The Arena

The roar of the crowd outside was lessened by the solid wooden doors that stood between me and the center of the Great Ampitheatre. Well, to me it was the Field. The grounds where I was going to make my first appearance had many names, none of them being the Great Ampitheatre of Lively Town.

To the duelists that performed spectacular battles, it was called the Battlegrounds. To the various actors who performed there, it was known as the Stage. As for myself, a rising star in the sport of Rhyddeo, it was called the Field.

Rhyddeo was my every breath; it was one of the few sports where us quadrupeds could actually compete with those 'mons who stood upright. In my book -- though I'm definitely biased -- it was the best sport out there, evidenced by its popularity being second only to the Duels. My role of Rhyd was traditionally accomplished by Tauros like me, but others partook too. I even heard that there was even a snake contender, a total testament for how open the sport is. As for the Deo who would climb on top, well, it could be anyone that weighed a reasonable amount and had two legs.

None of that really mattered to the attendees, though. Rhyddeo was one of many sports that happened here. To them, to the Pokémon that would travel from across the Five Continents to see the the performance of a lifetime, it was known as the Arena.

Sure, there were arenas across the world, from the one carved out of stone in Sahra Town which had the wildest of rumors to the humble arena of Baram Town where I rose to stardom, but when you said the Arena, everyone knew which one you were talking about.

And I was here. I made it.

"I can tell you're nervous, Ninua. Don't you fret about a thing."

Hearing Coach's voice brought be back to reality. I looked at him and let out a snort of exasperation, causing the metal bits of my harness to jingle. "Do we have to wait this long, Coach?"

He rolled his white eyes, contrasting against his black fur coat, the same as mine. Well, except for the fact that I had red marks while he had none. "Yes, Ninua. Half the appeal of the Arena is that Cinccino Fennel readying the crowd."

That only made my nerves worse. I knew the drill: saunter out, meet my opponent, and when Fennel announced to ready up, the Deo would climb on top of me. Fennel, just like the announcers back home, would count down and when the time hit zero the Rhyd would try his best to knock the Deo off.

Just like home, I kept telling myself that: "Just like home. Just like home," over and over, and it sorta helped. But the crowd outside roared even louder and the doors swang open. The light was blinding and Coach practically headbutted me outside.

The Field was almost what I dreamed of. The stacked rows of Pokémon seemed to stretch to the sky. There to my right in a massive platform I could see a tiny grey dot -- Fennel, the legendary announcer of the Arena -- seemed to watch.

Right, Tauros, remember your little bit.

I put effort into my trot towards the center, managing to hide the nervousness as I pranced and, in order to put on a show for the crowd, ignited my hooves and kicked up bits of sand and glass.

I reached the center -- traditionally the Rhyd is there first since he's faster and he's let out first -- and did a circular trot as I took in the crowd surrounding me.

Yeah, Tauros, I told myself, this really isn't anything like Baram Arena.

Still, I overcame my nerves and bellowed out a plume of fire; as long as I didn't use moves during the game itself I was fine. But my time in the spotlight quickly faded away as that little grey speck spoke once more.

"And now," Fennel announced, his alluring voice echoing across the arena and over the din of the crowd, "It's time for the Deo to enter the Field!"

The crowd roared as the doors opposite from where I entered were opened and Enkidu, the famous Cyclizar -- the only Pokémon known to have competed as both a Rhyd and a Deo -- emerged, his signature red cape fluttering in the wind.

I bellowed another plume of smoke and kicked up sand, but in reality I was terrified.

So that's why Coach didn't tell me who I was going against. I have to fight my damn hero, one of the best Deos. Did he set me up just to lose?

Coach always said appearing at the Arena at all was an accomplishment and losing happened to most first-timers, but it didn't ease my worry much.

It became more difficult to hear my own thoughts as the cheers around me intensified the closer Enkidu got. Before he stood in front of me, he turned back around, let his red cape flutter aside, and puffed up his chest.

The crowd roared and Fennel waited for it to die down before he started to speak. While he was waiting I stood motionless, intimidating, trying to stare down Enkidu before he could get to me. But he stood at attention right in front of me, and while most other Deos would try to ignore me or stare back, he just looked at me softly.

That thew me off more than if he had tried to size me up.

But the crowd's roar quieted and Fennel used his voice to speak over the few who never quite seemed to know when to shut up, his voice booming despite his small size. "You've come here for the greatest sport the world has ever known, haven't you?"

The crowd screamed in the affirmative.

"Of course you did," said Fennel, "and we have for you today the clash of two worlds. For our Rhyd, we have our contender, straight from the faraway land of Air Continent--"

At this I could hear a few cheers erupt from the crowd, no doubt others from my homeland. I gave them a quick bow in a show of thanks.

"--the newcomer, Ninua!"

The cheers of Air Continent attendees were joined by the rest, but it was short-lived because Fennel kept speaking. "And for the Deo we have the venerable, crowd-favorite, the one and only hero of Rhyddeo: Enkidu!"

My fur covered up my blush as the crowd cheered louder for Enkidu.

Fennel spoke over them.

"Rhyd! Assume your position!" I don't know why I felt surprised that Fennel knew the traditional commands for Rhyddeo, but being startled by that made me take a second longer than I normally would to bow to my opponent and lower myself to the ground.

"Deo!" came the command, "Assume your position!"

Enkidu returned the bow, walked to my side and, in one swift move, hopped on top of me and grabbed the harness.

I could definetely feel his weight, but I had worse before. Actually, I wonder how he managed to handle being the Rhyd.

Enkidu gave the wave of his arm and I stood myself up. The crowd roared as I tried to give a look of triumph, though I was careful to not exhale any smoke or fire.

I remained at attention as Fennel began to speak to the crowd, and I heard a whisper in my ear accompanied by the touch of a scaled hand against my fur.

"This is your first time, isn't it, Ninua?"

Traditionally the Rhyd and Deo didn't speak, and I definitely wasn't going to let him get to me, not right now. So I remained silent.

"Look," he continued his whisper, his sharp voice cutting through the overwhelming noise of Fennel and his crowd, "I don't care about tradition. I've been in your shoes. You're from the Air Continent, right? Where most Pokémon go by their species? Ninua must be your stage name."

I tried my best to remain looking straight, but I responded with a quick "Yes."

Enkidu patted me on the side. "You're Tauros then, no? Well, Tauros, chances are I'm not gonna get knocked off after the ten seconds, but don't let that get to you. You made it here. I've been in your place; the Arena's accomplishment enough, alright?"

I nodded silently. Fennel started to raise the crowd into a chant, a countdown, starting at ten, that went down to nine, then eight.

"Hey, give it your all, alright Tauros? Let's give them a show, eh?"

Fennel led the chants of the crowd. "Seven! Six!"

For some reason this raised my spirits. Here he was telling me I was probably going to lose, but it definitely didn't feel like he was trying to intimidate me.

"Five! Four!"

I snorted and gave a bow that would probably be imperceptible to most, but since Enkidu was an experienced Deo he definitely felt it. "Alright, let's do just that."

The crowd's cheer reverberated through me, or perhaps it was my own anticipated mixed with anxiety for our battle, Rhyd against Deo.

"Three! Two!"

The harness tightened under Enkidu's grip, but he gave me one last pat. I'd give it my all, and he would too, of course.

"One! Go!"

With that I bucked wildly and Enkidu held on tight; together, we gave the crowd of the Arena a debut show they wouldn't forget.

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Pub: 24 Sep 2025 02:41 UTC

Edit: 24 Sep 2025 18:34 UTC

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