Chapter 8 - Defensive Offensive
Red Fountain Cordatorta's Office
"Here are the keys you wanted for the gym." Cordatora stated passing for the keys over to a person dressed completely in black, "I'll be drop off your class for their evaluation for the course. Make sure they can leave walking; even limping would be nice they have other classes afterwards.
"I'll see what I can do," They declare taking the keys leaving the office with a "I'll let'em walk if they can stand the fight." Then they were gone.
Red Fountain
"Hey, take a look at that!" Riven shouted pointing toward the back of another Red Fountain student, "Since when can you wear that!"
The student turns around to reveal himself as Helia, "What are you afraid I'm gonna out class you, Riven." Helia smirked as the others came rushing up at the sound of Riven's shout.
"Check it out," Brandon observed Helia in his new uniform, "So; we rub off on you or something."
"Naa," Helia shook his head, "I figured you, and guys need someone who'll keep you alive." He joked, "Come on we've got class and I want see what our instructor has in store for us."
"Yeah yeah!" the group shouted and rushes off to the New Defensive Offensive class. Sky stopped Helia from joining the other in a mad dash to class. "You find the answers you're looking for?" He inquired.
"I think I found the key to them, not the answers though," Helia disclosed.
"Your key in the shape of a certain Fairy of Nature?" Sky questioned, as Helia's cheeks heated, "I knew you'd like Flora, she's an interesting person one of the smartest people next to Tecna and Timmy. Just never forget just cause she's soft spoken doesn't mean she's coward."
"I know," He replied, "I'll tread carefully" Opening the class room door.
Red Fountain Class For Defensive Offensive
"Collect your thing boys," Cordatora said as he entered the room, "you'll be evaluated to see if you're competent enough to participation in the course." Then turned and left the room with several students rushing to follow.
"Why? It was an open to all student," Timmy asked as he followed with the rest on his heels.
"Due to the number of students we have to evaluate to see which will be able to continue the course while others will be reassigned to other course."He led them to the senior gym for advance hand-to-hand combat, "Go on boys," he says as pushed the door open to display a pitch-dark room.
"me first," as one of seniors shoved passed everyone to be the first to enter the dark gym. The rest soon followed, "So, what are you gonna teach us today Cordatora, how not to be afraid of the dark." He sneered.
"I'm not teaching you, boys." Cordatora answered thinking he's not gonna make five minutes in there, just as shuriken imbedded itself in the wall in front of the seniors face. Turing him, as white as flour, "Good luck, boys." He turned to leave shutting the behind him, leaving the boys in semi-darkness.
Tranquil as a forest But on fire within
Once you find your center you are sure to win
Suddenly, the overhead lights come on, revealing a sol figure clad in nothing but a black gi and a black ski mask holding Bō at their side. Without much thinking the seniors attacked but were knocked to the floor with one sweep of his Bō.
"The object of this evaluation is to win," The masked person stated in electronic voice disguiser, "let's see if you." He taunted, as three freshmen three way assault tactic only have him use the Bō to leap over them, cause all three to collide into each other. "You thought this was gonna be easy," he asserted as Riven jumped in front of him.
We must be swift asthe coursing river
"Naaw, than it wouldn't be as sweet," Riven jeered as the two engaged in close-quarter combat with the newcomer deflecting each of Riven's blows.
With all the forceof a great typhoon
"You're right it is sweet," He said with a flick and a turn Riven was sent careening into the wall. It was then that Helia thought, we're in trouble!
With all the strength of a raging fire
At that moment a gleam caught the corner of his eye leaning against the wall was several more Bōs, I got it fight fire with fire. Helia tried to signal the others but they too hadn't noticed the Bōs and had engaged their masked newcomer head on and were defeated along with the rest of the class.
The very minute, Helia grabbed a Bō the rest had vanished leaving only single the Bō that Helia now held. He looked back to the battle, to see Brandon was about to be strut over the head.
Without much ado Helia race forward and using the Bō as a second arm blocked the attack, "Not so fast," He pronounced looking the newcomer straight into his very familiar green eyes.
"No, just not fast enough," he chuckled in his electronic voice, "but from what hear you're a lover not a fighter." He jumped back with well formed no-hand-back flip.
Heed my every order and you might survive
"I fight when I'm needed!" Helia said twirling the Bō around himself, stopping in offensive position, "What do you think?"
"I think you pass," suddenly Helia was surrounded by laser bars along with six other which included Brandon, Riven, Sky, Timmy, a sophomore and a senior each of whom had lasted more than a minute against the newcomer.
So pack up, go homeyou're through
The gym door opened once and Cordatora accompanied by headmaster Saladin enter the gym and surveyed the many students on the ground and the seven in cages. "So, what's the verdict," Saladin asked tapping his staff to the floor which released the seven from their confinements.
"These seven have passed," the newcomer said, "Stood they lasted the longest, though" he pointed to Helia, "He was the only one to observe his surrounding and gain a weapon from said surroundings before engaging to which gave him the advantage with the Bō. Something the rest neglected to see."
"Excuse me, sir," Timmy interrupted, "But we didn't win, how can we pass but not be able to beat you, sir?" he directed his question was directed toward the newcomer.
"You passed due to the fact that you, seven were the only ones left standing after an hour." He replied, "Which means you win."
"OH!" came from the seven.
"So, what do you say will you keep teaching them?" Saladin asked the newcomer.
"I guess so," he said removing the collar that wrapped around his neck, "They're good," he said in a higher voice, where have I heard that voice before, Helia thought. The newcomer started to pull the mask off and long honey colored locks fell free, the masked was pulled free to reveal….
FLORA! Helia shrieked in his head.
"FLORA!" Yelled four of seven, Helia was too shocked to response.
"I'll see you guys on Friday," She said as she went to collect her thing from the corner of the gym, "We'll be assigning a specialty weapon to each of you," She looked back at Helia, who still held the Bō, "For those who haven't already found their weapon of choice." She turned and left the gym without another word
Mysterious as thedark side of the moon
Wow, Helia thought, she's tough, smart and beautiful. I'm in soo much trouble. He shook his head and looked about the room where many of the boys were being helped to their feet some even limping a little; I'd hate to be on her bad side.
Good luck, Helia!
Flora's first class went well she weeded out the weakling from the strategist.
Next up Mayhem's gonna pay red Fountain a visit with the three witch in tow.
Stay tuned, and hope you had happy 4th of July!