Chibi felt secure in her newfound sanctuary. The thief just had to bide her time, until she was alone. Then she could make her grand escape! The plan was foolproof!
"-Open the gates!"
It was amazing how three, little words could make the tables turn. The stampede caused the armor to tip over! The girl kicked and thrashed and wiggled, trying to squeeze out the same way she crawled in. But, it was no use; Chibi was stuck! Like a turtle flipped over on its shell!
Ohhh, this is bad! Really, really bad! Okay, don't panic! Just gotta get-
"Up we go!"
As she was set on her feet, Chibi came face to face with her rescuer; a man with a snow-white mustache, a helmet that hung comically low over his eyes and a long, thick cape.
"Thanks a lot! I-"
"Have too much ale before the big event, did we, soldier?"
The General stroked his facial hair, while muttering outrageous thoughts that not even the bravest of men would breathe aloud.
"No matter. It's not like this tournament is all that important, anyways."
"Huh? Tournament?"
The man spun around to pluck up a helmet and a mace. The armor was unceremoniously dumped onto Chibi's head, right before the weapon was thrust into her hands.
"Here's the rest of it, m'boy! Now get out there and do us proud!"
With a mighty push in the right direction, he launched the hopeful competitor into the arena. They would do well, the old knight thought to himself. Although, as Chibi wandered into the fray, toddling under the armor's weight like a newborn colt, the General had his doubts.
"Egad! They're recruiting them shorter and shorter, every year!"
Chibi's steps slowly came to a halt. Sound was all around her. Clangs and squeals from grinding metal. The pound of heavy weights hitting their targets with the force of a battering ram. The crisp crack of winding cords lashing through the air. The crowd cheered, awestruck by the spectacle.
Chibi would have been just as spellbound; if she could see! The enormous helmet had stubbornly locked into place, keeping her in the dark.
"W-What's going on out there!?"
Some of the high bred spectators would say that they found it hard to watch; the more honest amongst them would admit that they hadn't seen something this entertaining for quite some time. Maces, swords, flails and even fists were whacking her armor, bouncing the tiny figure between the brawlers like a ping pong ball.
"Ow, ow, quit it! Stop hitting me! Somebody help me get this thing off-!"
Chibi blinked in confusion as the cumbersome hunk of metal went flying. Stealing a peek over her shoulder to see who 'helped' came with a side of regret; because it was impossible to unsee the enormous man with bulging muscles, a horned helmet and a beard braided with what she could only assume to be the bones of his enemies. The giant glared at her with his one, good eye.
The thief whimpered, before slowly turning her back on the Viking. She felt frozen with terror. But, hearing the warrior take a rumbling step toward her was like shooting off a starting gun. Chibi ran for her life!
But, he was faster. Another hulking swing struck true, sending the armor airborne. As she tumbled end over end inside of it, Chibi spotted what started this whole mess in the first place; the bread! She grabbed it, hugging the bun tightly to her chest, as they were flung across the battlefield.
"WAHHHHH!"
The flight felt like it lasted forever. But, what goes up, must come down; the cuirass collided with the ground of the now blood-soaked coliseum. Chibi pushed her dark hair out of her eyes with a groan.
"H-How'd I even get into this mess?!"
But, her dazed confusion soon gave way to panic.
"The bread!"
Pawing around the armor, she searched every nook and cranny.
"Where, oh where, oh where?-"
Meanwhile, a hush fell over the crowd. What they were seeing was destiny to some and a frightening coincidence to others. There were only two men left standing in the center of the arena. A pair that had been rivals since childhood. Turquoise eyes locked onto their target.
"It's finally time, Jasper. Time to settle this."
A gunmetal gaze bore into his adversary's soul.
"Yeah. Time to show you how outmatched you are, Apollo... and have always been!"
The warriors fought fiercely to overpower each other. The audience leaned forward in their seats with anticipation as their blades locked. It was a bind! In this position, only the most physically strong would be able to win! It was the final test to see who reigned supreme! But, suddenly, the resistance caved. The ravenette gasped, pulling back just in time to avoid killing his one and only friend.
"W-What are you doing?! Fight me!"
"I'm tired, Jasper. I'm tired of fighting you. Aren't you tired, too?"
The man whose shadow he had been chasing his entire life didn't want to finish what they started? It was more than the brawler could take.
"I'll make you!"
The blond sighed as his nemesis, his brother and his friend, charged him with the fire of vengeance burning deep in his dark eyes. The flames spread to his sword, lighting it up like a weapon forged by the devil, himself. Apollo tried his best at every turn to alter their fate. But, it was no use. They were locked in a perilous dance neither could escape. So, he raised his sword, a white light igniting his eyes, as he mentally prepared himself for the beginning of the end.
Like radar going off, the thief lifted her eyes. Through the neck of the armor, nearly a foot away, she could see it; her missing meal! The impact from the rough landing must have jettisoned it out, like a dart being shot from a blowgun.
"There it-!"
A boot suddenly came down.
"...Is."
It was as if her body moved on its own as she squeezed from the armor. Settling on her knees, Chibi stared at the sad remains. The bun wasn't just flattened; it was crushed beyond all recognition. Hair fell over her eyes, as she ducked her head to hide the tears that wouldn't stop falling.
The girl went unseen as the battle waged on. Blow after blow was exchanged, until both were cradling a deep wound and panting from exhaustion. It was a long shot. But, Apollo once again offered up an olive branch, trying to salvage whatever was left of their bond.
"I will yield, if you accept my surrender."
"I will never accept it! You don't get to take the cheap way out, Apollo. You will acknowledge me!"
The fair-haired man blinked in surprise, before his gaze softened.
"I do. I've always acknowledged you."
"That's not.. That's not true! You've always looked down on me! Because my Seiha is weaker than yours! But, I'm more than that! The blood of my ancestors runs through my veins! I've got the favor of the gods! I'll prove it to you!"
Hot tears had gone cold. Talks of Seihas and honor and acknowledgement; they didn't mean a thing to someone who was starving to death! Tightly clenched fists began to tremble.
Meanwhile, the crowd was deafening as Apollo blinded his opponent with his angelic light, bullying him to the ground. Jasper's cheeks burned red as he was held at sword point. He could feel them; the eyes of hundreds were bearing witness to his shame. But, his opponent had no taste for their gawking. There was only one set of eyes he wanted on him.
"Look at me."
"Just kill me, Apollo. Kill me and get it over with."
"...No."
"Why are you doing this? Want to gloat?! Want to shove your superiority in my face?!"
After a few harsh breaths, Jasper calmed his temper and finally found it in himself to meet the other man's gaze.
"What are you after, Apollo? What do you want from me?"
The blond allowed himself a small, cautious smile; his friend was finally willing to listen. The warrior sheaved his sword, before offering a hand.
"I want you to live."
There was a moment of hesitation. But, after a few moments to take it all in, Jasper smirked.
"Well, can't be helped. Guess I've got to stick around, after all. Someone's got to watch your back."
Seeing the comradery moved the audience to rapturous applause. Some were even drying their eyes, trying to staunch the flow of their thick, courtly makeup. Finally, Apollo helped Jasper up and the two men stood side by side, not as rivals, but as lifelong friends. A spindly man took that as his cue, as he hustled into the ring.
"Wonderful performance, gentlemen! Very moving! Now, I do believe that I have a declaration to make!"
The announcer grabbed Apollo's wrist, raising it high.
"People of Evergreen, I give you your champ-!"
The hair on the back of their necks prickled.
"You."
A visceral fear bombarded their senses.
"Crushed."
Something heavy could be heard as it was dragged through the grit of the blood-soaked sand.
"My."
The warriors whipped around just in time to see a figure flying at them, silhouetted by the sun!
"BREADDDDD!"
They reached for their blades, but nothing could have stopped the speed of Chibi's blind rage. The mace struck Jasper's side, sending him crashing into Apollo. They hit the wall, before sliding down into a shriveled heap. Silence. All eyes were on the girl who had gone unseen; even the eyes of a certain someone who, up until this point, had watched the tournament with apathy, his mind a million miles away.
Chibi was at a loss for words. The thief spent her entire life trying to go unnoticed. But, now, she had the eyes of hundreds all at once. That realization quickly got her looking for an escape.
But, the gates were closed; there was no where to run. The field was bare; there was no where to hide. And the state of the two men on the ground, groaning weakly as they clung to consciousness, was because of her. This wasn't just an armload of stolen bread or a 'borrowed' trinket; she hurt someone for the very first time.
Oh no! What'd I do!?
Chibi brought the mace behind her, trying to hide her guilt.
"Uh... Oopsie!"