Nano

The noise from above echoed round him, Nano was the youngest combatant to sit in one of the iron cages that held the fighters. There were nine cages round the circular ring, when it came to his time the cage door would open and you would face who was ever left standing. The crowd stood at the edge of the ring placing beat on who would fall at the hands of the other or who would go the longest without tasting dirt. It was a normal Saturday night in the slums, Nano was born into the slums of Farwick. Where the nobles sat high above in their perfect city a small few where not as lucky to have wealth and food.  His father was a Celestic once a commander in Sigma until he was set up, taking the fall for a crime he never committed and now he lived in the shadows of the palace. The lights flashed onto his cage the gate opened, “Place your bets, Nano the son of Xor the only undefeated cage fighter.” His father had fought in the cages for ten years after Nano was born, most never made it past their third. He fought to put food on the table and provide for his family, six years later Nano’s mother took her own life, life in the slums became too much and she took her own life. After that day Xor never went back to the cage after that,   he found work cleaning the waters around Farwick the payment was almost nothing, but his father had lost his sprit and Now Nano was eighteen and able to fight, his father would kill him if he ever found up. Every day they trained, his father always telling him to fight only when it is needed. 

Nano stepped out of his cage, the cheers echoed round the ring, he ran a hand over his short black hair and his body glistened in the light showing every inch of his muscles. Two blue eyes locked onto the cage before him as another fighter walked out across for him.   Garrick was an older fighter a large scar ran from the top of his head down to his chin. When a ninjan fought another ninjan it could only be described as brutal. Their punches rocked the foundations of the building they stood in, using their super speed the battle could be over in the blink of an eye, but at the same time they had to make sure the crowd got what they wanted. Garrick was an experienced cage fighter, but Nano soon had the upper hand, his father’s training paying off. Catching the larger man by the waste he span behind him and then body slammed him to the ground, rolling with the attack Nano sat on top of him and let an array of fists connect. 

It was over; Garrick lay on the floor and tapped the ground. Nano rolled off and watched the older fighter walk off. The next cage opened “For one night only ladies and gentlemen I give you XOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRR”.. Nano span on the spot his eyes looking at his fathers, rage, betrayal and sorrow looked back at him. “Father,” the crowd where going wild …The dust exploded from where his father had stood, Nano put up his arms to block the attack but it was too late, the thundering hand came down onto him, blood escaped his mouth. His father was now in close, holding his son too him “Is this what you wanted, to fought to feed are family.” Nano tried to break free but was thrown across the ring and into the wall. “stay down.” Was all he heard from him, every inch of his mind said no, but his sprit would not allow him.

Pushing off the ground Nano began to stand, he held his head down. Tears dropped to the ground “I can’t.” , “You should not have come” Xor’s voice was shaking as he moved again, Nano never blocked he took the attacks and fell to his knees, The crowd where silent. Xor turned his back on his son and began to walk away. “No” Nano stood again his voice almost an echo of when the fight had started. “You do not have to carry the world on your shoulders, let me help. I can do this” Nano screamed his tears now mixing with the pain and emotion. Nano knew his father had no choice but to fight him, if they didn’t they would be killed, both of them. Xor moved at a blinding speed, catching his son before he fell “I will carry the world for you my son, you all I have left. I won’t see you die in a cage. We do not need to fight for nothing, only fight for a reason.” And then it all went dark. 

Xor finished the fight in the cage that night; Nano was taken home and healed over night. They never spoke about that night again, Nano worked in the market from that summer on, helping as much as he could, the money was not as good as the cages but his father was proud of him and in the end family is the most imporatnt thing.

 Horus moved into the silent market his four men behind as the guards followed, then in a flash two of them broke off and span on the spot heading back towards the guards, a brutal fight broke out between the queens guards and the mercenaries, it was five on three and they where pushing their advantage. Across town Willoet stopped finding Nano floating upside down. “Market Horus, the princess..” was all he could say before Nano erupted in a radical display of speed. Willoet watched his friend for a moment and ran off in the other direction; Nano was going to need some help. The market place was a disaster as Nano reached it, one of Horus men had got passed the guards and was moving for the princess, Nano had met Horus before and his father had told him of his men. With the queens guards here they now knew the girl was royalty which meant ransom.

Horus and his boys had taken out one guard and now had the other two surrounded. The man lifted his hand and went to strike her, but it never made contact, he was there in front of her, his arm clasped round the mans fist. “Hi Gorga” Nano said with a defiant smile, before placing his free hand on the mans forearm and using his own momentum against him. Gorga hit the shop window to the right of Sera, Nano turned and looked at her, “Run” he said turning to see Horus now throwing the one of the last guards to the side. “Nano, what a surprise… stopped hiding behind daddy, have we.” Nano ignored the mans comments still aware that Sera was behind him and not running. “You know Sera, every time you come to the market you get in trouble.” He said as his eyes lit up.

He fired a heavy beam of read light toward Horus who seemed to vanish, his fist was already flying towards the side of Nano’s face, but Nano ducked and swipped his feet, Gorga flew out the window catching Nano as he wen’t. The two fought in mid air before a deadening head butt took down the larger man. Nano turned to late as the other three men grabbed him and threw him to the ground. “For the love of god Sera run…” he shouted as several thunderous blows hit him. Horus moved forward and smiled at the girl “Oh im going to have fun making you scream. “ A midnight voice came from nowhere “As I am you Horus.” It was over before anyone blinked, in the distance they could just make out two men carrying Horus and Gorga, while the third man flew into the night. Willoet was helping up the guards.

“You are along way from the palace princess I suggest you go back, your kind brings unwanted attention.” Nano went to protest, but his father lifted his hand “Fighting is not the answer, you should have come to me first, no one needed to be hurt because you where to impatient , she would be your greatest weakness, take her home and then leave her there. “ Xor said before walking over to help willoet with the guards. Looking back at Sera Nano tried not to make eye contact, his face was bruised and bleeding “lets get you home” he said.

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Horus himself was huge and towered over any other Ninjan but he was not the smartest man in the world. “Well little willy what have you brought here.” Horus threw willoet to the side, the boy went to get up but was pinned down by one of the larger men, “stay down pup”. Horus moved closer blocking the princess. “I have not seen you before, “ he went to place his hand into her hair. Willoet slipped free and then looked at her and ran as fast as he could.... leaving her with the wolves.