The Battle of Ideals!

With the false moon still shining above the Jagaimo-Oozaru roared triumphantly as its massive hands clapped together, oblivious to the fact its intended target had slipped away with some fancy looking technique, all she saw when her paws separated again was an empty space and no more Amara, a victory in its eyes. Her cavernous mouth opened in another roar of dominance, eyes scanning the crowd behind its safety bubble, the sound making more than a few shrink back from the edge. She was by no means the strongest being here but even her power dwarfed many of the spectators…and the form itself brought fear to more than a few Saiyan’s watching the spectacle. The Oozaru’s legs bunched as it crouched low, muscles coiling before the power exploded, launching the massive form up against the arena wall, testing the power of the protective bubble once more with all of its weight and power. The field was designed to protect from the likes of Amara and Zuqetta so it was unlikely the mad ape would make it through but her brain couldn’t figure this out right now, all it knew was frustration and annoyance at being unable to reach any more targets, the little dots of their power playing on her senses like fire flies around a campfire.

Her attention waned after several attempts to pierce the shield where she had crushed Amara, finally sweeping back around on her heels to look out across the rest of the battle field. Eyes widened and her jaws opened, releasing a keening howl of frustration as she saw the shimmering blue light of the warrior she’d believed defeated in her hands. Those red eyes narrowed as Jagaimo-Oozaru spied the other as well standing there, huge knuckles cracking on the stone floor when she hunched over, bellowing out her frustration. They both lived, unharmed and fought without her, dancing across a blue glowing carpet that seemed to shift with the terrain underfoot. Something felt off…the air should have been dripping with aggression with fighters like these facing each other but everything seemed to calm. But then like a puff of smoke the thought was replaced by an angry howl as the strange swords rushed towards her.

The Great Ape Jagaimo wheeled about as the swords came for her, swatting at them and growling back when they slashed against her hide. The cuts, while not deep, were annoying and a distraction from the rest of the battle that was taking place without her. A sweeping arm pushed aside one of the blades as it sliced into her arm, spinning it into the barrier that kept the baying crowd safe. The blades were like gnats around a dog when compared to the Oozaru form but they couldn’t be fully ignored since they were formed by a power greater than her own even if they only held a fraction of that being’s total strength. Another cut and another roar filled the air.

Jagaimo raged inside the mind of the Oozaru, screaming at the bars that held her, bound by the primal instincts of the raging beast. Her own will wrestled with that of the Great Ape who dominated her physical form right now searching for a way out, some way back in control that would free her from this hell. Then she felt it. It wasn’t much but a crack was forming. The young Saiyan didn’t question it, throwing all her might into that crack, hands forcing it apart, pushing against the Oozaru’s control and shattering it.

In the arena the Oozaru shuddered, hands clutching at its skulls, shaking its huge head from side to side as sounds like rumbling whimpers escaped its lips. The aura around it flared bright and with a howl the creature began to fold in on itself, hunching over as it shrank, smaller and smaller until it was barely bigger than the Saiyan’s original form. Muscles bulged all over her small frame, appearing as if they wanted to erupt from under her skin and escape, like whatever was contained there was too big for the space it occupied. Her already thick mane, stiffened and bristled down her back as the change completed leaving the Saiyan warrior panting, grinning across the arena with a red tinge to her normally brown eyes.

She couldn’t win, but she could still damn well fight.

Whereas once the thought of the strength Zuqetta and Amara possessed would have terrified her into inaction as it had done when she’d first met an Arcosian unleashed, now the power didn’t matter. She was a Saiyan and she would meet whatever came next on her feet and in control, not stamping around in the body of a mindless ape.

Her feet left the floor, gliding across the battleground closer to where her opponents were engaged, her arms held loosely at her sides, eyes studying the two warriors as she drifted around them lazily in a circling pattern. They were watching each other but there were no taunts or exchanges taking place and of the two only Zuqetta seemed to have taken any damage at all…it wasn’t completely clear what had transpired after the other Saiyan had forced her to change with the Power Ball stunt but it was clear she’d be the focus of everyone's attacks in the interim…but right now neither of them seemed to be putting in much effort to the actual fight between them, just the odd pot shot here and there.

Jagaimo didn’t know why, there were pieces missing but something wasn’t adding up but she couldn’t think clearly enough to figure it out. It didn’t make sense yet. As she circled round once more she lost her patience and burst forward, throwing a bunch of small explosive Ki shots towards Zuqetta before barrelling in Amara’s direction, fists and feet flying out in rapid succession, searching for a way through the defenses she knew the blue armoured lady had in abundance. The confusion of the previous moments faded away and a kind of seething calm descended on Jagaimo in the enjoyment of the fight.

With the false moon destroyed, Jagaimo easily returned to her original form; Zuqetta would give the quickest sigh of relief for that, doing something as appalling as removing the girls tail would have been and impossible task. Though, in spite of the girl returning to her original form, she still seemed just as lacking in control as ever; she'd simply been made travel size now. It was a bit concerning, and something that Zuqetta thought of investigating in the future; now however, her attention would be forced to remain on Amara as the woman began to speak with a rather aggressive tone in her response.

*Guessin' the situations a bit more complicated than the recording shows, I thought as much.* Zuqetta would respond, *I'm not accusing you of anything, so you don't have to worry about that. The only thing I care about is keeping my people safe, heh, and whether ya believe it or not, YOU'RE a part of my people too.* She'd explain to hopefully alleviate Amara's worries.

Blasts from Jagaimo rocketed towards Zuqetta, causing her to spring into action; with a fling of her wrist, six of her summoned blades would rush to her side and begin spinning before her to deflect the blasts. Maintaining her focus as best as she could, Zuqetta would then call for another four blades to strike at the tendrils that bound her while also continuing her assault would a flourish of blades upon Amara. She was beginning to break a bit more than simply a sweat with the amount of split control she was having to maintain; when summoning so many blades, her usual style had always been just to rain them down upon her foes, but it didn't look like that'd be a viable option for this kind of fight.

*Spies couldn't get close enough ta get much more than a visual recording, and only arrived after Vocado's transformation it seems, so I had to question ya just a tad bit, sorry about that.* Zuqetta would explain, *If things are as you say though, then the next question is... why were the three Saiyans recovered from the scene in such sorry states?* She'd muse curiously, *They were brought in to the medical wing while the debate went on, and assuming no others arrived in that fight of yours beyond what was recorded, then one of them seems to be the charred remains of Vocado, least that's my assumption.* Zuqetta would continue as she began to pull up the initially received medical records for Amara to access, *One beaten within an inch of his life, another suffering extreme levels of destron poisoning, and the third...* She'd pause, *I know it seems like it, but I'm really not tryin' ta be accusatory; the third is still kickin', but burned beyond recognition... and you did happen ta be accompanied by a rather recognizable pink ball of fire...* She'd finish, hoping Amara wouldn't be set off again by the explanation.

The information was certainly stacked against Amara as it was read out, but things weren't always as they seemed and Zuqetta certainly wasn't going to pass premature judgement without getting the facts straight. From what she could tell, Amara was a brash and loud as any other Saiyan; haughty, but certainly not the type to attempt to murder someone in such a grotesque manner. While it was true that Zuqetta only knew the woman for the extent of this challenge, she at least didn't seem so bad from what she'd experienced so far; removing the destron seemed admirable, but it was strange that something so inconsequential would cause a battle to break out between her and Vocado.

There was also the matter of the Saiyan who coincidentally suffered destron poisoning, and Amara's mention of starting a war of all things. Zuqetta was beginning to feel like she had more questions now than she did before and nearly gave a heavy sigh, instead, she couldn't help but to laugh to herself just a bit as she flew into the air and directed her blades upon Amara and Jagaimo both; were things like this going to be the norm she'd had to deal with if she came out on top in this fight??

"Surely the spy that managed to capture the initial footage would've also seen the part where Vocado returned to normal, and we left? Even if they somehow didn't, all three of us went back to Hatchi. Derry and Jackie left the planet afterward, and that much is recorded on Hatchi's spaceport logs... or MY visor footage. Afterward, that'd leave Vocado and his mercenary as the strongest there, so while I believe you found a charred SOMETHING, I personally doubt Vocado is dead. If anything, this just reinforces that he has a stupid agenda to try and push war with Earth by grasping at straws. WHY he wants that, I've no clue." Well. No solid clue.

Outwardly the two seemed to be at a standstill, pacing around one another as dueling wolves would. Amara was still very much aware that she could never afford to be aggressive. The challenge would likely end in capitulation rather than defeat, and it became increasingly likely that Zuqetta would claim victory. "Eh?" Jagaimo wasn't pleased with the fight so far. To be fair, it wasn't like Amara and Zuqetta had been giving their all. "We ARE fighting, maybe just not in a way you'd understand." She snapped at the proverbial third wheel, irritation growing that the woman was present at all. Annnd there it was; an increasingly powerful attack formed in the Saiyan's palm. "But if you're going to so vicariously complain about it..."

While the brunt was concentrated on Zuqetta, a shockwave of recursive energy echoed throughout the arena. To Amara, it felt like a sharp breeze biting at her, mild discomfort pushed aside as the arena's shielding heaved under the sudden pressure on all sides. "You could DIE here, did you forget? Want to see what happens when I try to push the attack against a stronger enemy!? FINE!" Fight this, fight that. If their hanger-on and watching crowd were so EAGER to see the battle end already, then she'd oblige. With immense vigor, she'd thrust her arm out, a dazzling bolt of azure lighting streaking towards Zuqetta.

As the dust began to clear from Jagaimo's technique, two things became clear to the young fighter as she sought out the others in the arena, first with her senses then her eyes.

Firstly the shields protecting the spectators seemed to be able to withstand some serious punishment. She knew she wasn't lacking in strength right now compared to those who had chosen to only watch the events unfolding here under the palace but even unleashed her power had sent little more than a ripple flashing through the field that kept those in the gallery safe. Given what her two companions down here were exhibiting strength wise it would make sense that whatever protective fields were in place to keep all the witnesses from dying would be able to handle the limits of someone like her. Whatever she had throw at Zuqetta had seemed to be redirected away from the intended target, blasted out across the ground towards where Amara stood, the challenging Saiyan looking no worse than she had been before Jagaimo had launched her own attack.

Secondly, she would need a hell of a lot more power to even faze the defences of the other two combatants down here in the sand with her right now. Power she didn't have. Throwing out her Driver attack had almost completely drained her, leaving the young woman stood separated from the others in the destroyed ruins of the arena floor, panting to catch her breath, not even enough energy to defend herself. And yet she still didn't become the focus of anyone's attentions, as if they didn't even care she was there, just an annoyance rather than anyone to heed. Amara's tone even said as much as the force of Jagaimo's attack more or less just rolled over her like a breeze on the plains. Despite taking only a few beatings from the whirling blades the Saiyan fighter was pretty much unhurt but her body ached...she'd never held onto this power for so long before, containing the Oozaru form in this secondary transformation was tiring and even her bones ached with the effort.

"I didn't forget. I made my peace with that when I stepped into this place...besides from what you told me dying isn't so bad? There's always a chance you might be allowed to come back right? You did."

She didn't know whether it was a secret, common knowledge or there was something special about Amara she didn't know but after visiting the otherworld by mistake dying didn't seem to hold the same fear it once did. If this was going to be the end then she would damn well meet it on her feet and if there was even the slightest chance she could return one day she would fight for it...maybe someone would even mourn her if she was gone. Would she even be remembered or would anyone even care if a common grunt disappeared today?

Zuqetta's voice in her head was a new one. She was to far away to be able to hear the woman speaking so clearly in the giant chamber and when she glanced over the girls lips weren't moving with the words she heard...it was disconcerting to say the least. Before she could even open her mouth to reply the words seemed to rush from her with a though, almost as if a two way channel now existed between them all for the moment. Zuqetta was practically glowing with power

*How can you know how I'm feeling right now? If I survive this my own people are going to call me traitor!*

She had destroyed the throne of her own accord thinking it some kind of symbol for the start of change, that people might understand it as such...and then Zuqetta had simply rebuilt it with whatever kind of magic she seemed to have access to. It looked as good as new. Jagaimo had been called traitor then and been attacked only to have Zuqetta easily stop the first that came for her. She couldn't have made herself look any worse in the eyes of everyone witnessing events short of stabbing their ruler in front of everyone. She destroyed a symbol of power, been easily defended by the challenger and now found herself in a battle she couldn't physically influence or hope to win. Everything was mixed up, nothing had gone the way she had thought it might but then barrelling in without a plan usually gave that result. Everyone else always seemed to have a plan...

*No one is going to forget what you've done here today, and for better or worse I hope you...or Amara rule well and guide our people into the future. But you know I can't just stand by and watch...you issued this challenge in the old tradition with a plan to bring in new ones...I have to fight you...both...I won't yield, not even to you.*

Everything suddenly exploded as Zuqetta seemed to let loose with whatever had been building up inside her. The Rhapsody of Light as she called it slammed down like an inferno from the sky, every beam twisting its way back together after splitting apart and plunging down towards Amara...With little left to give Jagaimo kept her word and rushed forward to attack Zuqetta, losing herself in the attacks, all concern for her own well being forgotten...

As beams of light streaked across the battlefield, honing in on Amara's location, Jagaimo would expertly navigate the terrain as she rushed her target. She and Amara's spoke of something without the use of telepathy, but were far too distant for Zuqetta to make out; as Jagaimo made use of the newly established telepathic channel however, she would understandably vent her frustration. The girl hadn't been aware of it, but Zuqetta had put on an act during the entire challenge that was designed for gaining the favor of her people; Jagaimo's own actions however had been borderline anarchist, it have certainly made living her life as she had difficult, but death shouldn't have been the escape.

*Hehe, it might surprise you, but I DO know a bit of what it's like to be called a traitor.* Zuqetta would laugh as responded telepathically to Jagaimo, *Just means you're gonna have ta work EXTRA hard from this point on!* She'd continue as Jagaimo began to engage her in battle.

The climax of this battle was nearing, and as Amara dodged the oncoming flurry of attacks that rained down upon her, she would begin to give her response to Zuqetta's offer. The woman had also been confused by the whole event, which gave Zuqetta just a tad bit of pride as she realized just how good she was at acting; perhaps a future career change was in order? With Amara expressing her intent should she have been the one to take the throne, Zuqetta knew that it was time to continue said act for what was soon to come.

*Heh, glad ta know my acting skills were so good!* Zuqetta would relay to both her opponents, *If you guys were both fooled, then I can rest easy knowing everyone else watching was.* She'd explain as she clashed fists with Jagaimo; an enthusiastic grin upon her face as she weaved left and right between Jagaimo's fists, *Plan here was; defeat ya both, go in for the kill, spare ya, and show myself as a merciful leader. Simple plan, a bit dramatic, sure, but the people eat that stuff up!* She'd continue as she began to take a few of Jagaimo's punches and kicks head on, steadily allowing herself to be pushed back through the air.

Zuqetta could hear Amara's voice, both as she bellowed defiantly against the barrage of attacks upon her and as she began to speak into her mind. She left the decision up to Zuqetta herself of whom should be crowned, agreeing to follow said ruler unless the time came to step and stop them. While the woman ridiculed her or strength, Zuqetta couldn't find that further from the truth; strength wasn't simply the display of overwhelming power, but came from the merit of strategy and skill, something of which Amara seemed to have in spades. As Zuqetta watched Amara reel back her arm and launch the spear she held from her grasp, it was time for the act to begin again with gusto.

*I hope you'll do just that.* Zuqetta would say in response to Amara, *And know that I'll do the same... hehe, assumin' ya spare my life in this death battle!* She'd laugh, as she focused her attention upon the oncoming spear.

The options fell before her quickly; she could have forced out a bit more strength to block the spear, negating its damage. She could have overpowered the spear with a strike of her own, simply doing much of the same; though neither option would have been quite as dramatic as she need this moment to be. Instead, as the spear drew nearer, with the whole of the moment feeling as though the world had slowed to a crawl, Zuqetta would quickly move her attention to Jagaimo. Zuqetta had now begun taking hit after hit from Jagaimo, playing the battle up as though Jagaimo was beginning to overpower the woman. Beneath the flurry of strikes, Zuqetta would send a swift jab to the girls abdomen in an attempt to push her away, however she had done so in such a manner to make it appear as though Jagaimo had instinctively dodged the oncoming spear.

Whether Jagaimo played along or not was up to her, however Zuqetta now had no other choice but to focus on the spear itself. She timed her moment, and took the spear directly into the shoulder; allowing the energy that had been flaring around her to cease upon impact. Adding in a bit more flair, Zuqetta wouldn't allow the spear to simply drop her, but would instead fly backwards with the spear in her shoulder as though the force of the spear had been so overpowering. Zuqetta's body would fly off into the distance, smashing against the barrier that protected the people, shattering it before continuing back into the wall, inevitably pinning her. Her body would momentarily fall limp as her power dropped substantially; she thought about feigning death with her mana veil, but then how would Amara get to play the 'merciful leader' role?

All had fallen silent for the briefest of moments, until Zuqetta would raise her right arm; not to grab the spear to remove it from her shoulder, but simply to concede defeat. With a bit of a cough, blood would trickle down Zuqetta mouth, adding to the drama; she'd lift her head, acting as though the damage rendered her unable to continue, though she couldn't hide the sharp grin she wore as she looked towards Amara and Jagaimo. It would hardly matter, Saiyan's loved battle and violence so smiling at the end of a fight seemed normal enough.

"Enough!" Zuqetta would exclaim though a cough; her voice now being picked up by the communicator she wore and relayed through the drones, "I yield, even I can't best two powerful and skilled opponents at once!" She would finish, with the stands of spectators suddenly erupting in cheers at her defeat.

*Shivvz... they're cheering for my loss, I dunno how to feel about this.* Zuqetta would relay to her crew mate through telepathy as she laughed a bit to herself.

*I doubt they cared about who would be victorious, they were only interested in the fight Captain.* He'd respond, as he adjusted the panning of the cameras to play up the scene further for all those who watched the broadcast.

The swords that had been scattered across the battlefield would all begin to dissipate as the tendrils of light quickly faded. The arena was scarred and sundered, but made for a loving used stylistic display worthy of a Saiyan's underground arena. Zuqetta hoped the arena would continue to see use in the future, that was her plan after all if she had won the crown her; but now it looked like that decision would fall upon Amara and Jagaimo. Zuqetta would speak to the two once again through her telepathy, stifling down the grunt of pain she felt from the spear which still impaled her shoulder.

*Ahhh, this was fun.* Zuqetta would say with a long sigh of relief, *As I said at the beginning of the debate, I didn't care about sitting on the fancy rock, I just wanted to find a competent leader. If I couldn't, then I'd assume the role myself, and Amara? You're more than competent!* She'd explain, *I've yielded, which just leaves the two of you. You're free to announce your victory, take the title, proclaim your changes or whatever else. Whatever ya say next is important, so ham it up! I'm sure our people will follow whatever it is with how drunk they are on excitement from witnessing this fight.* She'd finish before looking solely on Jagaimo; her expression slightly less enthusiastic as she thought about what Jagaimo had mentioned before.

*Jaggy...* Zuqetta would begin, her telepathy now focused solely between the two of them, *Sorry for trickin' ya, as Lilith is well aware, I tend ta move at my own pace... I know that doesn't make up for all of this, heh, I didn't expect ya ta be so brazen either! Good on ya!* She'd say with a bit of a laugh, *Things might be hard for ya from here on, but don't go lookin' ta die. I don't want none of my people ta die, and that includes you.* She'd continue firmly, *My... offer from before still stands, if you're interested. Heh, I suppose that depends on what happens next though, right?* She'd finish, now content to merely listen to the responses of the two before allowing the rest of the scene to play out accordingly.

Zuqetta would give a quick instruction to Shivvz to open the network for the drones, allowing Amara to easily make use of them for whatever she intended to do next. It was a fun fight, and Zuqetta certainly wasn't looking to die, but she had resigned herself to such a fate if it was required for the New Age of the Saiyans to begin. Having two weaker opponents defeat her in such a dramatic fashion was amusing, and she couldn't help but to be reminded of some old stories she read as a child; something about some guy throwing a rock at a giant, it was so long ago she could hardly recall the story, but the concept was neat. Her musings aside, she had only one thought as she waited for this event to end-

This spear really hurts...

"What is she planning?"

The uncomfortable thought was quashed, Amara shifting uneasily at Zuqetta's mock fall. Paranoia still ran rampant. It was totally plausible a disgruntled Saiyan simply wanted to appoint SOMEONE to leadership, considering the old King had just... fallen off the map. Fingers snapped, javelin dispersing into a harmless cloud of particles as she moved wordlessly closer to Zuqetta. Jaigamo spoke. Amara sighed softly, nodding at the woman's concession. She'd been considered little more than just a sideshow during this entire affair, a mouse wandering through a man-made maze. She felt pity for the young Saiyan and dread; dread that Amara's situation was much like hers, even if the hybrid couldn't see her enclosure yet.

Ah, but what kind of newly crowned champion was so silent after a coronation? Chest heaving and mind rolling, Amara rose into the air. "The throne has not been good to the Saiyan people. Our soldiers, our cooks, our scientists, the aspirants among us who claimed it in service of the people. From where we are, it all seems like a black run of nothing but bad luck. Hell, maybe we ARE cursed. Not like that'll change my decision. Today's challenge was meant for the former King, Taori, who had failed to meet and honor such a tradition. Do not drag his name through the mud, whatever his reasons may be. He led the Saiyans to a victory over an enemy force decades in the making."

"And as for me? I've no silk-woven plans or silver-tongued speeches to recite... well not yet anyway. If you wish to know the type of leader I am, I assure you, very practical examples will be coming. Soon." Heavy is the bearer. Amara had never felt such an overwhelming weight in her life. The shields dimmed, allowing her to slip through at a brisk pace as she exited the arena. An unexpected development like this had certainly thrown a wrench in her dinner plans...