Elizabeth sat in her favorite chair, a soft cotton puff seat that felt like a cloud. It hovered in midair and allowed the user to turn. She was in her HARP room, waiting for the next Duo round to start on the Versus channel.
This was a complete contrast to a few days ago— sitting up in her room in complete darkness, making up lies to tell the girls, not even daring to have a snack thanks to her flipping stomach. She’d felt like she was committing a crime, betraying her ‘people’.
But after the girls’ outrageous reactions to her being the only one to receive the NYWS scholarship, she was done. She told them the truth and left the channel. The minute she hung up on them, cutting Danica off in the middle of her stream of insults, she felt like she was reborn. She was free. Her and Calista.
She’d always admired Calista greatly, but this really changed her perspective on the girl. Someone that would never fit in such a world, a complete opposite of what people would expect… fighting it out in her own way.
With every round, she got more and more hopeful for Calista’s victory. She was almost halfway through the prelims. If she got on the planet team… what would that say?
And the amount of Versus Socializers appearing during the competition was uber-ridiculous! How did they overlook such a huge community that united fighters and Socializers alike?
The HARP screen showed two halves; one with the two news anchors, and one with the arena. They were showing the crowd at the moment, highlighting many lucky fans who waved enthusiastically. Flags and banners flapped in the wind, proudly showing the many colors of the world.
“… with Team Belgium and Team Ecuador officially out of the competition. Team Guatemala has about 80% of its members cut out, Team Puerto Rico only has 17 members left, and Team Kenya’s left with only 5.”
Elizabeth set up her Pet to record herself. She decided to live-broadcast this round. She’d tired herself out the past couple of days, making many broadcasts talking about the past few rounds. She’d cover the fighters, the analyses, the comments from fans and critics alike. Her parents had worried she was overworking herself, but she never felt more relaxed, despite the workload.
“Start recording in three… two… one,” she said. Her Pet beeped in response and projected a counter screen to keep track of how many were watching. It would be recording the game and her face at the same time. She would have to fill the broadcast with her reactions if she didn’t want any lawsuits.
She flashed a bright smile. “Hello, everyone, welcome back to my channel!” She inwardly cringed. She had to work on her greetings. “Today is the second Duo round of the Versus prelims, and I’m honestly uber-excited. Our girl, Calista, did incredible yesterday. She’s always been such a good dancer. A lot of Team USA fighters got cut, though.”
“Alright, looks like Team USA is just about ready. They’ve only got… 83 competitors left now, so they’ll be stepping their game up,” Xavier announced. “Yesterday’s round was pretty challenging for many of them.”
“Told ya,” she said playfully to the camera. So far, only about three people were watching; two of them probably being her parents at work.
“It doesn’t really help that many of the members are gunning for each other. USA has a lot of rivalry between their teammates. Most of the other countries’ members are more united,” Yvonne commented. “They seem to have their own groups within the team. The top 9 fighters stick together— Cheater seems to be left out most of the time. Many of the notable Favorites like Rosalina ‘Hothead’ Wiasod and Bark ‘Savage’ Davies spare each other.”
“Let’s not forget the last few seconds of yesterday’s round. Cheater and his partner, Calista Medley, were really gunning for Savage and Hillary ‘Gravity’ Kaye,” Xavier said.
“Right?” Elizabeth responded. “I never thought she’d get into a grudge match. She almost lost, though. Calista, girlie, please be more careful next time.”
“Many members of the team don’t seem particularly fond of Miss Medley,” said Yvonne.
“That’s because most of them are glitches.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
“Her group of allies, as observed so far, consists of Dropkick, Belinda Adenifi, Cheater— obviously—, and surprisingly, Piranha. Lílitha Houdge seems to get along with her.”
“I don’t find that too surprising. They’re in the same Guild.”
“And we’re still trying to find answers about Hothead teaming up with Medley. They were notorious enemies, according to some of their teammates that attended the academy with them. All of a sudden, in Tsunami, they’re fighting alongside each other.”
“Wiasod has declined comment on the topic so far, so… it’s up to the rumors to decide why she would have this change of heart.”
“Yeah, we need to find out more about that,” Elizabeth commented. She bit her lip and said, “I’m sorry I’m talking so much, I just can’t let it go for too long. Ownership and all that. Legal stuff. You know what I mean.” She winced at herself. She really didn’t know how to speak like a Socializer, did she?
After some more speculation and gossip about other members of the team, the USA team doors opened in the arena. “Looks like they’re ready, Xavier. The remaining pairs of the Fistborn team are about to exit out on the arena.”
The right side of the HARP screen faded into blue, showing each of the pairs’ scans. Elizabeth couldn’t help whooping when she saw Calista flipping her hair and posing with Harrison Smith back-to-back. On each side were their names, Guilds, and ranks.
When all the duos were shown, the screen showed the arena. Team USA walked out in two columns as the national anthem played.
Elizabeth couldn’t imagine standing there all that time. Their suits probably kept them up, but she would literally go into sleep mode if she were there.
After the half hour was up, Lasso spoke. “It’s the second Duo round, everyone! Our intrepid fighters are up for one more round! Who’s ready for some more chaos?!”
She sighed wistfully. “What I wouldn’t give to actually be there. If any of you guys are there, let me know what it’s like. It looks so fun.”
She heard that fighters’ friends got discounts, but she doubted Calista would want to talk to her after what happened.
She couldn’t support her and get cut out of the channel along with her that day. The SociaLights were all she had. She didn’t have any desire to fight, or any talent, either. It seemed like the only option. She regretted her lack of support to Calista terribly.
The HARP focused on the randomizer wheel. She gripped her pillow, biting her lip as it slowed down. It stopped at ‘THIN ICE’.
She cocked her head. “I don’t remember that game… then again, it’s been a long while since I watched a Versus.” She didn’t realize how much she missed it. It was so much fun, so much excitement. If she had someone with her, it would’ve been better.
She didn’t have any siblings, and her parents were at work all the time. Glancing at her viewer counter, about six were watching now.
“10… 9…”
“Eight… seven…” she counted, stomping her feet. The familiar chill ran down her spine and she smiled with anticipation.
The game started and all the fighters ran inside the barrier. The HARP changed, showing a large view of the map. It was a winter setting, with snow and frozen lakes everywhere. At the top left hand corner was the timer, which counted down from twenty minutes, and the teams were listed down the left side, ordered according to how many fighters were still in. The team with most members in the game was Japan, Korea right below. Then came Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, Ukraine, and USA, and the rest.
“To win this game, the fighters need to reach the highest cliff in the map.” As Xavier said this, the screen showed the tall, wide cliff towering over the rest of the area. “When the timer runs out, all the ice will melt completely and an avalanche will wipe out anyone under the cliff. During their journey, they will have to run across very thin ice lakes. If they fall in, they’re out. This game uses the Joint Elimination law like the previous round; if one fighter is eliminated, their partner is also eliminated.”
“That’s kind of unfair,” Elizabeth commented, glancing at the camera. The counter was now at 10. Nice. “I guess it’s a way to keep the fighters united. So they can work together.” There might’ve been some pairs that didn’t agree with each other, and given the chance, they’d leave each other in the void to save themselves.
“HARP, focus on Cheater and Calista Medley,” she commanded. The screen transferred to the two. They were trotting on the snow, avoiding most of the ice, but sooner or later, they’d have to go on the dreadfully large lakes. Meanwhile, Xavier and Yvonne commented on the general game, reacting whenever someone was eliminated.
When they walked out on the lake, they used their boot configurations to avoid cracking it easily, but there were lines visibly forming along the sea-green sheets.
As always, the first few minutes were sort of quiet. They were good at laying low at the beginning to avoid instant elimination. So far, the commentary was focused on the bigger Legends that picked a fight right off the bat.
“… Japan’s first-ranking fighter, Miyasato ‘Stoneheart’ Toshiro, isn’t really relying on his partner…”
Calista and Harrison halted when a group of fighters from Spain appeared on the other side of the lake. One of them called them out and they instantly started throwing weapons at them, causing the lake to cave in.
Harrison shot back at them and pushed Calista forward to run. She used the slipperiness of the ice to her advantage, running and sliding to the edge of the lake. She summoned the sashes she’d used before and wrapped them around one of the Spaniard fighters.
Elizabeth smiled in awe as the girl powered up her gravity boots and spun the fighter around like a wrecking ball, crashing them into the other enemies.
“That was awesome! GO, CALISTA!” she yelled at the screen, as if yelling loud enough would get Calista to hear her.
Harrison himself seemed pretty impressed, running up to her to avoid the collapsing lake. They put some distance between themselves and the other fighters before slowing down and laughing, probably discussing what just happened.
“Bugs, Harrison Smith really is GP handsome.” She giggled. “He and Calista would make such a great couple.” She hoped they were more than friends, as the news suggested… if only she could ask her.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Maybe she could try and give her a call? Would she even answer? She could apologize for everything. She wished she could delete the broadcasts she did with the girls, mocking and laughing at her.
They’d already stopped doing reactions to Calista’s rounds after the girl started succeeding. They ran out of material to make fun of and instead talked about what people said about her, mainly those that didn’t like her. It was like the whole channel was now dedicated to rubbing Calista’s name in the dirt.
Elizabeth had told them repeatedly that this was killing their momentum. So many people had left their channel, bored of the content. But the two girls were so determined to ruin Calista. They hardly cared about what the SociaLights were anymore. It was more like an Anti-Calista channel now.
The duo was now fighting against a pair of Puerto Rican competitors. She gasped as Calista was grabbed by the arm and thrown across the lake, crashing harshly on the ice. Cracks formed everywhere and she fell through the ice into the water. Elizabeth stood, eyes wide.
Thankfully, she shot and wrapped a sash around one of the enemies and used him to pull herself out. He was flattened against the ice.
“I love those sashes. I think I’m gonna get some. They look so good,” she remarked. Her viewer counter had now reached 15. Whatever she was doing, it was working. Or it could be Calista’s new popularity.
The pair escaped the Puerto Rican fighters and approached the thicker part of the fight. Trees started appearing around the lakes, falling whenever a fighter came into proximity. The two were careful to avoid triggering them.
“Here we go,” she said. “I love and hate these parts of the fights. It’s like a fighting Hub. There’s so many people in one place going at each other. Exciting, but dangerous, right? You get all the action, but you could end your run right then and there.”
A message from one of her viewers suddenly popped up. Excited, she opened it, projecting a Mearthian girl around her age named Sylmare Saam. “Totally agree,” she said. “The big, thick parts of the fight are always a huge gamble.”
Her first response! She didn’t think she’d ever get one of those. The SociaLights had wasted no time in demonizing her image. Hopefully, there were plenty of ex-fans willing to support Elizabeth’s new persona.
Calista and Harrison were now confronting multiple fighters, near the center of the map. One of them suddenly summoned a wrecking ball and smashed it into the middle of the lake. Many fighters in the vicinity were instantly eliminated.
Elizabeth stood again, hugging her pillow tightly. The ice fell behind the USA duo, as if chasing them. The fighters ahead purposely broke up the next lake before jumping off, using the boost to get to the snow.
Calista and Harrison halted, careful not to move. If they stepped again, they would be eliminated. They didn’t have a stable enough surface to use the boost anymore.
“Oh, my God…” Elizabeth bounced in her seat. “Come on, you guys, you better make it! Please!” Her view counter was now at 20. Another reaction was sent to her.
A Paeseoan boy appeared in a hologram. “I love your comments, by the way. You’re really cute. Keep going.”
Elizabeth’s freckles felt like they were tingling. That was so sweet! “Thank you!” she said. Her attention returned to the trapped fighters. While the news anchors hadn’t said anything about them yet, she was completely focused on them and them only.
She swallowed, her heart pounding. Calista needed to make it through. She’d gotten so far.
Otherwise… what was the point?
===
Calista’s body was as frozen as the environment around her. Maybe if she could float on the water, she could replace the broken ice.
Harrison stood across her, his hands reaching out to his sides to keep his balance. The ice was almost as thin as paper. Both feared that any movement would send them to the water.
Being eliminated was bad enough, but the ice-cold water would shoot through their suits’ pain receptors, so they wouldn’t be spared the experience of falling in. Calista couldn’t imagine how painful it would be, and with her pain tolerance, she wasn’t thrilled to find out.
“Calista. Calista, look at me.”
Her emerald eyes turned from the cracking surface to Harrison’s sapphire blues. One of his hands was stretched out towards her, as if calming her. “It’s gonna be okay. We just need to be careful. We’ve got time.”
On Calista’s visor, the timer showed about eight minutes left. Over half the round was gone. They would have to move pretty slowly to get out of their dilemma, and the cliff was still very far away.
“Just look at me, okay?” Harrison repeated. Slowly, he lifted his foot, stepping back. The ice groaned.
“I can’t move at all,” she said. Her feet were stuck in fragile ice. It was a wonder how she hadn’t fallen through yet.
“We just need to move… very…” He lifted his other foot. The weight made the ice crumble a bit more.
“Harrison-”
“It’s okay…” He stepped a bit further. More lines spread on the blue surface.
“Careful!”
“Someone’s coming, you guys,” Lindsay warned.
“Okay… I guess we’re out now.”
“We’re not out,” Harrison reassured her.
“There’s people coming. We’re out.” Footsteps came behind her.
Turning, she saw people clad in their colors. To her surprise, it was a mix of Team USA and Team Britain. Rosalina Wiasod and Reilly Campbell spearheaded the group.
“Well… you two are in a dilemma.” The Hajjian woman smiled, slowing down. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Not too long,” Calista replied.
“Maybe if you stopped gazing into each other’s eyes, you would get out.” Catherine Graham also approached with Beatrice Bustamante.
“Ha-ha,” Harrison said, rolling his eyes.
“You want any help?”
“No,” he said sarcastically. “We’re perfectly fine standing here with just an inch of sludge separating us from ice-cold water.”
“Suit yourself.” She carefully walked around their area, avoiding the cracks.
Rosalina chuckled. “Come on.” She stepped out on the ice, inching towards them.
Calista couldn’t help quirking her thick brows. She was saving them again? She thought it was a one-time thing.
Did this woman really want to be friends?
“Alright, don’t move.” Rosalina hesitated as the ice rumbled. “Just take my hand and step out of the broken area.” Reilly Campbell walked around them, getting on Harrison’s side.
“Any chance you blokes can use your powers?” Catherine said to the British fighters accompanying them.
“Unfortunately, no,” a Klausian fighter said. “I’d sooner be disqualified trying to help my teammates than yours. Sorry, Cath, you’re my friend, but you’re not on my team.”
“Fair enough.”
“Just… relax.” Rosalina winced as the ice split further beneath her feet. Being Hajjian, the ice-cold sensation would definitely hurt her, even with a higher pain tolerance.
Everyone watched tensely as the two fighters reached out to their comrades. Rosalina’s fingers were just an inch away from Calista’s when the ice caved in beneath her, trapping her. She gasped as she sunk just a bit, her boot surrounded by water.
“That’s not good,” Reilly muttered. He wasn’t close enough to Harrison to help him, either, and the ice was protesting against the weight of the four.
“Great. Well, that’s what I get for being selfless.” Rosalina rolled her eyes.
“I’m a-comin’.” Catherine approached, nodding at her student.
Beatrice was a human girl that was in a couple of Calista’s classes back at the academy. She hadn’t really interacted with her much. The girl seemed nice as she approached Calista’s side to help her, carefully inching onto the lake’s surface.
“How are you?” she casually asked, sporting a Latino accent.
“Never better,” Calista shakily replied.
“I’m Beatrice, by the way. We never met at the academy, correct?”
“No, not really.”
“Okay…” She bit her lip, avoiding another crack. “You take Hothead’s hand, and I’ll take hers.” She looked at Rosalina. “If that’s okay with you.”
“I’m not complaining.”
Beatrice leaned forward, just barely grasping Rosalina’s fingers. “Now you… inch over here…”
The British fighters carefully made their way around the group. “Sorry, everyone,” the Klausian from before said. “Cath, Reilly, we like you, but we need to get to that cliff. Good luck.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Catherine rolled her eyes, inching closer to Reilly.
“Hey, we could’ve zapped all of you out of the game, so be grateful.” They ran off.
“Well…” The Seeyastearthian reached further. “It’s up to us now, eh?”
The frozen surface groaned louder, stopping all movement. Calista glanced at the timer in her visor; about five minutes left. If they got out, they’d have to run to the cliff.
“I have an idea,” said Reilly.
“Pray tell.” Catherine shakily inhaled when a piece of ice caved under her foot.
“Melsen’s probably going to kill me for this, but… I have a Slime weapon I can use. I’ll shoot it over there.” He pointed to a row of trees nearby. “Once I shoot it, everyone has to hold hands. It should pull us all out of here.”
“But, Reilly, that’ll trigger the Timber trap,” Rosalina warned.
“We’ll have to run for it.”
“Why would Melsen kill you?” Beatrice asked curiously.
“Because Slime is one of his most notable weapons. They work like Spider-Man’s web shooters, hence, his call sign.”
“He’ll understand. If he’s not as much of a man-child as I think he is, he won’t throw a fit about it.” Rosalina shrugged.
“I’m betting he’ll be mad,” Harrison added.
“Harrison, is there a way you can, like… call Lílitha so she can help us out? Like… with her elastic arms?” Calista asked.
Everyone looked at her strangely, some with obvious glares.
“What? It was just a thought.”
“You guys are teammates, but that’s not something you can do,” Lindsay explained. “Plus, he can only call you because you’re his partner. Otherwise…”
“We have to wait for the group rounds to do that, Cali,” said Harrison. “If we get there.”
“We will.” Catherine shook her head. “You’re such a bloody downer, Cheater. Have some faith.”
“Everyone just try and get closer.” Reilly slowly stepped forward and leaned. His tall height and long limbs helped in reaching Harrison’s hand.
Rosalina was tall, but not tall enough to reach Calista. She clenched her jaw and advanced just an inch. “Gotcha.” The ice wouldn’t hold them much longer.
“Maybe I should shoot the slime, Reilly,” Catherine said, grasping his hand. “I’m at the end here.”
“Okay, you shoot it. Everyone hold on tight. Turn on the magnets in your gauntlets.”
Calista felt her hand attach itself firmly to Rosalina’s. She reached towards Harrison, but they weren’t close enough. “I can’t reach him,” she said.
“I don’t think I can go any further,” Harrison told them.
“Okay… Cath, you and I need to turn on our boot magnets. Harrison, just go for it. Reach for Calista and grab her hand. Don’t worry about the ice.”
“Reilly-” Rosalina started.
“We just need to be quick.”
“Alright, ready, Harrison?” Catherine said. “One… two…”
Harrison held his breath and stepped forward, grabbing Calista’s outstretched hand. As predicted, the ice started to crumble. His ankles sunk into the icy water, making him shiver.
“Now, Cath! Turn off the boots!”
Catherine turned and shot the string of green slime at the tree. It immediately detected the movement and started tipping.
“Hold on!” The slime retracted, pulling them all out of the hole they’d formed. The ice caved in completely.
They grunted, landing harshly under the falling tree. They got to their feet and started running, putting strain on the other lake. “Let’s get outta here!” Catherine grabbed her pair’s arm and pushed her ahead.
The lake collapsed and the trees fell down in a line behind them. Harrison was still grasping Calista’s hand. He interlocked their fingers and pulled her along.
“There’s the cliff!” Beatrice pointed ahead at the towering mountain, where many fighters were climbing to avoid the avalanche.
“Three minutes!” said Rosalina. “We’ve got time!”
The cracks caught up to them. Reilly, Rosalina, and Catherine reached the snowy ground first, safe. Beatrice started losing balance as the ice gave in.
“Here!” Catherine used a shot of Slime to pull her over. She tried shooting at Calista and Harrison, but the weapon needed a 20-second cooldown. She sighed and looked for another weapon to aid her comrades.
“We’re good!” Harrison was almost to the edge. Behind him, Calista tripped when the ice sunk, falling on her face. “Uh-oh.” She gasped as her body half-sunk into the water. The horrible cold made her mind short-circuit.
Harrison ran back and took her hands, pulling her out. Rosalina shot her own slime strings at them, bringing them to the safe edge. The lake broke up and the ice sunk.
Harrison landed on his back with Calista in his arms. They panted, their hearts pounding, and looked at each other. Realizing their position, they blushed.
“Um… guys? You can continue your love affair later,” said Catherine.
They quickly got up, refusing to meet each other’s eyes. The others chuckled and hid smirks, trotting up to the mountain.
The last few minutes of the round were surprisingly less chaotic. They scaled up the mountain with minimal confrontations. Many targeted Rosalina and Reilly, but they were able to avoid them, even eliminating some. Catherine even used her iconic lasso— she didn’t use it like Cowboy, instead lashing it like a whip at her adversaries and wrapping the entire rope around them to pull them down.
They stayed on the side of the cliff, not bothering to get up on the surface. They watched in awe as the avalanche wiped out everything below them, causing a few blue streaks to appear.
“GAME OVER!”
The map dissolved, the cliff lowering to the ground. The cheers of the crowd drowned their ears when the barrier disappeared.
Harrison smiled at Calista, high-fiving her. She smiled back, but still couldn’t really look at him after the awkward moment from before. Her heart was still pounding.
Did everyone see it? She hoped the news anchors focused on something else when it happened.
Catherine pumped her fists in the air, whooping. She playfully grabbed Beatrice and rubbed her knuckles on her helmet. Rosalina and Reilly shared a small, celebratory kiss.
“So… Hothead found you again, huh?” Lílitha approached the pair, Damaris following behind her.
“Yeah, she helped us out. And Reilly, and Catherine, and…” Calista paused, recalling the girl’s name. “Betty?”
“Beatrice,” Harrison corrected.
“Beatrice. Yeah, they all helped us out.”
“Hmm.” Lílitha’s eyes narrowed in Rosalina’s direction. “That’s good.” Suspicion filled her black marbles.
They went back to the dugout, which shut out the fanatical roars. Calista sighed and massaged her neck, craving a relaxing heat bath and mani-pedi.
“Good job, Ballerina.” Rosalina nudged Calista’s arm as she went to sit down. “But maybe don’t trip over your own feet the next time.”
“I tripped on the ice.”
“All the same.” She smirked, holding out her fist. Calista hesitated for a moment, then accepted the fist-bump.
Maybe they were friends. It felt… really nice.