Sora had arrived in Steadfast Stadium by happenstance. He was exploring, looking for any sign of Nixe or any clue as to Namine's whereabouts. As he marveled at the glow of the city around him, he didn't notice the German Shepherd/Border Collie female approach and start sniffing his hand. Sora felt Angelo's breath on the back of his hand.
"Oh, hello." He greeted with a smile. Angelo turned away and started barking towards someone. Ren immediately appeared out of the crowd, rushing up to them.
"There you are Angelo! Sorry if she's been pestering you." Ren said but Sora merely scratched Angelo on the back of the head, the dog appreciating the Keyblade Master's attention.
"Oh it's okay. She wasn't hurting anything. Besides, I like dogs." Sora said as Ren chuckled.
"I think Angelo likes you too. I'm Ren by the way. Ren Heartwing." She introduced. Sora cocked his head to one side curiously.
"Ren Heartwing? That name sounds familiar. Have we met before?" he asked but Ren shook her head.
"I don't think so." She replied.
"I guess I must've been thinking of someone else. I'm Sora by the way." Sora replied as Ren looked at him in surprise.
"Sora? You wouldn't happen to be Master Aqua's friend would you?" she asked as Sora nodded.
"Uh-huh. Has she been here?" he asked.
"She and Master Si'Lea were here yesterday and put on quite a show in the arena. People are still talking about their match." Ren explained, confusing Sora.
"Match?" he asked.
"Oh right, you've never been here before. This is Steadfast Stadium, the center of arena combat sports in these worlds." Ren explained as Sora looked around.
"Oh sort of like Mirage Arena." He said as Ren shrugged.
"Well I don't know about that, but if you're interested, there's still time to sign up to challenge the Great Sir Jeckt for the title of Steadfast Champion." Ren said but Sora shook his head.
"No thanks. I'm kinda busy looking for a friend of mine." Sora said as Ren looked mildly worried.
"You mean Namine?" she asked as Sora looked at her curiously.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" he asked.
"Master Aqua and Master Si'Lea explained everything and we've actually seen her." Ren said as Sora's eyes widened.
"You've seen Namine? Where?! When?!" he asked. Before Ren could answer, there was a soft tone as the electronic billboards lit up.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, in just ten minutes, the Steadfast Championship Match will begin in the Arena! Tonight, the Great Sir Jeckt is taking on all challengers in a Last-Man-Standing Knockout Match to reclaim the title! Don't miss it!" a voice announced.
"Ooh! I need to get there!" Ren yelped as she and Angelo started racing off towards the arena, Sora chasing after her.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" He called, unaware that a figure clad in a white cloak and hood watched him from the rooftop of a nearby building.
"And let the games begin." Second said before disappearing in a Corridor of Darkness.
…
Sora chased Ren all the way to the stadium where a sizeable crowd was gathering. He lost Ren in the crowd and was clearly frustrated.
"Where'd she go?!" He asked no one in particular. He didn't expect someone to answer.
"Chasing girls are we, Sora? I thought you knew that was my job." A voice said that made Sora blink in disbelief.
"Axel?!" he asked as he spun around and saw Reno and Rude standing behind him.
"Yo Sora. Sorry to break it to you but I'm not Axel. The name's Reno. That's R-E-N-O. Got it Memorized?" Reno asked but this only confused Sora.
"Huh?"
"…" Rude said as Reno rolled his eyes.
"Ugh good point. You'd probably know me better as Lea." Reno said as Sora's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh! You're Axel's other! Wow I never thought I'd get to meet you!" Sora said, almost excited to find Axel's other.
"It seems I've got a fan. So what're you doing here Sora?" Reno asked.
"I was following Ren! She knew something about someone I'm looking for but then she disappeared." Sora said as Reno nodded understandingly.
"Well Ren's probably gonna be tied up for the duration of the match. Maybe you should consider entering. I know the fans would love to see a Keyblade Master in the ring and, frankly, the folks here could use the encouragement. Ever since the Seventh Sister showed up, they've been real depressed. Even this championship match up alone isn't enough to dispel some of the storm clouds." Reno explained as Sora looked towards the crowd of people entering the arena. Sora could sense the subtle feeling of fear and uncertainty amongst the people.
"Well…alright. I'll take on the champion, if anything to help brighten everyone's spirits." Sora said as Reno smirked and motioned to a side entrance to the arena.
"Then head through that door and let Ren know you're in the match. She'll sign you up, no sweat. I know the President will be over the moon with you in the match." Reno said as Sora nodded.
"Right, thanks Axel!" Sora said as he ran for the entrance.
"It's Reno!" Reno corrected before suddenly getting slapped up the back of the head.
"OW! Hey! What was that for?!" he asked, glaring at Rude who merely shrugged and pointed at something behind him. Reno turned and saw Cissnei glaring at him with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Reno! Why did you do that to Sora?!" Cissnei asked as Reno snickered.
"Ah the kid's fine!" he replied.
"You didn't tell him that Sir Jeckt has only ever been defeated once and that was by Master Si'Lea! You also didn't tell Sora that the Seventh Sister was the girl he's looking for!" Cissnei hissed.
"Oh come on, what's the worst that can happen?" Reno asked with a smirk as they headed into the arena.
…
Inside the Arena, the stands were packed with crowds. The usual pre-show chatter of the crowd was suddenly turned into a loud cheer as Jeckt's entrance tune (Otherworld – Final Fantasy X) started playing. Pyrotechnics suddenly went off around the ring entrance tunnel, the pyrotechnics taking the form of Jeckt's tattoo. Laguna, from the Judge's podium, then came on over the loudspeakers.
"The following contest is a Last-Man-Standing Knockout Match and is for the Steadfast Championship! The last participant still conscious will be crowned the new Steadfast Champion! Introducing the participants first! Weighing in at two-hundred fifty one pounds, from the World of Spira, he is the reigning Steadfast Champion, The Great, Sir Jeckt!" Laguna announced as Jeckt, sword resting on his shoulder, emerged from the entrance tunnel with his usual grin, walking towards the center of the ring before hefting his sword up into the air and then throwing it into the ground in front of him, propping his foot up on the guard in a relaxed pose, the crowd cheering and holding up signs in his support. From the entrance tunnel, Sora saw Jeckt and blinked in surprise.
"He's the champion?" he asked as Ren, a headset on her head and with Angelo at her side (also with a headset on), gave a nod.
"That's him. I'm kinda surprised you agreed to do this, Sora. The only person to ever beat Sir Jeckt cleanly was Master Si'Lea herself and that was years ago." Ren said as Sora shrugged.
"Well, I've faced tougher looking opponents than him before." Sora said as Ren looked at him with an admiring smile.
"That's a good attitude. Oh I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of choosing your entrance music for you." Ren said, earning a confused look from Sora.
"Entrance music?" he asked as Ren gave a slight shrug.
"It's part of the show. Just go out there and do your best." Ren said as they heard Jeckt's entrance music fading out and another rock song starting up. (Simple and Clean Rising Sun Remix)
"That's your cue! Go! Don't worry about the theatrics! Just smile and wave! And good luck!" Ren said as Sora took a breath and headed for the tunnel exit as the crowd cheered.
"And introducing the first challenger! Weighing in at one-hundred-and-three pounds, from the far away Destiny Islands, in his debut match! The wielder of the Keyblade! Sora!" Laguna announced as the crowd went nuts just from the mention of the word Keyblade. Sora looked around at the crowd with a smile, politely waving as he made his way to the ring. Jeckt regarded him with a curious smile.
"A Keyblade wielder eh? Well good luck kid. Bear in mind I'm not going to go easy on you." Jeckt said as Sora summoned his Keyblade and rested it on his shoulder.
"I wouldn't expect you to. And good luck to you too." Sora said as Jeckt smirked.
"Kinda curious if you're gonna keep that spirit when this fight's over." Jeckt said as Sora's music faded out. They then heard another song starting up that earned a mix of cheers and jeers. (Battle With An Esper – Final Fantasy XII) Sora then saw a familiar face approaching the entrance to the tunnel.
"Introducing the second challenger! Weighing in at four-hundred-and-fifty pounds including armor, representing the Archadian Empire, from the world of Ivalice, he is the presiding judge of Steadfast Stadium, Judge Gabranth!" Laguna announced as Judge Gabranth entered the ring with his helmet under one arm and his swords in the opposite hand, the swords connected together at the pommels. Sora recognized him immediately but didn't seem too surprised.
"Hail Master Sora of the Keyblade." Gabranth greeted as he bowed to Sora.
"Hey, Judge Gabranth, it's been a long time since we last met. Aqua told me you'd turned good. I didn't know you were here though." Sora greeted as Gabranth smiled slightly.
"I am pleased to see you here as well, Master Sora. I hope we can put the unfortunate business involving my past employment behind us. Know that my actions in the ring should not be construed as anything personal against you." Gabranth said as Sora nodded understandingly.
"Same here." Sora said as Gabranth's music faded out only to be replaced with a song that made the crowds cheer. It was a tune that Sora vaguely recognized. (Organization XIII Vyridia Remix) He then looked towards the entrance tunnel and saw, emerging in a clandestine dark suit and sunglasses, a familiar blue haired man with an X shaped scar on his face and carrying an equally familiar claymore behind him.
"And announcing our third and final challenger! Weighing in at one-hundred-seventy-five pounds, representing the Turks, from the world of Radiant Garden, he is the acting Captain of the Turks, the Luna Diviner, Isa!" Laguna announced as Isa entered, removing his sunglasses and tucking them away in his coat pocket. His gaze was fixed on Sora.
"Master Sora, I presume." Isa said as Sora blinked at the Luna Diviner.
"Saïx? Is that really you?" Sora asked as Isa glanced away.
"Saïx. No. Not anymore. I know of whom you speak, Master Sora, and I remember what happened. I owe you my life because of your actions. I am Isa, Saïx's other." Isa replied as Sora nodded understandingly.
"Whoa so…wow I've met all of you now!" he said as Isa blinked in surprise.
"You've met all of our others?" he asked as Sora nodded.
"Uh-huh." Sora replied as Isa's music faded out.
"Interesting." Isa commented in contemplation. Laguna then came back on the loudspeakers.
"Participants! To your corners!" Laguna announced as four circles lit up on the ring floor, the four participants moving to stand on one of the circles, facing inward towards each other. To Sora's right was Jeckt, to the left was Isa, and directly across from him was Gabranth. Sora immediately summoned his armor before dropping into his fighting stance, Gabranth donning his helmet and then disconnecting his swords and holding one in each hand, Isa pulling his claymore around in front of him, while Jeckt merely hefted his sword up onto his shoulder with a smirk. Laguna was standing by near the bell with a hammer in hand. The crowd was sitting with bated breath, anxious for the fight to start.
"Ready! Set!" Laguna said over the speakers as he reared back the hammer. Suddenly the arena went dark, the lights all going out at once. The crowd erupted into confused chatter.
"What's going on?! Ren! What happened to the power?!" Laguna asked into a walkie-talkie.
"I don't know! I-…oh no…security! Secur-! (Static)" Ren exclaimed before the walkie-talkie went dead.
"Ren? REN!" Laguna asked before they heard a woman's dark chuckling echoing across the arena, causing the crowd to fall deathly silent.
"So…you decide to compete for a new champion, without us?" a woman's voice echoed across the arena, the arena jumbotrons suddenly flickering back on with a white/grey background and displaying the symbol of the Sisterhood of Seven on it as a haunting dirge started playing over the speakers (A/N: For effect I recommend you cue up the Undertaker's intro music, "Rest in Peace" by Jim Johnston).
"The following contest is a Last-Woman-Standing-Deathmatch. The last participant still alive will be the winner. Introducing the newest participant. Weighing in at none-of-your-flipping-business, from the Palace of Eternity, representing the Sisterhood of Seven..." The woman's voice announced as the lighting flashed, imitating flashes of lightning, as a figure in a white coat and white hood appeared in the entrance to the ring, seated on a large glass sedan chair on wheels. Sora and the other three competitors all glaring at her.
"Is this a bit?" Sora asked Isa who stood with claymore ready.
"No." he replied simply, snarling at the woman as she stretched her arms out to the sides towards the ground before raising her hands into the air, the lights coming on almost at her command.
"…Second, the Lady of Indolence." Second finished as she reached towards her hood and pulled it back, allowing her long brown hair, still in its pony tail, to hang down while her blue eyes shimmered coldly towards her four opponents but with her gaze fixed on Sora. She had a headset made of glass on her head. Sora's eyes were wide with disbelief upon seeing her. He recognized her immediately but said nothing as her chair started to suddenly liquefy beneath her, the chair dissolving away as she took to her feet. The glass staves connecting the wheels to the chair didn't dissolve though as Second grabbed the two staves, putting the two ends together into a frosted glass Bo-staff before calmly beginning to walk towards the ring. The crowd was silent, visibly afraid of the Sister's presence. She reached the ring and calmly looked at her opponents with a dark smile before looking up at the audience.
"I come in the name of my sisters, to send a message to not only you, but all of those who continue to deny us the hearts we deserve! We are the Sisterhood of Seven and we cannot be stopped! If you desire proof, then you need only bear witness as your champions fall before me!" Second said before the glass headset liquefied.
"Let the games, begin." She said with a dark smile as the toll of a requiem bell echoed across the arena.
End Chapter 45
Will Second succeed in capturing Sora? Will she truly kill the other opponents? Find out in the next chapter!
And yeah, Second's entrance is a near complete rip-off of the entrance used by WWE Superstar, the Undertaker. Reason: its 100% Bada$$.