown suit that ended in a skirt at the bottom; he appeared as if he could fight a bear. One of the other heartless came at me as well as a few others, trying to pounce on me all at once. My body endured kicks from almost all sides, but that didn't stop me from me persevering until they were all eliminated from my sight and viewing the floating hearts in the sky. My eyes instinctively gazed around the arena to see were there anymore of those evil vermin; I didn't spot not a single one.

'Good…'

I sighed out of relief and stretched my back trying to ignore those repeated kicks that ached my muscles. The sun cooked me in my black cloak as I could feel sweat on my forehead. "Man it's hot." My breathing began to slow down as I heard an alarming yell. "Are you alright?" the muscular guy yelled, rushing over to me with anxiousness. I took off my cloak and held it in my arm before making a reply.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine t-thanks," I said in little pants. The guy stopped in front of me in a breathy huff, placing his hand on my shoulder out of concern. "Are you sure, you're not injured?" I looked at his tall structure, his concerned blue eyes over looking me. I gave him a pleasant smile, not wanting him to waste his worry concern on me. "Uh, yeah I'm fine, I mean a couple of kicks to the stomach ain't going to stop me," I said placing my hands on my hips in my own confidence. He nodded and smiled back taking his hand off my shoulder. "Well that's good to hear, and I can see why you were able to defeat those heartless," he pointed his finer at my right hand, "you had a keyblade." A giggle ruptured from my lips. 'Wow, I wonder how long that took him to figured that one out…'

"Yo Deonna!" a familiar voice shouted from behind, making me turn to see Axel and the goat man walking up to us. "Deonna that was pretty well done…" Axel said in satisfied keenness, finally stopping in front of me as he moved his hand with his voice. "The way those heartless all jumped on you like that, I almost thought you were a goner..." He paused to cross his arms. "I'm partly pleased for being your mentor." I gave him a quirk smile and rolled my eyes.

"Gee thanks Axel…"

The goat man came up to us at last, stopping beside Axel while his eyes were focused on me. "Well girly, I have to say you did better than what I bargained for." My eyes lit up from his praise as I clasped my hands together. "Really? So does that make me a hero?" He gave out a sign and spoke with that grumpy like voice that he had. "Listen, fighting heartless doesn't make you a hero-" I then interrupted him from his talk that I did not agree with.

"But I did save this guy here right? So technically, I did a heroic deed, which makes me a hero or since I'm a girl, a heroin." Axel's eyes widened as he whistled out of amusement. "Whoa she sure did tell you-watch out now!" He looked down at the midget, snickering at him. The goat man crossed his arms with a groan and spat as he spoke.

"Hey you watch it girly! Hercules didn't need any help to begin with!" He then came forward at my feet as he pointed his finger at me. I held back a chuckle as I looked at him. 'Is he really going to try to do something…?'

"Phil, it is pretty difficult fighting heartless without a weapon like hers, come on be nice," Hercules spoke up trying to reason with his friend. I looked up at him and back down at Phil, who seemed peeved from this situation. He crossed his arms while his head hung low to the ground like a little kid would do if he had did something bad. "Ugh…I guess you are right Herc," he then looked back up with that stoic expression on his face, "I guess you did do okay kid just like I said before-but still my definition of a hero comes in two words…" He pointed two fingers up at me and started to count them off. 'Oh great here we go again with this …'

"Strength, Guts and Heart!"

"Eh, you do know that you said more than two right?" Axel mentioned from behind him.

"Yeah thanks for brining that to my attention!" Phil yelled, turning around to look at Axel who looked at Phil confused and then turned back at me. I then admitted to what he said about being a hero. "Well, I know I got those qualities." Hercules came into the conversation. "It does seem pretty evident that you do, you must have a strong heart." I looked up at him and felt myself blush. "I guess so."

"Hercules, help me bring out the barrels will yea?" Phil started to walk away in the opposite direction. "Alright Phil," Hercules complied as he walked after him. They walked away about to bring out some barrels for some reason.

"Alright, your about to start your training," Axel said directing me to follow him back by the building. "With barrels?" I walked to the side of him waiting for his answer. "Yeah, just a little test to see will you be able to knock out all the barrels within a time limit," he said putting his hands behind his head. "Okay…that seems boring."

"Yeah, not a lot of action, but it does make you pick up your speed in a fight." My eyes dropped as I moaned, starting to feel nostalgic from this idea.

'Mmmm I already got speed…'

We made it to the building; I crossed my arms and leaned on the wall, looking up at the sky just thinking of the training I've had in the past. "Oh here, take your bag," Axel said handing my bag to me on my right. I forgot I gave it to him so I grabbed it out of his hand. "Thanks." I sat it beside me on the ground. Phil and Hercules started to put barrels in the center of the arena, lining them up for me to get rid of. As we watched, Axel suddenly spoke, making me wake from my gaze.

"Deonna?" "

Hmm," I responded, turning to look at him. His arms were crossed and he brought his head from looking down to look at me. "It's probably none of my business- but that Arata guy, is he your boyfriend or something?" My expression turned to bafflement from that sudden question as my throat felt strained. "Uhm…well, no he isn't," I paused and looked away from his eyes, "he just really like me, that's all, ever since we were kids. That was the first time he even kissed me," I said, mumbling the last part. "Hmmm, so do you have a thing for him?" My head twisted to face him with a glare while his posture stiffened. "Jeez Axel, you're so nosey!" He shrugged and waved his hand "Okay-okay just forget about it then- I know it's none of my business anyway…just curious," he said looking away, his brows arched. Though it felt awkward talking about this with Axel, I decided to answer his question anyway. I sighed. "I do like him a lot though; he's great guy and a great friend," I looked down at my shoes, "but that's all I think of him…as a friend…"

"Oh…I see." After that conversation, it became quiet between us, which made me feel good because the conversation was over.

"Deonna!" Phil called from the center, waving his hand in the air. I got off the building and started to run up to him.

'Oh wait…!'

I turned back and threw my cloak at Axel, which bull eyed his face. "Hold it for me!" I hollered at Axel and turned back to where Phil was standing with Hercules. "Wow you really are quite a road runner missy!" Phil said as I stopped at his round body.

"Okay here's the drill, I want you take out all of these behind me before time runs out." He pointed his thumb behind him making me look behind him; there were about at least fifteen barrels behind him in three rows. He spoke again with his loud voice. "If times runs out, you will have to do it over again, got it!" I nodded. "Got it sir!"

"Okay, I'm giving you one minute and ten seconds, so don't fail me." I placed my hand on my chest and grinned. "Trust me, I won't fail you." He chuckled. "Actions speak better than words. Prove it!" Phil and Hercules then walked to the side of the arena by the seats on my right, but not before Hercules could give me a thumbs up. When they got at wall, I saw Axel besides Phil with his arms crossed with a neutral grin. I smiled at him as he gave me thumbs up.

"Okay you ready?" Phil hollered, making Axel look down at him with annoyance. I looked down at my hand and summoned my weapon. "Yeah shoot!"

"Go!"

At that word, my body leaned forward and my feet gave way at the first barrel ahead of me. The woodened container turned into splinters by two strikes at the power my weapon while I went onto the next one. I went on to the next one and the next one after that; I even decided to hit one against another to speed up my pace. After a few were destroyed, just like Phil said, some more popped up. Sweat started to roll down my forehead as I ran and hit the barrels in the hot sun above me; at least I wasn't wearing my cloak. As soon as I was about to hit another one, Phil's voice rang my ears.

"Time!"

I stopped myself and turned to my right. 'Wow that was fast…'

Phil was walking away from Axel's and Hercules stance by the wall to come up to me. "You did pretty good girly-got about one hundred-fifty points." My keyblade vanished from my hand so I used it to wipe the sweat on my forehead. "T-Thanks." He turned around and spoke again. "Know lets do it again-I want you to get at least two hundred points this time." My eyebrows contorted at him as I huffed out of bewilderment.

'Again!'

I threw my hand up at him wanting to stop him. "Wait, can I just rest for a few minutes!"

"Eh?" he said turning around. "Kid, you want to be a hero don't cha!" I knew I already was a hero, but I just gave him the answer he wanted to hear.

"Yeah."

"Then I got two words of advice for yea!" and again with his misinterpreted wording, "Eat! Sleep! Train!" I gave out a sigh as more barrels came up around me. My head dropped, putting my hand on my hip preparing myself for more training, but I soon brought it back up when I heard Axel's voice near me.

"Deonna I wasn't expecting you to ask for a break when you're just getting started-what's up with that?" I shook my head at him and held my hand up to my head. "I…guess I'm outa' shape. I haven't done this type of training since…since I was like sixteen." Axel crossed his arms as a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. "You used to do this type of training?"

"Yeah, it was my father's doing."

"Huh- that figures why you seem so good at this." I chuckled. "Thanks."

"Alright Axel, clear the area for my trainee has business to take care of!" Phil yelled from by the wall. Axel turned in Phil's direction, hollering a reply at his assertion. "Alright-alright sheesh!" Axel then turned to me and gave me little green bottle in my hand. "Huh? What's this?"

"Take it, it's a potion to make you feel better, y'know what I mean," Axel said as he put two fingers together to salute me as he walked off. I grinned and stashed the little bottle in my pocket. As soon as Axel was off the training platform, Phil started off in counts, making me summon my weapon for another dashing destructive drill.

"Okay one, two, three go!"

I went off once again at a barrel, and the next and the next, but this time I could feel myself going faster from the beginning part of my training, like my stamina has risen. My breathing slowed down more smoothly like a professional fighter would as I slammed a barrel and slammed a barrel at the next.

"Time!"

My body halted into smashing another barrel from the word 'Time' that came out of Phil's mouth. I breathed in and out, trying to even out my breaths as Phil came up to me. "Not bad kid-you did better than last time as I expected," he said stopping at my feet. I smiled. 'Does that mean I got the points?' Phil then spoke again. "You got one hundred-ninety nine points, making you fall by one." My brows curved from hearing the fact that I failed just by one point. My throat felt a little choked.

"Ugh-shoot! Just one measingly point!" Phil waved his hand in opposition. "It's alright kid, you can't always get it all done over night."

"Huhhh…true," I said closing my eyes. "You want to go at it again?" My eyes opened to look down at Phil who was waiting for an answer. I brought my hand up to my head and rubbed my temples. "Yeah-but just give me five minutes please."

"Alright tell me when you're ready." He then walked off towards the wall where Hercules was leaning on and started to talk to him. Moaning ruptured from me as I started to walk towards Axel who was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, watching me come up to him. I stood beside him and mocked his position, crossing my arms and looking ahead. Speech disrupted my wayward gaze that came from Axel's mouth.

"You still did pretty well, even though you lost by one point." I looked up at him but his eyes were else where at that moment. "That's not eating you is it?" he asked, finally returning my gaze. I shrugged. "Mmmm eh…" I turned my head from his direction and tried to speak more clearly.

"I'm not really that upset about it, I mean, I know I'm good, but I'm not perfect."

"Mmm-hmm that's a good view on things, but in order to be perfect takes practice." I looked up at him and grinned. "Practice makes perfect you mean?" I asked. He waved his finger in a gun-like fashion at me and smiled. "Exactly. So don't become such a zombie about it."

"A zombie?" Axel brought his hands up to his face and molded his face muscles to look like an exaggerated sad expression. I covered my mouth and giggled. "Axel I don't look nothing like that." He let go of his face and smiled. "Uh huh." 'I ignored him and looked back ahead, slowly shaking my head.

'Sheesh how old is this guy?'

As soon as I thought about that question, Hercules voice yelled in shock. "Phil look at this!" My head quickly turned to see what the case of his shout was. To my burdened surprise, my eyes fell upon an inanimate object that resembled a canon. It was big and blue, but not that big compared to a barrel and it had a black spot in its front with two yellow eyes glistening on it.

'Heartless perhaps…?'

"Holy cow go take them out Herc!" Phil shouted with his finger pointed at it directing Hercules to go at it. My heart felt shocked with grief as my eyes widened.

'Great more heartless...' Axel then spoke my thought, but rather in differently. "More heartless already?"

Hercules started after it in willful hurry. "Don't worry guys I got this!" Hercules shouted as he gave the heartless a devastating blow with his fists. My body leaned off the wall when I saw two more canon heartless appear from the air in black balls.

"Deonna take them out," Axel said in a rather calm fashion. I looked up at him with my brows curved; he then looked down at me with a solemn look in his eyes. "I want you to learn how they defend themselves so you can gain the upper hand in the fight. A real fight begins with knowing the opponent." My brows furrowed as I summoned my keyblade and looked ahead.

"Right!"

My feet sped forward up to the other heartless that started to blow itself up in three intervals. I hesitated from going any closer when fire bulleted out its hole up in the air. 'Oh great, so it is like a real canon. I got to watch myself.' The little canon started to run away from me, which made me run after it in surprise. Still trying to keep cautious of the bullet in the air, I swung my keyblade at the canon twice before jumping out of the way of the round shadow above me. The fiery explosion caught onto to me a little bit, making me jump out in mild force. My teeth grinded as I caught my balance and started to run up to it before it tried shooting me again. I hit and swung at it with force, which seemed immune to my hits as it ran away once more. "Ha what's wrong scardey cat!" I kept hitting it and hitting it until it shot out another firing bullet in the air. Keeping cautious of missile, I continued to strike the canon with my weapon until I soon saw two shadows on the ground.

'Wha-?' I looked up and saw two bullets in the air about to land on my head.

"What the-!"

My feet jumped off the ground, instinctively avoiding the doubled bombing to the ground. I landed on my feet in a crouching position and saw where the origin of the other bomb was; it was jumping around on my left while the one I was fighting was on my right. 'Great another one-I should get this done quick. Be aware Deonna…' The one on my left leaned forward and started to eject its own bullet at me. It fired, making close my eyes and bring my arm up with my keyblade. The force pushed me back but it didn't hurt me, for the bullet deflected off my weapon, making its little strategy back fire.

My eyes opened with a satisfied smirk. 'Now I'm making progress.'

I went up to the other heartless that was puffing itself up to blow out a missile but it was interrupted with the hit of my keyblade; it disappeared into thin air as a glowing pink heart ascended into the air. I smiled and turned to where Hercules was; he just finished off with the other heartless that just vanished into thin air. Hercules looked at me with widened eyes as his hand came up at me in a warning sign.

"Deonna watch out!" Hercules shouted. Surprised, I focused myself and turned at the heartless that was on the side of me and brought my weapon up at the homecoming missile that was shooting towards me; it deflected and hit the heartless dead center at its black face. My brows furrowed as I ran up to it, swinging it and hitting it trying to make it go down. I noticed Hercules coming up to me about to set his foot down. I yelled at him to stop from doing anything to my opponent.

"No Hercules let me finish this!" I said not looking at him but staying focus on the heartless, "let me finish what I started!" With that, the heartless jumped back with my many sporadically hits, making it finally evaporate in thin air. When the little heart floated up to the sky, I let my keyblade go and wiped my forehead while catching my breath from this short-lived fight. I soon felt a big hand on my shoulder, which made me look up to see Hercules sweating face in the light of the sun.

"You alright Deonna?" he asked with that concern voice of his.

'Déjà vu?'

I smiled, trying to even my heart rate to normal. "Yes o-of course I am."

Clapping echoed in the arena that originated on my right: I turned in that direction and saw it was Axel's doing.

"Alright–alright D," Axel said walking up to us clapping, " progress progress progress…"

Phil was walking with him, a grin plastered on his face which I've seldom seen him display. Axel stopped in front of me with a clearly amused expression on his face.

"Jeez Deonna you made the fighting look so much fun that I wanted to join the party." As my breathing slowed, I started to inhale through my nose to help it do so normally. I then made a reply to his funny statement and put a hand on my hip.

"Ha! What party?"

"The party where you flew in the air by the constant explosions, y'know I actually felt like catching you, but then again I thought 'nah she can handle it'."

"Hmph! whatever," I said crossing my arms in a playful manner.

Phil then spoke up, trying to attract my attention to him. "Y'know what Deonna, you could be a heroin yet." I looked down at him and smiled. "Thanks." Axel was the next one to speak.

"Well since you think that way Phil, do you think you can enter her into the games?" My eyes widened as my heart sank. I looked up at Axel then at Phil, contemplating what he was going to say. Phil put his hand on his lip in thought and soon spoke again with doubt. "Eh I don't know…it seems too early for her to enter-it just wouldn't feel right for me to do that." A sullen look came about on my face from his worried thought. "Awww great." I put my hand together and started to beg him. "Please please please Phil-please? Just let me enter!" He sighed and put his hand on his hips.

"Sorry kid, but I can't, my conscious would bother me. The only other way for you to enter is to get a pass." I let my hands go and straightened my posture as my brows curved.

"A pass?" Axel and I asked at the same time. Axel then asked how much was it. "How much is that?" Phil chuckled. "A lot of munny I know you don't have."

"Oh come on man, how about a discount?"

"Ha! Like that would make a difference!" My eyes narrowed at him, "Touché."

"Well, I believe she can do it…" Hearing Hercules voice made me face him who had a gentle grin on his face. "Herc?" Phil asked. Hercules nodded at Phil and then looked at me. "Yeah, I think she can handle it. She has already proven herself already by the barrel training and fighting all of those heartless."

"Hmm…true…" Phil mumbled. Hercules continued with his encouraging accusation. "And by the way she stopped me from helping her defeat that heartless before, I knew she had it in her," he paused, "and even though it is seems a little early, I would still give her a chance at the games." A few seconds of silence went by after Hercules said that last sentence. Phil was still thinking about it and I waited patiently for his final answer as my heart beat raced with eagerness. Phil finally looked up at us with an answer that made me feel choked.

"Oh what the heck-I'll enter her in the games!" he said throwing his hands in the air with enthusiasm. A smile kicked in as I jumped in the air. "Yes! Thank you Phil!" I clasped my hands together, looking down at him, feeling all giddy inside. He smiled and looked away with a blush. "Yeah-yeah don't mention it." I looked up at Axel who was smiling at me; he looked happy and satisfied a look in his eyes that I've never seen him make.

"You happy now D?" he asked. I smiled at him and nodded. "You bet!" I then turned to Hercules and gave him a big smile.

"Hercules you're the greatest!" My feet jumped and reached to hug him. He laughed and patted my head. "No problem, I was just saying what I thought was right."

"Hey do I get a hug, I was the one who even let you compete?" I let go of Hercules and looked down and Phil. "Oh you big softy…" I reached down and gave him a hug while he returned it. I came back up and looked at Axel who looked confused and, in a way, upset. I giggled and teased him.

"Aww does someone want a hug?" I said reaching my arms out to him. Axel spoke calmly and slightly frowned. "Nah I don't need a hug, I mean, I'm not five years old..." He looked away, his face turning slightly pink. I shook my head and went up to him and hugged his waist, giving him a shock of surprise as I rested my head on his chest.

"You know I also owe everything to you. You were the one who even started it all…" He hesitated like he didn't know how to react, but then hugged me back with gentleness. "Yeah you're right about that…alright that's good..." He let me go as I did the same. He turned his head, trying not to look at me since he knew he was probably turning red like last time, which did happen that made me giggle to myself. He scratched his head and turned back towards us with a blushing smile on his face.

"Okay…so when does she start?"