Colosseum One-Shots

The Training Assignment

Leith stared at you from his position in the large training hall, glancing momentarily at the other pairs as they started fighting each other in the covered space. There were a few guards and Colosseum officials around to keep the peace as Challengers brawled it out, but Leith released a quiet sigh. The five minute countdown had just begun, Leith's frame beginning to fragment as the teen sent Sanaa an apprehensive once-over.

"Good luck. I guess..."

Sanaa smirked at the boy in an attempt to hide her wariness. She wasn't eager to train with a being who could transform at will into something she couldn't hit. It didn't seem like a wholly fair fight, and she knew she would be on the defensive during most of it. Even still, it was a training exercise so at least the fight wasn't a lethal dance of death.

Sanaa was sure she would be dead if it was.

Rocking back on the heels of her leather boots, she drew her khopesh smoothly from its sheath at her thigh. She hated her thigh scabbard for its bulk and clunkiness, but she had been unable to find her slim back sheath. Although it didn't offer much protection from the blade, it was easier to maneuver with and she liked the solid weight against her back. Her long black hair fell against her covered shoulders loosely. She hadn't bothered to put it up even knowing that she probably should have.

As Leith fragmented before her eyes, she lifted her khopesh in front of her and cursed herself for not grabbing a shield. How could she defend herself from stardust? Someone had told her it hurt like hell to get hit with it. Rumors floated around that it could disintegrate almost anything. And they had paired the death girl with him. She certainly couldn't kill air, even if she wanted to. One weapon, she reminded herself. Not that she would have been allowed to use her abilities in a training exercise.

Corpses couldn't fight back.

Leith struck with brutal efficiency, giving little time to block or react. Sanaa swiped her sword blindly through the stardust, knowing her physical attacks would do little to dissuade his attack. The stardust struck her square in her stomach and she doubled over, wheezing against her sudden loss of air. She felt more than saw the stardust singing her clothes and she was grateful she had chosen full-body coverage over something to sweat in.

Catching her breath, she dove out of the cloud swarming her and rolled into a crouch facing Leith. The cloud divided and reshaped as if mimicking the ebb and flow of the tide, which would have been fascinating if it hadn't divided into five new clouds. Sanaa grumbled words no princess should utter as she got to her feet and warily lifted her blade. The new tears in her clothes and stinging flesh did not go unnoticed by her, but it was the damage to her boots that caused a low growl to escape her. "You will pay for that," she vowed, staring daggers at the stardust clouds in front of her.

In response, the stardust advanced once more in a blur of speed and she hissed as it bit into her clothes once more. She swiped her blade through the air and watched as it reformed around it. There was no way she would be able to win this fight. Again she hurled herself out of the mist, breathing heavily and swung her khopesh in a low arc as if to sever legs from a body. The stardust reared out of the blade's path and suddenly, Leith was standing in his human form in front of her. He was also weaponless.

Sending a prayer to the gods, she stalked closer, brandishing her blade out in front. Leith retreated, never taking his eyes off of hers as he walked backwards. Sanaa knew she did not have much time, so she lunged forward and swung. In the back of her mind, she wondered why she was fighting so hard and if she was actually allowed to hurt him. Her thoughts flashed back to her ruined boots and she suddenly didn't care.

Although Leith was fast, Sanaa was faster as her blade met the skin of his bicep and sliced deep. She watched as his eyes widened and he cried out, but there wasn't a choice here. It was either hurt him or he would hurt her. As she moved to stab him in the leg, he began to fragment again. Her five seconds were up.

Not knowing if it would make contact, she stabbed where his leg had been as he dematerialized. She wouldn't know if she had made contact until he changed back.

As the stardust began to swarm her, Sanaa went on the defensive and tried to find cover. There was no escape from Leith's relentless attack though, and she quickly began to loathe the shiny dust and the boy behind it. She had a deep gash in her forearm where he had cut her and burns down her back that she could only hope were not life threatening. She tried to keep moving, but wherever she went, the dust followed and it only tired her out more. Her blade was useless against it and even if she could use her powers, she doubted they would work without making a physical connection to Leith.

Although it pained her to do so, she knew what she had to do. "I surrender," she gritted out. The stardust froze mid assault before rearranging into a started Leith.

"Really? It's only been a couple of minutes." She hadn't expected the lack of condescension from him. He only seemed surprised.

Sanaa rose to her full height, wincing at the burns down her back. "You and I both know I can't fight you when you're literally dust floating around the room." She threw up her hands. "Besides, I know how to fight already. I don't need the training."

Leith narrowed his eyes at that. "It's mandatory for everyone, regardless of whether you think you can fight."

A cold grin spread across her face as she waved her khopesh towards him. "You should probably get that leg looked at. Your dripping blood onto the floor." She sheathed her khopesh, knowing very well the fight was over. Trying to ignore her own wounds, she turned and paced towards a medic, allowing the tiniest bit of satisfaction knowing she had hit flesh after all.