Chapter 14: Unchained

"Then, Lara Anclagon, do you wish to continue the match?" asked Eric.

Lara turned to Richard and punched her palm. "Abso-freakin'-lutely!"

The noise that went up from the crowd was thunderous. Eric jumped at the sudden outburst of applause but allowed it to continue for a bit before asking for quiet. "Then please fetch your sword and take your place."

"I won't need it," said Lara as she pulled her knives out. She twirled them in her hands before sheathing them again. "These'll do just fine."

Ariel arched her brow in surprise. "Are you sure?"

Lara scratched her chin thoughtfully. "Well, a shield might be good…for the boy here, that is."

"You're the one who needs a shield, wench!" spat Richard, keeping his voice low enough only Lara could hear him.

Lara narrowed her eyes at him then shrugged dismissively. "Your funeral."

"Yours first."

Grimsby cleared his throat. "If that is all, then both of you to your places."

Lara and Richard walked to their respective marks. As she went Lara pulled her shirt off, revealing she was wearing a tight breast wrap of white bandages underneath. Her body was athletically slim, powerful muscles residing underneath her faintly tanned skin. Whisperings and murmurs went up from the crowd, especially from the nobles and more conservative minded who made comments about her lack of covering. A few made catcalls, but the majority of the whistles were in support and not derogatory. Lara grabbed her bokken and pulled it out of the dirt, giving it a swing to clear the dust off.

"I'm going to enjoy carving that skin up," sneered Richard as he took his stance.

"Not as much as I'll enjoy beating that look off your face," said Lara as she came to her own spot. She stabbed the bokken back into the dirt and draped her shirt and shemagh over it. Then she crouched down in a runner's stance, fingertips splayed on the earth.

"What? You're going to charge me head on?" asked Richard.

"That's the plan," said Lara, twisting her feet into the dirt.

Richard scoffed loudly. "You really must have a death wish if you think you can get to me before I skewer you."

"Same to you," said Lara. "You should have worn heavier armor."

Grimsby gestured to the Ariel. "Your majesty, on your command."

Lara took a deep breath and exhaled completely, her nose picking up the scents she missed before. The dust in the air. The sweat and blood mixed with the dirt. The thousands of breaths from the stands. The salty tinge blown in from the ocean. She flexed her muscles in a wave from neck to toes, feeling the strength in them. Seven weeks wearing six times her own weight combined with a torturous training regimen had done what she wanted. She felt lighter and more powerful now. Not that she was ever anything else. And to finally get out of those stuff clothes and feel the sun and air on her skin. Her body soaked up the rays, spreading their warmth through her.

Ariel raised her hand. "Ready?"

Lara crouched lower, muscles readying for the charge. A breeze blew off her, kicking up little puffs of dust. She glared at Richard, a few strands of hair falling over her face. It was too faint to see, but small specks of dirt lifted off the ground around her as her hair lifted slightly. Her eyes faintly flickered with light, responding to the power inside her.

Ariel dropped her hand. "Begin!"

The words were barely out Ariel's mouth before Richard–.

WHANG!

Lara shot forward, throwing up a cloud of dust. Freed from the extra weight, she slipped past Richard's sword before he could even start his attack. She slammed her fists into his chest plate as hard as she could, the metal denting and knocking the wind out of him.

Richard was not pushed back. Nor was he thrown back. He was sent flying across the arena, flipping head over heels through the air before hitting the ground. He tumbled away like a boulder down a hill before colliding with the arena wall, dust circling around him as he fell onto his side.

A person could hear a pin drop with how quickly the noise stopped. Everyone gaped in stunned silence, rubbing eyes and pinching arms to see if they were dreaming. They had reason to as well, because from their perspective it looked like Lara vanished and sent Richard hurtling across the arena like a fast-pitched ball. Richard staggered upright, having to use the wall for support as he got to his feet. He fell down on the first try before finding his balance on the second. He clutched a hand over his chest, feeling the deep bruises that were developing under his dented chest plate. Dirt was smeared all over his face, the once shiny armor dulled by a coating of dust. His rapier was gone, dropped during his flight. He coughed as he leaned heavily against the wall.

A/N: "Faint (Cover)" by Memphis May Fire

Lara growled in her throat, her jaw clenching tight as her fists. Her hair began to prickle like the hackles of a dog. The air around her body shimmered like a heat mirage as a breeze began to radiate off her. She growled, baring her teeth as her knuckles cracked. Small pebbles and specks of dirt lifted off the ground by her feet. Her eyes were now glowing with a light all their own.

Lara felt her magic coming alive. Sensed it roiling inside her as her anger was stoked higher and higher. It seeped through her body, pumping strength and energy into her like bellows feeding a fire. She fed off it, gathering more and more might from her emotions. For months she held herself back, hiding her anger behind masks and weights. She wore the mask to protect the orphans from Richard's wrath. She wore the weights to build her strength and protect the other contestants, and to keep Richard alive in case she got a lucky hit on him. But Lara did not want to hide her face any longer. And she did not want to protect Richard from her strength.

She wanted to punish him with it.

Lara threw her head back and yelled at the top of her lungs, letting loose a sound like an enraged animal that was heard well outside the arena. A wind blasted off her, making her hair wave about and sending dust out into the stands. The ground itself shook, causing the arena to vibrate. People shielded their eyes from the flying grit, baffled by the sudden appearance of the wind and the reason for her scream.


"What's going on!?" shouted Riptide as he watched Lara. "How is that kid doing this!?"

"Can't you tell!?" barked Remora. "It's magic!"

Remora grit her teeth. To these peasants Lara's outburst was a lot of noise and coincidental winds. She knew better. That was not nature causing this wind. It was magic. She could feel it in the air, pressing against on her magical sixth sense. And Lara was the undeniable source.

Remora's own anger swelled at the sensation. How was Lara using magic? And not just some magic, but a ton of it! She radiated it like a bonfire, the power flaring higher and higher with each passing second as she drew it out of herself. She was already far past normal human levels and still rising strong.

There was only one explanation. Someone taught Lara how to use magic. And by the look and feel of it, they taught her very well. Lara was not some nascent mage. She was a full-fledged sorceress.


Lara cut off her yell abruptly, the wind dying just as fast. She dropped into a crouch and sprinted at Richard, moving with inhuman speed. Dust kicked up behind her as her feet pounded across the ground, leaning hard into her run. She closed in on Richard and punched for his chest. He barely darted to the side in time.

It was a fortunate move on his part. Instead of striking the wooden wall, Lara's bare fist smashed clear through it. Her fist penetrated the boards and broke the support pole behind them in half. She drew her first out and threw a hard hook at Richard, smashing another hole into the wall when he lurched back. Lara spun and swung her elbow after him, shattering more wood when he evaded. She ripped her hand free and punched again, breaking boards but not his head. Seeing a chance Richard grabbed her wrist with his right hand, pulling his left hand back to punch her.

Lara saw the hit coming. She could have blocked, but instead she took it straight in the face. Richard's fist buried into her left cheek, knuckles mashing against her jaw. It hurt like any blow would, pain radiating through her head. But Lara did not flinch or reel from it. She stood solid as a rock, Richard's fist pressed against her. His eyes widened as he realized Lara was not even fazed. If anything, it was his own hand that hurt.

"That all you got?" growled Lara.

Before Richard could answer Lara grabbed the side of Richard's head and slammed it against the wall. Twice more she knocked him against the wood before she drove her other fist into his nose. Richard yelled as blood spurted out his nostrils. Lara grabbed the edges of his chest plate and spun, flinging Richard back into the arena. He went tumbling away, coming to a stop clutching his bloodied face.

"Still don't want that shield?" called Lara as she brushed splinters off her skin.

Richard rolled around to face her. He lowered his hands as he got up, revealing his clearly broken nose. Blood was streaked across his cheeks like bad war paint, dripping off his chin.

"That's a fitting look," said Lara as she walked towards him. "As crooked and twisted as you are."

Richard's eyes went red as his face. "You witch! I'll kill you!"

Lara kept approaching as Richard ran to his rapier, snatching up the sword before charging at her. He stabbed at Lara's face but she quickly dodged to the side, throwing a fast jab into his ribs. It almost knocked Richard down, bending his ribs just short of fracturing and sending him staggering sideways as the air was forced out of him. But he quickly recovered and went back on the attack. He slashed at Lara's torso, only to have her duck at the last moment so he sliced air. He unleashed another woodpecker-worthy assault of thrusts to hit her, but she evaded each one. She knew how fast she was now. With the weights slowing her down, Richard had been able to hold his own with her. Without them he did not have a hope.

He thrust again and she slipped past the blade and batted his hand away, reaching in and punching him in the cheek. Richard stopped his frenzied assault, alarmed at how quickly she passed his sword to strike him. He tasted blood in his mouth, and one of his teeth was now throbbing with pain. He thrust again, only to get punched twice and shoved back. Before he could retaliate Lara rushed in and landed a hard kick into Richard's stomach. He went somersaulting backwards and then skidded to a stop, doubled over as he tried to breathe.

"You get a real kick out of hitting women," said Lara as she approached, her hands clenched hard as rocks. "Still think it's fun when they hit back?"

"You're no woman!" spat Richard as he rose. "You're a freak!"

Changing tactics Richard darted in and slashed, only to have Lara draw a knife and block him. Sparks flew off their blades as they slid along each other. Then Lara grabbed Richard's wrist and shoved her blade under the straps to his armor, severing the leather with a quick slash and cutting his skin. He tried to jerk his hand free, but she held him like a vice. She spun around and drove an elbow into his gut. Even with his armor the blow knocked the wind out of Richard again, the aluminum denting deeply. Then Lara turned hard and flung him away, jerking painfully on his arm. The lower half of his rerebrace came off as Richard flew like a frisbee, landing sprawled out in the dirt.

Lara placed her knife in her teeth and took Richard's rerebrace in both hands. She pressed hard on it, the muscles in her arms flexing visibly. The metal groaned and then buckled in her grasp, collapsing into a wad. She pressed it down and then dropped it before kicking the ruined armor to Richard. He stared in shock at the crumpled metal as Lara spat her knife into her hand.

"You better step things up, Richard!" said Lara as she gave her knife a spin then snatched it out of the air. "I'm just getting started!"

Richard was just back on his feet when Lara came at him. She covered the distance faster than any sprinter could. She stabbed at Richard with her knife and grazed his cheek, drawing a long bloody line across it. Richard slashed for her neck, but she slipped under his sword and sliced down his right arm. Then she hit his arm upwards and drove her knife towards his armpit, stopping with the tip just cutting his skin.

"That's once you've lost now!" Lara said, ducking Richard's fist and then backhanding him in the face.

With an enraged shout Richard came at her, swinging as fast and ferociously as he could. Sparks flew and metal rang as their weapons clashed too fast for untrained eyes to follow. They danced across the arena amidst the din of the audience, who were on their feet and louder than ever. Ariel, Melody, and Eric stared with unblinking eyes as Aquata pressed her face against the binoculars, none able to keep track of their blades.

Lara deflected another thrust to her neck before snapping the butt of her knife into Richard's forehead, leaving a red mark between his eyes. She then hooked her ankle into his leg and sent him rolling past her with a hard shove. He quickly got up and rushed her, slashing at her bare stomach. Lara arched backwards as though doing the limbo before righting herself and parrying his sword aside. She shot a fast kick into the side of Richard's leg. The blow stunned a cluster of nerves, dropping Richard to one knee. Lara then twisted around and threw a kick into Richard's chest, knocking him flat onto his back. She blocked Richard's swing for her legs with the sole of her boot, evading a second swing with a short hop before moving back so he could get up. Richard righted himself and charged her again, but this time Lara beat him to the punch. She knocked Richard's sword aside when she kicked its guard, immediately following it up with a rapid succession of kicks to his shin, thigh, and then ribs with the same leg. Richard fell to one knee, only to find himself on his back again when Lara shoved the flat of her knife against his forehead.

"I can do this all day," said Lara as she walked off, giving Richard a chance to roll over.

"Shut up!" he bellowed as he rushed her again, kicking up dirt as he scrambled.

Repeatedly Richard went for the kill, and repeatedly Lara put him at the point of her knife or on the ground. Her knife continued to slash at his exposed skin, leaving bleeding wounds across him. The pain served to infuriate Richard further, making him more of an enraged feral cat than the demon Sarah warned about. His anger was pushing him beyond his limits, but he was sacrificing his technique for it. He slashed, chopped, and thrust as fast as he could, giving away his moves before they happened. Lara met him equally, keeping his sword away from her exposed skin and continuing to build up technical victories on him.

"That's twelve!" Lara said when she trapped his sword against his body as her knife etched a thin laceration across the side of his neck. He shoved her back, smearing blood over his neck as he wiped. Lara dodged aside as he chopped down, smashing his sword against the dirt. It was a weak attack even for him, his rapier having neither the weight nor design for such a strike.

"You're a dead woman!" Richard spat, his hair a tangled dirty frame around his face as he stabbed at Lara. "You think you can make me bleed and live!?"

Lara evaded another slash and kicked the inside of Richard's right knee. His legs splayed out as Lara dropped her knife and grabbed Richard's sword hand. She jerked him towards her as she pulled her other fist back and then hammered it into the side of Richard's face. He went face-first into the dirt from the force of it, and then Lara kicked him hard in the middle to flip him onto his back.

"No!" said Lara as she picked up her knife. "I think I can beat you!"

Richard yelled and leapt to his feet. He slashed at Lara's face but she parried his sword aside and drove the ball of her foot into Richard's gut. His armor dented again, striking his stomach. He bent over as she darted past him and swept his legs out. Richard fell face first into the dirt as Lara cut his belt. He stabbed at her thigh and she darted back. Richard clawed at the dirt as he stood up and chased after her.

Only to trip when his pants fell down around his ankles, dragging his undergarments with them.

"There's something you don't see every day!" called Lara towards the orphans. "A full moon in broad daylight!"

The entire arena exploded into laughter as Richard's pasty rear end was put on full display. The orphans were falling off their seats they were laughing so hard. Sarah was wiping tears out of her eyes as Jenni held her sides, legs flailing in her hysterics. John and Isaac were pounding on the benches with the rest of the tavern-goers and waitresses as they pointed and laughed. Eric let a chuckle slip through, hiding his amused smile behind a politely placed hand. Ariel bit her lip to keep from laughing as Aquata covered her entire mouth, her laughter slipping through as loud snorts that only made her laugh harder. Melody tried not to laugh, but the corners of her mouth twitched as a smile tried to make itself known. Only Grimsby found no humor in the display.

"You hear that, Richard?" said Lara as Richard stood, hastily pulling his underwear back up. "Hear them laughing? That's payback for humiliating Sarah!"

Richard tried to pull his pants up and run Lara through at the same time. She sidestepped as he staggered and stuck her foot out, tripping him into the dirt again.

"You know, I just had an idea!" Lara ran back to her bokken, sheathing her knife on the way. She grabbed her shemagh and held it to the side like a matador's cape.

"Toro! Toro!" she called, flapping the cloth at him. Richard looked about as angry as a bull with his bloodshot eyes and steaming red face. He gave up on his pants and slashed through them, cutting the fabric free.

"I! Will! Kill! You!" Richard bellowed, rushing straight at Lara in his underwear.

Lara waited till the last possible moment then sidestepped as Richard tried to stab her. He went skidding past her and then spun and stabbed again, only for Lara to whip the shemagh aside with a flourish. "Olé!"

The stands were almost passing out from laughter. Richard twisted around and charged her again with the same result, except this time Lara snapped the ends of the shemagh into his hind end as he went by. Richard yowled, clutching his smarting posterior. Lara snapped his rear again, eliciting another yowl and making the crowd laugh harder still.

The laugher pushed Richard's anger to new heights. He turned back and ran at Lara with startling speed, aiming to pierce her head. She merely stepped aside and whipped the shemagh around his foot as he ran past. She gave a sharp jerk and pulled his leg out from under him, sending Richard into a full front flip and flat onto his back. He was panting heavily as he got up, his strength fueled by blind rage alone.

"Thank you!" said Lara, bowing low to the crowd as they applauded and whistled. "Thank you! Oh please, you're making me blush! Thank you!"

Richard scrambled back to his feet and rushed Lara's back, pulling his sword back to slash at her head. "Die!"

"Look out!" Sarah shouted.

Lara needed no warning, as she could hear Richard's movements. She turned and ducked, the sword missing her completely. Her left hand reached up and grabbed his shoulder, then she stepped in and buried her right fist into his armored stomach. The sound was heard across the arena as her fist collided with his armor. Richard's mouth fell open as his feet were lifted off the ground, Lara's hold on him keeping him from flying off. Richard staggered back from Lara as she released him, clutching his stomach and the fist-shaped dent as drool spilled out his mouth. His legs shook as he fought for breath. He looked like he was about to be sick.

"That's for what you did to Jenni!" said Lara as she approached him, the knuckles of her hand reddening.

Richard grimaced as he forced himself to breathe. The shaking in his legs subsided and then he lunged at Lara. She responded by throwing her shemagh into his face. It covered Richard's head, halting his charge as he ripped the blinding fabric off. He was greeted by Lara's foot coming at his face in a roundhouse kick. He jerked back, the tip of her boot whizzing close but harmlessly by his broken no–.

WHAM!

The moment Lara's foot started coming down her other one came up in a reverse crescent kick. Her heel hit the side of Richard's face like a bat, making a wet smack heard across the arena. Richard was lucky he did not lose any teeth. He spun like a top, stunned by her strike. Lara quickly dropped to one knee, drawing her hands back as she spun to face Richard and threw both her fists into his chest at once. Richard went tumbling away with two new dents in his chest plate, skidding to a stop well out of Lara's reach.

Lara immediately rose, giving her hands a shake. "Get up, Richard! I'm not done with you yet!"

Richard spat blood and rolled onto his side, his face already starting to swell. He lay gasping in the dirt, his chest heaving rapidly.

Lara crouched low and leapt into the air. Gasps filled the arena as she soared towards Richard, jumping higher than any ordinary person could hope to. She pulled her right fist back as she started to fall.

"I said…" Lara kicked out with her leg, throwing herself into a spin. Richard saw Lara coming down at him, hair trailing out as a comet's tail as she fell. "Get up!"

Richard needed no encouragement. He scrambled away as Lara landed, punching with the momentum of her gravity-fueled spin. Her fist buried past her wrist into the ground, throwing up dust and dirt.

The tip of Richard's rapier was shaking, both from exhaustion and the mounting fear as he saw Lara pull her fist out of the hole she made. That blow would have crushed his skull. Was she seriously trying to kill him?

"You…what are you!?" he demanded, pointing his sword at her. "What are you!?"

Lara blew dirt off her hand. She fixed her eyes on Richard, their hunting glare causing him to step back as she walked towards him. She scowled angrily, fists tight as her every footstep echoed in Richard's ears. She was barley an inch shorter than him, yet he felt tiny under her gaze. As though she were some giant monstrosity coming to crush him underfoot.

"I'm your reckoning," Lara growled.

Was Richard imagining things, or did her eyes just glow for a moment?


Melody was stunned as speechless as her parents and aunt as she watched. She had to be dreaming. None of what she was seeing should be possible. None of it could be possible. Yet it was possible. It was happening right before her eyes.

Richard, arguably the best swordsman in the entire Alliance, was losing. Badly.

The nobleman fell onto his back when Lara ducked under another swing of his rapier, sweeping his legs out from under him. She kept spinning and raised the same leg straight up. Richard narrowly rolled away when she brought her heel down in an ax kick, smashing it into the ground with bone-crushing force. He scampered onto his feet as Lara came after him again, her fist adding another dent to his deformed chest plate before she boxed his left ear.

Richard stabbed back at her, but Lara skirted around his thrust and chopped into his throat before punching him across the face. His head whipped to the side, droplets of blood flying from his lips. She stuck her leg out behind him and jerked her heel in, hooking it into where his kidneys would be. Melody could practically hear the metal bend as Richard went stumbling past Lara, only to have her grab his hair and jerk him back so she could send a back kick into his side. He was sent tumbling away, somehow managing to right himself onto his feet mid-roll. Lara opened her hand, releasing a clump of hair.

Melody swallowed fearfully as Richard rose to his feet and went at her again. How could a woman be this strong? How could anyone be so strong?


Lara ducked Richard's thrust and grabbed his arm. With a shout she threw him over her shoulder. He flipped through the air and landed hard on his back, armor clattering loudly. He groaned but still managed to roll onto his stomach and get up again.

"Had enough?" Lara asked, taking a step back.

"Shut up!" Richard barked, shakily finding his footing. "I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you! I won't stop until you're a corpse! You hear me!? A corpse!"

Lara grinned lopsidedly at him. "Big words for a small man." She gave a "come here" gesture with her hand.

Richard ran at her, his eyes glazed over with madness and hate. He drew his rapier back and thrust, pouring ever ounce of strength he had into it. He held nothing back, abandoning defense completely for the sake of skewering Lara.

If Richard had not been so blinded by his anger, he would have noticed Lara backed within reach of her bokken. That, and her hand sneaking behind for it as he recklessly charged her. Lara grabbed it and swung up, deflecting Richard's blade away. She then spun and slammed the blade against his chest, knocking him back. Richard coughed loudly as he staggered, face twisted from the pain in his battered ribs. Lara gave him no reprieve as she ran at him and swung, striking the base of Richard's sword.

CRANG!

The bokken made good on Kodama's statement as it snapped the rapier's blade clean off. The poisoned metal flew into the air, spinning against the sun before it came down point-first in the dirt.

Richard drew his weapon up and swung down at Lara, not realizing his weapon was broken until he saw the blade missing. His anger lapsed into shock, hands feeling over the useless hilt as though it were a prop from a magic show and the blade would suddenly reappear.

"Not so brave without your sword, are you?" said Lara, dropping her bokken.

The shock at his ruined sword vanished as Richard remembered his hated adversary was in front of him. Tossing the hilt aside he pulled back his armored left arm and punched at her. Lara's hand shot out and grabbed Richard's fist, stopping it cold. Richard stared wide-eyed at her for a moment, and then he swung his other hand at her. Lara caught it as well. Then she squeezed down on Richard's hands like a vice. Richard yelled in pain and pulled hard on his hands, trying to get them out of Lara's grip. She continued to squeeze, bending his armor in.

"Let go!" Richard yelled. "Let go of me!"

"If you insist." Lara pulled her leg up and kicked Richard in the stomach, knocking him onto his back. Richard scrambled to his feet and rushed Lara before trying to kick her. Lara easily seized his ankle and pulled Richard off balance. She drew her fist back and then hammered it down on his chest, knocking Richard into the ground. He lay before her groaning, his eyes clenched shut.

Lara stared down at Richard, arms folded together and a frown on her face as she watched him writhe about. He looked so pitiful now. Like a dirty child exhausted after a temper tantrum. This was what she trained so hard for? This was the nobleman who single-handedly kept the people of Seahaven squashed under this thumb? He could barely hold his own against her. She was not even trying that hard. Had she seriously considered him a threat?

"You know what?" Lara said as she leaned over him. "I'm done with you."

Richard opened one eye, panting heavily as he looked up at her. "What?"

"I'm done," Lara repeated. She turned away from Richard and walked off.

"What the…hey! Get back here!" shouted Richard as he staggered to his feet, only to fall over again.

"Hey, king!" shouted Lara, cupping a hand to her mouth. "The rule was you lose if you can't fight anymore, right?"

Grimsby approached the edge of the box in Eric's place. "Being unable to continue was one of the conditions, yes."

Lara looked back over her shoulder as Richard limped after her, only to fall when he tried to run. "I'd say he's pretty unable. He's got no sword, no strength, and probably a few broken bones. This is barely a fight anymore. So how about you call this before–?"

"We're not finished!"

Lara turned around to see Richard standing with her bokken in his hands. He must have grabbed it while she was talking to Eric. He was leaning heavily on his right leg. His face was a mess of dirt, sweat, and dried blood. His neck, arms, and legs were riddled with cuts from Lara's knife. His chest plate was so dented it was barely recognizable as armor. But the hatred in his eyes was stronger than ever. The ugliness she saw in them matched the dirtiness of his exterior. He glared at Lara, teeth bared like a deranged animal driven into a corner.

Lara turned to face him. "The fight's over, Richard."

"It's not over!" Richard bellowed, drawing the bokken back and slashing at the air. He marched towards Lara, only to drop to one knee when he tried to bear weight on his left leg. He leaned on the bokken, using it to push himself upright. "Nothing is over! Not until I have you dead at my feet!"

"That's enough, Lord Avitas!" called down Eric. "I'm calling the match!"

"Shut it!" yelled back Richard. Eric flinched back, surprised by the man's indignant tone. Murmurs went through the crowd, the onlookers alarmed anyone would speak to the king that way. "I don't care what you say! I don't care what any of you say! This fight ends when I say it does, and it ends when she dies!"

Lara stared at Richard as he hobbled towards her. Then she sighed and turned away from him. "If you won't end it, then I will."

"Don't you walk away from me, trollop!" shouted Richard as Lara started towards one of the arena gates, shoving her hands into her pant pockets. "We're not finished! You haven't won yet! You won't get a single coin of that prize money if you walk out!"

Lara stopped. "You've got it wrong, Richard. I'm not leaving because I think I've won. I'm leaving because you're not worth it."

Now it was Richard who stopped. "You what?"

"Don't get me wrong," said Lara, glancing over her shoulder at him. "After everything you've done, beating you to a mangled pulp is barely a tenth of what you deserve. And it's what I planned to do when this match started. But you know what? I've got better things to do than kick your hide around this arena all day. You can't even stand on your own two feet. At this point, fighting you is beneath me."

Lara turned her back to him. "You're not worth the coins, the time, or the effort. Far as I'm concerned, you're not worth anything."

Richard stared blankly at Lara as he watched her walk away. "Not…not worth…"

Suddenly Richard loosed a scream that could have awoken the dead. His face went red as blood as he bellowed his anger and hatred for all to hear. Lara ignored him and kept walking, which only fueled his fury.

"You are nothing compared to me!" he screamed at her. "Nothing! Do you hear me!? I am a Lord of the Alliance! The head of the Avitas bloodline! You are not even fit to be in my presence! You are beneath me!"

Lara's response was a dismissive wave, not even bothering to look at him.

"You are inferior to me in every possible way!" Richard ranted as he stalked after her, his rage blinding him to the pain in his leg. His body was shaking with anger, hands gripping the bokken's hilt so tightly his muscles cramped. "A cur! Livestock! Lower than the filthiest swine! Unfit to eat the dirt I tread upon! And I will make you suffer till you remember it!"

"Blah blah blah," said Lara, miming a mouth with her hand. "You done yet?"

Veins popped up across Richard's face. "I own this town! I own these people! I own everything! This is my kingdom! It's all mine! Mine to use as I see fit! And I will not be humiliated before these cowering plebeians by the discarded spawn of some cheap backwoods whore!"


From atop the arena, the raven sighed and shook his head. "That, Richard Avitas, was a very, very poor decision."


Lara froze in her tracks. For a moment she did not breathe much less move. Then she spun on her heel and marched back towards Richard, her steps brimming with outrage. She walked straight at him, her eyes locked on his face. Richard yelled and ran at her, ignoring his wounded legs as he drew her bokken overhead. He swung it down hard when he reached her, intending to bash her head in.

Lara's hand shot out and snatched the wooden sword before it could reach her. The muscles in her arm turned hard as stone as she stopped the bokken dead. Richard tried to pull the wooden sword free, but Lara's hold was unbreakable.

"You're a dead man!" Lara growled, her eyes truly glowing on their own.

It was at that moment Richard realized he made a mistake he could not take back.

Before Richard could respond Lara wrenched the bokken out of his hands. She slipped her hands down to the handle and then swung it into Richard's chest like a bat. There was the sound of blasted metal before Richard went flying backwards, tumbling head over heels halfway across the arena. Lara dropped the bokken and ran after him, closing on Richard as he came to a stop on his back. He started to get up, but Lara beat him to it. She raised a foot up and then stomped down hard on Richard's chest, driving him into the ground. Richard felt the air pushed out of him as his ribs cracked, unable to withstand the force. Lara grabbed Richard's shirt and hauled him onto his feet, then drove her forehead into his face. His already broken nose broke even further as Lara drove her forehead into his face again. Then she pushed him back, Richard clutching at his gushing nose.

"Come on!" Lara yelled as strode up and pushed him again, almost knocking him down. "You wanted to kill me, didn't you!? Take your best shot! I'm right here!"

Richard lowered his hands, revealing his red-stained face. In a panic he drew his armored left arm back and threw a hasty punch at Lara's face. Lara saw it coming and threw a punch of her own, timing it so their fists collided as Richard's arm was fully extended.

When a pair of strong people clash fists, it is painful for both. When an unnaturally strong person like Lara clashes fists with a normal human like Richard, the result is disastrous for the latter. With his joints locked out, the force of Lara's punch went through Richard's arm like an explosion. The metal of his gauntlet warped like crumpled paper as fractures went racing through his bones clear to his shoulder, metal joints and hinges popping and tearing like their flesh and blood counterparts.

Richard howled in pain as he staggered back, clutching his devastated limb. It hung limp at his side like a rag, flopping about uselessly. "My arm! It's broken! You broke my arm!"

"That's just for starters!" Lara said, clenching her other hand tight enough for the knuckles to pop on their own.

Richard turned pale as he backed away from her, his anger and confidence as broken as his arm. "W-wait! Just wait a moment!"

Lara kept coming towards him.

"Hold on!" Richard tripped backwards, stumbling back onto his feet. "I surren–!"

"No you don't!" Lara darted forward and punched Richard in the mouth, cutting through his words and his lips. She grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back. "You're not getting outta this that easy!"

"Wait! Just wait!" Richard pleaded. "I'll forgive Isaac's debt! It's done! Never even happened! I'll give their things back tomorrow!"

Lara glared daggers and death at him. The muscles in her arms tightened as she clenched her fists, her hair prickling with fury.

"Okay, I'll give everyone's things back!" added Richard. "I'll cut you in for a share of it too! Five percent! Ten percent! Twenty!"

"Shut up!" Lara darted forward and punched him in the face, knocking two of his front teeth out. Richard staggered backwards but somehow managed to stay on his feet.

"Stop!" pleaded Richard as he backed away. "I'll do whatever you want! I'll give you money! I'll give you land! I'll give you anything! Just please let me go!"

"Give me the number," growled Lara.

Richard stared in confusion at her. "H-huh?"

"Give me the number of people that asked you to stop!" Lara demanded. "Tell me how many begged on their hands and knees for more time! Or understanding! Or leniency! Or for you to just leave them alone!"

Her eyes began to glow brighter, the air around her growing hot. "How many did you steal from, or threaten, or rape, or ruin? How many nights did people go hungry and cold because of you? How many people did you trample on just to satisfy your need to feel powerful? Huh? Tell me how many you've hurt!"

Richard swallowed fearfully, even though he had no spit to speak of. "I-I, uh…"

"How many!?" Lara shouted.

Richard lost what nerve he had left. He turned and limped for a gate as fast as he could. "Open up! Let me out! She's going to kill me!"

Lara ran and jumped over Richard, landing in a crouch in front of him. Richard skidded to a stop, frightened by her sudden appearance. Lara seized his neck in one hand, lifting him off the ground. He grabbed her arm with his good hand as his legs kicked at her. He might as well have been kicking a tree.

"I'm not gonna kill you," Lara said menacingly. "I'm gonna make you remember!"

She dropped Richard and then punched him square in his nose again. "One!"

She threw an uppercut into his stomach. The metal armor caved in with how hard she hit, and her knuckles split. She barely noticed the pain. "Two!"

She grabbed his shoulders and snapped her knee into his gut, doubling him over. "Three!"

She pulled her knee back and hit his mouth, shooting him upright and breaking more teeth. "Four!"

She grabbed his right arm and pulled it out. She pulled her other arm back and slammed her elbow into the side of his ribs, the gap in his armor offering no protection. Two ribs cracked, followed by two more when she struck again. "Five! Six!"

Richard wrenched his arm free, but Lara kept after him like a shark after a wounded seal. She unleashed a barrage of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows into him, counting off as she went. "Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! Elven! Twelve!"


Melody stared in shock from the edge of the box, much like Ariel and Eric were. Aquata was liable to fall out if she leaned any farther over the barrier. All of them were watching with unblinking eyes as Lara thrashed Richard. He was unable to defend himself against the brutal onslaught. He was completely at her mercy, and she was not offering him a shred of it. If he got too close, she pushed him back to striking distance. If he got too far, she grabbed hold and pulled him in, driving him towards the arena wall with her assault. He jerked about as she riddled him with blows, cracking bones and mangling armor where she struck. Ribs. Shoulder. Thigh. Ankle. Ribs again. Orbit. Abdomen. Jaw. Collar. Shins. Stomach.

A kick shot up into Richard's face, cracking his jaw and sending a tooth flying out his mouth. Melody cringed, her stomach flipping as Lara grabbed the edge of his chest plate and flung him over her shoulder, slamming him against the ground. She wanted to look away, but a part of her would not allow it. She kept willing Lara to stop but the hits kept coming without any sign of ending. The crowds gave no sign of wanting her to stop either, cheering her on as she went.

It was monstrous. She was monstrous.


"Forty-nine! Fifty! Fifty-one!"

With a shout Lara grabbed Richard's hair and drove her knee into what was left of his breastplate, lifting his feet off the ground. He lost his wind and his stomach, spitting up bile. She dropped low and swept his legs out from behind, only to whip the same leg around and nail him in the back of the head. The force of her hit pushed him back upright.

He started to fall when Lara grabbed him around the middle, lifting him off his feet. She ran towards the arena wall at a full sprint and drove him into it, cracking the thick boards through. Richard cried out as his already battered body was subjected to even more trauma. Lara backed up and then lay into him with the savagery of a hailstorm. The boards creaked as she beat him with her fists and feet, weakened wood straining to withstand her assault. Two of her punches found his right wrist, ruining it completely. She had stopped counting the hits now.

She should have ended it there. Richard was beaten and she knew it. He was no longer able to defend himself much less fight back. But she refused to let up. He had not suffered nearly enough. Not for what he said to her. Not for the amount of misery and pain he caused. Not for all the poverty and hunger and sorrow he created. Not for the fear he spread like poison in a well. He evaded punishment for far too long. Today he was going to pay for all of it, and she was going to make sure he did. Even if she had to drag him down to the Pit itself, she was going to make him hurt.

She punched him once more in his gut, and then grabbed his face and slammed his head back against the wall. She grabbed the edge of his breastplate and ripped it off, the leather straps tearing as she cast the ruined metal aside. She drew her right leg back and then leapt at him, smashing her knee into his chest. He screamed as more bones and boards broke.

"Have mercy!" Richard pleaded desperately, tears streaming out of his swollen eyes.

Lara grabbed his vest and lifted him off the ground. "What did you say!?"

"Mercy! I beg you! I give up!" Richard sobbed. "I give up! Just have mercy!"

"You had your chance!" Lara growled, turning him towards the arena. "I don't have mercy for the likes of you! You're…!"

She punched him hard in the jaw, turning the cracks into a full break. Then she tossed him up, leaving him hanging in midair in front of her. Lara spun on her left foot and leapt, sticking her right leg out and pulling it in to make her twirl even faster.

"Finished!" Lara shouted at the top of her lungs.

She shot her leg out as hard as she could into Richard's lower back. If it was not broken before it was shattered now. He went flying away from her, rolling and tumbling across the arena before skidding to a stop in its center.


A deafening silence fell. All eyes were fixed on Richard as he lay in the middle of the arena, a broken and bloody mess. The only reason anyone knew he was not dead was because his chest was still moving. Everyone held his or her breath as he started to move. He brought his right arm under, trying to push himself upright. Then he fell back down, his body no longer willing or able to obey him.

Grimsby tapped Eric on the shoulder. "Sire?"

Eric snapped out of his awestruck daze. "Huh?"

"I believe the match is over," said Grimsby, nodding to the arena.

"Oh, right." Eric cleared his throat and straightened up. "People of Seahaven…we have our champion!"

The stadium exploded into a deafening roar of cheers and applause as almost every man, woman, and child rose to their feet. For so many it was not just the end of the greatest tournament in memory. It was an end to years of fear and woe one villainous man had inflicted upon them. They threw streamers and confetti high into the air, turning the arena into a snowstorm of multicolored paper. Hats, bonnets, drinks, and whatever else lay close at hand were flung towards the sky. Trumpets sounded, announcing to the entire town that the tournament had ended as people ran out to spread the news. No shortage of noblewomen burst into tears at seeing Richard broken in the middle of the arena, as did anyone who bet heavily on the former champion to uphold his winning streak.

Few celebrated as fervently as the orphans did. They danced around ecstatically, screaming and whooping in their victory dances. John shouted joyfully to the sky as the waitresses jumped up and down and squealed loudly. A few picked random men to plant deep long kisses on, having to share their excitement in a way that went beyond words. Isaac waved his cane about over his head as Sarah switched between trying to keep him calm and showing her own enthusiasm.

The tyrannical reign of Lord Richard Avitas was over.


Lara walked towards Richard, oblivious to the celebration around her. She wiped her bloody knuckles on her pants, some of it her own. Already her split knuckles were healing over. She was aware of the celebration going on around her, but she could not join them yet. The anger inside her would not allow it. Not until she made sure she finished this.

Richard weakly turned his neck towards her as she approached. Even amidst the blazing pain he surely felt she saw the hate in his eyes. It was burned into them like a brand in hide.

She crouched down before him. "Still awake, eh?"

He responded by spitting in her face.

Lara wiped the bloody saliva off her cheek. "Good. Gives us a chance to talk."

"Oo 'itch!" mumbled Richard, trying his best to speak through his broken jaw and swollen split lips. "I'll ill oo!"

"Sorry, what was that?" Lara asked, cupping a hand to her ear.

"I'll gill oo!"

"Oh, you'll kill me! Is that it?"

"I hwear ick!" Richard coughed, taking a large swallow before drawing wet raspy breaths. "I'll hill oo! Oo hink iff igh o'er? I'll et oo hor iss! I'll hill oo, oor rends, an hat rasted url! Oo ear ee!?"

Lara grabbed Richard's hair and pulled his face up to hers. "Try it! Try it and I'll tear you apart all over again! I'll paint the dirt with you any day of the week, so just you try coming after them!"

She dropped his face back to the ground, letting it smack into the dirt. Then she turned it to the side so one eye could glare up at her. "But I'm not giving you that chance. You're not walking out of here on your legs or as a free man. You're going into a cold, dark prison cell for a long time."

Richard laughed, cringing at the pain it caused him. "Oo ave nuhing! Ere's nuhing oo an hoo to ee! Oo an't uch ee!"

"Wrong," said Lara. "I can touch you. That and a lot more, as I just proved to every person here. You think this is all I had planned? This was only half of it."

Richard's one eye narrowed. "Wa id oo 'oo?"

"I've got the confessions of every person you ever hurt in writing," said Lara. "See, these 'plebeians' you mouthed off to have been waiting for a chance to bring you down. And now they have one. By sundown today, all those confessions will be in the hands of the real king. He'll have everything he needs to make sure you rot behind bars."

"Ey ouldn't! Ey're all owards!"

"Not from where I'm standing. Most of them just watched you get taken down. Hard. How afraid do you think they're gonna be when word gets out you got your butt handed to you by a woman with her bare hands and a stick?"

"Oor no oman!" Richard spat. "Oor a reek!"

"Sorry? I'm a what?"

"Oor a reek!"

"Seriously? I know your jaw is broken, but you gotta at least try to annunciate."

"A hreak! Oor an 'amn hreak!"

"Oh, a freak! Well, maybe I am a freak," said Lara as she pulled apart the bandages over her palm. She put her uncut hand in front of Richard's face, watching how his eye widened as he registered the freshly healed skin beneath the bloodstained cloth. "But at least I'm not a monster like you."

She rose and walked away, blocking out Richard's indecipherable curses as men came to carry him out of the arena. She sighed as the light left her eyes. She ran her hands through her hair as it and her pulse settled down.

It was finally over. Richard was broken in body and power. He would be lucky if he could ever walk again, much less wield a sword. Never again would he hold Seahaven's citizens in his grip. Sarah, Isaac, the orphans, the tavern–they were finally free of him.

And speaking of freedom, there was the prize money. Lara won all six thousand coins, which made it hers to do with as she pleased. With that much, the kids could have a proper home to live in. Sarah could finish her schooling. Isaac could get the treatment he needed and start rebuilding his fleet. Everything would return to the way it should be.

So why did she feel ashamed? Why did she feel she just added another stain onto her soul? Why did she feel like she just made herself into a criminal?

She knew why. As much as she could try to deny it, for a moment there she reverted to her old ways. The life she left in the east came back out. That merciless, brutal, and vicious woman as hated as she was feared. That vigilante who doled out punishment as she saw fit, giving herself the titles of judge, jury, and executioner. Her anger got the better of her and she let it sweep her along. She came dangerously close to killing Richard. She just took his legs away. He might be a dead man if she damaged something vital.

"Hero!"

Lara turned around to see Jenni running towards her across the arena. Tears streamed down her smiling face, arms waving wildly over her head. Behind her came the rest of the orphanage as they clambered over the wall. John and some of the tavern regulars were trying to keep Isaac from jumping in and hurting himself as Sarah lowered herself down.

Lara managed a smile. That life did not matter anymore. Nor did this fight or Richard's threats. What mattered were the smiling faces rushing towards her. This was what she hoped for. This was what she wanted to see at the end. Seven weeks of backbreaking training and a painful match against Richard were a small price to pay for the sight of thirty-three joyful children shouting and whooping their heads off.

She started walking towards Jenni, and then she was running to her. She sunk to her knees and skidded as Jenni flung herself into her arms, wrapping her arms around Lara's neck as she lifted her off the ground. They spun round and round, both smiling happily.

"You won! Youwonyouwonyouwonyouwon!" jabbered Jenni ecstatically, making Lara's ears ring as she squealed in delight.

"Of course I won!" Lara said as she lifted Jenni onto her shoulders. "I promised I would, didn't I?"

Seconds later the two were surrounded by the rest of the orphans, who were jumping and screaming like wild animals. Several of the older ones were crying tears of relief. Behind them came Sarah, John, and many of the waitresses from the tavern. A group of tavern regulars were working to help lower Isaac in, despite his insistence that he could "darn well take care of himself."

Sarah snaked her way through the children to Lara. "Hood!"

Lara set Jenni down when she saw the intense look on Sarah's face. "Okay, I know what you're thinking! And I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth! But I–!"

Sarah cut her off when she pulled Lara into tight hug. If the eyes and piercings or the sudden change in gender bothered her, she was not acting like it.

"You won!" Sarah shouted. "I can't believe it! You won!"

"Huh? What about…well, me?"

Sarah released Lara, tears streaming down her face as she smiled. "I don't care who you are! Hood, Lara, man, woman! You can be a mermaid for all I care! You won!" She pulled Lara back into a hug. "Is it over? Is it really over?

Lara stood in stunned stillness for a moment before returning the embrace. "Yeah, it's over for good. Richard won't be tormenting you or anyone else ever again."

Sarah squeezed Lara even tighter, tears of unbridled joy streaming down her face. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You saved us! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"


Melody clutched the arms of her chair so tight her fingers hurt. Her stomach was twisted into a knot and it felt like eels were wriggling around in her chest. She watched as an elderly man in a worn apron pulled Lara into a tight bear hug, lifting her off her feet as she made an obviously uncomfortable face. The arena gates opened as men with stretchers whisked Richard off to the hospital.

Her pulse was pounding in her ears. This could not be. Richard could not lose! He was the best swordsman in the Alliance! How could he suffer such a devastating loss! And those awful things Lara said about him! He could not be the villain this woman made him out to be! He was a nobleman! He was honest, and virtuous, and good! He had to be! There was just no way anyone like that could be a noble, so it had to be a lie! And yet the evidence was right there in front of her. Before her very eyes Richard transformed into a venomous and violent brute. He threatened to kill Lara, and he surely intended to. Surely he had not meant those horrible things he said. It must have been stress. Yes, that as it. The match went to his head. He must not have realized what he was saying. He was not a villain like Morgana was…right?

"That…that was…" Aquata stammered. Melody lost her train of thought as she looked at her aunt. She was staring down at the arena with mouth agape, trying to find the right words. Clearly she was having similar thoughts about–.

"That…was…awesome!" Aquata finally exclaimed, applauding enthusiastically as she watched the celebration unfold.

"She was amazing!" said Ariel, her face slightly flushed from her racing pulse. There was a slight tremble in her hands from adrenaline, the rush coming just from observation. "Harsh, but amazing!"

"That's one word for it!" agreed Eric. "I've never seen anything like that! That Lara is truly something else!" He clapped a few more times before turning to Grimsby. "I want Avitas taken to the hospital immediately. And post guards at his room. I want to speak with him first thing tomorrow. He's got a lot of explaining to do."

"As you wish, sire," said Grimsby, his undertone suggesting he did not entirely approve of the king's suspicion of a distinguished member of his own court.

Eric stretched his arms behind him before straightening his jacket. "Well, I think it's time to go meet our champion."

"And hopefully your new guardian, Melody," added Ariel.

Melody snapped her head around. She wanted to protest. She wanted them to pick someone else. Anyone else! Pick that man in the loincloth if they had to, but not Lara! But she knew it was futile. They made up their minds the moment Lara sent Richard flying to the arena wall. She did not want to admit it, but she knew that woman was well above the other fighters. She was the obvious choice. The only real choice.

Ariel looked back when Melody did not follow. "Melody? Are you alright?" She held out her hand for her to take.

Melody opened her mouth to speak but no words came forth. There was nothing she could say to change the inevitable. Resignedly she shook her head and walked past Ariel and Aquata to following Eric and Grimsby out.


"Ye did it, lassie!" shouted John as he squeezed Lara in a hug, spinning in circles. "Ye whooped that rat good!"

"Augh! Easy, John!" protested Lara. "I'd like to walk out of here!"

Lara wriggled out of another of John's bone crushing hugs when a trumpet sounded. She turned around to see the gates below the royal box open. Two rows of armored guards marched out of the darkness, forming a long pathway towards the celebrating group. She took her bokken from Hector, wary of having so many armed men near her.

Eric, Ariel, Melody, and Aquata walked out of the recesses of the arena underbelly. The king and queen waved to the crowd as they strode out, smiling warmly as the throngs cheered for them. The princess kept her hands clasped in front of her, eyes cast down to the ground. She did not look nearly as happy as her parents. Beside her walked the brunette, the woman leaning on her cane as she walked. Maybe she had an old injury? Or a deformity that rendered her lame? Whatever it was, the woman waved to the crowd as well, eyes roving about as she took the scene in. Going by the finery on her head and the details of her dress, Lara guessed she was royalty as well. In front of the royals was Grimsby, and behind them were five men. One carried a golden laurel wreath on a light blue satin pillow. The other four, all large stout men, carried a wooden chest between them, the strain evident on their faces. Lara could hear the jingling of coins from inside amidst the noise around her.

Lara sheathed her bokken through her belt as Grimsby stopped several feet away. "Announcing their royal highnesses, King Eric and Queen Ariel, and the Princesses Melody and Aquata."

Sarah hissed for all the children to take a knee or bow as she did so, while Isaac managed as best he could. The entire stadium bowed or knelt in reverence to their rulers.

Well, almost everyone bowed.

Grimsby squinted confusedly at Lara's lack of motion. "Miss, it is customary to bow or kneel before royalty."

"Yeah…I'm gonna take a hard pass at that," said Lara. "Knees are sore."

Grimsby stiffened at her blatant refusal. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me," Lara said flatly.

Grimsby bristled visibly. "Young lady, I demand that you–!"

"It's all right, Grims," said Eric, clapping his advisor on the shoulder as he walked past. "I think the lady's earned some leniency."

Grimsby looked ready to protest but held his tongue. "As you wish, sire," he said, bowing before he stepped aside.

Eric looked to the crowd around Lara. "Please rise, all of you."

The group slowly got to their feet. Sarah swallowed hard, nervous to be standing in the presence of the king, let alone the entire royal family. Jenni hid behind Lara's legs, peering out timidly at them.

Eric looked to Lara, momentarily taken aback by her eyes but regaining his composure just as quickly. "Congratulations on your victory…Lara, was it?"

"Yeah," said Lara.

"That was quite a show you put on," said Eric. "I've never seen anyone with your level of skill or strength before."

"Thanks," Lara said, not sure beating a man half to death could be called a "show," even if he did deserve it. In her opinion, at least.

"Who taught you to fight like that?" asked Eric.

"My father," said Lara. "Among others."

"You clearly had very good teachers," said Ariel, joining Eric at his side. "Who is your father?"

Lara lost her train of thought for a moment as she looked at Ariel. She was even more beautiful up close. Her red hair was like spun rubies, and her eyes were the most enchanting shade of blue she had ever seen. Up close her presence was more like an aura. Just standing in front of her gave Lara a sense of calm and comfort she had not experienced in a long time.

"He's…a retired mercenary," Lara quickly lied. "I had no brothers for him to teach. So he taught me instead."

The fingers of her left hand nervously traced the handle of her bokken, hoping they would buy the lie. There was no way she could tell them who her father really was. Not that they would believe her anyway. That being said, it would be no better for her if they did.

"Well, I can definitely say he taught you well," said Eric. "He must be proud to have a daughter like you."

Lara cringed inwardly. Her father would have been proud of her reason and intentions for entering the tournament. And the efforts she had made to prepare herself. But he would have reprimanded her for what she did to Richard. Helping people was one thing. Bringing criminals to justice was another. But punishing people was another matter entirely. Richard deserved to pay for what he did, but it was not her place to decide what that payment was. What she did to him was not justice or atonement. It was to satisfy her own anger. She had not even offered him the courtesy of the old ways–a chance to surrender or retreat. And that alone would have disappointed her father to no end.

"Yeah…sure," Lara muttered, a pang of shame forcing her to break eye contact with Eric.

Eric waved to the men holding the chest. They brought their heavy burden up front and placed it in front of Lara before stepping away.

"As promised," said Eric as he opened the lid. "The six thousand gold coins are yours."

There was hardly a person in the arena that did not stare in wonder. The inside of the chest was piled high with gold coins bearing the seal of Seahaven. The sunlight gleamed on the yellow metal like firelight, dazzling all who looked at it. It was like something out of a pirate tale, seeing a chest filled to the brim with gold. Some would later claim they saw precious gems among the wealth, perhaps a last-minute bonus for such an extraordinary match.

Lara walked over and picked up one of the coins. The metal was cold as her fingers traced over it. She could tell it was solid gold just from the weight of it. This one chest contained more wealth than most would see in their lifetimes. Back east it would have bought her a small castle and servants. Out here it could buy her a house and a decent plot of land with plenty left to spare.

Yet Lara felt no desire for the precious metal. To her that was all it was. Shiny yellow metal, no different from a polished piece of steel. She turned the lone coin over in her fingers. To think that this metal, along with silver and copper, had been what allowed Richard to cause so much misery and pain. With this he bent people to his will, turning them into his fearful flock. That he had done such ill with something so small was so ironic Lara could not help but give a faint chuckle.

She clutched the coin in her hand. "I don't want it."

Eric's eyes widened, much like everyone else's did. "What?"

"I don't want it. And I don't need it." Lara turned around. "Hey, Sarah! Catch!"

Lara tossed the coin to her. Sarah fumbled for it but caught it. She gazed awestruck at the gold she now held in her hand, so much larger than the nugget "Hood" had given her weeks ago.

"It's yours," said Lara, giving the chest a light knock with her foot. "All of it."

Sarah stared with awestruck eyes at the chest. "You mean…?"

Lara nodded. "Down to the dust at the bottom. You'll put this to better use than I could."

Sarah's mouth hung open as she gaped at the gold in disbelief. There were six thousand coins in that chest. Six thousand gold coins! It was more wealth than she could wrap her head around. And Lara was giving it all to them. There was only one thing Sarah could do in this situation. She rushed to Lara and threw her arms around her, knocking her to the ground as she gave her the tightest hug she possibly could. Her tears started up again in earnest. The children rushed forward to the chest, eager to examine the sparkling metal for themselves.

"Thank you!" Sarah cried. "Lara, I can't thank you enough! After everything you've done for us, I…I…oh, thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!"

"Easy on the hugs, Sarah!" wheezed Lara. "Between you and John I'm gonna lose the feeling in my legs!"

"Wait, you're not taking it?" asked Aquata.

"I never wanted it from the start," said Lara as Sarah let go so she could get up.

"You mean you entered this tournament planning to give away the prize money?" asked Ariel.

"I don't even know what I'd do with that much gold," said Lara, brushing dust off her back. "These kids need it more than I do. I've got no use for it."

John walked over and clapped Lara on the shoulder. "Ye've done good, lassie. Ye've done good by all of us. I couldn' ask fer a finer bartender, much less a friend."

Grimsby coughed, getting Eric's attention. "Sire, I don't mean to intrude, but we do need to crown her still."

"Oh, right! Of course!" Eric carefully lifted the wreath off the pillow and walked over to Lara. "Lara, would you please kneel?"

Lara frowned as she brushed the last dirt off her. "Do I have to? Can't you just put it on?"

"It would be better if you knelt," said Eric. "It is tradition."

"Do I strike you as someone 'traditional?'" asked Lara sarcastically.

"Hood! I mean, Lara!" exclaimed Sarah. "That's the king you're talking to! Show some respect!"

"I just fought fifteen guys at once and went toe-to-toe with Richard!" said Lara. "Sorry if my knees are sore!"

"They weren't sore when you went tearing over to Jenni five minutes ago!"

Lara opened her mouth to argue back, but Sarah had her caught with that one. She snapped her mouth shut.

"Ooh! Can I do it, mister king!?" Lara turned back to see Jenni pulling at the seam of Eric's pants, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "Can I put the crown on her!? Can I!? Pleeeeeeeaaaaaasssee!?"

"Jenni!" Sarah raced past Lara and pulled her off. "That's no way to talk to his majesty! I'm so sorry about that, your highness!"

"It's nothing," said Eric. "Really! You don't have to apologize."

"If it's her I'll do it."

Everyone's attention went back to Lara.

"If Jenni puts it on me then I'll kneel," said Lara, nodding at the little girl.

"You will?" asked Eric.

"Yeah. But only her."

Grimsby coughed again as he walked up behind Eric. "Your majesty, need I remind you it is the king who crowns the champion."

"Oh, lighten up, Grims," said Eric. "If Lara wants to be crowned by her, I don't see why not."

"Yes, but…it's very old! The child could drop it and…" Grimsby shuddered as though he had just remembered some terrible nightmare. "No, I don't dare think it!"

"She won't," said Eric as he knelt down to hand the wreath to Jenni. "Because she'll be very careful with it. Won't you, Jenni?"

Jenni was practically shaking with excitement as she held the golden circle in her tiny hands. "Uh-huh! Uh-huh! I promise!"

Ariel came up behind Jenni, gently grasping her shoulders. "Okay, sweetie. Lara, if you would?"

As much as Lara hated to kneel for anyone, she did not feel so bad about it when Ariel asked. She removed her goggles and sunk to one knee, bowing her head ever so slightly.

"Lara Anclagon," said Eric as Ariel steered Jenni, hands guiding the girl's trembling ones to Lara's head. "By the powers granted to me, King Eric of Seahaven–and your little friend here–I hereby name you…"

Jenni lightly set the wreath on Lara's head as Eric loudly declared, "Champion of Seahaven!"


High up in the stands Remora and Riptide watched as the crowd rose to its feet, applauding, whistling, shouting, and cheering the loudest they had in eight years for the crowning of a champion.

Remora, however, was as much in a mood for celebration as Lara was in the east. The edge of her seat had been scorched black from the electricity she had been giving off, the wood smoking faintly. She ground her teeth in anger beneath her veil, breath hissing through her mask. Rage had been boiling inside her like a roiling cauldron since Lara revealed herself, and it only churned more violently as time moved forward.

This was an impossibility happening before her eyes. It defied all reason and circumstance. That girl could not be here. And yet she was. Remora would recognize that face anywhere. She was standing in the middle of a packed stadium as they cheered her name. With every chant the harder it became for Remora to control her magic, tendrils of smoke starting to rise from under her feet.

Riptide noticed the change in Remora's mental state. He had a good idea what was causing it as well. He was just as surprised as her, if not as enraged. "What's going on, Remora? Who is that human?"

"My business, and not yours!" snapped Remora, now trying to keep her magic from lashing out against her will. "And she's not some human, either! She's a witch! Someone taught magic to that brat! That's the only explanation for that upset she pulled off!"

She stood abruptly. "Get your tail moving! Now!"

"Where are you going?" asked Riptide as he followed, being sure to stay out of his wrathful partner's reach.

"To report to the Master! He has to know!" Remora started down the steps hastily, her enormous "companion" following close behind. She watched as Lara rose to her feet, hoisting Jenni onto her shoulder.

"Live it up while you can, Lara!" she growled under her breath. "Because when I get my hands on you, I'm gonna make you beg for death!"


The raven watched as the villains exited the arena along with the first departing spectators. Lara and her group left with the royals, accepting their invitation to dine at the palace. Melody stayed well clear of Lara but never took her eyes off her as they went. Behind them followed the rest of the group, including the four men straining to carry the chest of gold once again.

"So this is how it starts, is it?" asked the raven to no one. "Of all the kingdoms your path could have brought you to, it brought you to this one. Fate truly weaves in strange and curious ways."

He focused on Ariel as she laughed at Jenni trying to get her legs around Lara's neck. She succeeded, but only after pushing the gold laurel around Lara's eyes. Lara pulled the laurel off and stuck it on Jenni's head, returning her goggles to their rightful place. Ariel smiled widely, amused by their antics.

"Hmm…you and I should speak, Queen Ariel. And soon." With that the raven tucked its head under its wings, its body crumbling to ash and smoke before it vanished without a trace.


A/N: A cancer among Seahaven's miraculous peace has been excised. Richard Avitas has been dethroned. Lara Anclagon stands triumphant in the arena for all to see. But there is more to this day than gold and chivalry. The path that brought Lara across deserts and through mountains has crossed with those of Melody, Ariel, and Eric. And, though the tracks have long been lost to time, Lara's lonely road has been reunited with Remora's blood-soaked trail. What is their connection? And how will Lara's future now weave itself into that of the royal family?

As always, your comments/thoughts/constructive criticism is appreciated and welcome!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. I do not own the listed song(s). Everything else, however, is mine =)