Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Saga ❯ Duel - The Challenge ( Chapter 3 )

Final Fantasy Saga

Chapter III: Duel - The Challenge

Cloud couldn't help but think as he saw Zell come to their detention that day, as bruised as he was. Ark d'Speare was a much more talented fighter than Cloud had given him credit for, and he had to wonder if maybe he should fight the man. Barret, Tifa, and now even Zell had lost to this one man, who could prove to be the very downfall of this gang's credibility if they didn't defeat him. Cloud knew that if he got serious, Ark would fall, but he also knew that if he gave it his all there was a chance Ark would get hurt in their battle. He didn't want to seriously injure the guy, but it also seemed as if the only thing which could beat Ark was to absolutely defeat him. Such was always the way with men who were so determined for victory that their Limit Break was simply to ignore pain, not prevent injury.

"I can't believe it!" Aeris said at the sight of Zell, "He really let you have it! This actually pisses me off! Who the hell does this guy think he is?"

"He's good Aeris, you wouldn't stand a chance against him," Zell said, shaking his head, "I could tell that my hits were doing damage to his body. But Ark d'Speare is beyond comprehension… his mind doesn't seem to register pain at all, he just… goes."

"Well you're MY bitch, end of story, and he has to learn that," Aeris said, obviously flustered by this.

"He will," Cloud said, standing up from the table and slinging his sword over his back, "I'll teach him, sweety."

Aeris looked at Cloud, shocked, and said, "Thanks." The couple believed in only fighting their own battles, so such a statement meant something, though neither could be sure of what exactly this statement meant.

Cloud leaned in and kissed Aeris, smiling as he backed away, and whispered to her, "I'm going to go have a talk with him now. You guys cover for me?"

"Sure thing," Zell smiled, "Give him a good hit for me, pal!"

* * * * * * *

"I had no idea you were so strong," Eliza said as she handed Ark his lunch, sitting down under the tree where they now always ate.

Ark nodded as he took a large bite into his burger, talking as he chewed, "Thanks to Gren, I've grown a lot stronger this last year!"

"Dumb animal," Gren hit Ark over the head, "Chew, swallow, then speak."

"Bite me," Ark kept eating, chewing ferociously as he heard Eliza beginning to chuckle. She had apparently decided to find Ark and Gren's pseudo-friendship to be one of the most amusing things in the entire school.

Gren began to eat calmly, having a salad in the completely normal contrast between him and Ark. After a few bites, Gren asked as he did from time to time, "Really now, how did you get those scars along your back?"

Sighing, Ark shrugged, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Eliza, you tell him."

Eliza's eyes widened a bit and she looked at Ark, "Me? Why me?"

"Because, if he hears it from you then he'll trust that it's what really happened," Ark explained and nodded, "If I told him, he'd think I was just saying it to make myself look good."

"Okay then," Eliza closed her eyes, "It all happened two years ago, back in our Junior High…"

* * * * * * *

Two years earlier, on that one fateful day, Eliza started off as she would have started any normal day. She took a quick, brisk swim in the pool of her apartment complex, which helped her wake up. It had been a tradition for her to swim in the mornings since before she could even remember, like it had always been a part of her routine before she was even born. After breakfast she was off to school, after which she had every intention of going to work. Since her parents died when she was very young, Eliza had been forced to work nearly her entire life since she wanted to have her own freedom. But this day was going to be different, something was going to happen on this day, and Eliza couldn't even imagine it.

Initially the day went by completely normally, until Eliza was on her way to her ceramics class. She was very tired for some reason that day, and felt as if she were half dreaming for most of it, and as such she didn't notice when the school alarm went off. Very quickly all the other kids and the teachers had gone into a classroom, but she walked out of the bathroom unaware that a monster was on school grounds. Still walking in the general direction of her class, Eliza suddenly heard a strange sound coming from behind her, and felt a strange breeze beginning to push her. Turning around, Eliza only saw a single, red-haired boy who proceeded to tackle her and scream out in a strange agony she didn't quite recognize.

Struggling under the boy, Eliza's eyes widened when she realized his blood was dripping down onto her. She looked over to see three large gashes across his back, and then looked a little forward to see a large, bird-like monster floating a little ways off staring at them. It had black and red feathers, and cried out like a ravenous demon, the sound echoing horror and mimicking fear in the ears of the young Eliza. It's eyes blazed like fire, its beak seeming as sharp and jagged as the rocks by the ocean, and its size was nearly four times her own. Whatever it was, it had Eliza more afraid than anything else in her entire life.

"Dumb girl," she heard the boy say, sounding half dead, "Why didn't you hide like the others?" He slowly stood up, she could tell he was really hurt, "This would've been a lot better if you weren't here."

"Who… are you?" Eliza asked, overcoming her fear briefly out of immense curiosity.

"My name's Ark," answered the boy, "Now get the hell out of here, I'm gonna deal with this thing myself." He turned around and cracked his knuckles, "I won't let it hurt anyone." This would be the very first battle that Eliza ever watched Ark fight.

"Wait!" Eliza said, her entire body trembling.

"What the hell is it, woman?" Ark groaned, looking back at her.

"Be careful, Ark… don't get hurt," Eliza smiled, but tears were running down her cheeks, "I owe you my life."

Ark smiled at her, "I'll be fine. Don't worry." With that, he turned to face the bird demon, and leapt into the air. The demon drove it's beak into his shoulder, impaling it, but before it could do anything else Ark had it's throat in his hands, clamped down in their strength. Eliza watched Ark savagely strangle the demon to death, bleeding the entire time, but not caring. The look in his eyes, the pure hatred he seemed to feel for the monster, was unlike anything she had ever seen. After it died, he turned towards her and smiled again, covered in his own blood, "See? Nothing to worry about." With that, he fainted.

Eliza had gone with Ark in the ambulance, and from then on the two became inseparable. Eliza owed Ark her life, and Ark was touched because Eliza was the first person to ever ask him to take care of himself. One offered protection and the other offered care, each a thing that the other had never had in this life before. Ark eventually wound up making his promise, Eliza had eventually wound up being separated from him by his acceptance to the Mana academy, only for them to end up reunited.

* * * * * * *

"He's right," Gren said, nodding slowly, "If he had told me, I wouldn't have believed the dumb animal. That is by far the most selfless thing he's ever done."

"Ark's always taken care of me," Eliza smiled, looking at Ark as she took a second bite of her granola bar, "And that's how we first met."

"Eliza's always taken care of me, too, though," Ark added and poked her forehead, "She's way to humble."

"Well, you might not be much of an animal after all," Gren couldn't stop himself from smiling, he seemed pleased to have heard about Ark's past, "But you still act like one, and so you're just a man pretending to be a dog."

"Hey!" Ark stood up and made a fist, "You wanna have a go of it right here and now, Ashforn?"

"You should save your energy, Ark d'Speare," a new voice suddenly came from around the tree.

Ark turned around to see Cloud Strife, another of the people in the group he'd been feuding with, leaning against their tree. "Not another," Ark groaned and walked around to face Cloud, "I take it you've come looking for a fight Cloud?"

"You know my name, I'm honored," Cloud had an extremely arrogant smirk on his face, the type of smirk that made Ark want to punch something.

"Well, unlike the other people in your gang, you're infamous for winning the Swordsmanship Tournament last year, not to mention you're a direct student of Sephiroth. As far as people go, you're pretty famous on the campus," Ark reasoned, "But it doesn't matter, if you want a fight you got one."

"Unfortunately, you've been messing with my gang, so I have to beat you," Cloud opened his eyes to look into Ark's own, "You honestly don't stand a chance against me. In terms of pure skill, I'm simply better than you."

"Arrogant pieces of crap like you are what really piss me off," Ark grinned and cracked his knuckles, "A duel, then?"

"Yes," Cloud stopped leaning and walked forward a bit, "But not today. I want to hold it tomorrow at lunch. I wish to give you one day to prepare yourself."

"Fine, fine," Ark sighed, having been hoping for a chance to haul out his broadsword here and now, "I'll see you tomorrow then, blond porcupine."

* * * * * * *

"What's the matter?" Eliza asked Ark, walking out to sit next to him under their tree. It had been several hours since the encounter with Cloud, and it was now night. Gren and many of the other students were asleep, but Eliza had woken up and could feel that Ark was here. She had no idea how to explain it, she simply knew. The night was very cool, and the stars were shining as brightly as they always did in this magical place.

Ark paused for a few moments, until he finally answered, "To be honest, I'm not sure that I can defeat Cloud."

Eliza was amazed to hear this from Ark, she'd never heard him talk like this before, "You can't be serious!"

"I am," Ark then explained to her, "I don't ever show my enemy fear. Especially not ones like Cloud Strife. He's the type of opponent where if you blink, that's when they attack. But the truth is that he's really good. I don't know if my own skills can compare."

"Ark… do you remember what you told me a few days ago when we talked about you fighting?" Eliza asked, looking to Ark.

"What was that?"

Eliza looked to the moon after a few moments, and then answered, "You told me that with me by your side, and Gren watching your back, you're unbeatable. I have faith in you Ark. I won't look back, but I want you to keep looking forward with me."

"Thank you, Eliza," Ark smiled and took her into a hug, making her stop looking up at the moon. Eliza found herself shocked by this, but it was very welcome, as she let her arms move around to hold Ark closely to her.

Closing her eyes and smiling, Eliza whispered to Ark, "You're going to win. Don't even think otherwise, and it'll just happen."

* * * * * * *

"Do you feel comfortable, using your friends in this way?" Rufus asked, standing in front of the window which let the moonlight into his dark classroom.

Squall shook his head, "I'm not using them at all. Cloud is smart, he's fully aware of me being up to something, so he knows that tomorrow he's likely being used as another diversion."

Rufus smiled, this boy pleased him very much, "Tomorrow things will escalate. With the evidence we got while Ark fought Zell, I have several of the teachers on my side. The revolution happens tomorrow, be prepared."

"Everything is in order. Out of curiosity, which teachers have fallen to our side of the battle?"

"Setzer was already onboard, along with him I have Beatrix, Rosa, Vincent, and Seymour," Rufus answered, "Some of the most powerful among the teachers, and easily enough to turn the tides against Laguna with the plan we currently have."

"There is only one vice you need consider, sir," Squall began, "Gren Ashforn and Quistis Trepe are on Laguna's side, and are very powerful warriors."

"Don't worry Squall," Rufus assured his young pupil, "We have the element of surprise, and we have quite a bit of power. We'll win."

* * * * * * *

Ark and Cloud met at eleven in the morning, the very beginning of the lunch period, time slowly slipping by as the coming of noon, of the middle of the day, drew closer. Slung over Ark's shoulder, wrapped in cloth, was his broadsword. Clouds was slung over his shoulder as well, as if there were no other ways to carry such blades. Though when Ark thought about it, there really weren't. The two swordsmen met on the roof of the gym, dark clouds gathering overhead as a large number of students watched from around them and from the ground below. It was as if this match were the battle of the century, Ark found himself very excited, and his confidence was restored with the help of Eliza.

"Ready for this?" Cloud asked, grasping the handle of his sword with both hands and twirling it with freakish speed for the swords size.

Nodding, Ark pulled the cloth off of his word, looked over at Eliza, and then answered as he turned his gaze back to Cloud, "Are you?"

"Then there's no need for either of us to hold back," Cloud curled back, making it look like his first attack might be a stabbing move with him lunging forwards.

"Exactly," Ark turned his body away, his eyes locked with Cloud's, and his sword being held in a horizontal position with the blade set to the sides. His first move would be a side slash and it was obvious.

It was a very intense few moments that followed the small talk. The sound of the wind blowing was the only noise that was made in that time. The people, the warriors, all were silent, not even the building made a creak. Moment after agonizing moment, the stalemate kept going, making people believe it might never end. Each of the warriors took their sweet time awaiting the ultimate decision, once it began there was no turning back, and neither of them was looking to reach an ending.

While this silence went, Gren whispered to Eliza, "Ark can't make the first move because he isn't as good at attacking as Cloud, and Cloud can't make the first move since Ark is better at defense. Overall Cloud has more skill, but if Ark can catch an advantage in the early phases of the battle then he might be able to win. The result is this stalemate, but it won't last for much longer."

Eliza thought for a moment before whispering back, "So the battle will either last a matter of moments, or go on for a very long time?"

"You've gotten pretty good at reading these things," Gren smiled and nodded, "You're correct."

They held still for only a fraction of a second longer, and no sooner was it that the two warriors began to charge each other. Cloud, instead of stabbing, swung his sword into a powerful vertical slash. Ark, as it seemed, attacked in a horizontal slash with as much strength as he could put into it. Their blades clashed, and then suddenly a huge explosion took place, dust throwing itself up around the two combatants and a shockwave knocking everyone else on the rooftop down.

"I was afraid this would happen," Gren commented, "That dumb animal, why did he pick such an idiotic place for this fight?"

"What happened?" Eliza asked, both shocked and scared for Ark's safety.

"When two swords collide, there's always a shock wave. Truly adept swordsmen learn to ignore this shockwaves very existence. But with two swords of that size, the wave proved so powerful that it had an explosive effect, but since neither combatant feels the attacks initially they were both too stupid to think they were fighting on a hollow roof," Gren explained, "This fact would give Ark an advantage, since he has more endurance than Cloud, but then there's a chance that the two have fallen to their deaths."

"Oh no…" Eliza ran towards the dust, screaming as loud as she could, "Ark! ARK!!!" Terror filled her heart, and then slowly but surely darkness encumbered her vision until all there was for her was blackness and cold.

To Be Continued

Author's Notes: This chapter is short, I know, but that's because I wanted to end it on a bit of a cliffhanger note. Did I do well? ^_^ This is the beginning of the climax for the first plot arc. Hope you guys are ready, because it's going to start to get rough for a while in Chapter 4: Duel - The Finale! So before this all begins, let's remember all those relaxing times that our heroes have had thus far. Eating, talking, uh… cooking? Wait, nobodies cooked yet… then where's all that smoke coming from?

>.>

<.<

I'd better go now.

Damn, except I forgot something! To make up for the short chapter, you guys get a super extended edition Author's Notes today! I guess I'll just sit here and cough in the horrible smoke while I rant on about more things. Let's go a little more into detail about our mystery man, the original character who has thus far had the least time around! He's the dark figure lurking in a castle some ways from the Mana Academy. I can't really reveal anything new about him, but I will let you in on the fact that he'll be making another appearance, in some form or another, in the distant future. Don't expect to hear from him again until Chapter 10, the beginning of the Tournament plot arc. Who is he? What is his role in the storyline? You won't get to find out for a while! This section has slight spoilers, but not THAT bad!

Now then, that seems good enough, I'm sure you're bored with me by now. So, ja ne!