6
Yuki's body had no chance to fight against the force that had been acted upon it. Before he knew what had happened both he and Maria had gone rolling across the floor. He quickly jumped up in anger. Maria lay motionless with her face planted firmly in the carpet.
"Wake us up normally!"
"No."
Yuki and Styx bickered back and forth briefly until they were rudely interrupted by the sound of Maria shooting into consciousness in terror. They looked over to the small girl now sitting indian style on the floor. Even though the dark bags under her eyes hadn't improved in the slightest something about her face gave off a sense of energy and confidence.
"Are you ready Styx."
Styx let out a single laugh that mixed with a snort and then threw something to Maria. She caught it with ease and then held it up with her two palms placed together.
"What's this?"
"An hourglass. Well, actually that one keeps quarter hours."
Yuki looked back to Styx who was standing confidently with one hand on her hip and one leg up on the edge of the bed. She looked like the pirate from those rum bottles. He couldn't remember the name because Maria didn't drink rum and Styx wasn't picky enough about her drinks to have him buy any.
"You can do it in 15?"
"I'll be able to do my part. I strengthened the link between worlds as much as possible. Just don't let them hit me. We're cutting it way too close as it is so I can't have any distractions."
The three of them shared a confident smile for a moment until Yuki broke the silence.
"This plan has no chance of working."
7
The team made their way into the arena and moved off to a special area that was only open to tournament contestants. As is to be expected of any situation where two teams will be locked in heated combat the first task of the day was to fill out paperwork. To move things along quickly, especially in the first day where the most matches would be taking place, contestants would discuss the rules of their round the night before and turn them into tournament staff. In the morning both teams would sign off that the stipulations were correct and only in cases where both teams hadn't signed would the match type be discussed in the ring. Something Alto was very appreciative of as it made his job much easier. Yuki scrawled his name down on the paper just underneath a sloppy Vex wrote hastily in all caps. The enemy team had arrived early perhaps so they could avoid seeing Yuki and his team until the fight.
In total day one of the tournament had 16 games scheduled. As they walked Yuki peaked over Maria's shoulder to the tournament program that she held in her hand.
"Where did you get that?"
"A desk in one of the spectator entrances. There are food stands there too. They didn't set up any food stands for the competitors."
A tinge of contempt ran through her voice on the last sentence. Yuki sighed loudly.
"Do you want to go get some food, Maria?"
Maria turned around and Yuki not expecting her sudden stop ran into her almost knocking them both over. When he had regained his balance he noticed her holding out her right hand to him.
"Did you have that the whole time?"
"You have terrible situational awareness, Yuki."
In her hand Maria held a white bag. Yuki took the bag from her outstretched arm and looked quickly inside. Several foil wrapped shapes lined the bag. Yuki pulled one out and started to unwrap it fumbling with the white bag in the process.
"What are these."
"Tacos. And you're in charge of carrying them now."
Yuki slipped his wrist through the handles on the bag and was finally able to release his food of its unwanted wrapper. He took a large bite and jogged to catch back up with Maria who had started to walk again.
"When is our fight?"
Maria checked the program once again then folded it up and slid it into her back pocket.
"We're lucky number 7. Give me one of those tacos."
Yuki dug into the bag and pulled one out and passed it to Maria. She unwrapped it and balled the foil up tightly. Without looking she tossed the foil ball behind her and over Yuki's head. He watched it arc and land perfectly in a nearby trash can. He turned his attention back to Maria who was happily eating.
"Good, we can use all the luck we can get."
Maria turned the corner and disappeared from his view without responding. Yuki turned the corner and looked out over the large open area with the small white ring in the center. Styx was sitting in the corner with a grumpy look on her face. Maria was next to her with her feet propped up on the railing at the edge of the dugout. Yuki took a seat beside her and retrieved another taco from his bag.
Directly across from them was the dugout of the dragon disciples. Gorbac sat at the end of the metal bench directly over the leg as he had already bent the bench a bit when he attempted to sit in the center. Vex stood in front of the metal handrail and talked to his team without turning to look at them.
"Alright guys, this is it. Our final mission."
He looked out towards the ring where their future would be decided and then turned to face his team.
"We've already gathered the relevant information and given ourselves an advantage over our enemies. If we work together this first round will be an easy success."
He jutted his hand forward with an extended pointer finger that moved back and forth between his two teammates.
"But don't take this for granted. We are fighting for our master's sake and as such you should respect your enemies as you respect the master himself."
Sivlis let out an acknowledgement in the form of a high pitched click while Gorbac slowly nodded his head in confused understanding. Vex looked immediately to his large ally.
"Allow me to explain it further. You want to give your all to your master don't you."
The giant nodded decisively.
"Aye."
"Then if you do something in your master's name, you have to do it with everything you have. That's what we're forgotten recently and that's what we are here to fix. No losing control over personal insults and no chasing women. No distractions. We're going to fight every team with our full strength in the name of Master Karcervandros."
Gorbac's eyes gleamed with determination. Everything for Master Karcervandros. That was something that the three disciples could get behind.
8
From the special spectator box the champion of Sarun watched in deep anticipation. He was excited for the next match; hungry for it.
Guuuurrrrr
He wasn't the only one who was hungry. The Champions apprentice Ursus let out a loud grumble from their stomach. Their bear themed mask hid any embarrassment they may or may not have been feeling.
"I think I'll go get some food. Would you like me to bring you something?"
Champion Lloyd swung around in his chair. He reached his arm out to Ursus as they walked away.
"No, wait!"
The bear turned their attention back to Lloyd. The other apprentice Cora was now also giving her full attention.
"I get the feeling you don't want to miss any of this next fight."
"I won't miss that much. And I'm really hungry."
Lloyd replied with a muffled whimper.
“This is important. It's the duty of the champions and as such it's your duty as an apprentice.”
Just as Ursus reluctantly sat back down stomach still grumbling the door on the far end of the booth opened up. A dark haired guard walked through and found a seat. He was a bit disheveled and had a few bruises but by the looks of things he had already been treated by the medical staff on hand.
"Radar. How are you feeling."
"I'll be alright Champion Lloyd."
Lloyd looked down at the ground doing his best to avoid eye contact. The guard captain noticed immediately. He wouldn't have gotten his position if he wasn't observant. And this was downright obvious to begin with.
"What's wrong?"
"I hate to ask you so soon after your match ended but do you think you could go and get something to eat for us. I'd like Ursus and Corax to watch all of the matches in their entirety if possible. Especially this next one."
The wolfman let out a low snarl but then made his way back to his feet.
"It is the job of a champion during tournament time so I suppose it can't be helped."
He left with the promise that he would be back soon and apprentice Ursus let out a loud and pointed sigh.
"I feel bad ordering him around like he's a butler. What is so special about this nnext match anyway? What has you so excited?"
"You don't know this but last night I caught someone breaking into the arena grounds after dark."
Ursus and Corax both let out a gasp.
"What. And you didn't tell anyone?"
"I followed them to see what they were up to. After watching a while I decided they weren't up to anything malicious so I came out of hiding."
"What were they doing?"
"Practising."
The two apprentice champions were puzzled. A long silence filled the air and lingered uncomfortably. Ursus was the one to lift its spell on the room.
"You made them leave right? Go back to their hotel."
"I let them keep going. In fact I watched. It was mesmerizing. And the person who I caught sneaking in last night was the girl on this next team. So watch carefully because I think this is going to be an interesting fight."
9
The time had finally come. Alto rose high into the air and announced the next fight in the line. A dramatic tune began to play over the arena speakers as Alto called for the Dragon Disciples to make their way to the ring. Vex, Gorbac, and Sivlis made their way to the center accompanied by the deafening cheers of the crowd. Once they had reached the middle and the cheering had quieted a bit Alto called for the next team.
"Black Cats make your way to the ring."
A low electrical guitar pulled up to a high note punctuated by an agitated meow. High energy chords played on as Yuki, Styx, and Maria made their way to the center stage to face their opponents. Maria led the way with Yuki tailing close behind. Styx walked lazily behind them carrying something to the ring with her. Vex, Sivlis, Gorbac, and Alto all looked carefully trying to figure out what she had. When she finally reached the ring they finally understood.
Styx was the last to step up onto the ring and as soon as she had she unfolded the object she had brought with her and sat down on it.
"Why did she bring a chair."
Alto asked this away from the microphone so his confusion didn't echo back at him from the entire arena. Styx leaned further back and stretched out her legs. She pointed at him with a disinterested look on her face.
"Don't worry about it just go over the rules."
Alto wore a look of confusion for a brief moment but decided to get the match rolling anyway. Things would sort themselves out.
"This match has been set as a 3 on 3 team battle. Both teams will fight until all members of the other team have been eliminated. Eliminations can only occur if a fighter forfeits or is unable to continue fighting. If a fighter is knocked off their feet I will begin a count and if they are unable to get back to their feet before a 10 count they will be considered unable to continue fighting. If a fighter touches the ground outside the ring I will begin a count and if they are unable to return to the ring before a 10 count they will be considered unable to continue fighting. Does either team have anything to add?"
Maria joyfully butted in.
"Yeah. Here catch."
Maria threw the small hourglass to Alto who caught it although just barely. He examined it carefully for a moment.
"What's this?"
"It's an hourglass. Well, actually it only counts 15 minutes. When the fight starts flip that glass. If my team doesn't win before the last grain of sand sinks to the bottom we'll forfeit."
The arena let out a collective gasp followed by a short silence and a loud cheering. Maria felt at home in the applause. It fed her confidence and made her even more sure of herself. It was because of that feeling that there was no hesitation when Alto asked his question.
"Are you sure?"
"There's no need for me to repeat myself."
Sivlis chittered happily. Gorbac gave a similar cry of joy.
"Vex, this'll be easier than we fisr' thought."
Vex's piercing green eyes shot around and aimed right at Gorbac.
"Don't forget, we give this tournament everything we have. If we underestimate them we've lost."
Gorbac looked down in shame. Sivlis' chittering also turned to something more dejected sounding.
"Righ', sorry."
Vex turned back to his opponents. He pointed through them and back towards Styx still lounging in her folding chair.
"And what of her?"
"Really I just can't be bothered. I'll be sitting this one out. If you beat both my teammates I guess I'll be forced to fight you. But that won't happen."
