THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER XXI: CAT FIGHT

LeGrande and Alveo slumped on the floor of the viewing room breathing heavily from the fight. They both were more than just exhausted, their energies were almost depleted. 

"You alright?" Myoku asked LeGrande. LeGrande looked at her and said, "I'm fine. Just need a little rest." Myoku pinches his nose and said, "That's good to know." She then turned to Alveo. "You were great, Alveo. I never imagined a young man like you to have such power." Alveo blushed. "It was nothing compared to this guy." Alveo said. "You were both great." River said. "Lord River is right. You both did well. Your powers will be very useful in this mission." Victor Kharzaan said. "Indeed." Ardus Skaggs agreed. "However, you should be able to control your powers better and not use them recklessly." Ardus said with stress in his voice. The two fighters remained silent. They know better than to argue with any of the leaders. "Lord Skaggs has a very good point." Raiza Sandabado said. "Your battle today did not last that long and yet look at you both, very much exhausted. What good is a fighter if he loses his energy on the battlefield? You'll be good as dead." Raiza said as if scolding two boys in training. "Understood, Lord Raiza." LeGrande answered. "We're sorry." Alveo said. River smiled. He is very much pleased to know that they are gaining the lords' trust and are starting to support them in this mission. He just hoped that nothing will ruin the mood as they continue the rest of the duels. "Well then..." River said. "On to the next battle." The electronic board started flashing random names to select the next fighters. The first name it flashed was EMERALD LEATHERWOOD. "Alright! My turn." Emerald said. The board then selected the other fighter. It flashed the name SEOUL SANDABADO. "Hm." Seoul said calmly. Raiza Sandabado looked at Seoul and said, "I expect a great fight from you, Seoul Sandabado." Seoul turned to Raiza and answered, "Naturally." She pinned her hair in a knot using two metal chopsticks. "Psh... Chopsticks." Emerald said. Seoul walked toward Emerald and looks at her from head to foot. "Pft... Ugly." she said. Emerald spluttered "I beg your pardon?" raising a brow. "Ugly! Want me to spell it out for you?" Seoul said. She change her voice imitating a child "Spell 'ugly' Y.O.U." twitches her head with every letter she mentions. "Ugly!"

And the bickering started.

"Girl, puh-lease have you looked in a mirror lately?" Emerald asked. "Absolutely. I always do." Seoul replied. "Have you?" "Yeah." Emerald said "And it said one word: Fab-u-lous!" Seoul laughed sweetly. "It only means one thing!" Seoul said. "It means your crude." Emerald told her. "No, honey. It means that you haven't seen a mirror at all. Because mirrors don't talk." Seoul said with a sweet voice. Emerald glared at her. "Mirror! Mirror! My mirror." she grinned. "Don't hate me cause you aint me." "I am me. And I love my looks more than yours." Seoul spluttered. "I'll show you in the chamber what this warrior girl is all about." Emerald said confidently. They both walked down the stairs from the viewing room to the center of the arena, Seoul following Emerald.

"Hmm... Ugly." Seoul muttered. "Seriously? Beauty is a gift that you obviously didn't get." Emerald said to Seoul. "Sweety..." Seoul said touching Emerald's face. "Being defensive doesn't make you any prettier. So, just accept the fact. Because I only state facts." she said sweetly. "No, it wouldn't. But being me makes me hot. I'm just too cool for you." Emerald smiled. "You obviously don't state facts because you've only stated opinions. Wrong ones at that." she said. "Now that's interesting." Seoul raised her brows. "How can hot be so cool?" she said putting stress on her words. "'Cold' is the absence of 'heat' and that is a general knowledge. You're being inconsistent there, dear." she told Emerald. "I said I was beautiful not hot. Hots are for girls. Beauty is for women." Emerald answered. But Seoul insisted, "Didn't you just said 'being me makes me hot'? Now you're not just ugly. You're also crazy." Seoul faced the viewing room and said, "Doesn't mental inconsistency disqualifies a fighter?"

"There she goes." Raiza's eyes rolled. In the viewing room, River's sweat dropped. He turned to Myoku and asked "Myoku, you're not like this ever, are you?" Myoku glared at River and replied "Later, young man. La-ter." Okay. Girls are scary. River warned himself. 

Emerald just grinned and said "I'll burn you right up. Let me make you green with envy." Seoul claps very slowly as she said, "Ooohh... am I so scared. I wonder then." Emerald brushed her hair back. "Have you even combed that rats' nest you call hair?" she asked Seoul. Seoul replied with total sarcasm "Oh... comb? No, I don't comb my hair. Combs are so damaging to the hair. Don't you know that?" "Depends on the comb you use, dummy. You obviously aren't a smart shopper." Emerald said. "Oh, I'm apologize, but I don't shop. We have servants to do the shopping, you know." Seoul said. "Oh I totally forgot! You don't know what 'servants' are. Because... you don't have one. Your family can't afford to have even one." "Well, as a matter of fact we do! Maybe you just weren't smart enough to tell your servants what type of comb to buy." Emerald said. "Really now? Besides, why should I use comb when even without it, this so-called rat's nest makes guys drool!" Seoul said glaring at Emerald. 

"My goodness, Seoul! Stop this non-sense already." Raiza said in the viewing room. Alveo sighed, LeGrande smirked. 

Emerald just laughed. "Yeah right. And next you'll tell me that's why you're single. Seoul walked closer to Emerald, almost sticking her nose to Emerald's then smiled and said "Are you sure I'm single, ugly apothecary?" Emerald grinned and said "Can't imagine a guy with a tramp like you." Seoul looked at Emerald from head to foot. "Hah. Interesting girl you are. I never thought River is stupid enough to even like you." Seoul said as he looked at River in the viewing room, then back at Emerald "Well, anyways." she said walking away from Emerald. Emerald's face turns red with anger. "Take that back, you foul~" 

"You'll make a perfect couple one day, you know." Seoul said interrupting Emerald. She turned to face Emerald at the center of the chamber. "A perfect. Ugly. Couple. I pity the kids." she said and laughed out loud.

Emerald sprinted to Seoul. Her hand whistled through the air. She slapped Seoul leaving a red mark on her left cheek. "If you ever speak of him like that again I wont forgive you... EVER!" Emerald said pointing her finger at Seoul's face. Seoul touched her face then slowly turned her gaze on Emerald. "You..." she said softly. "You'll pay. You damaged my beautiful face." 

Emerald stood defiant and said "You're pathetic and foul mouthed!"

"Uneducated ugly twig." said Seoul.

"Prissy drag queen." said Emerald

They walked farther from each other, stood in the middle, staring daggers at each other.