Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

The Colosseum buzzed with the roar of the crowd, their cheers and jeers echoing through the massive stone structure. The air was thick with anticipation as Phil, standing on a raised platform at the center of the arena, raised his arms to call for silence. The satyr's gruff voice boomed across the Colosseum.

"All right, folks! First up in the beginner tournament, we've got a match that's sure to get your blood pumpin'! In one corner, we've got the up-and-comer, the mysterious Skuld!" The crowd erupted into cheers as Skuld stepped nervously into the arena, her Keyblade clutched tightly in her hands. She scanned the faces in the stands, her heart pounding in her chest.

"And in the other corner," Phil continued, gesturing dramatically, "we've got none other than the Tempest, Princess of the Amazons!"

A tall, imposing figure stepped into the arena. Tempest's teal armor gleamed under the sunlight, her golden-tipped spear resting casually on her shoulder as though it were an extension of herself. Her presence alone was enough to silence the crowd momentarily, their awe palpable. Her confident smirk only grew wider as she locked eyes with Skuld.

"Let's give 'em a show!" Phil bellowed, and the gong sounded, signaling the start of the match.

Skuld raised her Keyblade awkwardly, her grip unsteady as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. Tempest wasted no time, charging forward with a burst of speed. The Amazon warrior spun her spear with deadly precision, the golden tip glinting as it came down in a powerful arc.

Skuld barely managed to block, the force of the strike reverberating through her arms. She stumbled back, struggling to regain her footing as Tempest pressed the attack. The Amazon's movements were fluid, each strike flowing into the next with practiced ease. Skuld's attempts to parry were clumsy by comparison, her inexperience glaringly obvious.

Tempest swept her spear low, aiming for Skuld's legs. Skuld jumped back just in time, but the Amazon warrior followed up with a thrust aimed directly at her chest. Skuld twisted to the side, the spear grazing her clothes and leaving a shallow scratch.

"You're not bad," Tempest said, her voice carrying a mixture of amusement and respect. "You've got good instincts but you're not experienced enough. Give it a couple more years."

Skuld gritted her teeth, frustration boiling within her. She lunged forward, swinging her Keyblade in a wide arc. Tempest sidestepped easily, countering with a quick jab that sent Skuld sprawling into the dirt.

The crowd gasped as Skuld hit the ground, dust billowing around her. Tempest didn't relent, spinning her spear overhead before bringing it down with tremendous force. Skuld rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and scrambled to her feet.

Her breathing was ragged, her grip on the Keyblade tightening as she tried to steady herself. Tempest stalked toward her like a predator closing in on its prey, her movements confident and deliberate.

"I'll admit you've gou've got heart," Tempest said, her smirk never wavering. "But heart only gets you so far."

Skuld's mind raced. She needed to find an opening, a way to turn the tide. But every time she moved to attack, Tempest was there, her spear flashing like lightning. Skuld's own strikes felt slow by comparison, her movements lacking the grace and precision of her opponent.

A sharp pain shot through her shoulder as Tempest's spear grazed her again, the Amazon's strikes relentless. Skuld staggered back, her vision blurring as exhaustion began to take its toll. She could hear the crowd cheering Tempest's name, their voices a distant roar in her ears.

Just as Tempest prepared to deliver the finishing blow, something flickered in Skuld's mind—a memory, hazy and fragmented, but vivid enough to stop her in her tracks. She saw herself standing in a sunlit field, a white-haired boy across from her. His Keyblade mirrored her own as they sparred, his movements graceful and precise.

"Focus," the boy's voice echoed in her mind. "Let your instincts guide you. Don't think—just feel."

The memory surged through her, and Skuld felt a strange sense of clarity wash over her. She raised her Keyblade, her stance shifting instinctively. Tempest hesitated for a fraction of a second, surprised by the sudden change in Skuld's demeanor.

Skuld moved.

Tempest lunged, her spear slicing through the air. But this time, Skuld was ready. She sidestepped with newfound fluidity, her Keyblade parrying the spear with a sharp clang. The crowd erupted in cheers as Skuld pressed the attack, her movements faster and more deliberate.

Tempest frowned, her confidence faltering as Skuld's strikes grew sharper. The Amazon warrior spun her spear in a defensive arc, but Skuld's Keyblade slipped through, grazing her armor.

"That's more like it," Tempest muttered, her smirk returning as she adjusted her grip. "Let's see what you've really got."

The two clashed in a flurry of strikes and counters, their weapons ringing out like a symphony of steel. Skuld's movements were far from perfect, but she was adapting, her instincts honed by the memory of her training. Tempest's strikes were still faster and more precise, but Skuld's determination drove her forward.

The match reached its climax as both fighters circled each other, their breathing heavy but their resolve unbroken. Tempest lunged, her spear aimed for Skuld's chest. Skuld twisted to the side, her Keyblade deflecting the strike with a burst of sparks.

She saw her opening.

Channeling all her remaining strength, Skuld swung her Keyblade in a wide arc. The weapon connected with Tempest's spear, knocking it from her hands and sending it spinning across the arena. The Amazon warrior staggered back, her eyes wide with surprise as Skuld stepped forward, her Keyblade leveled at her.

"I yield," said Tempest as she tried to catch her her breath.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices deafening as Phil's voice boomed across the arena. "And the winner is—Skuld!"

Skuld lowered her Keyblade, her chest heaving as she stared at Tempest. The Amazon warrior let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she retrieved her spear.

"Not bad, Skuld was it?" Tempest said, her smirk returning. "Looks like I underestimated you."

Skuld managed a small smile, though her exhaustion was evident. She turned to face the crowd, their cheers washing over her like a wave. For the first time, she felt a flicker of confidence—a sense that she was capable of more than she had realized.

As she left the arena, Skuld couldn't help but glance at the stands, her thoughts lingering on the white-haired boy from her memory. His voice echoed in her mind once more.

"Don't think—just feel," She clenched her Keyblade tightly, a newfound confidence sparking within her.