I blinked in amazment. The needle... who shot the needle... why.. why would.. My mind was too full of questions. I couldn't think straight. I was scared stiff. My opponent had mentioned a poisoned needle, but, I never really thought that....

It was as if I heard an explosion go off in my head. I could feel Tellka's anger racing through me, and it was literally causing me to see red. I could feel some hands helping me up, I think it was my opponent. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. All I could hear was Tellka's voice inside my head, and suddenly she was there in front of me and I heard her scream, "WHO SHOT THAT NEEDLE!?!"

I looked over at Tellka. She was standing infront of me, like she was some type of shield. She was glaring in the direction the needle had come from. No one who was guilty would ever be able to sit still with Tellka glaring like that, I thought. And sure enough they didn't. I saw a man jump up out of his seat and take off running. There was something in his hand, some kind of gun. I didn't get to look long, because in a flash Tellka was gone and I heard the all to familiar sound of someone being hit and I watched as the man came falling out of the seats and tumbling into the stage. I don't think I heard a single noise in the crowd, but the cheers began as Tellka leaped out of the seats and onto the sand, a look of fire in her eyes. I think I heard people begin to bet.

Oh how funny, so they think this is a game? I looked at Tellka for a moment, and a bit of fear crept down my spine. I had seen that look before. And it was not good.

The man had been in a heap on the ground, covering his head and cringing in pain. She must have hit him pretty hard, because I saw a bit of blood on his forehead. I watched as Tellka stepped up to him, and suddenly I couldn't control myself. I ran up to Tellka and stopped just infront of her, between her and the man, and looked up at her with pleading and fearful eyes.

"Don't hurt him..."

Tellka glared down at me. Her expression was just about as warm as a snakes. "Don't hurt him? After what he tried to do?" She hissed out the words and bared her fangs threateningly.

"Please.." I didn't know what else to say. Tellka would skin him alive right then and there without a second thought, and I knew it. I just couldn't let it happen, I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of me.

She continued her glare, which probably said more words that she would ever speak. "I'm about to tear him in two for his actions and your telling me not to hurt him?" I covered my ears as her voice became a shout and took a step back.

"Tellka.. please.. " Your scaring me... It think it was the last part that really affected her. I could see her eyes lighten a little, and then she whirled around and paced right out of the arena and into our room. I heard her slam the door as she went and watched it shake, almost like it would snap in two. I stood there for a moment, almost forgetting that not only was I in the middle of a large arena, but also that there were two other people in there with me. I didn't turn to look at the man that had shot the needle at me. For all I knew he could still be cowering there. I wasn't even sure if my opponent was still there. All I know is that this fight was over, and I don't think I'm ever coming back to this arena..

I turned to see if my opponent was still there or not. I figured that I owed him a thanks, and an apology for not believing him. But before I could, I heard Tellka's voice tear through my mind, "Get in here now, we need to talk...." and I turned and took of running towards the door to the room.

*************************************************

I watched Tellka pace around the room. "I can't believe you. The man could have KILLED you, who KNOWS what is in the needle?"

I glanced down at the floor. "But, nothing happened Tellka, I'm alright.."

Tellka turned and glared at me. I could still see the anger burning in her eyes. "Do you know, what I would have done if he HAD hit you? Do you know what I was about to do to him? I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE HIM APART PIECE BY PIECE!"

"I know you were Tellka.. That's why I had to stop you. I didn't want to see anyone hurt, I didn't want to see anyone die.. I just..... I just didn't want anyone to die because of me."

Tellka growled. "You're too soft, you know that? He didn't deserve what you gave him. He didn't deserve to get away with that little scratch.. " She flared and turned away from me, and began pacing around the room.

I was getting a horrible headache. It must have been from the yelling, and when I hit my head on the ground after my opponent tackled me. I rubbed it lightly. "Tellka.. why are you so interested in me fighting? I don't like it..."

Tellka twirling around and started towards me again. "Kate, you are going to learn how to fight if it takes me forever."

"But why? Why do I need to know how to fight? I have you defend me don't I? Why should I worry?" I looked up with innocent eyes. I knew it was an odd thing to say, but to me it was true. Why should I worry when I had Tellka there? She had told me she would protect me.. I saw her eyes soften a little.

"Kate, sooner or later.." She trailed off and turned back around.

I watched her with a confused expression on my face. I felt something, something in the back of my mind trying to tell me something, but I wasn't sure what. Then I began to realize what she was saying. "What do you mean? You mean your leaving? What's going on... Tellka?" I jumped up when she wouldn't answer me.

She turned around and grabbed my shoulders. "Kate, not know. It's nothing important, just forget it." She glared at me again, and I could tell that it was something more then anger. I wanted to ask her what it was, what had her so upset? I was about to ask her, but then we heard a knock at the door. Tellka immedeatly grabbed her staff. She headed over toward the door.

I don't think that's the guy Tellka... and yes, I know just who you think it is.

"How do you know it's not him?"

Why would he come here after what you almost did to him. I felt fustration surge through Tellka.

"Maybe there's more then just him."

You're paraniod Tellka, you know that right?

"And YOU'RE too laid back!"

Well I suppose you don't have to worry much any more because whoever it is, they could have already died of old age just waiting! "Come in..." I finally called out. As soon as the door open Tellka was there and swishing her staff in the direction of the door. WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!

"You can never be too carefull..."

"GAH!!! Watch it! I'm the good guy!" Tellka managed to stop her staff just inches away from my opponents face. What's he doing here? I wondered. Tellka lowered her staff and I heard him sigh in relief.

"I need to talk to you two about what happened out there." He started, I noticed he was clutching his side. Tellka narrowed her eyes I could see her tail twitch with annoyance.

"You know something?"

"Yea, but I'm not responsible for this. Trust me."

I rubbed my head again. "He's not responsible..." I was staring down at the floor, but I could see Tellka turn to me out of the corner of my eye. "In fact, he knocked me out of the way when that person shot the needle."

"You did a good job out there Kate. Tellka told me that this is the first time you fought here. Same thing with me. The only time I've fought in competition was in fencing tournaments back at St. Hermelin." I glanced up at him as he spoke to me.

"St. Hermelin?" Tellka thought for a moment. "What's that?" I blinked and looked up at Tellka. She shrugged back at me.

"It's my high school, back in Lunarvale." He replied.

"Lunarvale?" What the heck was he talking about? I had never heard of such places.

"Nevermind. I'll explain later."

Suddenly I remembered what I was going to do in the arena. I glanced down again and rubbed my head slightly. I suppose I kinda lowered my voice too, you know, self consciously. "I never got a chance to say this to you, but... thanks. And I'm sorry I didn't believe you out there when you tried to warn me."

"That's all right. Why would you have reason to believe me, when we were opponents?" And then I noticed him wince in pain.

"How did you get hurt?" Tellka looked him over. He glanced over at her.

"When Kate tackled me. I thought you told me that she never fought before."

"I did... I wasn't expecting anything like that to happen." Tellka did her best to hide the grin that was about to spread across her face. She gave the best look of innocence she could muster up, and hope it worked.

It wasn't supposed to hurt.. I didn't mean to hurt him... I ... I ...

"Kate, it's alright." I glanced down again.

"Anyway," Frank turned back to me, "do you mind if I heal us?"

"How do you intend to do that?" I could sense the suspicion rising in Tellka again.

Calm down will you?

"I have my ways. Well Kate?" I could tell he was waiting for me to answer, and not Tellka. What do I have to loose? I figured.

"If it will stop my head from hurting." I rubbed it agian lightly. The headache was getting worse.

"Okay. Just promise me that you won't get scared."

I glanced up at him and blinked. "Okay... but why will I get scared?"

"You see." And I watched as he raised one hand in the air and yelled, "PERSONA!"

Tellka was looking a little annoyed. "I don't think that yelling will heal-" She stopped in the middle of her sentence and gasped with surprise.

A blue circle appeared under the man, and he was surrounded by a column of blue light. Wind kicked up under him, blowing air through out his jacket. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out above him, and enveloped into an angel.

"Cure All!" I heard the angel say.. She raised her rapier, and sliced slowly. My opponent and I were then enveloped in a white light that healed his injuries, and then mine. The angel faded, as did the blue circle and the column of light and he lowerd his arm. Tellka and I just stood there motionless, our mouths open in shock.

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com