Final Fantasy XVI

Chapter 1: Sisters

Alexandria waited, the air was full of cheering from the fans outside. She was next into the gladiators ring. Her sister, Anne, who you could barely see in the dimly lit room was strapping armour onto Alex.

"Alex... you don't have to do this... I'm stronger now I can fight!" Anne said, her voice nearly cracking she was very nervous
"You know I'm not going to allow that." She said tying her long black hair into a knot so she could put on her helmet without hair sticking out.
Anne didn't reply, she was done applying the armour. She stepped back and inspected Alex, everything was covered other than the white skin on her face. It sounded like the fight outside was over. The crowd cheered louder and horns were going off, but the loudest horn was a signal for the next participants to go up. The wooden wall that was blocking the battle began to slowly rise which let light from outside slowly fill the room.
   Alex took a few steps forward, the light blinded her as she walked through. She soon became adjusted to the light however to see the ground was made out of cement, and so were the walls. She looked forward and to her opponents. It was a boy who didn't have any weapons on him, he only wore robes. It was a Mage, probably a Dark Mage.
   Alex sighed deeply as the crowd roared and through streamers into the ring
  "This is messed up..." Alex muttered as blood from her body began to slowly leak out of her fingers. The blood didn't fall normally however, it began to form a lance, once it fully formed, it hardened in her hand. The starting bell rung.
  Nearly right away, fire began to conjure in the hands of the Mage. Alexs eyes widened and got ready to move but the spell moved to fast. A fireball was thrown, it hit Alex directly in the chest knocking her back a few feet. Her chest plate became scorched black
   Alex breathed heavily and put her hands back and she cut off the armour, it was just slowing her down. Metal and fire don't work well together. Alex tried to move forward but the Mage just used the same spell as before, luckily she was able to swipe at it this time with her lance making it vanish.
  "This ain't gonna work..." Alex thought, to counter the mages onslaught of fire her lance began to deform and reform to a body long shield. She put her head behind the shield and moved forward step by step. Everyone few seconds she felt resistance from the Magic hitting the shield but she pushed onward. Her shield slowly began to show cracks and the Magic only became more frequent now, she picked up her pace. Each Magic spell made the shield break more and more, chips of it fell off and just became blood on the ground. Alex stopped stepping and took a deep breath and sighed, she had an idea but it was risky.
   Alex pulled the shield back and threw it at the Mage, the blow landed and Alex sprinted forward and gut punched the Mage as her shield became blood on the ground.  Alex threw another punch at the mans left cheek, throwing the man to his right just to be kicked by her left leg as he falling. This action made the crowd excited as Alex had the Mage on the ground. Alex quickly made blood rush out of her fingers and made a sword and she swiped through the mages arms in one clean swipe. The Mage laid screaming in pain as both of his arms were now gone. Alex felt no remorse but quickly ended his life with a stab through the head.
    The crowd roared loudly as whistles and screaming happened all throughout the stadium, they all cheered simultaneously "Alex! Alex! Alex!" Oddly enough, Alex liked it. For whatever reason it satisfied her. She absorbed her victory not looking down at the man she just killed not 30 seconds ago.
   Alex looked forward as the wall that held Anne slowly lifted, Anne looked down at Alex's deed and winced, turning away and running. Alex ran after.
  Alex got to the resting area where she had her armour put on.
"Anne? Are you in here?" She called out
"Y-yea" Anne said from the other side of the room.
"I... I didn't mean for you to see that Anne."
"But I did... you were happy that you killed him... his arms..."
Alex moved closer to her sister, now seeing that her little sister had tears in her eyes.
"... I had no control, but I promise I did not enjoy hurting him."
She tried to comfort her little sister but Anne just pushed her away
"Anne please. Forgive me." Alex held back a tear she hated having people mad at her, but she was more sad that her sister saw her for a monster, and she knew Anne was right.
"I wish mom was here..." Anne said quietly.
"I know. I know." She sat down beside Anne and began to stroke her sisters hair.
A man walked in "hello Anne and Alex!"
Anne stayed quiet and Alex immediately got up when seeing the man and stood in front of her sister.
"What do you want Porter?" Said Alex as she glared at the fat greasy man
Porter bit his nail and spit it at Alex's feet "I wanted to congratulate you on the victory, the crowd loves ya!" He laughed "we made so much money tonight."
"So what?
"Just sad you'll be going so soon. You only have tomorrows fight. Unless..."
Alex prepared herself for what he was going to say next, Porters was known for screwing people over.
"... you stay and fight for a couple more shows, unless you want Anne to fight tomorrow, it would only make sense, you both did steal, and that's why you're here, so she should fight right?"
"No! Please!" Alex blurted out accidentally "... I'll fight for 3 more nights"
"Make it 5."
Alex nodded against her will.
Porters laughed and nudged Alex's shoulder "Perfect, night ladies." He turned and left the room.
Alex turned to her crying little sister and kneeled down.
"Shh it'll be okay... everything is okay..." Alex reassured
"I hate him... I hate this place." Anne hugged her big sister tightly and wiped her tears on her, she sniffled "we need to go to sleep."
"Right." Alex got up and walked to a laid down mat on the floor and laid down on it. Anne followed and cuddled up to Alex. Alex closed her eyes and whispered into her ear.
"Goodnight Anne."
"..."
Anne already fell asleep
"..."
And so did Alex.