DING! The bell rang as the two magical girls stood toe to toe, breathing heavily. Blood and sweat dripped off their brows and pooled at their feet. For a moment, neither girl moved, each one waiting for the other to make a move. Ruby Ensemble dropped her hands and shuffled back to her side of the ring. The cheers and taunts of the crowd were deafening. As she returned to her corner she plopped down hard on a rickey old stool. Her body ached. She wiped some saliva off the corner of her lip as she held a cloth to the gash on her head. It’s not like she wanted to be here but her family owed money. A lot of money. And thus, the Society had come for her. Imprisoned for their entertainment and forced to work off her debts. She took a deep breath as she tried to block out the noise of the crowd. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, trying to calm herself down. She knew that she had to keep her wits about her if she was going to survive this fight.
This match certainly was a tense one too. Ruby Ensemble was known for her fiery spirit and her mastery of flames. With a wave of her hand, she could summon a blazing inferno to engulf her opponents, leaving them charred and defeated. It had gotten her far in this business. But Sparkle Spinner, her opponent, on the other hand, was more elusive, using her mastery of magic to dodge her opponent's attacks and strike back with lightning-fast punches. She could also conjure powerful storms and whirlwinds, using them to control the arena. It had certainly kept Ruby Ensemble on her toes.
With the ring of the bell Ruby Ensemble pulled herself up from her stool and approached her opponent: Sparkle Spinner. She was an honest girl she had seen as a friend since she was trapped in this hellhole. They had spent many nights comforting each other and staving off the solitude. But that didn’t matter. Debts had to be paid and there was no getting out of this. The only way to be free from this was to win. As the two girls faced off once more, their eyes locked in a fierce stare, they knew that this was far from over. The arena was still filled with the crackle of flames and the gusts of wind, and both girls were ready to push themselves to their limits in order to emerge victorious.
The two girls circled each other warily, each one sizing up her opponent and looking for an opening. As Sparkle Spinner approached Ruby Ensemble, she launched a flurry of punches, each one faster than the last. But Ruby Ensemble was ready for her, summoning a wall of fire to block the attacks and push Sparkle Spinner back. For several minutes, they traded blows and spells in a dizzying display of magic and martial arts. Ruby Ensemble conjured pillars of flame, sending them crashing towards Sparkle Spinner, who responded with a whip-like burst of wind that scattered the flames and pushed Ruby back. Ruby Ensemble countered with a blast of heat that sent Sparkle Spinner flying, but the latter recovered quickly.
As Sparkle Spinner continued to press forward with her rapid punches, Ruby Ensemble focused her energy on creating a defensive wall of fire. The flames roared and crackled as they met Sparkle Spinner's fists, pushing her back with each impact. But Sparkle Spinner was not deterred. She quickly adjusted her strategy, using her magic to weave in and out of the flames, landing quick jabs and hooks in between each dodge. Ruby Ensemble knew she needed to change tactics if she was going to gain the upper hand. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured pillars of flame, sending them hurtling towards Sparkle Spinner. But Sparkle Spinner was quick on her feet, darting around the fiery obstacles and closing in on her opponent once more.
The two girls continued to exchange blows and spells, each one trying to outmaneuver the other. Sparkle Spinner conjured a gust of wind, sending Ruby Ensemble tumbling backwards, but the latter responded with a burst of heat that singed Sparkle Spinner's hair. The arena shook with the force of their attacks, the air thick with the scent of smoke and ozone. Despite their exhaustion, neither girl was willing to give up. They couldn’t. They circled each other warily, each one searching for an opening. Finally, Ruby Ensemble made a move. With a fierce determination, she unleashed a blast of heat that sent Sparkle Spinner flying backwards.
But even as Sparkle Spinner was propelled through the air, she refused to give up. Using her magic, she slowed down her descent and landed gracefully on her feet, ready to continue the battle with a barrage of attacks. Ruby Ensemble didn't falter, summoning a wall of fire to block the incoming attacks. But Sparkle Spinner was relentless, using her wind magic to create a whirlwind that scattered the flames and sent Ruby Ensemble tumbling backwards.
As Ruby Ensemble hit the ground, Sparkle Spinner stood over her, her fists and feet crackling with magic. Ruby Ensemble twisted her legs around Sparkle Spinners and brought her crashing to the ground. Ruby Ensemble then got on top of Sparkle Spinner delivering blows. As Ruby Ensemble rained blows down on Sparkle Spinner, the crowd fell silent, shocked by the sudden turn of events. It seemed as though the magical girl who had been on the defensive throughout the fight had suddenly found a second wind.
Finally with a cracking blow to the jaw, Sparkle Spinner stopped giving resistance. Ruby Ensemble pushed herself up off the unconscious girl and stumbled back, bruised and bloodied. Ruby Ensemble stood there, panting heavily as she looked down at the unconscious form of Sparkle Spinner.Ruby Ensemble's thoughts raced as she looked down at the motionless form. She knew that she had to do this, that defeating Sparkle Spinner in the magical duel was the only way to repay her debt and protect her family.
But still, as she gazed at the girl who lay on the ground before her, Ruby Ensemble felt a twinge of regret. She had never wanted to hurt anyone, let alone someone who had been her friend and ally. But the rules of the magical world were clear: sometimes you had to fight, even if it meant risking everything.
With a heavy heart, Ruby Ensemble turned and made her way out of the arena. She could hear the crowd cheering and applauding behind her, but she didn't feel like celebrating. All she wanted was to go home and forget about this whole experience. Of course, this was not the end. She had shaved off a good portion of her debt but there was still more. As she reached the edge the Enders were waiting to place back her chains and escort her back to where she was to be held.
She turned her head briefly back to the arena while being led away and heart sank further as she watched Sparkle Spinner being carried away on a stretcher. She couldn't help feeling responsible for the other girl's injuries, even if it was part of the duel. But she knew that she had to put those feelings aside and focus on the task at hand. As she was escorted back to her cell, Ruby Ensemble steeled herself for the journey ahead. She knew that she would have to face more challenges and battles, and that the road to freedom would be long and difficult. And as she lay down on her cot, she closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer for Sparkle Spinner's speedy recovery before drifting off to sleep.
