Chapter LXVII: The trials of the Coliseum part III

Outside on the dusty grounds of the coliseum swirls of darkness emerged from the ground, as the shadowed tendrils wavered slowly back and forth like inky seaweed as a pair of figures emerged as they gazed upon the entrance of the grand arena.

Nervously one of them spoke fumbling her hands, "oh is this the place?… It's a lot bigger than I was imaging…"

The other though unbothered by the comment simply spoke with a grin on his face, "who cares about the size of the place… this is our chance to have a little fun for once…"

Hesitant though the other was quiet for a few moments but then suddenly the grinning one walked on forwards, seeing this and not wanting to be left behind in such on odd and big place quickly she went to catch up.

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Back on the arena floor though Phil was far from ecstatic as he suddenly ran up to the edge of it as he then bellowed out, "hey you twinkle toes! What do ya think yer doin!?"

Hearing him still in her fighter stance Nozomi turned and looked at him determined, "What does it look like! I'm gonna prove myself right here and now! I'm gonna enter this tournament once and for all!"

Listening to this determined response though he wasn't in the mood for these shenanigans as he then shouted back, "you ain't provin nothing right now other than yourself bein a total olive brain! You've messed up the entire fightin' schedule! This is supposed to be Vincent's fight you can't be just-"

Interrupting Nozomi barked, "I don't care! I'm gonna do this!" With that leaving a speechless Phil in his place she turned her head back to face in front of her as her eyes narrowed battle hungry as she replied, "and that's the end of the conversation!"

Phil speechless from this shout blinked awkwardly but then quickly getting his act together he then started to respond once more, "all right that's it! I'm gonna stop this right here and-"

However he stopped as suddenly a shadow loomed over him, feeling that mysterious and dark feeling Phil turned his head as he turned and looked up to see Vincent looking down at him, his red cloak hiding away his nose and mouth.

Looking up at him Phil was quiet once more startled at his appearance but then quickly he recovered as he spoke, "oh Vincent! It's you, look sorry bout yer match bein' interrupted, that little miss twinkle toes waltzed in before I could stop her…" he was quiet then for a moment as he stared up at his cold red eyes, the sate made the satyr feel uneasy for even now he was still unused to Vincent's unusual aura but then turning again he spoke, "but no need to worry I'll stop this before it starts and-"

However then the red-cloaked man finally spoke, "let it continue…"

Dumbstruck thinking he'd misheard Phil looked up again as he asked, "excuse me?"

Responding in his cold distant tone Vincent replied, "if this girl wishes to prove herself… then let her… missing one match means nothing to me," with that he closed his eyes as he then lifted his head up and opened them once again to see what this girl would do.

Still stopped in his tracks Phil couldn't believe what he was hearing! An ace champion was willing to let the crowd have to endure the idiotics of a twinkle toes!

However then on the stage the barred iron doors lifted as the opponent was now coming to the stage, it was now too late for Phil to stop the match from proceeding. Seeing this occur Phil put a hand then to his head exasperated as he complained quietly, "of all the stuff to happen…"

But then once again interrupting his thoughts came the sound of hurried foot steps as then an anxious voice called out," Phil!"

Turning then Phil looked to see king Mickey had called out to him as he and Riku (with Cait sith upon his right shoulder ) had all struggled to get through the audience who had been obstacles.

Finally making it to the trainer of heroes it was then that Cait sith spoke up before Riku or the king could get a word out, "so who's the guy the lass is gonna be facin chub legs?"

At that question Phil began to answer, "don't be callin me chub legs! And the guy she's facin is-"

But then suddenly a hard heavy loud noise was heard upon the dusty floor of the arena making everyone look up to see the opponent who would now face Nozomi as the invisible barrier then appeared that would stop both combatants from leaving until the match was done.

Looking they saw a huge creature with the legs of a horse, dark blue in colour while his human torso was a lighter shade. His body was huge and muscular as his fists were gripped ready, his face was decorated with a thin black beard, while his hair was too long and black leaving his main dome bald.

His narrowed yellow eyes darted around the stage curious to see this esteemed fighter he was supposed to battle as his sharp teeth showed through his bitter expression.

Mickey, Riku and Cait sith looking at the enormous being as he towered over Nozomi as they all felt a strong sense of dread as Phil then finally spoke his name seeing Hercules's first damsel in distress test subject, "the centaur… Nessus."

Nozomi looking up at the huge behemoth that'd appeared was surprised to see another odd being with animal limbs… but then she shrugged it off for after all this was no time to be surprised.

Meanwhile Nessus who'd now made it looked around for this so called famous hero who he was supposed to be facing and couldn't see where he was at all, annoyed he then spoke annoyed, "all right then… where's this so called famous guy I'm supposed to go against?"

Suddenly then he heard a voice call out, "hey!"

Startled then he turned and looked all over and saw nothing, confused he asked, "now what was that there? Could a sworn I heard something?..."

Then once again the voice came again, "look down here!"

With that hearing the voice Nessus turned and looked down to see a young small girl with messy black hair holding a weird weapon of some kind… seeing this he was confused as he asked, "what's this?"

Seeing this reaction Nozomi replied, "your opponent! Nozomi!"

Hearing this Nessus went blank for a moment as he echoed, "my opponent?"… then looking at the girl, her odd dress sense, the way she looked at him and her puny size, Nessus then suddenly laughed out loud and hard as he said, "what you! Now that's a good one small fry!"

At this Nozomi was getting irritated as she felt her anger heat up as she bit her lower lip looking at Nessus as he then wiped a few drops of joyful tears as he then said, "aw, now seriously where's this so called Vincent I've heard about?" With that he started to look around paying no attention to her at all.

Seeing this happen Nozomi got further annoyed and then clenched the keyblade tighter as she then let her mouth fly, "I'm no small fry! Horse face!"

Hearing this outcry seeing Nozomi's angry face Nessus was only further entertained as he replied, "oh so you're mad are ya? Well that's cute and all but I ain't got the time to be playin' with little girls."

Listening to this she was not gonna let this one go… so then turning her frown into a determined smile she then said, "oh? So I guess you're frightened to face just one little girl? Huh manure brains?"

At this insult it was then Nessus twitched as then asked, "What did you just call me?"

Seeing that at last he was paying attention to her Nozomi then decided to take action as she then rushed forwards as she tried to strike Nessus with a hard slicing left kick however he dodged back slightly seeing her agility… looking at him as he stared at her recovering from this near surprise attack she replied, "if you want me to repeat… you're gonna have to get started!" With that she once again clenched the keyblade as she rushed in to fight.

Nessus seeing her coming then spoke seeing the pest coming as he was getting quietly irritated, "all right then… I guess I'm gonna have to put some discipline on ya."

With that both opponents rushed into battle.

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Meanwhile watching the beginning battle of Nessus and Nozomi from the heights of the coliseum entrance Pete and Hari were now sitting together on the roof.

Seeing the girl fight again Pete spoke aloud, "well looks like that little twerp's got in ta fix again huh?" Turning he then looked to his left where Hari sat calmly and quietly as the two combatants continued their match.

Quietly then in her usual cold tone Hari replied, "so it appears…"

Seeing her and her usual seriousness Pete then inquired, "so uh? What made ya wanna come out here ta watch? I mean don't ya think we should be helping Hades doin-"

At this Hari once again interrupted, "there is nothing we can do right now that would assist the lord of the dead… gathering the souls of all the ghosts upon the surface here… is not a power you or I possess…"

Hearing the usual logic come out from her mouth Pete then replied quietly, "oh…"

Then furthering her explanation Hari continued, "we are also unable to work on the ground without being noticed… and we cannot alert them to our presence for in doing so would alert them to Hades' return, this is also a good opportunity to view if the seventh has gotten any stronger."

Quiet again Pete then replied slowly, "oh… I gotcha…"

With that once again a mood of silence swept over the two of them leaving a rather uncomfortable atmosphere around. Pete however not liking this then decided to try and get his accomplice at least to speak a little more as he said, "well while we're at it, why don't we chow while we watch!"

Hearing him Hari turned quietly unaltered as she watched Pete try to shuffle something from his pockets… searching all over for a few moments he struggled trying to find the darn things. But then suddenly in his right vest pocket he found what he was looking for as he took them out grinning, "ta dah!" He beamed happily.

Looking at what was held in his left hand Hari saw a couple of odd white paper wrapped things on sticks, watching she then saw Pete hold out his left hand to her.

Staring at him as he did this holding the strange objects Hari asked him, "What are those that you are-"

However then it was his turn to interrupt as he answered, "now don't tell me that ya don't know what these are?"
Hari was quiet as she heard this question and she made no reply, Pete seeing her do this then knew the answer without words as he then said laughing slightly, "oh well poor sucker ya are then!" Staring at him as he laughed Hari made no reply but then recovering from his joke Pete replied, "these are ice creams, sweet cool stuff that ya eat."

Hearing this explanation Hari was further silent as she replied, "I see…" with that she reached her left hand over and took the edible thing from him as she stared at it.

Seeing that she'd taken it Pete then took his own and quickly took the paper off the thing revealing it's yellow colour as he then started to chomp down on the delicacy tasting it's lemony flavour.

Eating delightfully he then turned to Hari who he saw had taken the paper off but instead of eating was only staring at the red coloured sweet thing.

Watching her do this Pete then wondered what was wrong for a few moments as he ceased eating his own, but then the idea dawned on him as he watched her silent state, "oh let me guess!"

At this Hari turned from the ice cream to him as she asked, "guess what?"

With that Pete then put on an over serious gloomy face as he then spoke jokingly in a robotic tone, "I ain't got attachments ta taste, there for this activity is useless to be doin."

Staring at him as he spoke in this manner with his wide grin Hari was quiet, but then seeing that he'd finished she then asked, "do I speak in such a robotic tone?"

Hearing her ask the question and seeing that she hadn't got the joke Pete replied, "well… yeah at some points ya do, didn't ya get it?"

At this question Hari asked, "Get what?"

Feeling uncomfortable at this seeing his little comedy had been wasted he replied annoyed, "oh well nothin then…" with that he began to eat once more, while Hari went back to simply staring at her ice cream.

Finishing his he then licked whatever remnants he could get off of the stick, but then looking to Hari he saw once again that she was staring at her ice cream, annoyed he spoke, "let me have a guess ya can't eat cause no one's told ya to right?"

Hearing his question Hari then replied, "yes…"

Not surprised by this he then instructed, "well come on then eat why don't cha! It's bad to waste good food!"

Hearing the order Hari replied, "understood." With that she put the melting red ice cream to her mouth and began to lick and bite into the edible thing.

Pete was then quiet as he watched her eat away delicately and quietly as she made sure to get every drop that tried to leak away as she licked them as well as biting into the cream itself.

Watching her Pete wondered if she could even taste the thing, but more than that he gazed at her back and shoulders and the rest of her as he wondered if really she was what it was that she'd told him she was.

For looking at her he still could not believe it, Hari in the meantime still eating then caught Pete staring at her, turning her head she asked, "what is wrong? Is it strange in the manner I eat?"

Hearing her question and seeing that she'd seen him Pete was caught off guard slightly as he then began to answer, "well uh, no I… I was just thinking and wonderin if ya can taste the thing…"

Seeing him ask Hari could sense that there was something more he wanted to ask but then she decided to answer his first question, "the sense of taste… it is something that I have not forgotten… nor have I lost, it is one of the few remaining senses I have left."

Hearing her answer this Pete was surprised to know this, "really? Ya mean ya can taste that thing?"

At this Hari nodded slowly her expression unchanged, Pete though wanted to know more, "so uh, did ya enjoy it?"

Listening Hari then answered, "It was filling, sweet in taste, a good refreshment."

Having this answer Pete was glad to know at least that the ice cream was good in that sense but then he asked again, "but did ya like it?"

At this once more Hari answered, "… I have no emotional responses, so I cannot say if I have the feeling of enjoyment or not… that is a question I cannot answer."

Deflated as he heard this Pete looked depressed as he then turned and looked away and then said, "I see…"

Seeing him look away Hari then went back to finishing the ice cream seeing as though the conversation was over, quiet for a further few moments Pete then carried on again, "ya know though I still can't believe though about what ya said ya are…"

At this Hari looked at him quietly once more as she had now finished eating, Pete then continued, "Cause whenever I look at ya, all that I can see is a quiet serious girl, ya don't seem like nothin like ya said ya were."

Hearing his thoughts Hari looked from him and then to the stick in her hand, then quietly she put it down to one side as she then gathered her legs and held them as she spoke, "if there was no master for me to serve…"

Pete then sensed she was gonna let him in on something and so turned and looked at her serious thoughtful mood as she continued to speak on, "my energy would deplete… it t'would become less and less… then after that I would go into shut down." With that she stopped as she closed her eyes in thought.

Curious Pete blinked as he repeated, "shut down?"

At this Hari replied her eyes still closed in explanation "it is something like a deep sleep… however if there is no master there to awaken me… then I could end up sleeping forever and never awaken, that's how deep of a sleep it is."

Hearing this Pete couldn't help but then be in wonder, for if he and Maleficent hadn't come when they had she'd still be locked away in the tomb they'd found her in like sleeping beauty… but then he spoke himself, "well that must be real nice huh?"

At this Hari questioned, "what do you mean?"

Hearing her ask Pete then told her, "well I mean ya get to just sleep and not be bothered, never age'in and just havin long sweet dreams… I love it when I get long naps!" He smiled as remembered various lazy days he'd had in the past.

Looking at him as he smiled Hari however turned back to her knees as she looked out to the battlefield once again as she replied, "I am afraid that that is something you are incorrect about."

Listening to this reply Pete blinked as he asked, "huh? What am I wrong about this time?"

Continuing to look out onward Hari answered him, "when I am in shut down, the aging process does not stop nor lessen… I would continue to grow old in the sleep regardless."

At this thought Pete was immediately taken off guard as then the question came quick from his mind, "wait so… how long were ya asleep for before we found ya?"

Hearing this question Hari looked at him and then back at herself as she turned her right arm slightly to and throw and then looking at the rest of her as she then gave her estimate, "if I am to calculate roughly I would have to estimate around seven to ten years."

At this Pete then asked further, "and how old were ay when ya were put into that there shut down for the first time?"

Hari then looked outwards again as she then gave her answer, "I was ten years of age."

Hearing this Pete's eyes widened, "ten years! Ya were a kid! How could ya have been-"

However as he looked at Hari he then once again could feel that lonely and sad atmosphere around her as she continued to watch the unfolding battle on the arena as her brown hair blew in the wind.

As Pete looked at her it was clear she would not answer anything more on the subject but then he wondered why this atmosphere was around her… and what kind of childhood had she had?...