Huge shoutout to Autor-san 9001 for beta reading this chapter. You are a gentleman and a scholar!

Chapter 26 - Threads of Fate

The days after my visit with Nova's parents passed like grains of sand in an hourglass, bringing my meeting with the council ever closer. Though this was my focus, things had changed for me after talking with Cynder. A fledgling mindset and reinvigorated psyche allowed me to focus heavily on what was in front of me instead of getting bogged down in my head. New habits and a revised schedule formed, and I was lost in a mixture of sweat, blood, and most surprisingly for me, companionship. I spent hours each day training alone or with friends, attending matches, socializing, and attending a stream of functions that Strongfang had started to drag me into. I groaned inwardly at the last item, recalling how the stream of new faces never seemed to end.

Leave it to Strongfang to squeeze every second possible out of me. I swear, if I have to sit, smile, and greet another stranger, I think I might scream. Political consequences be damned.

Strongfang had shrewdly used my growing 'popularity' to further his own means. As the unofficial poster child of his guild, I was used to great effect as a beacon of interest for recruitment and as a symbol against those that had a distaste toward apes. It was ironic, considering I wasn't one of them, but that detail was lost on many because of our similarities. I was held in high regard by most apes and Strongfang latched onto that eagerly.

Though the politics were a drag, I hoped all of this recognition would work in my favor. My meeting was only two days away, and I felt the weight of the moment pressing down on me. If things went well, my accomplishments in the arena would give me a leg up. I hadn't dropped a single match, but I could tell that I had made enemies, and any slipup could spell disaster. Unfortunately, this wasn't an easy feat. I was infamous with many, and trouble seemed to follow me in and out of the arena. Those that didn't like me harassed me in the city, and trickery was attempted in every one of my matches, making each fight an uphill battle. Amera had been furious about this, but the more she fought against those who were manipulating things, the worse things got for me. As difficult as it was for both of us, the best play had been to keep cool and face challenges calmly, no matter how ridiculous.

At this point, it should be easy. I only have one more match, and it won't be against someone that might accidentally kill me.

I sighed to myself. My previous match had me fighting only using one arm, and I had barely managed to scrape a win over the Poison dragon I had been fighting. I shuddered, recalling the sensation of his corrosive fog burning away my skin, and brushed a hand along my arm. I hadn't lost a match, but that didn't mean that there weren't moments where I had been in serious danger.

I thought fire was bad, but that? Whoever decided to bless dragons with literal death breath is a sadistic monster. I should consider myself lucky that Nova didn't inherit that particular element from her mom, because if she did, I'd have no shot at beating her today.

I grinned. Nova and I had spent a lot of time together practicing. Though I couldn't claim victory over her, I was doing additional training on my own as a way to catch up to her. Amber had given me a few tips, and I noticed that I was making noticeable improvements. The most important two being my physical speed and strength. I had secretly increased my weights, giving myself an edge that Nova wasn't quite aware of yet. Combine this with the secondary element that I had been developing, and I felt that I stood a real chance of pulling a surprise victory.

I can only imagine how irritated she'd be if I took her title. She'd probably demand a rematch with weights and keep a closer eye on me.

I wasn't technically high enough of a rank to take a swing for the title, but strings had been pulled, so my last match would be against Nova. We had joked about it, nudging each other and taking small jabs, but I knew we both took it seriously. There was a competitive streak between us, and I knew she would do everything she could to stay on top. Unfortunately, our friends only added fuel to this fire. Shimmer was rooting for Nova, while Jolt and Amber gave me their support. Phyl had opted out of taking sides, saying that it was "silly to pit friends against each other." Shimmer teased him for staying out of the fun, but he held his ground.

I rolled my eyes for Phyl, smiling at the thought. Shimmer had been around as often as she could and had worked to ensure that everyone got along. One of her methods of doing this was simple: She forced all of us to partake in a tradition when we were all present for a match. That is, we would go out for dinner together to talk and hang out. It was odd at first, especially because Amber was uninterested in spending time with dragons, but after a few nights, the tension ebbed away, and she began to engage. Sort of. She ignored Nova when possible, but it was progress, and I had started to see change in her.

With a sigh, I trudged along and tried to keep to myself in the early morning light. I enjoyed the quiet of the morning and was happy to be in my thoughts. Try as I might, however, I couldn't escape the jeers or praises that were thrown my way when I was spotted. Mixed in with that were those that were all too eager to shout my new nickname. A cry of "Dragon Slayer!" rang out and my skin crawled under my cloak. I pulled it tighter and quickened my pace, regretting the decision to sleep in today.

Whoever came up with that name deserves a quick kick to the gonads.

Despite the unwanted attention, I still managed to slip into the arena before anyone could talk to me. Once inside, I sped through the lobby until a familiar voice stopped me.

"Kiran!"

Amber waved and bounded up to me with a wide grin.

"Hey, perfect timing. I want to show you something."

"Right now? I was going to go talk with Amera."

"It'll only take a minute."

I sighed.

"Alright, sure. What's up?"

Amber grinned and grabbed my wrist.

"You'll see. C'mon!"

I was dragged through the building, straight to the gym. The lights were already on, and a space had been cleared by one of the walls. Before I could ask what was going on, Amber grinned.

"Watch this."

She left me standing and walked over to the wall. Then, with deliberate steps, she climbed up the wall until she was five feet above the ground. She twisted her head to look at me with a beaming smile.

"I did it! I finally figured it out!"

I shook my head in amazement.

"No kidding. That's crazy impressive."

Amber threw her hands to her hips and held a pose. A moment later, one of her paws slipped and she fell.

"Crap!"

Amber landed square on her face, and I was quick to run over to check on her. She sat up, rubbing a cheek that was now pink, and scowled as I offered her my hand. She sighed, accepted it, and stood up, all the while glaring at me for the grin that was plastered on my face.

"There's still some work to do, but yeah, you're improving fast. Much faster than I would have thought."

Her face flushed red, and she punched my arm. I winced and rubbed it gently.

"Don't underestimate me. Haven't I proven that I pick things up quickly?"

"Between this and learning my fighting form? Yeah, you have. Good job."

She smiled cheekily.

"So, with all of my improvements, have you thought about what to teach me next?"

I blinked and rubbed the back of my neck.

"Ah, well… I've been busy. I haven't really thought that through yet."

I laughed nervously as she huffed angrily at me.

"I'll think of something. Maybe we can take a look at learning a simple jutsu. I think there's a chance you could actually learn to use one."

"Yes! Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Amber pumped a paw, threw an arm around my neck, and pulled me in for a breath-stopping side hug. I choked while she celebrated, and tapped her arm before I passed out. She cursed, let me go, and watched as I recovered my breath.

"Heh, sorry about that."

I waved her off and stood back up.

"It's fine. Now, is there anything else you wanted to show me?"

She shook her head.

"No, but I did want to ask you about your secret training. You've been at it ever since you realized you could be fighting Nova. How's that been going?"

I held back a smile and crossed my arms.

"Let's just say that I've got a few new tricks up my sleeve and that my weight training has sucked. Unfortunately, all of this extra work may not be enough to help me win, but I'm hoping it'll at least make Nova fight for it."

"So you're not going to tell me anything?"

"Nope."

"Fine. Be that way. To think that I was going to wish you luck in your match tonight…"

I bumped a fist into her shoulder.

"Luck won't help me."

Amber waved away my hand.

"Kiran, if there's anyone that stands a chance of beating Nova, it's you. Kick her ass for me."

I held back a sigh.

"I'll try to win, not kick her ass. I'm expecting a friendly match for once, and if I win? Great! If not, that's fine too, as long as I've done my best and continue to improve."

"Ugh, you take all the fun out of it. Where's your fire?"

I rolled my eyes.

"It's somewhere more important. You should consider placing your ire on someone else too. Nova doesn't deserve it."

Amber crossed her arms.

"Yeah, yeah, you've said so a thousand times already. Stop trying to change my mind."

"Only if you stop asking me to mentor you."

Amber stuck her tongue out at me, and I did the same to her. She laughed for a moment and then let her tail flick behind her as she cleared her throat.

"Seriously, though… Good luck. I may not like her, but I like you, so don't get stomped today."

I nodded and gave her a half-hearted salute.

"Yep. I'll try not to eat dirt for once."

She smiled, crossed her arms behind her back, then leaned back and forth on the tips of her toes.

"Well, I've held you long enough. You should go talk to your boss."

"Yeah, you're right. I'll see you later. Meet us all at the same place after the match for dinner?"

"You know it."

I gave her a thumbs up, and she mirrored me. Then, I made the short walk to Amera's office and ambled through the door. Amera sat at her desk, sipping a warm drink, and glanced at me with baggy eyes.

"You're here early."

"Yep. Couldn't sleep much last night, so I figured I'd come here."

"Not going to spend the morning mingling with your fans?"

I sent her a withering glare, to which she rolled her eyes.

"Oh stop. You know I'm teasing. Besides, I know why you're actually here. You're looking forward to taking on the undisputed champ, aren't you?"

I facepalmed with as much exaggeration as I could muster. Amera continued on as if she didn't notice.

"I know I'm ready. In less than a day, I could be the manager of the new champion. Ancestors know I'll be swimming in cash if you win."

I snorted.

"I highly doubt I'll win. I still haven't beaten her in our sparring matches."

Amera set down her cup and grinned widely.

"True, but there's something you should know."

"What?"

"I'll tell you, but realize that I'm the greatest negotiator that has ever existed."

"Ok, fine, what is it?"

Amera continued to grin and motioned behind me as the door to her office opened. Strongfang stepped inside and waved. I did a double take and raised a brow.

"What are you doing here?"

He smiled.

"Did ya tell him, Amera?"

"No, you can have the honor."

Feeling ignored, I waved a hand with exasperation.

"Hello? Can you hear me? What's got you both so excited?"

Strongfang grabbed a chair and sat next to me.

"A few things, t' be honest. To start, there's been more engagement with the guild thanks t' yer success here. Many folks are interested or aware of us because of your popularity."

"I'm glad something good is coming of it."

Strongfang chuckled.

"Yes, and don't think yer efforts are goin' unnoticed. I came by today t' give you somethin' as thanks."

That got my attention, and I sat up in my chair.

"Really?"

"Yes, but let me touch on somethin' else first. Today is a special match, and not just because it's for the title. I don't think there's ever been such a highly anticipated fight between two junior fighters. Because of this, we managed t' convince the board t' change the rules for the fight."

"Change the rules…? Wait, we're not stooping to the level of everyone else, are we? I'm not going to set Nova up for failure or stack the deck against her."

Strongfang shook his head.

"It's nothin' like that. I wanted this to be a true representation of skill, so they're allowin' ya t' bring yer own weapon into the fight."

My eyes widened, and mixed feelings churned inside with that announcement. On one hand, having a weapon would completely change the landscape of our fight, potentially in my favor. On the other hand, I wasn't sure if I could use a weapon without having some sort of episode. My meltdown in Farleigh came to mind, and I hid a grimace while clenching my fist.

"That's… great and all, but I don't have a weapon anymore. It was taken from me when I first arrived in the city."

Strongfang grinned from ear to ear and reached behind his back. He pulled forward an object that was wrapped in cloth and held together with string, then presented it to me.

"Allow me t' fix that fer ya. Go ahead. Take it."

I eyed him warily and then picked it from his hands. I unwrapped the string and found my sword, refurbished and cleaned, resting inside. My heart stopped for a moment, and my eyes widened. Then, as I set my hand on the hilt a chill ran through me.

I didn't think I'd see this again…

"…How did you get this back?"

"It wasn't difficult. I talked t' a few people t' find out where it was and bought it back. Then I had a friend of mine fix it up for ya."

I grasped the sword and I flipped it in my hand. It felt comforting due to the familiarity, but also put me on edge from the history. Perturbed, I slid the sword into its sheath and set it aside.

Of course, now of all times is when the doubts rear their ugly heads. Ugh.

"…Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Amera downed the rest of her drink and then slammed the empty cup on her desk. A satisfied sigh followed and she smiled.

"Ok! You're now aware of the changes and have your sword back. There's not much else for us to say, other than to do your best. Seriously, put in your best effort today. A few important people will be spectating the match, and you would do well to impress."

"Really? Who?"

"Oh, just Hunter, Terrador and Verna. All three of them are on the council. From what I've gathered, they're interested in seeing how you two fare against each other."

Crap. That means I have to do well today. Why couldn't they have spectated any of my other matches?

Amera booped my head.

"Hey! Don't look so glum! I'm sure you'll be fine."

"That's easy for you to say. You're not the one fighting."

"So? I know you can put on a show, even if you might not win. Remember, there are times that winning isn't the only thing to worry about in a match. Even a loss can be considered a victory if certain goals are accomplished."

I sighed before I felt Strongfang's hand clap me on the back.

"Don't worry. Have a bit of confidence, eh?"

"I'll try."

"That's the spirit. Now, I know ya aren't the type t' sit and do nothin', so why don't you do what you need to prepare?"

I nodded and picked up my sword. After strapping it to my hip, I waved and headed to the door. Since I had some time, I knew exactly how I was going to spend it.

Nova bathed in the rays of the sun while I sat with my legs dangling over the cliff face. The cool of winter had begun to fade, bringing warmer days and pleasant skies. In the distance, the ocean remained calm and serene, as if reflecting my own mood.

It doesn't stay that way for long, though, does it?

"I'm looking forward to this being over with."

Nova lazily opened one eye.

"What, our match?"

"No. Being stuck in a place that I don't belong."

"Ah. You're talking about your meeting tomorrow."

I nodded, and Nova sighed.

"Even if it goes perfectly, and you figure out how to go home, would it be such a bad thing to stay here?"

"…No. I can't stay, though."

Another sigh.

"I know. That doesn't mean that we won't miss you."

I felt an uncomfortable twist in my gut.

"Strongfang and Amera said I could use my sword in our match today. I don't think I will."

"Wait, you have a sword? And you're not going to use it? Why not?"

"I do. And I'm not, because… it wouldn't feel right."

Nova was sitting up now, staring at me with a leveled expression.

"Mind explaining what you mean?"

I looked away, choosing to face toward the ocean. A light wind drifted in from the sea, bringing with it the smell of salt. I watched the birds glide lazily in the air, free from the worries and responsibilities that plagued the world below. I gripped the cliff edge with my hands and frowned.

"If I win today… I'll tell you everything."

Nova's head cocked to the side.

"...What? Everything?"

"Yeah. I'll explain why I'm not using my sword and tell you what's been bothering me."

I heard a confused snort.

"Hold on, what's with the sudden change of heart? Are you trying to make it so I won't try against you? We might be friends, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you take my title."

I smiled softly.

"No, that's not it. I don't expect to win. If I do, though, I'll take it as a sign to do something that I'd never normally do."

"Why?"

I shrugged.

"I don't know. I shouldn't even consider it, but being here has changed me, whether I like it or not. Perhaps I've grown, or maybe all the advice I've been given is starting to sink in. Whatever the case may be, I've decided that it might be time to try something new."

There was a long beat of silence between us. Nova moved to sit next to me and held her head high.

"I'm glad you're finally having a change of heart, but don't think for a second that this will make me go easy on you."

"I won't. In fact, I'd be disappointed if you did."

We shared a smile. Without much else to say, we both fixed our gazes outward and enjoyed the calm that preceded what was to come.

I could hear the crowds roaring in anticipation from the room I was preparing in. I snuck a look through the door leading outside and whistled quietly to myself at the sight. A sea of people sat in the stands, waiting, and I felt the pressure begin to mount.

"Getting cold feet?"

I shook my head and stepped back from the door.

"No. There are a lot of people out there, though."

Amera chuckled.

"A lot is an understatement. Try several thousand. I told you today was going to be a riot!"

I gave her a quick nod and checked everything over. I had decided to opt for a few pieces of armor: Shin guards, bracers, a shirt with chain sewn into the chest and my headband. It felt odd to wear the headband on my forehead instead of my arm, but I figured that the circumstances called for the change. A final addition was my sword, which rested on my lower back, just above my waist. I wasn't planning on using it, but Strongfang insisted that I bring it with me. The final change for today was the lack of weights; I had taken them off yesterday to allow my body time to adjust to not having them. It felt good to take them off, and I felt as light as ever.

I don't know why I never did this back home. I know what I'll be doing from now on.

"I'm ready."

"I'd say. You're looking sharper than usual."

"Dress to impress, right?"

Amera grinned.

"I know this is a bit different than usual, but don't die out there, alright?"

I laughed at that.

"I won't. If I bite the dust here, I'd have a few friends that wouldn't be happy with me. I can't let that happen, can I?"

"No, I suppose not."

Amera stepped over to the door and opened it for me.

"Get out there and kick some ass!"

I gave her a quick salute and marched out the door. As was standard, I made my way to the center of the arena amid the cacophony of the crowd, though it took me longer than usual. This was the signature arena, and as such, it was more spacious and held more obstacles than the others. There were pillars scattered around, a large pond near the center, decrepit buildings everywhere, staggered hills and random walls of stone that I knew would be perfect for me.

Well, that's a welcome change. I'll have to keep an eye on the shadows, though.

Unlike before, I had no idea where my friends were in the crowd. They were lost in the mix, but I didn't mind. I was focused on my opponent, who was walking toward the center with sunlight glinting off a set of matching silver armor. Nova had a helmet that covered her face and the top of her head, a set of bracers on her forelegs and a plate that sat just above her tail, protecting her waist and lower back. I crossed my arms and watched as she drew near, admiring the designs that were woven into each piece that she wore. Once she was close enough, I whistled.

"That must have cost a fortune."

She grinned.

"You would think, but this is actually an old set that my mom used to wear. She doesn't have a use for it anymore, so I've been borrowing it now that I'm old enough for it to fit properly."

I nodded, pretending to be impressed.

"I'll try not to mess it up too much then. I wouldn't want your mom to get angry with me."

Nova was going to say more, but the referee stepped up to us. Nova winked at me, and I rolled my eyes as his voice boomed out to the crowds.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out for the championship match today!"

There was a roar of excitement from the crowd.

"As you know, we have two fierce competitors facing off for the right to be declared the best! Both are undefeated, though one has only been here with us for a short time. Please put your paws together for the Dragon Slayer!"

I remained still as a mixture of cheers and boos erupted from the spectators. A large section of the crowd, composed of apes, shook the arena as they stomped their feet in unison. Once everyone calmed down, the ref continued.

"His opponent, the reigning champ and mighty foe to any who have entered the arena, is none other than the Terror in the Shadows! Let's give her some love!"

Once again there was a mixed result from the crowd, but the negative far outweighed the positive. Nova held her head high and smiled, waving to the few that were cheering her on, but I could see the irritation hidden under the mask she wore. I had forgotten how much she hated her nickname.

"Fighters! Please step forward!"

Nova and I closed the gap. She held out her paw, and I grabbed it with my hand. We shook hand and paw, nodded to each other, then smiled. I heard many boos, jeers, and grumbles at that but paid them no mind.

"You know, I just realized that if I win, Shimmer will be bummed out. She decided to bet real money on you."

Nova laughed and shook her head.

"And if I win, Amber will be pissed. I think it's a lose-lose situation."

"As long as we're disappointing someone."

"Seconded. Good luck, Kiran."

"You too."

We smiled and released the handshake. The referee nodded to each of us, then lowered his head to our level.

"You're both aware of the rule change, correct?"

We both nodded.

"Alright. Then if there's no questions or disagreements, we can begin."

The ref stood back and Nova and I did the same. Once we were twenty paces apart, the ref raised his foreleg and hushed the crowds. A lull took over the arena and I could feel my heart begin to beat faster in anticipation.

"Fighters! Ready!"

He raised one paw into the air.

"Begin!"

He threw his paw down to the ground and backed up several feet, but neither Nova nor I moved. Instead, we watched each other carefully and waited for the other to make the first move. Nova smiled while her tail flicked behind her.

"You're not going to win by standing still."

"Neither are you. Care to make the first move?"

Nova shrugged and began walking in a slow semicircle. I matched her gait and noticed she was moving outwards and away from me. I frowned and took in the surroundings.

I don't see how this will help her. What's she up to?

As we continued our slow pace, some of the crowd began to boo. Curses were being thrown out, and I had to fight against the urge to roll my eyes.

"I'm glad to know that we have so many fans."

Nova nodded while keeping her eyes on me.

"Why wouldn't we? We're very appealing people."

Nova had moved so far out that she was on a collision course with some rubble.

She's not clueless, so why would she—

Realization hit me. A deep shadow crested the length of the arena, giving her plenty of shadows to work with. I ran forward, but Nova launched a massive wall of shadowy flames toward me. My hands flashed through symbols and finished just in time.

Wind Style: Wind Wall!

I took a massive breath and blew out a wall of wind. It collided with the shadow-fire, and they mixed, churning together until they formed a vortex of heat. Hot wind whipped up dirt from the ground, and I covered my eyes with an arm as the elements slowly dissipated, leaving behind smoke and charred ground. I looked back to where Nova had been, but she was gone, and my previous sense of safety was gone.

And so it begins.

I hurried and positioned myself on the outskirts of the arena so no shadow or object was behind me. If Nova was going to attack, it would have to be from my front. I felt a bead of sweat drip down my forehead as the seconds passed by, but there was no sign of her anywhere.

C'mon, where are you?

I saw a flicker of movement behind a pile of bricks, then the shine of scales behind a pillar. I continued to watch, catching glimpses of her until a shadow-fireball came to life from the shadows on my left. I dove out of the way, feeling the heat as it crackled and exploded where I had been standing. I realized then that the flames created a shadow and a wall of shadow spilled forth, forcing me back toward the center. I backpedaled and jumped away, grimacing as I realized I was being pushed toward the center where shadows abounded.

She's herding me in, and there's nothing I can do about it.

I gave up on trying to hold my ground and instead jumped onto the nearest object to gain height. Immediately, arcs of electricity shot up from below, threatening to engulf me. I formed a blade of wind around my arm and cut through them, leaving me open in the air. Nova flew out of a shadow toward me and attempted to rake me with her claws. I did an air step, flipped, and vaulted over her just in time to dodge her claws, but her tail lashed out as she passed. I barely managed to block the strike with a bracer, which sent small sparks through the air. A gash was left in the metal, and the force of the blow pushed me off course, making me curse.

I landed on the second floor of a building with no roof or walls as Nova circled above. She was taking her time, seemingly unconcerned, and I looked at the mark she left behind.

I'm lucky that didn't strike true. If it did, it would've hurt.

I looked up at her, and she smiled back at me.

I'll have to get her to close in if I'm going to stand a chance, which means I'll have to give her an opportunity she can't refuse.

Nova seemed content to watch me, but I wasn't going to sit around and give her time to think.

I did a quick scan of the area and then dropped down from the building I was on. I ran to the spot that had the most shadows surrounding me and watched as Nova dove down and disappeared behind something else. I stood, ready and waiting while Nova skulked around in the shadows. She started to taunt me from various locations as she moved, and I had to resist the urge to turn my head to find her.

Don't lose your focus. Listen. Be ready.

"I don't know what you're up to, but I don't see how this could turn out well for you. Are you giving up?"

"Not even remotely."

"Really? Could've fooled me."

A bolt of lightning shot towards me. I turned and cut through it cleanly with a blade of wind.

"Eventually I'll hit you."

"I know."

Shadows erupted forth, and I redirected them with a gust of wind. I heard a laugh from behind me, but by the time I whirled around, Nova was gone.

"Seriously, what's your plan? To lose?"

"No, it's not."

Tendrils of Shadow reached out from various directions and attempted to grab me. I dodged and flipped out of the way, but as the writhing mass of shadows continued their assault, one managed to slip through and grab my leg. It pulled me out of the air and to the ground, making me grunt. The rough landing dazed me for a moment, and before I could move, several other tendrils latched onto me.

"Gotcha!"

Nova darted out from behind a pillar with a large grin and reached toward me with claws ready to swipe. I fought against my bonds and managed to pull my arms closer and make three hand signs just before she could reach me.

Light Release: Shining Palm!

I swiped my now-glowing hand through the tendrils, making them shrivel away. Nova reached me, looking bewildered, and I rolled onto my back then lifted my feet to kick her. She changed her trajectory with a flap of her wings, flew over me, and dived toward a pool of shadows with a snort. I slammed my palms together, rolled to my feet and gave chase.

If this works, you're not sneaking away anymore.

"Light Release: Heavenly Light!"

An intensely bright light filled the area in front of me with an unearthly glow. The shadow that Nova had dived for vanished, and she slammed face first into the ground. She reached a paw to her snout, growled, then turned to meet me as I threw a wild kick at her. She dodged, but the light made it hard for her to see, and I followed through with another strike. This struck home and I heard the air get knocked out of her as my foot dug into her side. Her jaws forced me back shortly after, and she searched for a shadow to escape into but found none. I found myself grinning uncontrollably and felt my heart beating faster while the crowd roared with excitement.

That's the first solid hit I've gotten on her in a while… Maybe I stand a chance after all.

Nova tended to her snout and glared at me.

"Hey! When did you learn how to do that? I thought you could only use one element!"

I grinned.

"I've never had the time to develop my secondary element until recently. Looks like my practice is paying off."

Nova's tail flicked behind her angrily.

"It's a neat trick, sure, but that's not going to be enough to beat me. You know that, right?"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. I think the odds have shifted a bit in my favor now."

"That's a lot of confidence, but you're wrong. We haven't even gotten serious yet."

I crouched low and began planning out my next move while Nova wiggled her snout and huffed at me.

I won't be able to hold this for long with how much chakra it drains, but she's close now. If I can keep her near, I can see if my genjutsu will work on her…

Nova dug her claws into the ground and let lightning crackle in her maw. I took a deep breath and shifted my stance into a more defensive position.

I'll have a small window to get this right. I just need to wait for the right moment.

Nova rushed forward, moving faster than before. I took a few steps back, positioning myself so that I had plenty of space to move, and ducked as a bolt of lightning arced overhead. Nova then shot a stream of electricity into the ground, sending the current through the earth. I jumped to avoid the shock, and Nova took to the air, intent on slamming into me. I shot a gust of wind that forced her to change her course and landed safely back on the ground.

Nova snorted and flew around me in a wide arc, then dove while spinning like a top with electricity crackling around her. I shot out a whirling vortex of air in response, and she flew straight into it. The gale stopped her midair a few feet away from me and the lightning surrounding her fizzled out, leaving her fighting the wind. Nova growled as it slowly pushed her away, and with her momentum canceled, she folded her wings. Without them catching the wind, she dropped to the ground, where she began an assault of claws, teeth and tail.

I could feel the prolonged expenditure of chakra taking its toll. I was breathing heavily and felt the strain on my system, making fighting in close quarters all the more difficult. To stave off the inevitable, I cut my stream of chakra, ending the light and allowing the shadows to return. Nova smiled as she approached and immediately swung her tail at me. Shadow-fire coated her tail blade, and I felt them singe my hair as I ducked underneath. Dirt kicked up as Nova finished her spin and began her onslaught of elementally enhanced attacks. I furiously dodged and blocked as she tried to use her speed to overwhelm me, but I was able to keep up with her pace and started to push back. Fists and feet met scales and claws as we fought for an advantageous position, and Nova growled as one of my punches passed dangerously close to her snout.

"I shouldn't have challenged you with those stupid weights! You're a lot faster than before!"

I was too focused to respond. I feigned a kick toward her, making her flinch back, then dropped my foot to the ground at the last second. Using the momentum, I grazed my foot against the ground to kick up a cloud of dust into her face, blinding her momentarily. Nova sputtered and stumbled back, already sinking into her shadow, but I had my chance. With lightning speed, I weaved through hand signs and threw my hand onto her face.

Light Release: Shimmering Lights!

I felt the chakra rush into her system and pulled back as she sank down into the earth and disappeared. I took several deep breaths while scanning for her but saw nothing.

Crap. It didn't work, did it?

I felt my heart sink, realizing that my chances of winning had practically dropped to zero. I waited, expecting her to begin a new barrage of attacks from afar, when she popped out of the shadow of a nearby pillar. She was shaking her head violently and her eyes were shut tightly in panic.

"Crap crap crap! What did he do!? I can't see!"

I stared in awe for a moment before the reality of the situation sunk in.

Wait, I did it! This is my chance!

I sprung into action. With her unaware of my position, I silently ran toward her, jumped, and slammed both of my feet into her chest with as much force as I could muster, knocking her off her paws and throwing her several feet through the air until she hit a wall of muddy bricks. She burst through it, destroying it completely, and it collapsed in on itself. Dust billowed everywhere, and for a moment, it was silent. Knowing she wasn't out of the fight yet, I cleared the dust with a small gust and found Nova was already up and scrambling to her paws. Her eyes were still shut, but I had the perfect position to land another heavy hit. Exhilaration filled my body as I realized what this meant.

I can do this… I can win!

Nova must have heard me this time because her head snapped in my direction. Without being able to see, however, there was no way she would be able to stop me. I ran forward, readying my next attack, when Nova reared her head upwards and screeched.

A sound unlike anything I had ever heard before roared through the arena. Red waves of energy distorted the air, and as soon as the deafening sound reached me, I was pushed back several feet and forced to my knees. I screamed and threw my hands over my ears as the sound sent tremors cascading through my body. Then, I felt both of my ears burst with a sharp pain, and every sound suddenly became muddled. Followed by all of this was a new sensation that gripped my body in deadly vice.

Fear. Raw, unfiltered fear tore through me, and a spear of agony struck me directly in my chest. I froze. All sense of reason left me. My breathing stopped. My head spun, and the crystal in my shoulder began to burn as if struck with shards of heated metal. While the terror only grew in intensity, my head instinctively snapped up toward my opponent, and my eyes flew open at what I saw.

No. No, it can't be… what's going on!?

Nova was walking toward me, a smug grin on her face. Her eyes were no longer closed, but the friendly glow that I had grown accustomed to was gone. In their place were demonic, yellow eyes with slitted pupils that taunted and mocked me in every way imaginable. Grief joined the fear in my heart as I recognized where exactly I had seen these eyes before, and a terrible reality settled in.

This wasn't a friendly fight anymore.

No… No, No, NO! Please don't make me do this again… I can't— This can't be real! PLEASE!

My cries for mercy meant nothing. For a moment, I saw Nova flicker, and the visage of Luna appeared behind her with the same menacing glare. I felt helpless, praying that this was some kind of trick as Nova began to move. A walk turned into a jog, then a run, the wicked grin never leaving her face as she closed in. Every step made the menace in her eyes grow in intensity, and when she was close enough, her maw opened wide, preparing to tear me apart.

Without a conscious thought, my hand gripped the hilt of my sword and pulled it from its sheath. I took a step back as it cut through the air and struck viciously. Hardened steel sliced through scales, and a deep gash appeared on Nova's snout. The blow forced her to take several steps back, and she lifted a paw to the cut as if in shock. Then, she focused her deadly glare back on me and snarled something unintelligible. Though I couldn't understand it, I could feel the bloodlust in her words, making my skin crawl. My heart thundered in my chest, and I lifted a hand to it in an attempt to stave off the growing pain wracking my insides.

Nova… why? How!?

My other hand had a death grip on the hilt of my blade, and I glanced down at it with horror. Though my heart was frozen with terror, my body and mind had already decided what I had to do and was pushing me to save myself.

I can't let myself die here… I can't become a victim of whatever twisted affliction holds a grip on her!

Nova roared, letting spittle and foam drip from her maw. My heart began to harden as I stared at the monster before me.

She's not there anymore. Just like with Luna. This isn't my friend anymore.

Shaking, I listened to the fear coursing through me and ignored all other emotions. Survival was the only thing that mattered. With a roar of my own, I charged, adrenaline coursing through my body. Sword spinning in hand, I released a flurry of quick and precise strikes that put Nova on the defensive. She struggled to keep up with the weapon, and soon enough, small cuts adorned various spots on her body. Angered by this, she began fighting back with more than just claws. Arcs of lightning and gouts of shadowy flame flew through the air, forcing me back and threatening to overwhelm me. With a groan of effort, I cut through a bolt of lightning and threw my sword into the air. Nova's eyes flicked up for a split second, and I moved in. I feigned a sweep for her legs that she barely managed to jump over and then slipped underneath her. A blast of wind pushed her further into the air, and I jumped after her, grabbing my sword as it finished its arc. I swung and struck her stomach, leaving a shallow but long gash across her midriff. She flapped her wings, moving out of reach, and gave up on facing me head-on.

She slipped into the nearest shadow and began bombarding me with waves of shadow-fireballs and lightning. I was at risk of being engulfed, but a heavy dose of chakra in my limbs gave me the edge I needed to avoid her attacks. Realizing I had to catch her soon or risk being struck, I ducked behind a wall, created a wind clone, and then reappeared before she could realize what I'd done. My clone remained hidden, biding its time while I baited Nova toward its spot. It took thirty horrible seconds of being unable to do anything other than fight defensively, but my clone found an opening and struck.

Nova appeared from a pillar, lighting forming in her maw, when my clone's foot found her gut. He pressed hard, hoping to knock her back, but she flapped her wings to stay herself and snapped her head forward. Her jaws clamped down onto his forearm, and a surge of electricity shot through him. In a burst of wind, he was gone, but the wind had knocked Nova out of her shadow and out into the open. I was on her at that moment, but she managed to twist her head and send a surge of current into the ground. I felt the energy shoot up my legs and arms, jostling me enough to make me lose my grip on my sword. I yelled, keeping my momentum and swung my off hand up into her neck, cutting off the current. She gagged and stumbled back, and I grabbed my sword. Nova coughed and crouched low, preparing to jump into the sky, but I pumped chakra into my legs and shot forwards blindingly fast.

Sword Art: Instant Strike!

I swung my sword before she could escape. Her eyes widened, and she tried to jump to the side, but my blade hit the base of her left wing and cleanly cut all the way through to the tip, rendering it useless. She roared as her wing crumpled to her side and blood sprayed onto her scales. I pivoted, already swinging my sword, but an explosive blast of electricity rammed into my chest and threw me back. I tumbled backwards along the ground until I hit the pool of water and sank beneath the surface. I jerked wildly for several seconds, paralyzed, until my senses came back to me, and I was able to right myself. Realizing the horrible situation I was in, I swam up with manic strokes before Nova could electrify the water. I breached the surface and used my chakra to lift myself up until I was standing on the water. I gripped my sword tightly, watching as she ran up to the water's edge with death in her eyes, and clenched my teeth as muted growls left her mouth. Whatever she was saying didn't matter anymore. She wasn't herself and I couldn't let a threat like her live.

I stepped forward, allowing the pain burning through my body to spur me onwards. I screamed, my voice matching the anguish I was feeling inside. Nova took a few steps back and threw out an orb of electricity, but I wrapped my sword with a blade of wind, spun, and cut cleanly through it. I heard the muffled boom of the attack as it detonated behind me but paid it no mind as I chased after Nova. She dove into another shadow, but I wasn't going to let her escape. Like before, I weaved the hand signs for a jutsu and grimaced as my chakra fell dangerously low.

Light Release: Heavenly Light!

Nova was spit out from the shadow she had been taking refuge in. I moved as fast as I possibly could, bringing my sword to bear with desperate strikes. She tried to defend herself, but I was finding more openings than before, and soon, she was struggling to stand up to my onslaught. Blood dripped down her scales, and though I was finding myself pushed to the limits of what I was capable of, Nova was losing her ground. Her defense was becoming sloppy, and as I knocked her good wing aside with a sweep of my sword, an opening presented itself. I slid forward, ducking underneath a swipe of her paw and planted my foot in her gut. She fell back, grimacing while I jumped above her head and spun blindingly fast.

Sword Art: Raging Whirlwind!

My sword whipped around and crashed into her horns. I saw her eyes flutter and her legs wobble from the force of the blow. With her reeling, I landed on my feet and slipped forward with a final burst of chakra. With all my might, I kicked her in the chest and felt her bones give way as she was launched back into a wall. She slammed into it with a loud crack and fell onto her back, facing me. I ran forward with my sword at the ready and stared into the eyes of a monster that had once been my friend.

For the briefest of moments, Luna's questioning eyes, devoid of their monstrous luster, looked back at me.

I'm sorry, Luna.

I closed my eyes. Nova couldn't defend herself in time, and I knew that this was it. Time seemed to slow down as I threw my arm forward, aiming for her neck.

"Kiran, but… why?"

Everything came to a stop as I flicked my sword to the side and sunk the blade up to its hilt in stone.

I couldn't do it.

Despite the fear, despite the fact that I knew she would kill me if I relented, Luna's words disintegrated my resolve, leaving me standing above Nova with a weight that slowly began to crush me from the inside.

I can't kill another friend. Not again. I'd rather die.

A horrible ache filled my chest. Though I didn't want to face the reality of what I had almost done, I slowly opened my eyes, expecting to see the same mocking grin as before, laughing at my weakness.

Nova's purple eyes stared back at me. The dark yellow that had plagued her before was now gone. Just like with Luna, she stared at me with horror, questioning me with her gaze. I felt my eyes fill with tears as her eyes dug into every part of my being, tearing apart everything I thought I had believed in before. I felt my world collapse as the fear that had been gripping me vanished like a wisp of smoke. My arms shook, and my hand lost its grip on my sword before falling limply to my side.

Her eyes… Nova…?

It was only then, as Nova mouthed my name, that I realized something was wrong.

Pain erupted in my chest and abdomen. I opened my mouth to scream, but I couldn't force the air from my lungs. Tears dripped down from my face and landed onto Nova's. As I looked down at her, I found that she had tears of her own filling her eyes.

What's going on? Why can't I…

I looked down where the pain was most intense. Two tendrils of Shadow ran straight from the ground and into my chest and stomach. Sluggishly, I understood what was happening and lamely reached for the tendrils with my hands. As if reacting to my feeble attempts, the tendrils retreated into the ground, bringing forth a spray of red with them. Nova's face and chest were splashed with fresh blood, and I glanced back at her as my strength began to fade. I fell, falling directly on top of her.

I don't understand… she's not…?

I vaguely recognized that she called my name. I felt her claws press against me and roll me off her. I choked as blood began to fill my mouth, and my eyes wandered toward the world around me. The spectators were going wild, but before I could piece everything together, Nova's face filled my vision. I looked up at her and tried to reach out with my hand, but everything started to slip away. The things that had felt so pressing before slipped into obscurity as a blanket of cold numbness enveloped me, followed shortly after by a wave of black that drowned out everything else. I had one last thought before I lost consciousness completely, and it filled my heart with sorrow.

I'm sorry, everyone…

Kranos459 - Hey man! I'm glad you enjoy the story. Not much I can say other than that I fully plan on finishing this story, but I suppose you'll have to decide if you're willing to wait or not.

The Silent Insomniac - Glad you enjoyed the introduction of our famous heroes. I spent a lot of time stressing over their characters. I wanted them to be represented well because I love them, lol.

Kiran knows how to be… political, and he doesn't have much context to go with for Cynder or Spyro. Better to be safe than sorry, right? Maybe he'll express himself more as he becomes more comfortable. Or not. Whatever the case may be, it sounds like Joshua and Kiran approach things a smidge... differently. xD

Agh! This story is much too long if you have to re-read to remember something! I'll be working on my ability to be concise in the next part so that won't be as big of an issue. :P

Author-san 9001 - I can only imagine the wii bowling sound.

Is it bad to snicker at the image of one of my characters throttling another? If so, I might be in trouble.

Funny huh? Guess I'll have to remove any such thing in the future. There's only room for serious drama in this story.

Collapse you say? As long as we keep piling in those hatchlings, we could make something happen.

Thanks for your feedback on Spyro and Cynder! I was stressed out until you gave me the thumbs up. Also, Sparx will pop up, but is away with his parents for now. He'll have a time to shine. See what I did there?

Karma? More like classic family dynamics! (Maybe some karma.) It was super fun writing all the little things that got under her scales in this chapter. Maybe I should set my sights on someone angrier next…

Ignitus was planned and intentional. Fear the adorable hatchling!

Oh man, that would be great, wouldn't it? Hopefully there aren't any setbacks or challenges that get in the way of him achieving protagonist status, right? Right?