Chapter 29: I Can Go The Distance
AN: I AM SO SORRY I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS UPLOADED MONTHS AGO PLEASE FORGIVE ME! T.T Keep an eye on my profile for updates.
-April 12, 2009-
Sora's POV
You couldn't cut the tension with a knife if you wanted to. Everyone silently ate breakfast at their chairs in the cockpit of the gummi ship. No one made eye contact. I expected Goofy to attempt to break the uncomfortable morning but even he didn't make a sound.
It was only when a world came into view that Donald broke the painful silence, "Everyone, get ready to land."
When we arrived through the elaborately engraved wooden door, all eyes fell on Sylvia, everyone gasping her name.
She wore a high collar white long sleeved shirt that flipped up to black connecting to her elbow on the left arm. A dark blue collar wrapped around her neck. A small red heart sat on the shirt below her breasts. Underneath the heart sat a row of yellow diamonds, followed by a row of blue spades underneath. Another small red heart sat above her pants in the middle of a row of green clubs. She wore baggy black pants that flared at the ankles with large zippers off center on each pant leg to mid thigh. Two large fuchsia belts wrapped around her waist. A small single fuchsia belt sat on her lower right thigh. Four small fuchsia belts lined her left thigh with loops that held her staff, which now was shorter as well as smaller. She also wore a white boot on the right foot and a black boot on the left foot.
After the girls fussed over Sylvia's new outfit, the group continued. On the other side of the courtyard were two large statues, a door in between. The door led to a small lobby like room. A small overweight satyr fiddled with a sign in the far left corner.
"Um..." The only noise I made was enough to alert him to our presence.
Without turning around he pointed behind himself, "Good timing. Give me a hand, will ya? Move that pedestal over there for me. I gotta spruce this place up for the games."
Even with the seven of us, it wouldn't even budge.
"It's way too heavy!" I groaned, walking back over to the satyr.
"What? Too heavy? Since when have you been such a little-" He finally faced us, "Oh. Wrong guy. What're you doing here? This here's the world-famous coliseum- heroes only!"
He jumped off the stand to force a nervous Donald backwards, "And I got my hands full preparing for the games. So, run along pip-squeaks."
My eyes narrowed at the little satyr.
"Look, it's like this," He continued, "Heroes are coming from all over to fight ferocious monsters right here in the coliseum."
"You got heroes standing right in front of you." Donald grumbled.
"Yup! He's a real hero chosen by the Keyblade!" Goofy put his hands on my shoulders.
"Hero? That runt?" The satyr began laughing.
"What's so funny?! I've fought a bunch of monsters!" I glared.
"Hey, if you can't even move this..." He attempted to move the pedestal, only to fail, "You can't call yourself... A hero!"
He stood up, panting," Okay... so, it takes more than brawn. Well... Well, let's see what you can do."
Suddenly, his eyes bulged, "Whoa!"
He pushed Donald away to step closer to Elena and Sylvia who were leaning against the far wall, smoothing his hair, a smirk on his lips, "And to what do I owe the pleasure, ladies?"
Sylvia fluttered her eyelashes, "Would you perhaps..." She twisted a lock of her hair, "Let us... participate?"
His smirk dropped into a frown, "Sorry, sugar cakes. No can do."
Growling, she let her hair go, fire in her eyes, "Come on! We could totally kick their asses!"
"Such language for such a pretty thing." The satyr chided.
Sylvia scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, and storming out of the lobby.
"Come on, Phil!" Hazel pouted. I assumed she saw his name on one of the many posters on the walls.
"I'm sorry, sweet cheeks. It's against my policy." He shrugged, looking less apologetic than he had with Sylvia.
Elena took a deep sigh, "Come on, let us prove ourselves." She smiled, "I have a feeling you just love seeing people make fools of themselves. Why not enjoy yourself? Maybe we'll impress you."
Everyone waited with baited breath.
Phil reluctantly answered after awhile, "Fine. We'll put the boys together and the girls together on separate teams." The girls all shared a grin.
The barrel training was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. Even gym class back home wasn't that hard!
Pondering, Phil eyed my form, "You know? You ain't bad, kid."
Grinning, I put my hands behind my head, "Looks like we're headed for the games!"
"Afraid not." My hands were fists at my sides.
"Why not?!" I protested.
"Two words," Phil held up two fingers, "You guys ain't heroes."
I swear I heard a mumbled 'four words' from Elena.
Phil shrugged, "Wanna become a real hero? Start training."
With a dejected sigh, I lead the group out of the lobby.
Half way across the courtyard I felt a hand on my shoulder. It belonged to a tall man in a dark grey tunic with blue skin and literal blue flames for hair, "Rather a stubborn old goat, wouldn't you say?"
"Who are you?" Donald squawked angrily.
"That's Hades!" Hazel squealed, "God of the underworld! Oh my god! Big fan. Seriously. Big fan. I'd like to-"
Elena, Sylvia, and Kassy all but jumped on her to slap their hands over the eager one's running mouth.
He chuckled, "Well, well! I knew I was popular!"
Elena grinned weakly with a nervous chuckle, "Yeah..."
Donald's angry squawking grew louder. Hades faced him, "Whoa, hold there, fuzz boy." He began pacing back and forth in front of us, "Wait. Let me guess. You want to enter the games, right?"
He put a hand on my shoulder, "Well, then, hey, get a load of this."
A large beige card appeared in the man's hand.
"A pass?" I questioned up at him with bulging eyes and a slack jaw.
"It's all yours. Good luck, kid. I'm pulling for you, little shorty." He winked before disappearing in a cloud of dark smoke.
I faced the others, "Um... Should we trust the... god of the underworld?"
Sylvia grinned, "Who cares? Free admission ticket!"
She snatched it from my hands before I could respond and broke into a run back to the lobby. Everyone followed after a short hesitation.