Round 1 - Riku Replica vs Zexion

[Kadaj]

((Tournament Rules can be found here: Click for Rules!))

The roaring of the crowd was deafening! Every single seat was filled up and the entire audience were cheering and clapping for the Tournament to officially begin! Banners with all the competitors names, were being waved around, balloons were being let loose up into the sky and the sun was shining down brilliantly, giving excellent visual conditions and brightening the moods of every single person in the arena!

A small, goat-like man made his way out into the center of the raised fighting area, in the middle of the arena, and with a small cone-like megaphone, called out to the ever-more excited crowd!
"Ladies and gentleman! Welcome, to the latest Tournament in the Olympus Coliseum!!"
Phil's goat-like voice echoed around the Arena, as he turned around slowly in circles, so everyone could hear him.
"We have 16, brave and powerful warriors, both of the Light and the Darkness competing here today, for the prize of Champion of the Remnant Cup Tournament!"
Phil said, turning around some more, using his free hand to wave about before him as he spoke.
"Let us waste no more time, and allow me to introduce the fifth match or Round 1! Please, put your hands together ladies and gentleman, for the clone of Riku, the one shrouded in mystery, the one-and-only, RIKU REPLICA!!!"

The crowd yelled and cheered loudly, the girls screaming and swooning and the men, encouraging their favourite contestant on!
"And his opponent, coming from the World That Never Was, a member of the Organization XIII, please put your hands together for, ZEXION!!!"
And with that done, Phil bowed to the audience and quickly scurried out the ring, allowing each contestant to enter as they like, before the match officially begun!!

[rr]

At first he'd been a little nervous, but Riku's confidence took over as his Replica took to the field. Soul Eater was still in hammerspace for the moment, as the Replica didn't see any point in appearing too eager to hide behind a weapon, but he cast a narrow glare in Phil's direction. "The one-and-only?" Since when?

But then a weight dropped in his stomach as he heard Zexion's name. Their encounter in the World That Never Was had been...less than healthy, to say nothing of the last time they'd seen each other in Castle Oblivion. It wasn't that the Replica didn't think he could defeat him--Riku had, so of course his Replica could--but he knew the combat would be especially vicious after he'd at least tried his hardest to kill Number Six when he was down. The memory of draining the Nobody of power was still in his mind, as well as the recollection of Larxene's past cruelties. The two were disconnected, but he still relied on them to get him riled up.

Then the thought of draining Larxene's power instead burned through his mind and he had to reel himself in. No. No. I'll have to have at least a little control. If I just lose it like I did with Real Thing... Don't think about that. Think about beating Zexion. Yes. Alright.

The cheering backed him up, in any case, just like it had in his false memories on the islands. He couldn't pick out any voices that might sound like Sora's and Naminé's, but he didn't need them. That part of him was as fake as the rest, and the thought was enough.

Might as well get started, for better or for worse. More confident assurances formulated in his head as he steeled himself and called Soul Eater. He assumed his attack position, his weapon level with his temple and his hand outstretched in what looked like a taunt, and waited for Zexion to prepare.

[zekushion]

Even after going over it in his head countless times, Zexion still had very little rational reasoning behind his decision to join the "Remnant Tournament" in the Coliseum. He'd never found battling for the sake of battling a fantastic idea, nor did he really see the need to train with his weapon. How often did he fight against others? Not very. Yes, he would wield his lexicon against any annoying heartless that decided to attack him - he had to. It wasn't as if Shadows had minds that he could tear asunder, after all. However, if he could avoid using his weapon to begin with, he would. What was the point of fighting? To gain strength? To gain power? He was quite strong as it were and, while his skills were in need of some honing, that, in and of itself was a poor reason for his decision to take part in this brawl.

These thoughts continued to turn over in the nobody's mind as he waited in the shade, out of the fiery sun. The glare on the light colored battle field was rather painful, especially for someone such as he, who had worked in the shadows even when he was a somebody. But it was nothing he couldn't handle. It would merely take some time getting used to. It didn't seem to stop the crowd from screaming, yelling, and generally making noise. Even as they filled the parallel stands to the point immense discomfort, they continued showing excitement for the upcoming games. Was it always like this? VI shook his head, sighing. What did they find so fascinating about people beating each other to within an inch of their lives? Did it fill them with a sick sense of pleasure? Were they observing what powers the opponents held and calculating how best to defeat the fighters should they ever encounter them?

Zexion shook his head causing his long bangs to cover more of his face than they already did. No, he was beginning to give these people more credit than they deserved. It was true that there was the possibility of an onlooker wishing to destroy either he or his opponent, but the rest of them... It was highly unlikely. In any case, the dark cloaked nobody pulled his cowl over his head. His name would be called, his voice may be heard, and his powers would be shown, but he needn't have his face matched with everything else. He might be acting somewhat paranoid, but it was much better than being sent back to the darkness. There were things he wished to accomplish before that happened a third time, and he was willing to take no risks.

As the short, fat satyr Phil stepped onto the ring in the center of the arena, the nobody began to pay closer attention to what was going on. Despite his general distaste for these sorts of events, he could not help but wonder who his opponent was to be. Would it be someone worth fighting? Would it be someone he'd never met before? Would it be another of the Organization members? He had to admit, the last of those questions would be quite interesting, especially if he were going up against one such as Marluxia. There was still a score he had to settle with the neophyte. Granted his rivalry with the flower-wielding fool wasn't nearly as brutal as the one Vexen had, but it was a rivalry nonetheless. What he didn't expect, however, was that he would be facing the one who Vexen prized highly. The Replica.

Zexion watched as the Riku-clone entered the ring. A memory akin to a certain feeling of loathing immediately flashed before his eyes. He wanted the Replica gone. Their meeting in the World That Never Was, was merely a prelude to what he was determined to put the fake through. Now was a perfect opportunity to exercise some of that without the chance that Vexen could interfere. He wouldn't kill the creation now, but he would do so eventually - especially given that it was the exact copy of a younger version of the keyblader whom he wished the most would disappear. These thoughts did not leave his mind even as he was called forth, surrounded by a chorus of cheering.

The cloaked figure gracefully stepped onto the ring, facing opposite his opponent. Without a moments hesitation, he summoned his lexcion and held it in his hand, its pages facing up. The nobody took note of the replica's stance and carefully watched his shoulders for any sign of movement. Knowing who it was he was about to face off against, he would not give up so easily.

[rr]

The Replica inhaled deeply, hesitating--and maybe it was the breath that made his frame waver slightly or maybe that was something else. He refused to be scared of Zexion, even if the sixth member of the Organization was powerful--he was only wary. Seeking respite behind his creator wasn't an issue, either, because he was a soulless replication and not a tremulous child. Vexen's presence would only be necessary in the aftermath, to fix what Zexion broke if it came to that.

The crowd had gotten quiet, probably sensing that it was about to begin, and the Replica kept his eyes on Zexion. Attacking first probably wasn't the Schemer's style, but Riku still gave him enough time to.

Then he was moving. It was still Riku's attack delivered with Riku's power in Riku's style, but if the Replica consciously tried to change it from the ground up in the middle of battle he would only end up hitting the floor. That didn't keep him from hating it just a little in the back of his mind, while at the forefront he prioritized not getting hit--not to avoid injury but to avoid getting knocked out of the ring. Injury he could handle; failing where Riku had succeeded he could not.

So he didn't risk getting close enough to be struck when he leapt in a frontal assault, not even aiming for Zexion specifically but striking the ground in front of his opponent. Energy flared up in a fork for about six feet in front of him, just long enough to get a hit in if the Schemer didn't move or especially if he made for the right or left. The instant he was done instigating the attack he was on his feet again, moving counterclockwise around the ring to attack from the side and remain a mobile target.

[zekushion]

With the sudden silence of the crowd, Zexion found himself finally able to think clearly. He had never liked the heat or the sunlight, but they were at least somewhat bearable. A large crowd cheering, clapping, and stomping their feet gave him a good-sized headache. It always had. He could handle talking, as talking was something that he found himself doing more often than one might expect from a science-oriented nobody such as he, but when more than perhaps two people were talking all at once, it caused him to lose focus. Of course, there was also Vexen. That scientist could talk up a storm and be just as overbearing as a large crowd if he really wanted to be. If he broke the Replica too badly, he would most certainly find himself in that sort of situation. Frankly, he didn't care. Not only did he not have a heart, so he couldn't care, but the real Riku was a ways off. This was the closest to the real thing he could get. Even more than that, however, the real thing hadn't killed him - merely weakened him. This had fallen prey to Axel's words. The fool was defective and deserved to be tossed in a junk pile.

The first move was one that the Cloaked Schemer had anticipated somewhat. He had fought the original Riku, and thus knew his moves to a certain degree. This was especially true after having copied and used them, himself. The Replica was strong, he knew that. However, it would have to use more than a few borrowed moves to defeat the nobody, especially given that this nobody had a habit of observing and copying. The Replica would have to come up with something somewhat more original...something to catch his opponent off guard. Perhaps, if he was the one who helped advance the Replica, Vexen would be less talkative if he broke him. Yes, he still wished that the puppet had been destroyed by now. Yes, he would have hated it if he had more than memories of hatred. But perhaps he could use this to defeat the real Riku, as well as Axel. Vexen shouldn't have a problem with that...

As the beams of energy sprouted up from the ground, Zexion's lexicon began to hover out in front of him, cover facing outward. The shock waves shook the ground, causing the nobody to stumble slightly in an attempt to keep his balance. Nigh as soon as this had occurred, the Replica had begun to head toward his next attack. The nobody began to hover off the ground somewhat and glided to the point farthest from the Replica. Within moments, the book was away from him and hovering high above the center of the ring, its pages facing outward. From it, the dark vortex attack known as "Cyclone Snatch" formed. The dark tornado twisted with such rapidity that it began to draw in any sand that was on the platform, and even some that was not. However, sand was loose and weak. How would the Replica evade it, he wondered. Right now, he was open for attack. He knew this. This was also a means to lure Vexen's creation into an attack. If he avoided the bait, then there was hope for him after all.

"You will have to use more than the real Riku's moves to defeat me, Replica," Zexion began to taunt. "Of course, the real thing would have hit me with that first attack of yours. What else can I expect, though? You're a copy - a fake who couldn't even defeat the real Riku with what was left of my power. You accused him of being afraid of the dark, but clearly it was you who was terrified out of your wits."

[rr]

The first attack missed--he hadn't completely expected Zexion to predict his movements like that, as the general reaction was to run to one side or another. But he didn't know Zexion's style, and as the vortex spun into existence there were no memories of Riku's past battle with this Nobody to help him this time.

Zexion's own words confirmed that.

"You will have to use more than the real Riku's moves to defeat me, Replica."

The Replica stopped short, hand clenched tight around Soul Eater as though he expected the attack to rip it away from him. But Zexion didn't stop there, sharp words about being afraid gnawing at his fake heart. He'd called Sora the fake when it was him all along...would it be any surprise if his beliefs about Riku had been backwards, too?

"D--fh--!"

I'm NOT afraid of the darkness! The familiar old mantra, not his--but he only barely choked it back. Don't listen to him. Don't listen. He's trying to do something like Ansem, trying to screw with your brain...

But what if he was scared? He couldn't be scared--those emotions were fake. But where the Nobodies could imitate emotions, his were an illusion even to him...what if he was scared, terrified, and had no idea? If that's the case I'll be even stronger without that fear! I can't afford to focus on this right now!

Sidestepping the vortex he moved to attack Zexion at a run. "Heh, think I'm scared--what, are you jealous?" He leapt again, higher this time in an attack meant to split skulls and send out another shockwave to rattle whatever didn't get pulverized. "All that matters is I'm not scared of you!"

[Kadaj]

Due to a Time Out on over a month for a reply on Zexion's turn of this match, the Judges have decided to remove Zexion from this match and declare that Riku Replica is the winner by Default.

Congratulations Riku Replica, you've been moved into Round 2. Check the Leader Board for details on your next opponent and keep a close eye on the Olympus Coliseum to see when you're next thread will be opened.

Commiserations Zexion. Better luck next time.[/u]