Into the Arena by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters and minor violence. You have been warned.
The area….a place of grit, blood, sweat, and tears. The challenge, an all too alluring promise for fame, fortune, and glory. The auspice of victory overshadows the looming possibility of defeat. Yet…the competitors enter into it knowing full well that each match has its own set of difficulties. Even still they look into the ring with eyes of fire and determination unwavering…for their next bout.
Xain was a young yordle cub who went to the local private academy in Bandle City. The school was something of an enigma, a place where the more elite and well-to-do families of the town often sent their kids for boarding. Of course, this wasn't always a necessary device but the option remained nonetheless. School life was all that the boy knew as he thrived on the school's competitive nature.
Bandle Academy was a place known for its sports clubs. Just about every sport was hosted at the school with the star attraction being its soccer team. But Xain wasn't interested in the popular sport. Growing up he'd been more interested in combat and full contact sports and was specifically intrigued by wrestling. Though wrestling as he knew it and wrestling outside the realm of Bandle City were entirely different things.
Wrestling was sort of a sport of show and spectacle in the city. It had long been developed among the citizens of the town, to be something of a exaggerated affair. In the professional realm of things, wrestlers were known by their surnames rather than their real ones. Characters like Fantastique and the Magnificent Marvel were just some of the more popular stars that were relevant in the sport.
At the school level, it wasn't that much different. Cubs of various ages were taught the intricacies of the sport. Going into things like the different moves, techniques, and strategies involved in winning. There was no amount of fixing at the novice level so the organizers of the sport weren't worried about who won in lass. No, rather it was much more about originality and having the cubs enjoy themselves.
Xain had developed his persona when he first enrolled in the club at school. His character, whom he named the Feline Fury, was a profile that he based on his unique heritage. As a cub of a hybrid parentage, he was a mix of yordle and violaceous cat breeds. His mother came from the far-off lands of Targon, a land known more for its mythical foundations than anything.
The young cub had been wrestling now for several years. He'd developed his own move set and the coaches liked how competitive he was. Still, Xain was known somewhat as being a little hot-headed. Never once had he turned down a challenge, even if the competition was far more experienced than he was. To say he was a little overconfident would be an overstatement.
Academically, Xain got by on the skin of his teeth. He did the bare minimum to pass and both his parents and teachers knew it. The boy was seen as something of a jock, a character trait that was somewhat celebrated in the school he went to. So while he wasn't doing great in terms of learning, it wasn't something that was enforced as the focus was elsewhere.
This weekend was the next big competition against the public school in Bandle City. Amongst the students of Bandle Academy, the students of the Institute were not held in high regard. It was very much a representation of the haves versus the have-nots. Even despite that the schools very much held a big rivalry in just about every sport and wrestling was no different.
Neither school was known for its wrestling program. Wrestling had never been a focus for either of them. The offering of the sport remained simply due to the popularity and allure it had to the families in addition to it being popular with the younger age brackets in the school. Besides both schools wanted to offer as much choice as possible when it came to extracurriculars.
To celebrate the upcoming event, Bandle Academy decorated the hallways with posters to commemorate it. Each of the posters featured a different sport as Wrestling was not the only one to be hosting an event. Every sport that was in season was scheduled to have a match. However, as was expected the wrestling posters were the most over the top.
Xain passed through the halls, looking at some of them. Today was the first day they had been posted and he hadn't seen them yet. The matches were now just a week away and he couldn't help but feel excited about getting to compete. Practices were already starting to heat up and so was the anticipation for the event. Even his friends started to ask him about it and he invited them to see the game.
The poster on the wall was large enough to cover most of the space. At the center of it, an image of two of the senior athletes sparred off in a lockdown match. Each of them is in full regalia and face masks to disguise their true identity. Of course, most students knew who they were simply from rumors and hearsay. In the back of it, a faux fire was stoked amidst a wrestling ring. Overtop Bright red lettering with the call signs for the two and the date and time for the big match underneath.
Xain smiled at it. He couldn't wait for the day when his match to be featured on it. Feature matches were something reserved for the older students. It was something of an incentive to keep them interested. The cat-yordle puffed out his chest proudly, happy that he was to partake in the event even if he wasn't the star attraction.
After school, he would continue to have training sessions. It was far more than just sparring. He frequented the gym to make sure he was up in shape, though all of his visits there were supervised since he was so long. Both of his coaches were starting to give long pep talks to boost morale. Even the wrestling ring and arena where it was hosted had been decorated.
Days passed and it was now the weekend of the event. The whole town had been aware of the event for a week now. Many families had cubs who were participating in one sport or another. Of course, Xain's parents had planned to go to see the wrestling event. Their son had been talking it up all week and they weren't about to miss something that he was so enthusiastic about.
Xain was in the locker room by the school gymnasium. He looked around it at the various cubs who were participating. Many of them were beginning to suit up into their costumes. The more senior students, had much more flashy regalia to indicate that they were the star attraction that night. The cat-yordle suited up into his crimson red wrestling trunks with orange thunder bolts emblazoned on the side of them.
The boy couldn't help but be a little bit nervous. Sure he'd been in a few events before and had plenty of matches but the big game against the rival public school was a big ordeal for the town. Xain wasn't about to go out and lose for the Academy, he told himself. He was convinced he couldn't lose. After all, he'd been training so hard and preparing just for today.
The first bell of the wrestling ring soon chimed. It was a celebratory signal to call all of the wrestlers to the ring. It would be the only time all night where they were all seen at once. There would be only single-round eliminations with only the senior matches having follow-ups. Xain knew he had but one chance to show mettle and he wasn't about to squander it.
Making his way out through the tunnel, he followed the other yordle boys and girls to the arena. Neither school segregated the genders except in their changing rooms. They were allowed to compete amongst each other, though often they didn't simply due to the public perception of unfairness. He continued on his way out until Xain and the rest of the team filtered into the main promenade.
Now in the area itself, the stage was set with banners hoisted all over the place of deeds that had long since past. School championships…best records…and the various other records that had been kept through time. Brown and green ribbons streamed across the roof, strewn every which way to represent the school colors. At one end you could see the school mascot working to get the crowd riled up.
The students were brought to the center of the ring where an announcer stood in the middle. The tall burly yordle was well known in the school because she was not only the referee but the coach for the Academy's Wrestling Team. She was the only one not dressed up in something and instead wore the traditional black and white striped outfit associated with the role of adjudicator.
"Good afternoon, citizens of Bandle City! Tonight we have a special event to commemorate a long-standing rivalry between the students of the Academy and the Institute. First, I would like to introduce the students of the Academy. Please give them an arm welcome and a round of applause."
The older female yordle spoke into a voice amplification device made by Hextech to give her tone an almost booming quality. The audience soon roared in applause to give their support to the students. Next, he introduced the students of the Institute in the same manner. The audience responded much the same as there was no true home team here as parents were present from both sides of the school rivalry.
After the students were announced, they were sent back to the locker rooms. Xain followed the rest of his team back to their side of the audience. At this point, he couldn't help but feel nervous. He knew it was only a matter of time before he was called to the ring. So he tried to settle himself, sitting on one of the benches and taking slow and methodical breaths to get himself to relax.
It was a short while before he was tapped on the shoulder by one of the Assistant Coaches. The older man informed him it was his turn. Xain knew this was his moment. He couldn't let his teammates or his parents down. It all rested on this one match. He took a deep breath and was led back down the bypass leading towards the area. He was stopped at the end of it so his intro theme could be played and he could be properly introduced to the crowd.
Soon the song he had picked blazed through the speakers. A hard rock tune known in the yordle tongue as "No Nonsense." He beat his head to it and took one final breath before making his way down the runway. Spotlights soon tracked his every movement. As he headed towards the arena, looking around to see if he could see his parents. Ducking his head under the rope before proceeding to the center ring.
Xain climbed on top of one of the ropes and put his arms up and the crowd applauded his presence. He couldn't help but be excited now. The adrenaline was taking over any sense of anxiety he felt. Soon his song faded. It was now time for the opponent to be introduced. He looked over back towards the runway to see if he could get a look at whoever it was.
Another song started up, this time more upbeat almost more in the style of a pop song. The lights strode over the newcomer, focusing on greens and purples. The fellow's name…the Swift Scout came into view. Looking at them from afar, he saw another boy yordle come into view. Brown-furred and stout, wearing a bucket hat with a small blue feather on it.
The other boy soon came into the ring, giving Xain a quick glimpse and then returning his gaze to the crowd. The other yordle threw his hat into the ring, his two eyes seeming to remain shut but still being able to see for whatever reason. The crowd elicited a loud cheer in response to the playful gesture. The referee soon called both over and went over the rules of the bout. The match was set to begin.
Xain stared down the swift scout who in turn looked right back at him. They were turned to their respective corner and the whistle was finally blown. The cat-yordle began circling the other cub, neither making a forward motion as if to gauge the aggression of the other cub. After a moment of hesitation, Xain lurched backward against one of the ropes and propelled himself toward the other cub.
The swift scout made a quick hop, seemingly able to clear the body of the other boy with ease. His laugh was high-pitched, almost like it was mocking him. Xain reeled a bit back as he reversed motion. The swift scout grabbed him by the arm and rotated him around his body as if the cat-yordle was some kind of doll. The swift scout rotated his body in a full circle slamming him against the ground, angling his elbow right into the back of the purple-furred boy
"Oh geez, folks looks like Feline Fury has fallen prey to Mushroom Smash. How will he ever recover!?" The announcer had been told beforehand of all the move names for both cubs.
The swift scout grabbed one of Xain's legs, bending it up against his chest, locking it into his armpit in a submission-type move. The referee came over to check to see if the Feline Fury was ready to tap out. Xain wasn't about to give in and curled his legs underneath the other boy. The brown-furred cub buckled and gave in, allowing the other boy to pick himself back up.
Xain quickly padded backward to the closest ring pole. He used the ropes to climb up it. By this point, the swift scout had already recollected himself and was now rushing towards him. The cat-yordle flipped backward, somersaulting onto the other boy's shoulder. The force of his downward motion brought the swift scout crashing to the ground.
"Woobam! Moonsault to the face." The announcer followed up as the crowd roared in response.
The referee quickly came over and began another count. Before even a single count was managed the swift scout wriggled from underneath, freeing himself from the other boy's attempt at pinning him. Xain reverted a bit before being grabbed by the other cub. Once again grabbed by his arm and thrown towards the ropes, only to rebound backward.
The swift scout clotheslined him with his arm held out as Xain's head hit against the padded mat of the wrestling floor. As soon as he was close enough the swift scout picked him up, twisting Xain upside down before pile-driving him into the mat. The crowd screamed and roared again as the cat-yordle found himself underneath the other boy once again.
The referee came over and began to count…."One….Two."
Xain reacted at the last split second before freeing himself from the other boy, sending the swift scout reeling in one powerful push from his legs. The cat-yordle picked himself up. He dragged the swift scout to a standing position taking hold of one of the brown-furred boy's arms, angling his foot upward before jamming it into his face, sending the other cub falling back onto the mat.
"Oh man, what a headshot from the Feline Fury! Can the swift scout recover?" The announcer continued to goad the two on.
The purple-furred boy positioned himself over the other cub, lowering one of his hands in between the swift scout's legs. Angling his other arm he gripped him there before trying to lift him. The swift scout grimaced a bit as he dealt with the awkward position to be in.
"What an In-Xain move! I can't believe the swift scout recovered from that one!" The announcer watched with interest from the sideline.
The swift scout picked himself back up. By this point, both of them were panting heavily with small beads of sweat dripping down their faces. The brown-furred yordle padded back and quickly picked him up. The cat-yordle soon over the other boy's shoulders, to be dropped onto the mat, head first.
"Noxious Mushroom, Madness!" The crowd screamed and uproared with a few "Oohs and Ahs" elicited from those closest.
Xain quickly rolled over, his body was feeling limp at this point. He knew he didn't have much energy left and had to make this one last move count. Once again he climbed the nearby ropes, going as fast as he could. Turning around so he could face the other boy surged forward with both of his knees facing outward. Holding his head between his two legs.
"Will the swift scout survive the pin attempt?" The announcer watched with bated breath as the crowd gasped.
The cat-yordle took a breath sigh of relief as he got up and helped the other boy do the same. Xain couldn't help but feel proud of his success. His hand was held up by the referee who declared him the victor of the match. He looked around at the crowd and saw his parents with big smiles on their faces. They couldn't be prouder of their son, even if wrestling wasn't their thing.
The Feline Fury and Swift Scout soon shook hands to make amends. Both boys wished each other a good game as they walked down the runway together. Each of them smiled at one another as if nothing had ever happened between them. After all each of them had been taught the values of good sportsmanship. The two would become friends after that with the other cub, learning his true name Teemo.
Though….in the ring the two would remain just as competitive as always. Both in the world of wrestling and in the context of school, they remained rivals. Always trying to outdo the other, with neither having a distinct advantage over the other. With the most recent victor having bragging rights. Though Xain would go on to hold that he had the biggest victory…when it mattered most. At least until next time…when they met again in the heat of the moment.
