Well, this chapter is about Cloud and Rose. There is a lot of talking, well because this is Cloud’s side of romance and action.

~~*~~

So Rose’s match was over so quickly, so swift, Cloud was still in amaze. She defeated that opponent easily. This wasn’t the Rose she met before. That pretty, cute, innocent girl. Maybe she’s just like this in battle.

Rose was escorted out of the arena and went into the audience.

Cloud: Rose!

Rose turned around; she was in as much surprise as Cloud was in. Still pretty as ever.

Rose: Cloud! Wow! I haven’t seen you in a while!
Cloud: Yeah, I’ve missed you.
Rose: Me too…

They walked around and sat on a bench to talk.

Cloud[shy]: You know, I think of us as a couple.
Rose[smiling]: Me too.

They had met at the PQ area; it was both their first PQ. Cloud had a crush on her ever since. Even after they talked more and more. The last time they talked was in Henesys, where Rose kissed him.

Cloud: Ya know, the first time I saw you, I couldn’t help smiling. I really like you.

So then after that, they roamed the city of Lith Harbor. Window shopping as the bright sun shined down on them. The popularity of the tournament made this a great time to sell various items. There were many maplers wandering around Lith too.

GM[Over P.A.]: Well all maplers! Please meet in the Arena to start the next round!

Both Cloud and Rose smiled. They jogged back to the Arena just in time.

Again, a maple admin was over the P.A.,

“With all the maplers in the arena. I must describe the next round. This round will be quite different. 2 on 2 fights! Each mapler will choose a partner, and will battle 2 other maplers, having the whole arena at their disposal!”

Somewhat surprised, they were still calm.

Cloud: Heh, this will be fun!
Theif: Cloud?!
Cloud: Ninja??!

This is Cloud’s cousin. A very close relative to Cloud, also a fellow thief.

Ninja: I see you’ve grown a lil! You’re pretty strong!

Cloud: You too cuz.

So they all greeted him and will stay with them. They picked their partners: Rose was with Cloud, and Inapoi with Ninja. The great cousin he was, he didn’t care that Cloud was with Rose. He understood.

In the audience, they viewed the matches. They were amazing. Each mapler had the same dream of the prize. They would not quit, no matter what.

It was now Cloud’s and Rose’s fight.

They went down to the huge arena. They looked around and a virtual Perion Desert appeared. Cloud looked up at the huge audience. They roared and cheered for us and the oppenents. The sun blared down at them.

The oppenents were a bowman wielding a Ryden and a theif with an addy igor. Cloud still equipped with a Meba and Rose used a Wizard Wand.

FIGHT!

At the sound of that word, the fight began. The Bowman shot an arrow which was accurately aimed at Cloud. Luckily it didn’t hit both Rose and Cloud. After that, Rose chanted a small incantation. All of a sudden, a shining bow appeared in her arms, and she quickly shot an arrow at the Bowman. The holy arrow flashed through the air and directly hit him in the stomach.

The thief was in anger; a possible reason was that they were close friends. He jumped in front of the Bowman and launched two tops at Rose.

Cloud had to protect her, she was his girlfriend! He ran right in front of her, arms open. Rose was kneeling down in fear of the stars. He took the two tops to the chest, the impact launching him to a corner of the arena, in a pile of rocks. Rose was afraid Cloud was knocked out. He ran to her as fast as possible. She kneeled down, her long hair blowing in the wind, chanted another incantation which made a green aura surround both of them. Cloud had stood up.

2 arrows and 2 tops had been launched at both of them….

To be Continued..